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Today was brilliant. And I mean brilliant..I just LOVE China! We got up at 6:20 (my roommate Mairi and I decided we'd much rather stay in bed and look at pictures if the Great Wall but common sense won in the end) and met the others at 7 in the lobby. We were lucky in that a bus had been booked for us (we're taking public transport for the entire trip as there are only 8 of us) and so settled in for a good snooze on the way to the wall. Also it was freezing! After being in 38 degree Bangkok it was a bit of a shock for me to suddenly be in 5 degree Beijing but I must say a nice shock as its so satisfying costing up in my hoody, two strappys (wasn't so prepared for this weather with actual long sleeved tops) and leggings..mmm! I'd hoped to sleep for the 2 hour journey but Vivian decided to give us the lowdown on the history of China. I decided to come to China because I love the history so much so perked up considerably while she told us all about the different dynasty's that ruled imperial China until 1911 (from Chin to Quing..both sound the same), how the building of the Great Wall was first just the unification of all the walls of the 10 districts of China when the Chin dynasty came to power, and then how it was solidified into a superior protection from Mongolian threat. A build that cost the country a third of its national treasury (showing how important it was to the security of the country) and finally about life in imperial china which I loved learning about in the book Wild Swans (foot binding, men having to pay their future wife's family 100,000 yuan to marry..don't get any ideas Dad..etc). She also talked about the cultural revolution: an attack on the educated, the arts and pretty much anything cultural and learned, started by a paranoid Mao in 1966 which only stopped upon his death in 1976. It was all really interesting and was actually a major point in my personal statement..I love Chinese history but had better stop before I bore everyone to death!!
Anyway I'm sure I can bore you with more of that later but e arrived at the Great Wall very excited and it was a beautiful bright blue skied cold day..perfect viewing weather! We decided to take the cable car up to the highest point accessible to tourists and I had the strange sensation that j was going skiing as there were bits of snow in the mountains! When we got out at the top the view was breathtaking. I honestly don't think I've ever seen such a beautiful sight of the bare mountain range with a snaking ancient wall going far into the distance with tiny watch towers still visible on the horizon. It was really really just stunning! It was also that perfect spring English weather and completely silent and peaceful as we were at the less touristy wall sight. I think I'm in love! I also was constantly reminded of Mulan which i ferl did the wall justice in a cartoon-like kind of way. We walked along the wall for a couple of hours snapping photos, climbing the watch towers and generally just enjoying the view.. I think I have at least 100 photos on my camera!! Will be boring everyone with the beauty later!
We then decided to toboggan down which was so so fun! The toboggan run went all the way down the mountain and was beautiful..once again kind of reminded me of skiing whizzing down the mountain with a pile of snow every now and again! The guy in charge decided to tease me about my survival whistle on my backpack (curtesy of mum) and thought it was hilarious blowing it and jabbering away at me in Chinese knowing full well that I had no clue what was going on. When I finally escaped I flew down the mountain and did have a heart in mouth moment when Mairi behind me suddenly couldn't slow down and careered into me at top speed..I lived to tell the tale worry not..and she wasn't going that fast..but still!!
When we were down we went to a dumpling restaurant and I had my first authentic Chinese dumplings. We had pork and cabbage, pork and leak and chicken and with my little bowl of soy sauce and vinegar tasted AMAZING. Bit tricky with the chopsticks though I'm not gonna lie!
Anyway we're now back at our hotel having pottered out to explore and visit h&m for stocking up on woolies (they have a sake on so bought a lovely head band for £1!). The weather will be getting warmer over the next week so shouldn't need them for too much longer, Hong Kong is currently at 26 degrees and rising -help! Back to normality soon I'm sure but loving how fickle I am over temperature :)
Townsmen square, temple of heaver, pearl market and Peking duck are on the to do list for tomorrow :) sad that apparently the queues to see pickled chairman Mao are ginormous being filled with dedicated citizens so won't be able to see him..excuse for another visit to china I feel!!
Lots of love, Flo x x x
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YKW Peking duck!! Yummy!!! Stay safe my dear xxx