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Published: April 15th 2008
So I've been in Beijing for the last couple of days. After a little difficulty getting a room- the Far East hostel refused to let me come back because I didn't have my passport (it was at the Mongolian embassy), even though the saw it 2 days before, they wouldn't allow me to stay with them. So I went down the street to another hostel and they gave me a room. I was thinking I was going to be homeless for a few days, but it worked out alright.
I have been shopping for things I need for my trip, and I hiked the wall again, and went to the Summer Palace (which was beautiful). The weather has been really nice- actually a little on the hot side 27C yesterday with 34% humidity.
I organized my own Great Wall tour this time, and took the subway, bus, and then shared a car ride with 2 Chinese men I met on the bus. One could speak a little English, and they seemed very excited to have a foriegner to chat with. They were very kind to me, buying me water and snacks for the hike, and carried my backpack the whole way for me. We hiked from one section of the wall to another...10km hike!! It was really crazy steep and falling apart. The view was amazing, and not many tourists. The Lonely Planet said it should take 4 hours but since the Chinese guys were so hardcore, we did it in 3 hours! My legs were shaking by the end, after all those stairs. OH and the best part was that this guy was in a suit and tie, with dress shoes!! LOL people kept commenting on it, no one could believe he was hiking this treachrous wall like that. Really hilarious!
Tomorrow morning I leave on a 30 hour train to Ulanbator, Mongolia.
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Kristen
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Sounds like your trip is off to a great start, Erin! Keep the updates coming so I can continue to live vicariously through your travels ;) xoxo