25th August Ni Hao from Beijing. Yes we have arrived and finished the first leg of our journey and have fallen right into Part Two. The final train journey from UB to Beijing was probably the best section. The scenery was brilliant as we passed through the Mongolian Steppe grassland into the Gobi desert. For miles you wouldn't see anything apart from the odd Ger tent and roaming camel. We went through border control which as usual was a long slow process. This time though we went through what looked like a carriage shed where our train was hoisted about 5 feet into the air whilst they changed the train wheels due to a different gauge in China. The following morning we awoke, with the Great Wall following the train tracks south toward Beijing. The scene was just as I had expected - green fields with a mountain backdrop, slightly hazy and lots of people - either working, wandering, cycling or sitting. We have now had four days in Beijing, in whih time we have visited most of the key sights, had an evening out at the Acrobactics and of ourse walked the Great Wall. The weather has been hot, humid and hazy at the best of times - today though it has rained all morning adding a misty atmosphere to our visit to the Forbidden City. Beijing has amazed us as a city. I wasn't sure really what to expect, but it is a colourful, vibrant and above all clean and modern city with very very friendly people. They all want to help you. Aside from the politics, I wouldn't think for a minute we were in a communist republic. I think much of Beijing's shine probably has to do with the hard work they are putting in preparation for the 2008 Olympic games - but we will compare to other cities as we travel further. The gardens around the city are pristine - even the motorways are lined with the best kept gardens, roses in bloom at major intersections and not a single piece of graffitti. We joined with our new group yesterday - a younger bunch than we were expecting although we have an Italian who I rekon is 65ish so somone to look after along the way - he has already lost his passport so we can't be doing a good job. We have about another 5 days in China before we fly from Chengdu into Lhasa. We are told that the internet is slower so perhaps expect less updates. Re: the situation in Kathmandu, the tour leader is in contact with her office and if we don't make it an alternative will be found. So no worries there please. That's about it for now!!! Rob and Kylie. x