I woke up this morning with the flu. Eyes watering, runny nose and a sore throat, but you wont hear my complain. Like most blokes I will just work through it.
I was booked on a tour to the wall at 7 and the guide was knocking on the door at 6.30. Lucky I was nearly ready. Spent the next 2 hr picking people up. There were some Uruguian's and I was kidding with the girls in my best Espanich...Buenos dias me nombre hhhhhjuan. They loved me. the tour guide, Scarey Sherry, also took a shine to me.. she's only human.
First stop was the Govt Jade shop. The usual overpriced tourist junk.
Then the Ming Tombs. Mmmm enough said
The Great wall is not really Chinese. They would usually call it something like The Very Auspicious Wall, or The Better than Average Wall, or The Wall for Walking and Fleecing the Tourists. having been there it is a Great wall. I was impressed. There is a cable car to the top and you can also get a toboggan back down. That could have been soo much fun but about 20 of us got stuck behind a young girl who was packing it. We had lunch up at Mutianyu as well. I have no idea what we ate but it was all good.
On the way back was the silk shop.
I saw a great shop today.."No Good Just Satisfactory" What a great name for a shop? I recon we could franchise it right across China.
I am still struggling to get north. You would think in a country this big with soo many people they would have a train EVERY day. I am gonna try for a bus tomorrow if I can find the station but it is not ideal cos I think it will get into Erlian at about midnite and I gotta find some where to sleep at that hour. I remember a few years ago arriving in Bumcrack India at 3 am and searching for a place to stay, not fun.
The plan now is leg it to Mongolian embassy to get visa. Back here to check out. Subway towards the bus station. taxi to station cos I cant find anyone who can tell me exactly where the station is. If I get the bus will be in Erlian late tomorrow, cross the border next day and bus from Zammyn Uud to UB that day. It might be a couple of days before you hear from me.

Its 4am and Ive just been outside (did I mention Ive got the flu) are we loving 24hr KFC iced coffee? You should see all the people outside. there are hundreds of people over at the train station, I saw a woman walking around in her PJs, the taxi drivers are sleeping in their cabs, there are people sleeping all over the footpath and people sleeping in all the 24hr fast food joints. Try sleeping in KFC at home and you would be chucked out pretty quick.