Beijing

So we've spent the last 4 and a half days in Beijing. We managed to make it out to the great wall for a day which was probably the highlight of our time here. We also went to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square which are pretty close to where we're staying. Here's a pic of part of the forbidden city. It was so packed and there are hardy any trees so it was really hot.

The area where we are staying has lots of Hutongs which are like alleyway things that Chinese people live in. They mostly don't have bathrooms so they all use the public toilets nearby(May you should never visit China), and tonight on our way home we saw a lady washing her hair on the street. It's a totally different world from the shopping areas set up close to the Olympic Stadium with just about every designer brand store you can imagine. We also have a sex shop next to the hostel which is just about the dodgiest shop you could ever imagine. It's about the size of a broom cupboard! The owner (and his kids and dodgy mates) hang out the front all the time. We're also pretty sure that the hotel we're staying in is running some sort of casino or brothel on the second floor. Very dodgy!

The traffic here is just ridiculous and apparently it's good at the moment because they've been cracking down due to the Olympics. On the way out to the great wall we (a bus) were overtaking other cars and buses around blind corners. Some of the guys at the front were filming it as it was unbelievable. Lucky for the bike lanes that the oncoming cars can drive into when they see a bus heading directly towards them! Anyway here's a picture of a bus doing a three point turn on a street while cars and bikes keep trying to drive around him.

We also sampled the local specialty which is Peking Duck. Here's a picture of Nathanael with the duck skin which you dip into sugar and then eat. Tasty!

The best thing about China though would have to be how cheap some things are, especially when you're in a dodgy neighbourhood like us. Anyway Nate got this bubble tea for 3 RMB which is about 45 cents. Bargain. Although we went to a flash new mall a few days before and i was charged 19RMB for a bottle of water!

We also met up with some expats at a bar the night before and they took us to this dodgy little restaurant down an alley. The meal for the four of us including a beer each was 68 RMB which is a little over $10.

Anyway we met up with our Vodkatrain group last night too. 6 English lads and 6 Norwegians (3 girls and 3 guys). Everyone seems really cool so it looks like it'll be a good trip. Tomorrow morning the train leaves at 7.45am and we should arrive at the border of China and Mongolia about 13-14 hours later. Apparently the crossing can take up to 5 hours so it could be a late night.

That's it for now. Hopefully next time you hear from me it'll be about riding yaks!