Ok, ok, ok, So I keep changing my mind

I have been researching routes almost every day this week.
I sadly have come to the conclusion that to travel to Tibet through Nepal is just toooooo awkward and expensive ( you need special permits, guides, to join a tour and then it effects your china visa)
So Ive come to the conclusion that after all that, I'll have to kiss goodbye to Kathmandu (for now) and start back at the drawing board again!
I think what the easiest thing will be is to fly directly into China (Possibly Beijing, or another major airport) and travel from there, hopefully still getting a chance to travel in Tibet at some point. I think it might be good to get a multiple entry visa, and then we can head intro S. Korea and Japan from China, instead of doing them later in the trip (might be good because I was worried about missing the Japanese blossoms in spring, but this way it might work.
Its weird how these things evolve over time eh?
Anyway, rather more important things are going on as JW's Dad is very ill, so JW is going out to Cape Town this weekend ( I wish I could go, but with saving money and work, its just not possible)So his focus is on that.

Cape town in August

I'm making plans to go to Cape Town (where JW is from) in August.
Its his Dad's birthday, so we are going to do a special party for him.

I'm hoping it's also another opportunity to do some touristy stuff as well.

Last time we were there we did the Table Mountain cable car (which was a.ma.zing) and the waterfront, beaches etc
But I'd like to do a little more exploring...

Stuff that I want to do in Cape Town...

1. Whale watching
2. Couple of days in the winelands doing some wine tasting
3. Robin island
4. Avoid any English tourists left-over from the world cup
5. More beach time

JW is born and raised in Mitchell's Plain (TOTALLY not a tourist area- in fact more like a place the guidebooks warn you to avoid) and we'll be spending a lot of time there with his parents.

Christmas...

I had a small argument with JW last night,
he was upset, because for the umpteenth time in a row, we are spending xmas with my family.
At this time of year especially, he finds it difficult living so far away and misses his parents back home in Cape town.
I sometimes take it forgranted that I have my parents just across London (and soon will be in the same house!).
JW's mum has 9 sisters and they all have children and grandchildren, so Christmas can be a massive affair for him,

For me, Christmas this year will just be us and my parents.
My sister and her boyfriend are living in Uruguay at the moment, and after my Grandmother died a few years ago, the extended family has dispersed off.
Though we still traditionally do boxing day lunch at my aunts with my cousins.

The argument cooled off and I promised that the year after next we will go...(next year we will be travelling!)
I'm looking forward to it already, Cape Town is in summer at Christmas and at time of writing is...22c and sunny (bit of a contrast to London's 0c and icy today)