OKay, so here is a quick blog of the last few days. we are soo busy its really hard to update day by day :(

monday 18th - we trekked the great wall! its was.. unbelivable, nothing u could capture in a photograph. the sheer size and the beutiful sourroundings..wow is all i can say. it was so steep, it is embarressing how unfit we both are. we were on a tight schedule with our trip, we had 2 1/2 hours on the wall. so we walked towers 6-14 in the daytime and it was 34 degrees. i (laura) found it very very difficult adapting to the heat today, feeling faint alot. In the afternoon we went to the forbiddon city. this is where the emporer and all his people lived. Again, this was such an amazing place, alittle bizarre nicole says. as its smack bang in the middle of the city. Huge place, red royalty houses with gold roofs. we learned aloth about the history :) yea learngin
On the eveing, we wnt to a food market, which we loved! grasshoppers on sticks, starfish, sea urchin, testicles, chicken heart..everything on a stick. we went for vegetarian noodles..but an old british guy approached us, saying that his deep fried insect was much tastier..and crunkched it. ugh gross.
it was great to get out and see the city at night! it is sooo busy, everyone is walking around at night, socialising, shopping ect. vibrant and buzy. we of couse, go out i a group, but stony assures us that it is very safe..just keep an eye for pick pockets.

tuesday 19th - we got up late..totally overslept. when we finally left, we went to the summer palace! gt a taxi and james left his wallet in the taxi! so now he has no bank cards/money..not good! we wnt into the summer palace and hung around the 'lake of tranqiul pleasures (i think its called).. it was very relaxing. went to starbucks for lunch, had a sandwhich and stupidly a frappachino. we figured starbuck would be safe for somehting cold and icy. but no. well get to that in a minute... boarded an overnight train at 7.30pm to xian.

wednesday 20th - The overnight train is insane!! 1 cabin, 6beds..it was like a morgue. tiny compartment that u cant sit up in, only lay down. quite the expeience! was really excited as iv never been on one brofre and it stared off well - abbi was giving out massages, which was great. however felt lil travel sick. woke up in night with makick diahrea and there was only squat toilets!! imagine u have to aim for a hole, because ur peeing from ur bum.. but the smell of the toilet in general makes u heave in the sink. its awful; . WANT WESTERN TOILET!!!!!! was feeling all all day after this. Thinking it was the frapachinno made with ice. b*****!!

in the afternoon we visted the terracotta soldiers. made from clay, each was different. they were all found broken, but the archelogists have put them back togetehr peice by peice. its fascinating. 7000 soldiers in total. put underground to protect the emporoer when he dies and goes into the underworld! wicked!

muslim quarter souveneer shop and food on the evening! :) was fun. but chinese students keep following us, wanting to talk and practise english. flattering but annoying!

Thurday 19th - we both still feel ill. still both have diaherra and are boarding another 16hr train today !!!! diet of immodium and water coming up. xxx L&N