Hey matt just read about your first few days you sound like you are having a great time -- although have to admist reading about some of the food your eating did make my stomach turn!!!! lol
stay safe xox
Far from the madding crowd! Your 'wall' photo's are fantastic - it is easy to see how you must have felt - so glad that there were no tourists - the only way to see it I'm sure - well done! Now for the next adventure!Xian here we come!
Great wall Wow Matty - sounds awesome - 2 things:
1 - I forgot to mention that Kenny's dad is over there at the moment but you found him anyway; and
2 - Looking at the photos I would have though the standard cyclone fencing would have done enough to keep the rabbits out as per Nasi Goreng's wishes
eat well.. OK so were they crunchy on the outside with a smooth creamy centre? For what it is worth, I think that the further west you go the less chance you will get of finding reasonable food so like the camel I would be filling up on all the best food I could find in Beijing whislt I could! But then what do i know after some of the food i have eaten in Afgahanistan, India, Iran etc...have fun safe journeys.
Yuk, Matty, that thing on the stick looks disgusting, hows that sore throat? maybe it has something to do with what your eating? great reading, keep it up. Debbie Lambert
Tastings We sold Richard on the weekend to a family in Pearcedale [West Gippsland]. While discussing the medical needs for Richard, eg. vacinations and drenching etc, my mind wandered to your dietary adventures and I thought we will have to get you "vet checked" to make sure that all that stuff you are consuming is dead.....just kidding.
best regards
Peter Evans
PS. Once you get out of Beijing, watch out for the water and don't drink any soft drink, stick to beer [which shouldn't be a problem based on your feedback to date] and tea [the bioled hot variety]. Some of the worst cases of tummy bug etc have been caused by soft drink consumption. Most of the Chinese soft drinks in the past have had poor sterilisation procedures, beer is different.
Great Wall Journey Great that you got to see the Wall away from the maddening crowds. I saw the Wall in 1983 just after China opened up to Western business. A small section was restored, but most of it was in decay, but still very impressive.
Re food, unless the north west has changed a lot, suggest you enjoy the good food of Beijing, it might not as good once you get to the more remote parts.
Safe journey..Peter
Wow Hi Matt - the 'wow'factor really came through when you described your experience at the Great Wall and to do it the way you did with no 'buses' would have made the event so much better. It is nice to know you can actually still do it in a remote non-tourist way. Your dining experiences are fantastic - very jealous! How cold is it in Beijing - the pics at the Summer Palace showed a beautiful clear blue sky day? Sounds great have fun, D. x
A True Man!! Wow - even reading about your Great Wall trip made it feel fantastic, so can only imagine what it must have been like for you actually being there! All these awesome things in such a short space of time - what does the rest of the trip hold??!!!
Awsome man :) good to see the photos happening! Scorpions looked appetizing, however i think i'd prefer the bones too :) Glad to hear the second visa was alot easier to get, keep up the good work!
Mystical Powder and Duck Bones Must have been some weird powder you took to make you want another plate of deep fried duck bones, spiced or not. Great news that you are all set with your visas.
Summer Palace et al Great photos, but you point out they probably don't depict the scale of the place. Never did get the palace during the many trips to Beijing in the 80's and 90's.
Watch out for that local brew; it creeps up you, especially after the 10th bottle.
Best regards
Peter Evans
Expensive visas Yeah, $165USD is a bit on the expensive side but the price or 3 day processing was $110USD anyway, so for same day service I didn't mind forking out an extra $55.
money talks all languages Hey - fun day and you are getting fit at the same time (all the walking) - cool! Yep, scorpions are right up there on the list of must eat foods -not! But must have been better that the snake in Vietnam, maybe? I have to ask, isnt $165US a bit on the expensive side for a visa? anyway you have that one and one to go. Apart from the Visa life seems to be quite 'cheap' which is great. Speak soon MikeV
After finishing my six year long law degree and before I join the real world of working life as an Articled Clerk, I am going on a bit of an adventure. I will be travelling solo along the Northern Silk Road from Beijing to Central Asia, with a few extra stops along the way: Xiahe, Langmusi and Tibet.
I intend to follow this rough itinerary:
China - Beijing, Xian, Lanzhou, Xiahe, Langmusi, Tibet (Lhasa, Namtso, Yamdrok, Shigatse, Everest Base Camp), Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Urumqi, Kashgar.
Kyrgyzstan - Osh.
Uzbekistan - Tashkent.
My journey starts on 26 November, so stay tuned!... full info
Carmen
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Hey matt just read about your first few days you sound like you are having a great time -- although have to admist reading about some of the food your eating did make my stomach turn!!!! lol stay safe xox