Hi All

Finally have some down time to try and bring our adventures a bit more up to date. Left Phuket on 26th February and flew to Hong Kong. Ken and Ann stayed in Macau with Berni whilst Jim and I went into a hotel in Taipa (just over the bridge from Macau). Suddenly colder and cloudy!! Macau is like Las Vegas on steriods. Huge skyline all lit up at night. Wynns casino by far the best and most classy. Did a tour of all the big places including Grand Lisboa and MGM Grand and the Venentian which was in Taipa. We could see it all lit up from our hotel. The portuguese infulence is very strong in Macau and Taipa and the old town and little village were great to explore. We were taken to some great local restaurants and had a private booth in one place where we had a traditional chinese breakfast with Kate Young (ex Mecca). Did a trip to Hong Kong island and found the 'Jumbo' floating restaurant, which I last visited in 1978.

5th March moved to Kowloon for a couple of days before starting our trip into China. Unfortunately wet and cloudy those days but tried to get a few shots of the famous Hong Kong skyline and surrounding area. Found some great local places to eat. Got some funny looks but great food and very cheap!!

7th March We flew to Beijing. Met at the airport and transferred to our 'local' hotel in downtown Beijing. First impression was rather depressing. It all looked very grey and grim. Mid winter so no green, just bare trees and lots and lots of bleak grey buildings. Took us over an hour to reach hotel (Beijing is huge with massive road systems all full of traffic 24/7!!) Took us a while to get our bearings (service is not great in hotels and shops there). Met our tour guide Gary Lee and also our eight other travelling companions for the seven day china highlights tour. Gary was great. He gave us all a comprehensive booklet with all the details of where we would be going and some of the history of the country. Three great girls from Scotland, Ambreen and sisters Sadia and Aliu. John and Christine who have a ski club in Darwin, and Kassandra travelling with Lyn and Sel, all from Queensland. Our first night was introductions over a great meal in a local restaurant where Gary gently explained to all how to use chopsticks and what to expect from our time in China.

Early start next day with a visit to Tiananmen Square. Crowds of people everywhere and it took a bit of getting used to the fact that people push and shove in front of you. Its not rudeness but just what they do, and with 1.3 billion people it is not so surprising but hard for us 'polite' westerners to get used to. Next stop was Maos Mausoleum. People in uniform everywhere. Security of one sort of another is quite overt everywhere you go. On to the forbidden city which is huge and one of the best preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China. Home of 23 successive Ming and Qing emperors it was built between 1406/1420 by one million laborers. Very impressive (our pictures cannot do the place justice) Taken on a rickshaw ride through little local streets and then on to a private house for lunch. Next day we had a 7.30 am start with a three hour bus journey to get to a section of the 'great wall'. We were very lucky as the weather was bright and sunny but freezing cold. The river where we started our walk from was frozen over. Simatai section of the wall was not very busy with tourists which suited us well. Most of us managed a good 2/3 hour climb up very steep and uneven steps but the views were spectacular and we then came down by cablecar.Then taken to local place for lunch (cost about three pound each) great food very simple and fresh.

Next day was Temple of Heaven and surrounding area followed by Summer palace and lake then we all had to get (with all our stuff) to railway station for overnight train to Zian. Ken Ann Jim and I share a very small cabin so rum and coke help to get us off to sleep!!! Zian is the ancient capital and walled city of China and has lots to see. Whole group taken for dumpling banquet followed by Tang Dynasty Palace music and dance at the Grand Opera House. Great fun. Main attraction of Zian is (of course) the teracotta warriors. We met the farmer who first discovered the warriors whilst digging a well. We were not allowed to take photo's but he signed the book that we bought. Three main sites have now been uncovered but what is still buried goes on for miles and the Emperors buriel mound is still not uncovered. Next day up early (again!) for flight from Zian to Shanghai. Land in pouring rain and cold. Get the bullit train into town. Speed up to 301 kms per hour but told it can go as fast as 440 kms at certain times. Hotel right in city centre. Many new high rise building give it a much more modern feel but still pushing and shoving crowds on the street remind us that we are still in China. 'The fourtrekkers' (Us) take the cheap ferry over the river and go up the tallest building in Asia. The Oriental Pearl tower is 468meters. The views are good but atmosphere is not very clear. Found a hugh area of modern shops and restaurants but started to get a bit fed up with people constantly trying to sell you dodgy watches etc. Not really enough time to explore Shanghai but whole China expereince was well worth it and I think we all got a great deal more out of it than we had expected to.

Arrived in Sydney on 16th March (but that is another story!!)