Ni Hao!

Sorry have been very busy on our China tour and have only just got enough time to write a proper message. How is everyone? All ok in England?
Sam and I are having an amazing time. If you ever get the chance to, visit China!

Don't think it really kicked in for us that we are away for such a long time until two weeks passed and we weren't going home but has really flown by.

On our tour there are 15 of us plus out trusted tour guide Dragon who is lovely. He is very knowledgable on everywhere we have been and we always get 'dragon dessert' after dinner which is usually a terrible joke. Everyone on the tour is very relaxed and we all seem to get on well.

We arrived in Beijing and met up for dinner with the people on our tour. Actual Chinese food is very different to that at home. We had a lot of rice for the first few days as that is what poeple eat in that area of China-no noodles!!! They have lots of veg which is good and basically, if it has legs then they eat it with the exception of chairs and tables.

We explored Beijing for the next couple of days and went to the Forbidden city, the 2008 olympic stadium and the summer palace which was really pretty. At night we went to see a Kung Fu show at the theatre and although it was good, Sam and I were jet lagged so dozed off for some of it,whoops! We went to the Great Wall which was incredible. Dragon failed to tell us that we needed to climb 900 steps to the top and after that experience I think I should have been exercising more before I came away! Remember our events in Zante Rox? That happened on the wall! Went to the summer palace the next day after a heavy night in chinese bars but was totally worth it as it was stunning. Was a warm sunny day so think that added to it. Dragon managed to crash our boat but we all got off unharmed.

Made our way to Shanghai on a night train. The beds are so squished together that you can't sit up but it wasn't too bad. The toilets are interesting here. Basically a glorified hole in the floor so you can imagine the dillema on a moving train! Explored Shanghai in the day and went to the World's highest observation towerin the Woirld financial centre. We also went to a Chinese acrobatic show and went on a night cruise to get pictures of the sky scrapers lit up at night. Shanghai is a very busy but clean city. Everyone really liked it here. It was National Day so Chinese people get 8 days holiday. We celebrated with something called moon cake, yum! Had visitors in our room at night in the form of cockroaches. Sam was freaked out but luckily we didn't have any in our beds like the other rooms.

Took a slepper train to Xi'an (chi-an). Cycled 14km around the old city wall without falling off, hooray! Went to a market which sold lots of different meats and various other things. Sam had her camera stolen but luckily had uploaded photos the day before so it wasn't ideal but could have been worse and Sam coped with it well. Think I would have cried! Went to see a fountain and light show. Dave you would have loved it, look at the lights! Stood a bit too close and got drenched. Went to the Terracotta Warriors museum and out for a dumpling banquet. Not to my liking, is almost like ravioli with different fillings but they taste weird! Was Kerry's birthday, one of the girls on our tour, so Dragon bought her a cake and we all went for drinks. Tried fire water which is a very strong Chinese spirit and is almost as bad as Raki.

Another train to Yi Chang to take a boat down the Yangzte river where we went through the 3 gorges. We took a little raft through the narrow streams which was stunning and our guide sang us traditional songs.

We are now in Yang Shou (sorry nearly finished rambling now) where we have been doing lots of activities. It is very traveller friendly here, reminds me of Phi Phi a little and has lots of Westerners. Went on a rafting ride through the mountains and saw lots of water buffalo and went to watch comorant fishing. We got up really early yesterday to go on a hot air balloon ride. Was incredible, one of the best things that we've done so far. Freaked out massively when we first went up because you go so high and there is nothing holding you in but calmed down after a while. Most people landed well in a field except for our basket which landed in a tree in someones back garden! We then went on a 25km cycle ride, some on bikes some people on scooters. I had a go on Kerry's scooter but when I got off it carried on going and ploughed into a little old lady. Luckily she was unharmed and everyone else found it quite funny but it was quite embarassing. Think I should stay away from motorised vehicles. Climbed 800 steps to reach the top of a place called Moon Hill, again very scenic. Went out last night to a rooftop bar and got offered a job out here so am hoping it will be that easy in other places to find work.

Went to a Tai Chi lesson this morning with Jim but it's now raining so limited on what we can do.

I'm very sorry for a very dull message but I kow people wanted to know what we have been doing and listing it like this is easier when I've fallen so behind with it! Will try to keep more up to date now as our tour finishes on Thursday so will have more free time. Next stop, Hong Kong!

We have changed our plans and are now flying to Bangkok, exploring Northern Thailand then going into Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Still strongly believe that if people can, they should travel. Every day has been so varied, we've already met some brilliant people and see some incredible sights.

Again sorry for the waffle, message me back if you get a chance and let me know how everyone is and what you've been doing.

Lau and Scatdog: belated happy birthday to you both, did you enjoy your night out?
Toni: have you been getting my messages as got one from you but no replies to my texts?
Lea: congrats on moving in...finally! Hows it going?
Kate: hows things going? Your Mum and Morgen doing alright?
Dave: look at the lights!
Rox and Liz: have an email notification that Sam and I have been tagged in pics but facebook is banned here so we can't see them. Should we be worried?!
Mum and Dad: don't worry I will try to stay away from scooters from now on.