So today was supposed to the big day! I got up at 6.45 and dragged myself down to Leo hostel ready for the Great Wall. As I was sitting there I knew I wasn't feeling great, my stomach is still in knots like it was before I left so I decided to change the tour to tomorrow , very kind of them to do! I headed back to kings joy and hopped into bed. I'm sure poor Melissa was probably wondering what on earth was going on so I just let her know my stomach is still being a total spaz. Time to visit a doctor when we get to xian! It's not like I'm in horrendous pain but the discomfort is definitely limiting my trip. So I slept for another two hours and luckily mel woke me up. We got ready and headed to the viewing bar, then Starbucks for coffees and green t!

After an hour or so of chilling we figured out what to do. We decided that I would head to collect my visa from the embassy and then head to the summer palace while Melissa did some washing. I was partly excited because it was my first solo trip in Beijing! Lets go! I grabbed a summer palace map I spotted on the 'swap a book' stand and headed to get the tube!

The tube was crazy as usual. I got loads of looks, I think also because I have tattoos and not many women in Beijing appear to have tattoos. I must look like some crazy foreign woman at times! I got on line 2 then changed to line one and had a short walk to the embassy. Visa approved for Vietnam next month! I then headed back into the silk market to get the tube but sadly got lost between the swarm of Asian women shouting things at me like 'honey u wannn Gucci baggg' and 'what do uu wannn girl? I gat it!'. The lengths these people go to get a sale is incredible! Finally someone not overly motivated by money finally showed me the way to the tube! Ha.

I then arrived at the summer palace and loaded up on water. It was boiling! I was dripping with sweat. The summer palace was pretty beautiful. Just the kind of thing I like. Lots of nature, lakes, flowers and most importantly plenty of photo opportunities! I located an amazing place on the map and sat there for a bit and thought to myself how bizarre it was that I was in Beijing. I remember a friend who went travelling telling me that China was insane, and he was right! But it's also really beautiful and different and that's what travelling is all about really. So after silent contemplation I asked a Chinese man if he could take a picture of me as I noticed he has a professional camera, so I lent him mine and job done! He ended up being able to speak some English and had an interesting conversation about how no one ever asks how old the trees are. He said 'People always ask how old other people are, however they never ask how old trees are!' Then he just sort of walked away. Ha ha.

I left the summer palace happy in what I had witnessed and started the 3 tube journey home. I picked up some egg custard tarts and tried to force them Into me!! I always know there is something wrong when I have to force myself to eat! Not good! I then check the room but mel wasn't there so I waited In the bar for her. She ended up coming in really flustered and I knew something was up! Turns out a local restaurant tried to over charger her and her group by a LOT of money. Mel only ordered a beer and rice with veg and tried to charge her 16 yuan which is a rip off around here. Out of principle the group were not accepting that and a full scale riot near broke out! Mel said she was just so thankful I wasn't there. I'm kinda gutted I missed it ha ha! The offer in the bar/ lounge area was dumpling night where you get involved and make dumplings and eat them! Mel, a Chinese guy and I all got stuck in and had great craic! At about 7.45 a group of English guys came in and demanded dumplings, saying 'I still have 15 minutes?!? What the hell where are the dumplings?!?' Typical English p**** The poor Chinese staff looked scundered.

As tomorrow I'm going to attempt the wall again we retired to bed. We also have a full scale snorer In our dorm who Melissa and I aren't a fan of :0)