11/02/2010 Beijing China
Stayed in the nicest hostel yet, a little place inside a traditional futong residential district with an inner courtyard that had a pool with fish and statues. Free wifi that worked!!! It was so cold (-7) during the day thanks to another freak weather pattern. Thats Capetown and China now.
It was so cold that I had to wear all my long sleeved clothes for 3 days straight. I had packed all everything else after the camping and sent it to Australia, wish i hadn’t now.
Visited the Forbidden City where the Chinese Emperor used to live but was disappointed that it had not been properly looked after. I then took a whole day to go and see the Great wall at Mutianyu. I walked from station 6 to the end and back again and then climbed over the wall and down to the other side. It was scary as the wall was so high and i didn’t think i’d get back over it. Luckily someone had made a rough ladder by one of the towers and i could climb back up. Getting down the mountain from the top was fun as they had a toboggan run to use.
Walked through Jinshen and Beihei parks in Beijing and ate loads of Chinese food. I am much happier now after my Capetown and Hong Kong fiascos. My only annoyance is that i am 9 hours ahead of the UK which means I’m asleep by the time the kids get back from school. I can write emails but its not the same as talking.