Huakang Hotel Beijing

... the like have disintegrated parts of the wall. There were many parts we simply could not hike, either they were too dangerous, or you would have to do rock-climbing (with ropes and such) on some sheer drop offs.

Our first point of forest detour I somehow persuaded the guys I was capable of forest navigations- I only got us lost.- But if we had to be lost, what a great place to be. The hills are so steep that we had to continually use the trees jutting out of the mountainside ...

Oct.10th....

The one were Blondy had the Chinese flu on the great Wall of China, and English turned out to be the "second language" in the world..!!!!

The train left Hong Kong station at exactly 15.45...Not a second later and we were on board after a passport check and luggage check. Passports with the new visa´s all okay so we were on our way to Beijing!! We bought 2 sleeper tickets and this train was so full, that we could only get the 2 top beds in a ...

... I am trying to speak Chinese (with a horrible accent). The only thing that does kind of bother me, is that I’ve seen LOTS of girls giggling at my feet/shoes. I’m not quite sure what that is about. For one thing, I think they think its funny that I don’t wear stilettos everywhere I go. Last year, there were women wearing heals at the great wall!! (Maybe they like foot pain! After the feet binding was over, they moved to painful shoes ...

... I rather be really hot. Ok, when I am hot I will remember this. In fact last night, jacked up on my decongestives and wearing my full array of clothing - I kept praying for a hot flash - damn, if only they were programmable. Stop worrying now - I am on Asian soil and putting my mitts and hat on and getting ready to join the throngs....and buy toilet paper...that hose thing???? Maybe nice in the summer. Winter? Just wet and cold!!!! Tomorrow Great Wall!!!!! Love, D.

Beijing, China the fastest growing city in the world and the second largest city in China with a current population of roughly 12million people and we were just 13 students and 2 teachers in the middle of it all. The aim for our trek to China was to learn organisation and leadership and to experience a completely different culture to the one we were used to. That meant no internet, mobile phones or fish and chips for a month. It also meant that ...

... with a western toilet ... hurrah To get to the bed we need to climb some steep steps up towards the ceiling. The bed is essentially a mattress on the floor, but it looks comfortable enough. Despite our room being compact, it is wonderful and full of charm. Our room is locked with a padlock which is the most unusual security I have seen in somewhere I have stayed, but I love the quirkiness. The room opens into the communal living space and at the heart ...

The generation of North Americans born between 1965 and 1980--in Canadian writer Hal Niedzviecki´s coinage, the "Malaise Generation"--seems to have pretty much given up hope that any good will come of this place called Earth. Halle Lasn, Culture Jam Today I enjoyed Beijing. I saw a totally different China than the crazy streets of Beijing and Xi'an. First of all, after a weekend of rain, we have had blue ...

... guy who owns the Benihana japanese food chain where the chefs cook in front of you and toss the shrimp tails in your shirt pocket. Now I don't know about you but this guy seemed pretty successful already so I don't know why he's still flying around the world selling appliances...he should be home enjoying his retirement years. I guess it's hard to kill the entrepreneur spirit in this fellow. Anyway, we part ways when we board the plane ...