Well here it is, blog entry number 1!

What a day I have had so far! After a long boring 10 hour flight I finally landed in Beijing at 6.30am (local time). But seeing as this means in the UK it is now really my bed time, I was feeling pretty tired. Desperate for a wee I seeked out the toilets. Not to my suprise there was a lovely queue. As I got to the front it came to my attention there were 3 toilets; a disabled toilet, a sit down toilet and the famous Asian Squat toilet. As I stood waiting with my legs crossed I was quietly hoping the next toilet to become free wasn't the squator! Low and behold, the squart wee'er comes out and I have to jump in. To my rather pleasant suprise, I was very impressed. Nice, clean and much more hyginic than me getting my bottom anywhere near where someone else's bottom has been! But what I didn't know is, what way do I stand? Do I squat facing the door or do I have my butt facing the door? All in all, my first 'squating' experience (abroad, lol) was a success!

I left the airport and decided sod it, I ain't gonna pay 10 pound for a taxi when I can get the bus for one pound sixty. I am a backpacker now after all. So I tried to find the correct bus. No one in China seems to speak English. I took a good guess and jumped on board. In fact, I would more say fell on board. My bag by this point already, was bloody heavy and toppling me over!

On the bus I got chatting to a guy from Oz. After telling him where I was from he replied 'oh yea, I've been to England before, I went to some place called Salisbury!' What are the chances!

Finally at the hotel and I'm completely shattered. Had a 2 hour nap, shower then had this massive urge to grab my map which I stole from a China Libary Book (my bad) and trek into the land of the unknown!

First stop - Tian'naman Square! Now I knew it was fairly close but but after walking for an hour (yes ONE HOUR) I realised I was well and truely lost. A friendly yet wierd Russian guy came to the resuce as he was too lost and we found the place together! I quickly said my thank you and goodbyes and did a run for it. Found the 'Square' rather impressive and interesting. Ok thats a lie, it wasn't really that interesting, it is after all just a big square. After a little wonder, I thought about how I was soooooo hungry. My problem was though that no one wants to believe there are English people in the world and all the menus were in China. By this point I was so desperate for food I did the one thing I said I would most definaltly never do! I had a MacDonalds! I know, I know. I had never been so happy to see those Golden Gates in my life. But as expected, the burger was greasy and tasted like s***, but still, I had food in me.

Next stop, Temple of Heaven. I worked out where I was on my map and headed towards the Temple of Heaven. Then after over an hour of walking again, I realised something wasn't quite right. After a quick check of the roads I realised I had been walking the complete opposite direction! So back I went. By the time I got back to my starting point I had had enough. But could I find my hotel? Argh! That took another hour in itself! But I was determined I would find it myself and not have to get a taxi or ask for help. Think I need to learn how to read a map!

I walked so much today I actually thought I might end up back in England! The roads here are nothing I've ever experienced before! Cars and bikes come from everywhere at every angle! Take no notice of traffic lights, no one else does! I worked out the best way to get across alive is to get in amongst everyone else and just follow!

Off to get some grub for tea now. Wish me luck!

Will add photos next time. And try not to blabber on so much. Just can't help myself.

Missing you all.