It`s been a while since our last update but we`ll have to blame China and their internet censorship. They were very strict with what you can do on the internet.　So, our trip to China started in Beijing. We didnt have the best of starts as we arrived minus a ruck sack. Thankfully it arrived 24 hours later, otherwise I would have been wearing the same clothes in every picture!!

The first day in Beijing we got our bearings and tried to get used to China. We visited a Llama Tibetan temple which was very nice ^ see pics for details. The initial impression of China was one - the air tastes a bit mank, two - where are all these people coming from!! That night we met up with our tour group which consisted of 2 Irish (us), 2 Dutch, 2 Swiss an American, a Brit and a Canadian. All of them very nice. We had the best Duck Pancakes ever the first night.

Our 2nd day consisted mainly of our trip out to the Great Wall. They didnt call it great for nothing. It`s completely unique and remarkable. A true wonder of the world and something you have to see to really appreciate. We tried to take as many pictures as possible but they could never do it justice really.

Our third day in Beijing was a rainy one and started off in Tianamen Square, a gigantic Soviet style square that hits home that China is communist. It was interesting and more than a little scary to learn how revered Mao still is and the Chinese peoples opinion of what happened during the student riots in 1989. A lesson in the power of propaganda and state controlled media. After that we visited the Forbidden City, the former home of the Emperors. It`s a section of Beijing close in size to the centre of Cork City that was for the Emperor and his gang basically. All the peasants had to wait out side the walls.

Our final day in Beijing was spent visiting the Temple of heaven and the surrounding grounds. There were hundreds of people there singing, dancing and placing all types of Chinese Sports. Very different to parks in Europe. That afternoon, we visited the summer palace, the summer residence of the only Chinese Emperess. The highlight of the gardens had to be the Marble Boat. Apparently she spent all the money meant for the Naval fleet on building a marble boat (it looks spectacular but doesn`t float). Soon after Japan destroyed the Chinese at sea. So that was Beijing. A very interesting city which gives a great taste of China. I really do wonder how the olympics will go though as the pollution is pretty bad and the majority of signs are in Chinese, no English.