Thurs 17th Breakfast (museli) and coffee at hostel. Lele said before she left that would give us 25% on our drinks for the day. She said even though she couldn't quite understand the lyrics to some songs, she very much enjoyed the music. We were given gum from a smiling  Chinese man from last night - he obviously enjoyed it...or he thought our breath smelt. One or the other. Had lunch (vegetable bake) with Dan and Louise who had decided to get married in India...

Wed 16th New arrivals! Jeremy had left and Dan and Lousie (Lou) turned up. Both from York - the first to identifiy me from Kent, I was impressed, "You sound just like Aunt Tracy." Ah that'd be it then. They had travelled a hell of a lot - South America, South Africa, Thailand and India. Good for future travel tips. A full dorm four men and four women. Yay I'm in a half and not a minority! Egalitarianism here! Now we can ALL walk around in just our pants and -...

Tue 15th In and out of sleep. The open window lets air flow in and also voices from outside early in the morning. Along with a faint clock bell/chime. The Spanish guy and Red head were up and out early. It was then I discovered there was a bloke in the bed adjacent to mine and his girlfriend in the bed opposite to me. Must have been very quite getting in. They were up before us too, couldn't quite catch their accents. Chinese? American? European? The ear plugs w...

Mon 14th 33°c sunshine and cloud. We were joined by Jeremy on the visit to the Terracotta Army. So we were all up early and out the door. We needed Bus (5) 306 according to an online blog. The fare was ¥7 (£1), it was more of a local bus, so there were 12 stops before the Terracotta Army. We were to get the same bus home - about 1 hour ride. The bus station is next to the train station which is a 2km walk (not far). The queue for the bus was extensive full ...

Sun 13th What a sleep! At last. On the hostel's blurb it says it has "The comfiest beds in China." They do indeed! The air conditioning may not have worked, but with the softer matresses and pillows and the fact there were 3 of us in the dorm (less snoring!) a good sleep was had. It did wonders for the congestion and headache that still clung to me from Beijing. Coffee then breakfast in the park. A nice start to the day watching people play with their children....