Oh my god!! its taken me about a week to find a computer that lets me update this, despite Pam insisting i am not really here! I believe last time I wrote I was about to embark upon the great wall trek. Obviously I survived, but just about. It is the most exhausting thing I have ever done. It was all up and down hill and the bricks are really loose and scary. Couldn't believe I actually made it. But the scenery was spectacular and was definitely worth it in the end.

From there I went to Xi'an which is a lovely place - probably my favourite place I've been so far. Slightly smaller than Beijing - people still spit everywhere and have gross toilets but not quite as mental. We did a bike ride around the city wall which was really good fun and you could see so much of the city, and went to the muslim quarter, which was my favourite place - all these street stalls selling very yummy snacks and a fab little market. We went out to see the terracotta warriors while we were in Xi'an, which were superb - they still haven't all been excavated and all the faces are individual soldiers not just the same mould. After coming back from that me and my friend Roberta decided to go get a relaxing massage, which turned out to be the least relaxing hour I have spent in a long time. The guy poked his fingers really hard in every bit of my spine and was very violent and then they did cupping on us which was really weird. After we left 100 yuan lighter, we had awful bruises all over our backs which still remain. They are hideous and my back was agonising for a few days. Despite all the pain glad I did it - it was quite an amusing story to tell the group later on!!! We went out to a club our last night in Xi'an and all these adorable Chinese girls dragged us into their group of friends and were so excited about dancing with us. It was so cute!!!!! And so we then got an overnight train to Shanghai! I love chinese sleeper trains - they are so cute and comfy and so much fun - its like being at boarding school!

Haven't actually had much time in Shanghai but we've seen some of the main sights... walked along the bund by the river where you can see all the famous massive buildings including the pearl tower. Yesterday we went to the museum. It was really cool to see some chinese art - its so amazing how intricate it is! We then had lunch in the french concession, this area in the city that still looks really European and gorgeous. Last night we went to a bar called Cloud 9 in the Jingmao tower, supposedly the highest bar in the world... it was really posh and was fab to dress up and have delish cocktails to break up being a scummy traveller - London prices here though! We then went on to a jazz bar which was good fun - ended up staying out til 4 and then had a whole palava with room key not working and having to get hotel staff to break the lock - NIGHTMARE - didnt get to sleep til about 5! And so I leave you knackered and having searched high and low for an internet cafe... head to Yangshuo now... will be in the countryside now so opportunities for internet may not be likely. Keep the emails coming - loving it!! lots of love.xx