Monday 7th May Sick all day in bed. Ate in the hostel bar. That's pretty much it for me. Frank kept himself entertained by doing laundry - taken in and laundered by the hostel - then doing a little shopping, fruit, bread, water, more tissues for me (!) and sun bathing/reading Stephen King's 'Thinner' on the roof terrace, chatting to the hostel owner, then 'Mary Berry' and generally watching the world go by. Tuesday 8th May Rested, we were up early for breakf...

Saturday 5th May Up and out early, no coffee with Mr Wheat I'm afraid. Our train left at 10:20 and it took just over 4 hours travelling at 302kph. The trains tilt and glide, the smoothest of flights, so to speak. It smells of food alot. Then after a long time of people's breath...and farts - not mine! It was warm with hazy sunshine, around 18- 20c, but not nearly as polluted as Shanghai, or even as bad as we expected. Transfer at the railyway station to the me...

Thursday 3rd May I woke up with a sore throat - little sleep again due to snoring/ hard matresses and it being colder at night. Frank gave me his quilt as an extra liner, which did make a difference, but he was colder too. Not being able to get back to sleep and felling groggy and grotty, I just got showered, which was a little walk away, but I felt refreshed. Breakfast outside in the sunshine and Mr Wheat gave us coffee in individual filter bags. Very bitter, ...

Tues 2nd May Population over 9 million. On our train ride was a Mother and child & Dad, who had one of our seats.. he suggested Frank has his seat until Frank pointed out there were two of us. A quick swap ensued. After an hour or so they got off and a different mother and child came on (with friend who was seated seperately). Smiles and waves at her little girl a few sentenances were exchanged and she gave us an orange, a rather juciy and sweet one, then t...

Mon 30th April The weather is still sticky, humid and hazy. Also getting hotter, 27-28°c. This morning near hostel as we ventured a few more sneaky photos were taken - par for the course. Fuzimiao was our destination and on the way we spied a scooter shop. Brand new big scooters for ¥3200 (£450), no wonder they are everywhere. Approaching Fuzimiao we got directions from a Canadian couple, who lived and worked in China and talked chinese food with them. Askin...