Beijing Qianyuan International

I've now joined a group and whilst we're getting loads of free time which is a blessing - nothing like feeling like a sheep for weeks on end - and todays group activity is to go visit the Great Wall of China.

If anyone tells you they walked it, they are either lying or went to a really flat bit of the wall cause this was like climbing the whole flipping way...i know i've spent my time in Nepal ...

... and dangers, are those most people would rather choose to walk the road ahead, in others to open up and dig out the old road to walk, although the look is very safe, but because too many people walk all the wealth and resources have long been occupied. Even if the lucky discovery of a small portion of the crowd will certainly be vying with the divided flock. Walk this way, how it would be a big gain?

... ARCHERS in a position for an assault on the enemy.

CAVALRYMEN 180cm in height hold horses reins in the right hand and a crossbow in the left. Thought to serve as messengers during battle.

The HORSES each have sixth teeth, an indication that they are in their prime.

Amid the restored warriors lie a large number of smashed and broken figures resembling the aftermath of battle than the preparation for one.

Spark told us an anecdote - a ...

... my camera to a place here and they fixed it for $50, haha. I was prepared to buy a new camera because my trip to Inner Mongolia is in 2 days. That should be fun and hopefully relaxing. I'll promise to have pictures up for that. We were told that we could stay in a traditional Mongolian hut for one night, but that was not to be. Apparently it is too cold for that right now so therefore we're staying at a hotel ...

... be finished by the end of the year, in time for the Olympics. We were able to see the building that previously housed a Starbucks in the middle of the city, but was thankfully closed down. The tour abruptly stopped in the garden at the rear of the city, and Phil and I bolted to grab some food. We were quite familiar with area, having been lost there the previous day. As we walked down a side street with many restaurants on it, we came across an old ...

... recognize the characters for yogurt, skim mik, and body wash now. At least I hope that's what they are. Of all the diet concerns over here, it'd be a shame if I did myself in. Speaking of which, I stopped for some roadside, deep-fried kabobs for dinner one night. My ability to say gi (chicken) and dofu (tofu) helped me identify half my meal, but I may never know what the rest of it was - it was fairly tasty though ...

... this internet cafe so I'm already forgetting the name of these towns. I end up finding a hotel in this one-horse town but it is full! Lucky enough for me, there is a Russian father and son who know the owner very well, and she opens the room of a sleeping guest, takes one of the beds out of her room (she never woke up) and moved it into her office. This is my room for the night. There also is no restaurant, but the Russians invite me to their room for Chinese instant ...