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Published: November 18th 2007
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Laters!
Leaving for Beijing Nee how!!
We made it to our first stop-Beijing! The ten hour flight over was good, with films and as many free alcoholic drinks as you liked!! So we were happy 'relaxing, chillaxing to the maxxin!' Not a bad start to our trip. Luckily we sat next to a chinese man who lived on the outskirts of Beijing centre, and was king enough to ring our hotel when we landed to get directions in chinese for our taxi driver.
On arriving we were bustled into a taxi and got our first glimpse of the enourmous city. The first thing you notice is the ammense smog, WOW, it is bad! The taste it leaves in your mouth is like you have just smoked a packet of cigarettes, not very nice, and generally the place seemed quite dirty! Arriving at our hotel after 45 minutes, cost us 100 yuan, which is roughly 6.50 pounds.
The hotel was good and the chinese tried to help you, as much as they understand! We got ourselves booked up on a couple of tours as the city is so big, and many taxis won't pick you up as you are foreign/western or they don't
The love tree
This tree is meant to symbolise togetherness because of the shape of the tree think that where you want to go will be a big enough fare. On the first night we went for a short stroll to get some tea, and having never been anywhere where everyone looks so different, we found it a little intimmidating, but you soon get used to it. They tend to stare at you, but not maliciosly, it is pure curiosity as the only time they get to see westerners is when we come to them. The majority of them could never afford to come over to us.
The next day we went on our trip to the forbidden city, which was massive, it really is a city within walls! We were fascinated with the style of architecture, it's just so different! But very beautiful and ornate. Next, we went to the temple of heaven, which you get to by walking through a park, with lots of trees, a bit like a wood really, then all of sudden there is this entrance to this mini city. Crazy! Lunch was included but we did'nt think much of it, and in China there really are no knives and forks. We had to get good at using chopsticks quickly, or
The forbidden city
Its huge! City within the walls you don't eat. However, locals found our first few attempts amusing as we were practically throwing noodles at each other trying to pick them up!
After we visited the summer palace, which is home to Kunming lake. Its a very pretty place and every attraction seemed to be very tranquil and peaceful, despite the hundreds of tourists around. Our tour guide Mevis was really good and taught us some chinese phrases. We learnt; (not exact spellings - phonetically!)
Nee how! - you good (but there way of saying hello!)
she she - thank you
boo she - no thanks
peow leow - beautiful.
It was a long day after getting up at 5.45am and back at 7pm, so we got a KFC as a quick fix. We know we've come all this way....it cost 1.20 for a meal and 4.50 for a bargain bucket, we were well impressed! After we just crashed out, with the jet lag catching up with us.
The next day we had another tour this time to the great wall and the ming tombs, again we were up early. One thing with the traffic here is that there are no rules, its crazy! To
cross a road you just run! The toilets in public places are a basin in the ground - my god what a shocker!
As the olympics are being held in Beijing next year, work is being done everywhere to try and improve the city. We got a glipse of the birdsnest on one of our trips, which, is where it will all be held. Oh, and the spitting, it's grose!!! It actually turns your stomach, especially when women are hawking and spitting. If you look at the floor where you're walking around there is phlegm everywhere - nice!! They are trying to stop it but it doesn't seem to ne working as of yet!
We met a really nice couple, Stevie and Lorraine from Aberdeen in Scotland, all because rob went to reception complaining that the toilet did'nt work and I was giving him earache about it and they were just checking in. We went to the great wall of China together at Badaling, and hiked for about 30-40minutes to one of the highest peaks. At some points it is so steep that you can slip and slide as your trying to walk up, your almost on all
10 million bicycles in Beijing......
How true is that song, they are everywhere fours! It was so worth it though, the view was incredible, just breathtaking! At the bottom there were bears, very random, but we think they were there to attract more visitors. To get to the summit of the great wall you have to go up in a toboggan, it was so much fun! later that evening we met up with a chinese guy called king who stevie met the last time he came to Beijing. We met in Tian'anmen square and then King took us for an amazing meal, a proper chinese banquet where we found out it was actually Stevies birthday. So King dissapeared, then reapperared with this amazing cake! After talking to King, we realised that King and Rob had the same birthday, so it was a big celebration all round!
King then took us to a karaoke lounge where you book out a room for your group, and drinks are included in the price. We had so much fun and just for future reference, if you give rob a mic you won't get it back for the evening! While we were with King, he also helped us to book a flight to Xian, as trying to
Nice hat!!
Part of the temple of heaven find someone who speaks English is really hard here. And as Stevie and Lorraine liked us so much and us them, they decided to come with us to xian just for one night. So they could see the Terracotta army. One evening we visited the night market where you can get anything on a stick - literally!!
After a wicked time (made so much better by Lorraine and Stevie) we got ourselves ready for our next destination - xian!
Party on dudes!
Rob and Han
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James
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woo hoo
hey guys thanks for putting a smile on my face! sounds like your having a great time, i'm loving the blog and cant wait for the next one, glad your both ok ps rob bet the kfc wasnt as good as bournemouth much love x x x