Beijing Day 4 Tuesday 26th Aug Today ended up being a muddled day. Fitting in what we haven't fit before now and also becoming a little orientated and wishing I had a chance to explore properly this enormous city. We wandered the paths of "The temple of Heaven" an ancient place where sacrifices were made and the gods appeased for harvests, weather, happiness and long life. Its like a huge park with various buildings around. 90% of the area are lawns but the gr...

Beijing Day 4 Tuesday 26th Aug Today ended up being a muddled day. Fitting in what we haven't fit before now and also becoming a little orientated and wishing I had a chance to explore properly this enormous city. We wandered the paths of "The temple of Heaven" an ancient place where sacrifices were made and the gods appeased for harvests, weather, happiness and long life. Its like a huge park with various buildings around. 90% of the area are lawns but the gr...

Monday 25th aug A blue sky day in Beijing Another hotel breakfast where the huge assortment of food out on tables has me ending up at the table with the most bizarre selection of food, Russian bread, processed cheese, drinking yogurt and coffee are today's choices. Today is special - we are going to the icon of China - the Great Wall. Its a two hour bus ride to the mountain range and on the way we hear some statistics, the guides always talk in such hug...

Sunday 24th august Walking in History -Both ancient and Modern. Blogging at a window overlooking Beijing. Its a pinch-me moment - the "i cant believe I am here and now" moment. Infrastructure is incredible - the buildings are taking my by breath away in their audacity to defy gravity Apartments are built in their dozens, reaching up to the skies and out to the horizons. There is a road which is long enough, wide enough to land any plane in the world, if I ever...

We tumbled off the train and our group met together sharing our stories of a "night on the train" before following the crowd to the exit and the waiting tour guide of Beijing, Ming, (Mind you we are rather obvious in this place, being the only westerners seen so it wasn't too much trouble to spot us.) Our group split for breakfast some preferring the safe taste of McDonald's but four of us ate some delicious street food, warm tofu with savoury pieces and a rol...