Aug 9, 2009 - Beijing: a trains, a bus and beyond

2 nights on a train in China what an experience. Did we mention how clean and immaculate the airport was – you could eat off the floor! So – the train… well on the way to Xi’an was fine – it was late 9:30 pm (Beijing time) Amy and I had our morning porcelain visit (at the airport) and were good for a bit. ... So for 300 yuan we had a personal driver for the Summer Palace and the Olympic Stadium (birds nest) (about 6 hours: and we were going all over Beijing) Summer Palace was the first stop – and estimated we would be there for 1. ... 5 hours.2 nights on a train in China what an experience. Did we mention how clean and immaculate the airport was – you could eat off the floor! So – the train… well on the way to Xi’an was fine – it was late 9:30 pm (Beijing time) Amy and I had our morning porcelain visit (at the airport) and were good for a bit. ... So for 300 yuan we had a personal driver for the Summer Palace and the Olympic Stadium (birds nest) (about 6 hours: and we were going all over Beijing) Summer Palace was the first stop – and estimated we would be there for 1. ... 5 hours....

Aug 9, 2009 - Beijing days 2 and 3

We have just finished day two and three of our stay here in Beijing. ... Our stay in Beijing seems to get slightly longer than what we intially planned. ... We actually have had a very nice time in Beijing over the last two days. ... We were actually not too keen on coming here in the first place as we visited Beijing only nine months ago. ... So Beijing has actually managed to grow on us! Yesterday we actually woke up pretty early - before six in the morning. ...

Aug 7, 2009 - Trans-Siberian - Beijing and first day in Beijing

We have now just woken up on our first day in Beijing. ... The hostel is located in Sanlitun in eastern Beijing and it is very close to the Worker's stadium. ... We never visited this area when we were in Beijing last September and we actually suspect that the area only really popped up since we vistied last. ... People who are more familar with Beijing can object as they see fit. ... Last time, we stayed in south-west Beijing and we hardly saw any tourists so we have clearly found where they hang out now! When we walked around here we also spotted quite a few of the typical western hang-outs such as trendy wine bars and Italian pasta places - the types of places very few locals would go to. ...

Aug 7, 2009 - Tip for travelling the Trans-Siberian Railway

Just thought it maybe useful to put in an entry to give some advice to whoever want to travel the trans-siberia railway in the future.Just thought it maybe useful to put in an entry to give some advice to whoever want to travel the trans-siberia railway in the future....

Jul 29, 2009 - Pingyao

Hi all, Im' sending this one from Xian, tried very hard to send from Pinyao last night and had written the text but then lost the lot and couldn't face re-writing it all. The weather is much cooler than in Beijing but just as muggy and still no blue sky - I bet there are Chinese children who have never seen real blue sky! The rest of Pinyao is lots of touristy shops all small but the people don't hassel so it's OK. ... This morning I caught the 00.Hi all, Im' sending this one from Xian, tried very hard to send from Pinyao last night and had written the text but then lost the lot and couldn't face re-writing it all. The weather is much cooler than in Beijing but just as muggy and still no blue sky - I bet there are Chinese children who have never seen real blue sky! The rest of Pinyao is lots of touristy shops all small but the people don't hassel so it's OK. ... This morning I caught the 00....

Jul 28, 2009 - Beijing

the Chinese there are posing w/ these different statuary for photographs! Must be something very uniquely Chinese, I didn't get it! Back at the hostel I am updating this and then we head to the train station about 6:30 pm for soft sleeper to Beijing overnite. ... arr in Beijing around 7:45 am, saying our goodbyes to K & T since their stay here is in a different location and they are here for 4 more days than we are so planning is different. ... We miss the old, narrow, flag covered lanes and vendors all along the way! We went to the Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch as our friendly hostel clerks recommended, just up the hutong next to Tienamen Sq. ... I noticed in Beijing 1000's battery operated bicycles and all the motor bikes are electric, part of the govt plan to clear the air I expect, but w/ supposedly 14,000 new private vehicles coming onto the streets in China every week. ... Also, lots more new and well maintained public toilet facilities in Beijing. ...

Jul 27, 2009 - 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. ... 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.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. ... 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....

