Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Today was our last day in Beijing, so we grabbed some breakfast (I had rose beauty tea, delicious), and headed straight back to the silk market to finish our unfinished shopping buisness, after we'd finished faffing around with packing (I never will get used to having a rucksack that you have to pack from the bottom up- way too complicated for me).
Headed straight for the bag floor. Got a nice "mulberry" clutch, and appear to have got a goodh deal as caused much angry foot stamping and high pitched Chinese from the seller), and we both of course got new "longchamps". Also fancied a nice skirt but got put off pretty quickly when they were trying to charge us £50 for something you could get in h and m for a tenner...some of them must think we have "mug" tattooed on our foreheads! I know they say the tourist markup is about 1000% but some of them were seriously taking the mick! Still, we kept powering through with our favourite lemon iced tea so we could make the most of the more reasonably-priced shops! We were particularly fond of the jewellery floor, which included walls covered in earring (of course, "all gold, all gold, and cheaper for youuuu"). Nic bartered hard and also caused lots of stamping and even got the store manager involved to get her price....we must be getting good at this. Walked away with lovely little bags full of goodies to add to our heavy backpacks.
Decided to head to the temple restaurant for lunch, which involved two subway trips (were pretty pro at this now), and a trek across town. Almost gave up as we wondered down a side street getting progressively more lost, but exceptionally glad that we kept going. The restaurant is inside an old converted temple and the food and service was amazing- our favourite bit was when we had coffee and they bought out three large glass jars full of marshmallows (these were no ordinary flumps!), and it took two people to ceremoniously place 6 of them on a tray with our petit-fours. The restaurant also has a hotel attached- would love to stay next time in Beijing!
Only ha a short time after lunch before we needed to get to the train station, so we asked the restaurant to grab us a cab- easier said than done in the Beijing rush hour! Especially as Friday is the busiest day as they all get out of the city for the weekend. Anyway, we got out at tian an men square (the centre of te Chinese universe, seriously), so we could have a final photo with the chairmans face before we departed. Nic kindly bought me one of the spangly sticker and tasseled encrusted 15cm high headbands beloved of Chinese children- causes even further paparazzi style photography. By this point we now running late for our train so we're forced to dive bomb the front seat of a golf buggy in order to get out of the sweltering forbidden city. Unfortunately also took out the poor mans wing mirror on the way! Shows that were getting pretty good at managing Chinese style scrummages.
Hotel once again refused to call us a cab, and as its pretty impossible to get one by the side of the road we made the trek to the subway- annoying many people on the packed train...we are essentially the exact copy of Chinese tourists on the tube!
Made it to Beijing West Station to find that it's twice the size of KIngs Cross and Waterloo put together- had a bit of a mare finding passports to get into the station but eventually were in. And now we understand why you have to be there 40 minutes before your train..you queue, then you walk the length of Brighton station 10 times just to find your carriage and the trains are absolutely massive, and tall! We're on a "hard sleeper", and yes it's hard to sleep. There are 6 beds per section and no curtains. Had a nice chat with a chatty Chinese man who clearly wanted to practice his English...he did teach is about Chinas taxes and the ins and outs of the one child policy! He thinks the English only eat fish and chips, and the weather is always cold, so we trie to set him straight. Sleep was interspersed with people coming by to stop and have a look at us- and to take some photos of course. Oh and mic managed to drop her pillow onto chatty mans head in the middle of the night and wake him up. But we survived the night just fine and got awoken to get off in PIngyau in the morning!
- comments
Wendypops Omg definitely forgot to mention - always pay the extra for soft sleepers! its creepy to wake up to being photographed in your sleep!!! Have an amazing time and stay safe!! xxx
Ellie Wow sounds like you have been having an amazing time. I've read it all, is the weather still baking you? Thought I would update you on England, the country was nearly entirely swept away by rain, some houses nearby were flooded to the first floor and were evacuated by boat, our drive was practically washed away. Murray just lost to Federer, he then cried loads, and so did everyone else! Are you missing us back here? I think you should retaliate and in the middle of the night walk along taking flash photographs of Chinese people sleeping! xx
Candace Dovey Health and Safety is clearly not on the agenda in China. Do they have ANY laws about taking photos? Hope you were wearing your best Pjs. That thing about the weather in the UK - he's not far wrong . Rain and rain and sometimes a touch cold too. Love to you both , Candace XXXXPs That tea sounds just scrumptions (especially the the Rose Beauty).