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So today was all about the GREAT WALL OF CHINA!
Mike told us that we were leaving at 8:30 am so we had to be ready by then. So Emma, Gina, Harriet and I decided to go and get some breakfast to take with us on our three hour journey. We walked down the street and found a little outdoor shop that sold water and food. So after buying two bottles of water and some popcorn for breakfast we headed back and jumped on the bus.
Considering we didn't stop talking until 4 am, I was surprised we were even up at all. That didn't last long, all four of us fell asleep on the bus, along with almost all the other volunteers. It was a good job that the bus was comfy with reclining chairs!
After arriving at the Wall, Mike got us tickets for the shuttle bus, entry and the toboggan ride down. So we headed towards the buses. On the way there we came across market stalls and decided we should stock up on food and water and I also needed a pair of sunglasses because it was sunny and hot and I may have burnt a little…. Anyway, first was the sunglasses! I managed to get the man to give me the glasses for 60 RMB instead of 180 RMB! Looks like I'm getting good at this haggling thing! After that I was pretty much on a roll with the haggling. I got two bananas for 5 RMB instead of 10 RMB and I got a packet of Oreos for 10 RMB instead of 15 RMB! Totally a pro at this!
Anyway, this is where the walk got kinda funny. We made our way to the shuttle buses, which sutler us over to the entrance-ish of the Great wall. We then had to climb up some steps, then some more steps, then some more steps, before we got to the entrance. Baring in mind we'd all cycled for the whole day before and our legs were burning and the heat was overwhelming, we got to the entrance. After handing our tickets in, we made our way to the start of the hill to begin our climb. Little did I realise that the hill was, you guessed it, ALL STEPS! A HILL FULL OF STEPS TO GET TO THE GREAT WALL. So Reece and I being the Welshies, decided to bomb it and walked ahead of the group. I think i managed to get a quarter of a way through the steep hill of steps before my chest and legs gave in and I was like no I cant carry on! So Reece and I stopped and waited for the others to catch us up. You have three options to get to the wall, the first being to walk up that gigantic hill of steeps, secondly to ride in a ski lift and thirdly to get in a cable car. So a few of us decided we were never going to make it to the top by walking and we split into three groups. A lot of the volunteers walked, a few decided to take the ski lift and then there was Harriet, Emma and myself who decided that this was a Cable car occasion.
So after paying 80 RMB to go on a Cable car, which was well worth it for the view on the way up. We finally got onto the great wall of china. The bad side, my legs had gone into shock and start to spasm which was really funny but very uncomfortable. I had also started to burn despite putting suncream on and sweated at lest half my body weight. But honestly that was well worth it! The wall was long but spectacular! Well worth the attempt at walking up it! So Emma, Harriet and I walked along the wall to find the entrance to the toboggan. It was hard work but amazing at the same time and the amount of photos that got taken of us was ridiculous! but so much fun! We finally got to the toboggan and met with all the other PT volunteers.
Let this just sink in for a moment. WE WENT TOBOGGANING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE GREAT WALL OF CHINA! :D genuinely one of the greatest's experiences of my life so far! It was so much fun, I would do it all over again!
After everyone came down, we headed back to Mike, where we jumped back on the bus to Beijing. We went out for food at this restaurant where they put a spicy and a mild sauce that boiled in front of you on our table. We then went up to the fridges and picked up sticks of different foods such as broccoli, chicken, sewed to dip in the sauce and eat. It tasted amazing, apart from the spicy one. My mouth's still burning three hours after that sauce! But it was a very different experience and it was really enjoyable.
After tea, we had to get the subway back to the Hostel. So we went on the Chinease subway which is ALOT cleaner than the ones in London and a little roomier I found. So after walking from the subway to the hostel, I sat down and wrote this blog and tried to get on the internet which I'm failing at doing….
Second Day in China - Legs died, but feeling great about my haggling skills ;)
- comments
Michelle Dunning Well Jessica we are all enjoying reading your blogs. Can't wait to see the photos - it sounds amazing. Love from us all xxx
Peter Jones Jess it sounds fantastic, Your blogs are so brilliant. So glad that you are enjoying the experience . Just been looking at the photos, they really are amazing. Nana will see them when she gets home. Love from both of us xxx
aunty maz WOW jess I am soooo jealous!! what an amazing experience you are having. if I was 20(ish) years younger I would be on the next plane to china!! keep blogging huni I'm living my china experience through you!! big hugs xxx
Linda Jones WOW Jess photos are amazing. Whose this Chinese boy that you have picked up, he's in every photo so far. Can he cook? It looks and sound like you are having a fantastic time, half of me wishes you were here as I miss you, and the other half wishes that I was with you. Be safe and keep blogging. Luv nana