Beijing
Apologies for the lack of entry to the website recently but we’ve been to busy to find the time and when we have the time it seems the computer or the internet access hasn’t been up to scratch. Anyway enough excuses.
We arrived in Beijing and immediately realised that it was Chinese New Year. Essentially the celebrations consist of setting off as many firecrackers or fireworks as you can as often as you can (even in day time) and as dangerously as you can. It was absolutely ridiculous! Anyway, our hostel was immediately opposite the railway station so we dropped our bags off and then headed into Beijing.
We learnt another immediate lesson - there is no queing system in China and the administration goes beyond ‘red tape’. It took us an hour to change some money at the bank. Another lesson learnt but by this point we were so tired we got something to eat and then rested up for the next day.
Beijing has totally cleaned itself up for the coming Olympics and it is a really beautiful city. We immediately headed to Tianemen square (albeit in the wrong direction because I read the map wrong). The square is massive and people tend to just hang around, flying kites or trying to sell Chairman Mao watches - naturally we purchased one of these complete with waving arm. We then went into the Forbidden City which was very impressive but left both Karen and I cold. It is hard to say why really but it might be because it is in such pristine condition and almost appears unreal. Having said that the gardens at the back of the city are worth seeing and exploring.
We spent the rest of our time in Beijing exploring the public parks which are huge and very tranquil. It was here that we got our first tase of being celebrities. People would stop and stare, point at us, and laugh at us. At first I thought that my flies were open or I had something on my face. But no it was because we were Westerners and that is tsill something of a novelty. Fame at last! As our trip around China continued we became used to it and even the request to be photographed didn’t seem too weird by the time we got to Shanghai.
The other highlight of Beijing was the silk market. It was here that you could buy anything - and mostly fake. We spent a great afternoon trawling through the many shops fending off the eager sellers and then bartering our way through our purchases. Two pairs of fake diesel jeans, two ralph lauren polo shirts and a cashmere ralph lauren jumper and 20 quid later we were ready for something to eat. The night market in Beijing is a street of food stalls selling all kinds of exotic food. Stuart, who we met on the Trans Sib, persuaded me to try some snake on a stick - I managed one bite (he finished the lot) and gave up. It didn’t taste of anything and the texture was like rubber. Following that though we had some great eats - Peking duck was a particular treat and so cheap.
It was time to say goodbye to Beijing and travel to Xi’an. Of course we were back on the train for this. This time it was on the hard sleeper overnight - hard sleeper rather than soft sleeper means that there is six rather than four beds in a compartment and no door to the compartment. The Chinese train was much more regimented than the trans sib - lights off on the dot at 10pm and back on at 7am. However, it was clean and on time and it got us to where we were going no problem.