And to Ping Yao

Have had a quieter few days with a move from my hostel to another about 1 km down the road and round the corner - for $3 more I got a doyble bed and my own bathroom and it was closer to the subway. Had a coffee with firends of Michelle and Owen's who was to know that htere were so many Starbucks in Beijing and on the same street but we finally got together and I spent a pleasant afternoon being relailed with stories of living in Beijing. I then ventured tothe main railway station adn managed to book tickets onthe train first to Ping Yao and then onto Xian. Went tothe Summer Palace and walked my feet off yet again - even managed to catch a bus backa to the nearest subway felt like a local!

Michelle had told me about a bookshop/library/cafe inthe embassy region (Sanlitan) near the Workers Stadium Juli around where you stayedso did my subway thing again and another long walk but eventually foud it and had a read and a very nice 'sandwich' ( really a crusty roll). Also wnet to see the Bell tower and Drum tower - unfortunately the Drum Tower was under repairs so only got to walk up 100 steps!

Today I have had an adventure in that I got a train from Beijing West Railway Station Oh My people people every where and traffic amazing queued up in a waiting area for boarding along with 100s of others stood squashed like sardines for about 45 minutestill boarding and then found that the seats were allocated so it didn't really matter who got on first!! Had I known I'd have waited but as it happeden I sat in a single seat at the rear of my carriage and had room next to me for my bag - the man who's seat it was officially let me stay there - vey comfortable newish train with airline seats airconditoned to 24 and the 4 hour journey went very fast. The next bit wasfun got off at Taiyun to get a bus here to PingYao was told to get the 116 which I did a very old double decker it went up the street and aroundthe corner and everyone got off so there I was not knowing what to do and looking very confused so a couple of people kindly in broken english asked what I wanted - I said PingYao and a woman took me by the arm and led me to the bus depot where the bus acutally left from and helped buy my ticked and took it and got it stamped for me then made sure I was on the right bus - interesting ride I can't get used to the traffic here it looks chaotic but seems to work. Ping Yao is a walled city and was in the Advertiser a few weeks ago haven't seen much yet but dinner was Ping Yao Beef their speciality - a plate of thinly sliced and very nice corned beef! with no vegies or even rice or noodles. My room is quite large by Chinese hostel standards with a double bed set into an alcove TV jug and tiny bathroom. tomorrow I am off to explore the 'city'.

love to you all

Di

27 Jul 2009