Well the train was great and the fasting worked. I had a soft sleeper on the overnight train from Beijing which is effectively first class, and it was really comfortable. I was sharing a 4 berth cabin with a French couple who we were part of big tour group of 50, most of whom popped in for a beer at some stage. Anyway they told me about large earthquake in Sichuan province (my next destination) on Monday and Xian had felt it quite significantly,but I arrived and everything seemed fine.

Anyway the hostel I'm now at is still standing although the some of building is closed off. It's much livelier hostel so it wouldn't be the end of the world if I was delayed here for a couple of days whilst I divert my trip from Sichuan.

Saw the Terracotta Warriors yesterday on a hostel organised trip. It was good day and a great way to meet people at these places, generally because you all end up in the bar afterwards. The warriors were really cool, and I'll post some of the photos on the site, and it was a break from all the temples I've seen. I managed to sneak in a cheeky Zoolander pose!

Xian itself looks like any other city, but it is encased by a 14km wall with a north and south gate. Today I hire a bike and cycled it with a couple of the guys from the hostel. It's baking here at teh moment.

There's a couple of things I've noticed since I've been in China. One is the Hgggggghhhhh, hggggghhhhhhh, hggggggghh, Hggggghhhh...gutteral type spitting that you used to do as a kid to be older is prevalent amongst the Alpha males and some females!

The other is that the concept of queuing in that quite British manner has not quite reached these parts yet. I had to straight arm a 85 year old lady yesterday as she tried to bundle me out the way for the bus. I jest of course, she was 65 and I did help her up afterwards!!

There was an 'English Corner' at the hostel last. This involves lots of locals rocking up wanting to practice their English and chat with the travellers about what it's like in London or wherever etc. It was really cool. I was just getting tucked into the last couple of chapters of Peter Kay's autobiography when all of a sudden I'm surrounded by 12 local Chinese wanting to have a chat. They were really funny and we had quite a laugh about all sorts of stuff. I was in my element. I'll be quite sad to leave my hostel (Backpax) as all the staff were really cool as well.

Then had an in depth conversation with my Chinese room mate Tommy about all kinds of stuff. I told him that I was off to Kunming tomorrow and he went in to great depth about how the girls in the south of China are the prettiest. It's because of the water apparently!

Thanks for the emails of concern regarding the earthquake but it's all good.