We cross into China after a relatively smooth bogey change and minimal customs parlarva and arrive into Beijing at about 2pm where, another friendly face is waiting for me. Bobbie. Bobbie squeals when she sees me and runs up and gives me a hug. Its so nice to see a friend after three weeks with a bunch of hostile a******s. Bobbie escorts us out of the trains station to the waiting transfer van and we are driven to the hotel. I turn everyone lose after chec...

Official last day as a Tucan Travel Tour leader, wow its been a wild ride from start to finish. I managed to get a much needed sleep in, which ended up costing me dearly as Andy came to my door at about 10am asking me if I wanted to go to the Summer Palace with him. This mean I had to have an ultra quick shower and then a rush complete repack, that never ends well. I met Andy down in the lobby and we went to have something to eat at the Wangfujing shopping c...

Early start this morning and off to the Great Wall of China again for me with my group. It took us about two hours to drive there, which was actually quicker than last time. On the way our guide Bobbie attempted to teach us all some Mandarin, she told me I should consider learning it properly as my pronounciation was perfect. I had already tried to learn it before I had left Australia, but I was also trying to learn Russian at the same time and I think in try...

I managed to sleep in this morning, well I tried, the train was so damn hot as no one could seem to get the attendants to open any of the windows and my room stunk. Our Mongolian friends personal hygiene habits would have made a monkey blush. Funnily enough they did straighten themselves up about ten minutes before they arrived. No consideration for the people they were sharing with at all. We got off the train at about 2pm and were met by our local operato...

I groaned as my alarm went off at 5am this morning and realized the enormity of what was in store today. I got up and dressed quickly and trooped down stairs to wait for my passengers and pray the taxi was not late. The taxis arrived on time and I herded everyone outside and gave everyone a number for their train berth so that we could just get into the train and swap around later if necessary. We drove to Beijing Central Railway Station and went through sec...