Well yes this is my first entry. So I should just do the recent stuff first and maybe get into some of my history. But first I want to say hi to everyone I hope to meet and make some great friends.

It started as I had feared. A total bloody disaster. We were picked up from the Jingdou Hotel Beijing at around 8am for the usual 4.5 hour journy. The reason it is usually that quick for the distance is the speeds our driver reaches. Up to 160 Kmh. But as fate would hav it the ice and snow prevelant this time of year had forced closures of the freeway.

So off we set on a cross country jaunt that took us more that 8 hours to get to XingCheng. This little city is the headquaters for the Bohai Offshore Oil Corporation. It is from there we fly via helicopter to the worst platform I have ever worked.

In simplest terms it is a death trap. Far worse than Piper-Alpha (for those of you who may know) could ever be.

We had 4 to 5 days work there which, due to the weather turned into two weeks. The average daily temperature was -10 degrees celsius. Man, I have never been so cold in my entire life. After 15 minutes out side my face had gone numb and I could not form words. The work was difficult and slow and I couldn't wait to get back to the warmth of South East Asia.

Anyway due to be back in Jak by Valentines Day night but as fate would again have it's fickle way with me, the weather closed in the night before and was forced to spend another day in that '**** hole'. Pardon my french (as my mum would say).

But I got to Beijing had some great shopping in teh local markets and being reasonabley adept at bargining I came home with some great stuff. I was ruthless and paid 10% of the asking prices for all I bought. I was even complimented on my ablility. Which yes gave me a big head.

When I told my friend about the fake Prada travel bag I got for a brilliant price being all leather he said " ah yes but is it (fake)?" Yeah I have to agree the quality was so good it could have come out the side door of the factory for all I know.

Anyway back in Jak and happy to ba home in the warmth. Unfortunately the sad side is that there have been several deaths due to the flooding the most recent a Bajaj driver died when caught in the local flooding about 1km form my house. The other worry is the rapid spread of a new strain of Denghi Fever that has claimed 166 lives so far in Jakarta. And we worry about SARS and Bird Flu. Man this is potentially far more dangerous.

Oh my god I have gone on to much haven't I so I will leave you now. Be good to each other and take care.

Sawasdee khrup and welcome!