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Before we even started our travels there was a typical palava at the airport when at one point we weren't even sure we'd be able to get to China! We hadn't checked in online 24 hours before (we were never told we had to do this) and the flight had been over booked - brilliant. Eventually the woman at the desk got us seats on the flight (this was whilst Darren was gonna go down to STA and Kay was about to start frantically calling) but not together so when we were on the plane we moved about 3 times (then we moved for someone else).
Proper emotional and sad goodbyes at the airport. Although we have a date when we're coming back (21st April 2011), leaving the people you love most for six and a half months is one of the hardest things.
Candy got given a diary (thanks Kuz!) that she's been keeping updated regularly (kind of) so we know what we did.
Not even there yet and Candy says she "feels like a badly dressed travelling tortoise".
We started out in Beijing and flew out of Shanghai 8 days later...
Beijing
Managed to get from the airport using the subway - all Chinese and no one speaks English, we done well! Had a welcome meeting with our guide Deona at the hotel, there were 15 in our group from all over the world. All had dinner together and we both managed to get through the meal using chopsticks. Didn't really get as much food as you could with a good old fork. Candy thinks she may have discovered a new diet - the chopstick diet.
On Day Two we went to the Great Wall of China. You have the option to walk up or get a cable car. We chose to walk. Possibly a mistake. This Great Wall of China is very high up. And there are literally a million stairs to get you up there. We do not excerise and found this, how shall we put it - a struggle. However, we managed it, after many stops along the way and getting taken over by 90 year olds. It was quite a misty day so views were not as good as they could have been but still an amazing experience. Have alot of respect for the people that climb the really high bits! Got a cable car back down (used our heads this time) the car was quite open with just a thin barrier between us and the floor below but it was nice and quite calming. That evening we went to see a Kung Fu show which was good.
On Day Three we went to Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City. Our guide Deona told us that she could not tell us about something that had happened in the late 80's at the Square as there were police all around and she could get in trouble. Even to the point that they had police and government officials dressed normally who mingled with tourists so you wouldn't know if they were listening. We couldn't imagine not being able to speak freely out in public. It was really strange. Went onto the Forbidden City which was good if not a little repetitive. Glad that we went to see it though. All met up again that evening after some free time in the afternoon to catch the overnight sleeper train to Xi'an.
Beijing wasn't really what either of us expected really. It's nowhere near as built up as we thought it would be and the people are, in a word, just plain rude. They spit everywhere and to quote Candy - "do. not. even. get. me. started. on. the. toilets!" The public toilets are all basically holes in the ground. You have to squat. This is apparently got hygiene reasons but we don't see how it's hygenic. There were alot of TV's everywhere which lead Emma to wonder "did the Chinese invent the TV? Is that why there are so many around, because they're showing off?" Little Emma and Candy (courtesy of Jo Galea Creations Inc) had a really good time and posed for lots of photos. We will try to get these uploaded asap.
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Jo Eeeekkkk get the pix uploaded my lovies, well wen u not too busy jetting round the world!!! xxxxxxxxxxxx