The great journey begins

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After all the preparation, packing and learning the languages I have now arrived in Beijing at the start of my three week trans - Siberian trip.



My rucksack weighed in at a respectable 19.5kg, including 3kg of pot noodle and go ahead bars. The flight was uneventful and I will leave it at that. I landed at 5am and it took a further 25 minutes for the plane to finally come to a stand still! What a huge airport.



I took a taxi to my hotel which I was pleased and relieved to see actually had two stars, twice as many as I was expecting. The taxi driver made 13 calls over the 31.1 km we travelled, on at least four occasions he said 'uk' and I thought I was on the verge of being kidnapped. Anyway we eventually found the hotel together and I am now unpacked and settled in.



I took the subway to Wangfujing. This area appears to be the shopping centre of the city with every brand you can think of. Even C & A's are making a come back with a store due to open next week. I can honestly say that I have never seen so many people in one place in my life. There is a polite bundle and a mild crushing every time you get on the train or exit the station, all very weird. There are side streets to explore but the chaos to get up them is something else.



A very weird thing Has been happening to me. I was photographed twice as I ate breakfast. Later in the day I was stopped in the street by a couple who wanted their picture with me as they have never seen a ginger bloke before........ Come on are you serious!

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Comments

[Mum and Dad]

FAME AT LAST!
We always knew you would be famous for something one day - but ginger hair in China - didn't see that one coming!

[Nick]

Glad you have arrived safely, was tracking your flight and it disappeared over Mongolia somewhere but figured that it would be in the news if anything happened so put it down to a technology failure. Regarding the hair, it does sound like you are being set up for a kidnapping, you cab driver couldn\'t believe his luck when he picked you up (and you can guarantee he had a webcam in his cab) so he phoned all his mates and they are the ones taking photos of you. The reason they are stalking you is not because of you money (or pot noodles) but because ginger hair is a good luck charm or aphrodisiac (can\'t remember which) but they\'ll soon be cutting bits off or licking your head. Good luck shut in the cabin on the train for four days - you are going to end up bald. Any way the cultural differences aside, hope you enjoy your tour round Beijing and I\'m looking forward to the next instalment. Have you broken into the pot noodles yet or have you found a cafe that does a full English?