We arrived at the huge modern sprawling building that was Beijing train station. It was much bigger than an English airport it had about 3 McDonald's inside. ( no I didn't try them all out - just 2). Our train was like something from the future all modern and shiny, they call them bullet trains but it looked more like an aeroplane ( it didn't have wings though). Inside there was more space then any plane train or bus I have ever been on. It's weird, why do these ...

We decided to go to the Great Wall today. But it's wasn't that easy. Being budget wary hardened travellers we had to do it ourselves rather than pay to have someone wisk us there and back in comfort. But getting the bus is nearly impossible. They have these "fake" buses that take you on long trips stopping at factories and shops along the way and trying to ware you down until you eventually buy something you never knew you wanted for way more than its worth. Ther...

Today was another one of those days given over to planning. Travelling is not like being on holiday. Often whole days are taken up just organising getting from one place to another and doing boring things like washing. After our previous experiences of getting train tickets we decided to enlist some help. I really don't get it, I mean people moan in England about the train delays or leaves on the line but at least you can just turn up and get on. I'd take that an...

I woke in a puddle of sweat, with a throat ache and saw head. It must have been a good night! Eventually we left the hostel to explore. As soon as you open the gates the City hits you there's no slow build up just wham Beijing up in your grill. We found a huge lake close by away from the hussle and bussle with families rowing boats, kids playing and old men fishing. It looked like a postcard so we just sat and soaked it in for a while, or did we just sit and soak...

Inside the hostel we were welcomed by a young, smiling pretty girl named Edie. That wasn't her real name but young Chinese people give themselves English names that are easier to pronounce, for some reason they are always old ladies names though like Mavis or Bridget. We could see into a lot of the rooms around the courtyard and they were really big and homely with Chinese furniture and ornaments and their own modern bathrooms. We were shown to ours a cupboard ju...