Well we are now in Zhangmu at the border of Tibet and Nepal and it is our last day here before we cross over and make the four hour journey to Kathmandu tomorrow. Tibet has definately been the highlight of our trip and the last four days the most special.... this is what we have been up to16th February Yesterday we had tried to go to Jokhang temple in the centre of Lhasa but it was closed because of the new year festivities. Tashi had asked the police and was to...

We are in Lhasa, Tibet and all I can say is it is the most beautiful place we have ever been to yet it is so depressing to see the streets lined with Chinese soldiers with Kalashnikovs and the friendliest people in the world being opressed in manner that we couldn't even imagine. Anyway let's start at the beginning...The train from Chengdu was absolutely stunning and the journey of a lifetime. The only other westerner on it- an Australian called Kirk quickly ide...

Monday 8th February Yesterday after posting our parcels (lots more shouting and the boxes being opened and all of the Chinese newspaper we had used to wrap it being confiscated- we had no idea you are not allowed to send it) we decided to go to the Hanyangling Mausoleum. We had read in the lonely planet that it is the best place to go in Xian apart form the Terracotta warriors although it is hard to get to so very underrated. They weren't exagerrating. We had ...

Ok first of all we have a little confession to make- 2 weeks ago we had to come back to the UK for a couple of days so that I could do interviews for my social work masters. As it would have been impossible to see or talk to everybody and we didn't want to offend people we agreed with each other that we both wouldn't tell anyone at all. As it was a combination of jetlag and bad colds prevented us from getting out of bed anyway except for me to attend the universi...

Nihau from Beijing! Well arriving here from spick and span Japan was a bit of a culture shock! We went to a local restaurant on the first evening and ate a meal surrounded by people spitting on the floor and throwing half smoked cigarettes still burning down next to us! The weather was also a shock at minus 10 degrees. The guesthouse we are staying in is a really sweet local place where the people are super friendly but it's pretty chilly with our room opening...