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No, as I was with a straight friend.

I only spent a week in Beijing on a quick trip from Japan. I went on Klook tours to the wall in Mutianyu and to Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. The wall is a couple of hours by bus from downtown, but it's worth it because it's not so crowded. Last time I was there I used the toboggan to come down, which was a lot of fun. But now they won't let you on if you are over 60! So we caught the cable car. And now you need a reservation the day before to enter Tiananmen Square. But if you go on a tour you get to bypass the long lines to get into the Forbidden City. You basically just walk straight in. It also wasn't particularly crowded because the government is now limiting the numbet of tourists per day. The rest of Beijing we did by ourselves. The main problem is the lack of signage telling you where the subways are so you can get home. If you are lucky enough to find a map, there is often no 'you are here' symbol, which makes it useless. But a couple of times the locals helped us out with a smile and a 'follow ne'. The nightly area of Santilun was fantastic! We got out of the subway but didn't know which direction to walk. Two young girls kindly took us there! Heaps of restaurants and bars to choose from. It was very hot and we were often in need of a drink. There are vending machines everywhere but they don't take cash - you need the wechat or alipay app on your phone. We both had wechat but the app was so confusing and complicated. Even some of the locals gave up! One lady took pity on me and used her app to buy me a drink! Alipay wanted all kinds of information and also facial ID - just to buy a bottle of water!!! The subway is clean and even in the morning it was less crowded than the Japanese rush-hour. You don't need to buy a ticket - just use your credit card. So convenient! Be prepared to go through security at the station. There are cameras looking down on you everywhere you go and facial recognition is the name of the game. I've been to Shanghai before and absolutely loved it. And last year I went to Macau, which is also well worth a visit. I was planning to go to Xian next week but I decided on somewhere closer, so I'm off to Kuala Lumpur again. This time I'll be travelling by myself so I may get a bit of horizontal action!

I have recently returned from Beijing, on my second visit. I have to say, the people were very friendly and helpful. They seemed much nicer than the Chinese I've seen in Japan on those package tours. Also, the streets are very clean with no litter in sight. I just wish they'd stop spitting. I was worried about internet censorship but it was not a problem, as I had global roaming from my Australian telco. Everything goes through Sydney first and bypasses Chinese censorship. I'm now considering another Chinese trip. I had a great time.

How long did you live in Japan, joizy? And how proficient are you at speaking / reading Japanese?

Joizy, why don't you try your luck at the gay cinema in Ueno? I've had some great times there.

島国根性 (shimaguni konjou) is an expression you will often hear when Japanese talk about their attitude to the outside world. It translates as 'Island country mentality' and refers to the insularity and closed-mindedness which results from living on islands which have no borders with other countries. This leads to a feeling of exclusivity and a reluctance to accept others who are not part of this exclusive group. It perfectly explains their attitude to foreigners.

As a chocolate fanatic, I'll put these places on my to - do list. BTW, I steer clear of chocolate fountains, as a chef once told me that they mix the chocolate with oil to make it flow freely. Yuk!!!

"I remember on one of my first visits to Japan I was tryng to find the famous Sony Building not far from the Ginza. Politely i asked a Japanese couple. There was the customary intake of breath followed by a brief conversation. They then pointed me in the direction. I thanked them. Only they had sent me in competely the wrong direction." Oh, this is so true! The only people you can rely on for proper directiions are the policenen sitting in the koban -police boxes. Google maps is not perfect but is still useful in Japan. As Peter points out, areas are divided into blocks and you look at lamp posts to see what block you are in. Unfortunately, the blocks are not contiguous, so block 2 is not necessarily next to blocks 1 and 3, so you really need to ask someone. If they live there, they'll generally point you in the right direction. The problem of finding an exact address is also exacerbated by the fact that houses are not numbered in order along the street, and 2 of more houses can have the same number! The numbers are assigned based on when the house was built, so if 2 houses go up at the same time, they will have the sane number and may be nowhere near each other in the street. I don't think this system is still used in newer developments.

Everything works perfectly in Japan, as long as the rules are followed to the letter and nothing unexpected happens. If not, they fall into a heap and nobody really knows what to do in order to make a decision. I've often said that if they ever got their shit together, they'd rule the world. The education system is largely to blame.

I don't remember seeing a machine there. Everyone just paid at the counter.

The problem of the weight of the aircraft was exacerbated by the high temperature of 40 degrees.

No. That's a given!

I last saw him perform at a Royal Command concert in front of Queen Elizabeth. He looked terrible and didn't seem to know where he was. He had no idea how to address the Queen, so he introduced his song saying: 'This is for you.....queenie'. Oh, dear!

I stand corrected. Apparently Gabriel Coimbra is Brazilian.

No. I found him - or at least, his link to his OF. https://onlyfans.com/kurtsadams I also found a link where he jokingly tells his parents not to click on the link!

I saw the bbc interview. He came across as a little shy and more than a little embarrassed. But very likeable. And very handsome indeed! I'm presuming he's gay. I also think he should just concentrate on the Olympics - the money he's made so far should cover the costs. But when the games are over, he should go straight back on OF and make a fortune. Great cock, btw.

I think Gabriel Coimbra is named after the city of Coimbra in Portugal.

Just about everywhere I went in Japan and China on my recent trip used qr codes - for every thing, not just menus. Restaurants in Japan use either a qr code, or you order from an ipad.I can't remember when I last used a physical menu in Japan, although I used to prefer them. I like eating dinner in an 'izakaya', which is a pub-style establishment where you order lots of small dishes. A qr code allows you to keep track of what you've ordered. To pay the bill you simply scan the code and walk out. One of my favourite places to eat is Kura Sushi. I'm not a fan of sushi and don't eat raw fish, but Kura sells all kinds of small dishes. You never interact with staff members. (They are lurking in the background in case you have a question.) Once you get used to it, it all makes sense.

I'm surprised to read about the unfriendly attitude of the guys at reception. I've always found them pleasant to deal with.

Not a chance!

I was planning to spend a week at the Marina Bay Sands a couple of years ago. I quickly changed my mind when I found out you had to reserve a time slot to use the pool! The only times available for me were early in the morning when I'm usually still in bed. So I'm glad to hear it's not all that it's cracked up to be. It seems I dodged a bullet. Peter, I'm surprised to hear Cathay Pacific asked you for a review. I've travelled on them for years - the latest being last month - and have never been asked. Maybe it's something new. The tour guide who took us around The Forbidden City in Beijing asked for a review, which I happily provided. Competition among the guides seems to be fierce. But by and large, I don't bother writing reviews.

Probably not much! Japan is not Thailand.

Yes. They are present at tourist sites. It's hard work, so the guys are all young and fit. Many are drop-dead gorgeous. I saw them in Kyoto last month and was tempted. The view from behind would be very erotic indeed, especially as some wear short white pants. Yum!!!! But the wait for a ride was too long.

What? My home city of Perth is bidding for the Gay Games? That's news to me. How come I've never heard about this?

That's right. Definitely NOT the Australian culture. I'm still sometimes shocked at the way people speak to each other here. I guess if I haven't gotten used to it by now, I never will. I just smile and remain silent.