enjoying the train station in Hong Kong (this was taken mostly for our train-loving nephews)

We're back from our China trip (Hong Kong and Guangzhou for work, Beijing for fun) and, as always, sorting through a boatload of pics and stories.

oktapodi in Behai Park

One of the many fascinating things about China is that Facebook and Twitter are blocked once you get to the mainland, but Instagram works just fine. Normally Instagram is something I use only occasionally, but for this trip it became something of an umbilical cord to the goings-on in the world "back home" and vice versa.

American garage band in Wan Chai

For those of you who already follow me on Instagram, this will be a bit repetitive. For the rest, here's a quick slice of some trip highlights. It's a typical mix of foodporn, ironic oktapodi shots, and some other random stuff thrown in. Rest assured, the full slate of photos and stories (taken with a real camera and not just my phone) will follow.

view from our hotel room in Hong Kong

Chinese brekkie + Indian brekkie? oh yes, HK, we're gonna get along just fine!

spicy snails in a rice wine hot pot from the Rainbow Restaurant on Lamma Island

bizarre item found in our Guangzhou hotel room

dessert assortment from a Guangzhou brunch

drinking local beer and puzzling over roasted spadger on Party Pier in Guangzhou

oktapodi at the Temple of Heaven

oktapodi defending against the Mongol hordes at the Great Wall

Beijing sunset  :: cough cough ::

Emperor Oktapodi at the Summer Palace

China is a weird-ass place

one last oddball meal of "griddled bullfrog"