Well we made it safe and sound and in style by blagging a free upgrade
on
the plane!

Got here at 5.45 this morning having had no sleep only to find we had
no
hotel room until 8am. After using the hole in the ground we went for a
walk
to the Forbidden City and Ti'ananmen Square and found out we were
objects of
bewilderment!! Get stared at all the time, but they all seem to be
relatively friendly! A bit like living in a goldfishbowl, or being a
celebrity.

The city itself is madness, signs everywhere and nothing that we
understand,
and the roads are a free for all even when the lights tell you its safe
to
cross cars and bikes come from all directions and you just have to leap
out
of the way!

Hotel is ok, beds are made of rock and a sandbag for a pillow. Seems to
be a
bit in the ghetto and when we leave we walk throught the back streets
straight into a market where people wash their hair and clean their
teeth in
the street! You think it's another planet until you look round and see
the
local cinema showing Spiderman 3 and the KFC Colenel beaming at you
from a
huge neon sign!

Had our first meal out this evening, very bizzare! Met an Australian
man who
was very helpful, he is married to a chinese woman so he told us the
best
places to eat and the cheapest way to do things.

The restaurant was an experience in itself! After deciding not to order
Large fish head Soup. Farmer wrapped the bad meat parcels, bad and sad
joss
stick north pole fish, we stuck to the simple chicken and rice and it
was
quite nice. learnt a lesson though ordered 2 dishes and a bowl of rice
and
there was waaaay too much, apparently people buy dishes to share still
only
cost us 6 quid for a feast!

Right then its off to find a bar to get in with the locals, which
should be
fun and a bit like charades.

Bye for now

Love Bec and Si xxx