Just a quick update. Had a great dinner last night but made absolute pigs of ourselves. Ordered three dishes and fried rice. Dumplings are magnificent! William made me up a vinegar dipping sauce with some of his own blend of chili paste added. Very hot but yummy! Also had chicken and cashews and veg and chicken with mushrooms. Had a few drinks and showed the staff some photos of home and family which they enjoyed. Went to bed very early and had difficulty sleepin...

The day dawned and was very cold as usual. Had brekkie in the hostel again and then headed out to Xidan shopping area, about 15 mins by taxi. Whilst on the subject, there is no way on earth that I would drive anything short of a Sherman tank on a road in Beijing. Cars, buses and assorted wheeled and non-wheeled traffic go in all directions at all times. Just sitting in the back of the taxi is enough to cause ulcers. The amazing thing is that we haven't seen one a...

Up very early after a long night's rather fitful sleep. But at least there was enough of it! As far as I can tell, the matresses in China are all made in the same joinery factory! We both put coats/jumpers under our hips to prevent bruising! Had a lovely breakfast of French omelette for me, and toast and jam for dad, washed down with China green tea. Yum! Cost: Y38 (a bit over $6!) Left home and caught a cab to the Zhongguancun area to investigate a new mobile ph...

Well, we finally arrived in Beijing after a wild ride from Singapore that really left us exhausted. It was rough! I slept a little but fitfully, and dad almost not at all. We rocked in at around 07:14 local and headed through immigration and customs. It was fairly uneventful other than the official in uniform who came flying by on his official Segue vehicle to deliver some presumably important message to another official. Those things are awesome! I want one! For...