Jul 23, 2009 - Beijing and tired feet

Well 4 days in Beijing and my feet are a little the worse for wear. ... I have never seen so many people in one place it was like the whole of Adelaide had decided to meet in Beijing all carrying different colored umbrellas. ... the queues were long and hot but necessary and everywhere in the Palace was crowded except for one short time when I went to see a clock and which exhibition and the courtyard outside was nearly empty for about 20 minutes I sat and enjoyed the peace.Well 4 days in Beijing and my feet are a little the worse for wear. ... I have never seen so many people in one place it was like the whole of Adelaide had decided to meet in Beijing all carrying different colored umbrellas. ... the queues were long and hot but necessary and everywhere in the Palace was crowded except for one short time when I went to see a clock and which exhibition and the courtyard outside was nearly empty for about 20 minutes I sat and enjoyed the peace....

Jul 22, 2009 - Beijing - Part 2

I survived the hike! It was bloody tough going but I made it until the end.it was quite good, although not as exciting as I expected it to be! In any event, if you ever go to the Beijing and you want to visit the great wall. ... This morning I was looking forward to seeing the solar eclipse, and I managed to catch just a glimpse (see picture) as Beijing was so foggy! You couldn't really see anything! I also went to the Summer Palace, which was very nice! I thoroughly enjoyed it. ... The gardens were good! I also bumped into a nice German guy who was on the wall the day before! One annoying thing though was the fact that he believed that all Chinese people were stupid! He was really pissing me off.I survived the hike! It was bloody tough going but I made it until the end.it was quite good, although not as exciting as I expected it to be! In any event, if you ever go to the Beijing and you want to visit the great wall. ... This morning I was looking forward to seeing the solar eclipse, and I managed to catch just a glimpse (see picture) as Beijing was so foggy! You couldn't really see anything! I also went to the Summer Palace, which was very nice! I thoroughly enjoyed it. ... The gardens were good! I also bumped into a nice German guy who was on the wall the day before! One annoying thing though was the fact that he believed that all Chinese people were stupid! He was really pissing me off....

Jul 20, 2009 - Beijing

From there I went to  Jingshang park, a massive hill that overlooks the Forbidden City, and where you can get good views of Beijing (if it was not so polluted you could see more). ...   This morning I went to Happy Valley, an amusement park in Beijing. ... There is a nice one in Liseberg, Sweden, and another good one is the one in Movie World nearby Verona, in Italy)? Anyway, it was rather amusing to see their reactions, so if you are up for a laugh don't miss the haunted house in Beijing! On my way back to the hotel I realised for the first time how health & safety does not exist in this country. ...

Jul 20, 2009 - Beijing arrival

Arrived here at the Alley Garden Hotel about half an hour ago. The plane from KL to Beijing was one of the older ones with the drop down tv's so didn't watch anything as it ws all Asian stuff - the place wasn't full so had two seats and could spread out a bit. ... Got to Beijing Airport and after a bit of wandering found the Express Train - nearly empty - very clean and fast and about $5 to come all the way into the main city area. ... then transferred to a subway - my map didn't have the line numbers on it and the people I asked said to get the No 3 line so did almost the whole circuit and then swapped to another line to go one more station! got off and was of course totally disoriented asked again for directions and got sent the wrong way so got a cab - could have walked if my directons had been better but glad I didn't as by then I was getting pretty warm in my jeans and long sleeves.Arrived here at the Alley Garden Hotel about half an hour ago. The plane from KL to Beijing was one of the older ones with the drop down tv's so didn't watch anything as it ws all Asian stuff - the place wasn't full so had two seats and could spread out a bit. ... Got to Beijing Airport and after a bit of wandering found the Express Train - nearly empty - very clean and fast and about $5 to come all the way into the main city area. ... then transferred to a subway - my map didn't have the line numbers on it and the people I asked said to get the No 3 line so did almost the whole circuit and then swapped to another line to go one more station! got off and was of course totally disoriented asked again for directions and got sent the wrong way so got a cab - could have walked if my directons had been better but glad I didn't as by then I was getting pretty warm in my jeans and long sleeves....

Jun 23, 2009 - Beijing

Beijing was sweltering when we arrived, and only got hotter. ... This is my favorite place in Beijing. ... Beautiful architecture though! In the evening we travelled to Beijing West train station to buy tickets onward. ...