14th September 2009 - 16th September 2009:

We took an overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an but when we were booking the tickets they only had 'hard seats' left. There are a few different classes of seats on Chinese trains and this is one of their lower classes. We thought that it would be okay but……… it wasn't!

Literally, hundreds of people crammed into the carriage, some even without seats just standing or sitting on the floor. Everyone was smoking and the lights were on for the whole night - wouldn't mind but it was a 12 hour journey.

We got through it with just the one tantrum (well two if you count the one just after the tickets were purchased - I can hear you all now….. 'Poor Sean'). When we did arrive in Xi'an we were pleasantly surprised with our hostel, it was a beautiful building with lots of little courtyards, a pool table and western food…… chips, pizza & garlic bread were quickly ordered.

On Tuesday we went to visit the Terracotta Warriors. It was unbelievable to think that these tombs were created more than 2000 years ago but only discovered in the 1970's and were designed on such a huge scale. The highlight of the day had to be when some Chinese lady asked if Liza could hold her baby and take a picture - we are sure it is sitting proudly atop her mantel piece right now!

When we got back to Xi'an City, we took a tandem bike ride around the 10km City Wall. For those people who have only ridden a regular bike, a tandem bike is much harder then it looks, especially if the person on the back seat is purposely using their weight to move the bike in the opposite direction to the way the person on the front seat is trying to steer whilst laughing uncontrollably - Bad Seanie!!!!

We finished up Tuesday by going to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda - this is Asia's biggest fountain show and was very impressive. Liza was in her element and even jumped into the fountain for a picture, at which point some Chinese guy even tried to take a few snaps of her as well - the blonde hair was really starting to cause a bit of a stir.

We are thinking that if the budget starts getting tight towards the end of China we will just plonk Liza on a stall and charge people to have a picture taken with her - we will come back millionaires!!

All in all Xi'an was really good fun but we are struggling more & more with food - we are now living on the 'Snickers, Chips & Beer Diet' which seems to be working well although is not quite meeting the 5 a-day requirement.

On a final note we are fascinated and amazed with the fact that Chinese babies don't wear nappies, seriously!!! They just have trousers with a slit in them that means they are open from the bum down for easy access and apparently the baby needs to tell their parent when they need to do their business - not a nice sight when there is the odd accident which we have had the unlucky pleasure of seeing.

We had been desperately trying to get photographic evidence - whilst obviously trying to be as discreet as possible so that we weren't arrested and thrown in prison - and just when we thought we had failed a bus ride on our way home to the hostel provided us with the opportunity to take the prized snap.

And then faster than your everyday Paparazzi outside Mahiki Liza had opened her bag, whipped out the camera, pressed the button and click….. Chinese baby with its arse out!!!

Next stop Shanghai - on a sleeper bed train ticket this time to make Liza happy (anything for an easy life!!)