China | 8 days to go

It's hard to believe that this time next month I'll be on a plane back to dreary Adelaide.

I impulse-booked cheap return flights to China before I left for Malaysia earlier this year (around January). Time has dwindled down to single digits and in just eight short days, I'll be on my way to the land where all things are made.

Jokes aside, really, it's just over a week already?! I don't even feel like I'm about to embark on a three-week trip to unknown territory: to a lovely big city, the country where my 10-year celebrity crush is located, the land where everyone is constantly running through the streets crying, and going to look at a wall. Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul, Beijing, it's almost time!

At this point, I don't really have many expectations. I'm not really sure what's there, even though I've sussed out what I want to visit. What will the people be like? Will the streets be clean? Will it be easy to get around? How do I order food? Google searches can only answer so much. I think that's why I enjoy travelling - I like to be able to answer these questions, and more, by myself.

For starters, I know it will be cold. But how cold? 'Average Adelaide' cold, 'Freezing Tokyo' cold or 'London in Summer but still cold' sort of cold.

This trip will mark a lot of firsts for me: first time to China, Taiwan and South Korea; first time in business class (yay!); FIRST TIME ON A HELLO KITTY PLANE!; first time experiencing sub-zero (so I've been told); and probably the first real challenge of getting around non-English friendly places.

I'll check back in here in about a week or so, right before I leave. It still hasn't sunk in that I'm leaving soon, but I'm glad I will be - 35 degrees expected top tomorrow, I may melt before I make it to Shanghai.