BEIJING TO SHANGHAI

Finally had time to update my blog. This blog website is partly blocked in China, I can send blogs but cannot view them, so apologies if I have not responded to any messages.

Last time I left you all, I was in Beijing, about to climb the great wall with Lee. Well climb it we did.

We left on a falling apart minibus and speeded towards the great wall which was a good three hours away. The drivers in China are nuts so it was a farily harrowing ride.

Once we arrived, we caught a cable car and began to walk and climb along the 10 Kilometre section of the wall. Before long we were followed by two ladies who became our guides. We didn't ask for this service but there was no way to get rid of them so we let them follow us. Finally, they tried to sell us some maps and T-shirts etc. They were such nice people trying to earn a living so we bought some junk and said goodbye to them. A few minutes later more people appeared to be our guides and sell us crap. This happened several times throughout the journey. I did feel for them all though as they were mostly poor farmers trying to make a living, and if anything they added to the whole experience. The great wall was definately my biggest highlight so far, although my legs ached for two days afterwards!

The next day we caught the train to Shanghai where we have been ever since. Shanghai is vastly different. It is much more alive then the capital, and spares no expense in showing it's wealth. Taking a walk along The Bund was just mind blowing, and contrasts sharply with the slums dotted all over the city. Poverty is rife here too, and I lost count of the number of times I was approached by beggers and hawkers as I explored.

We have spent five days here and head off to Hong Kong tomorrow if all goes well.

Phil Wyatt

Monday October 29th 2007

Dear All...

So we arrived in Beijing. The whole Heathrow thing went very smoothly which is a first for me.

We finally touched down in China on the Monday morning of the 22nd October. We managed to navigate the coach and subway trains without too much difficulty and finally arrived at out Hotel, which is hidden down an ancient looking alleyway in the heart of Beijings poorer district.

It is such a fascinating place. Unfortunately looking like an 'alien' it's very difficult to blend in. Walking down the streets it's only a matter of minutes before someone tries to sell us something or take us on a tour of some kind. But it's not too much of a problem as everyone seems so polite here.

On the Monday evening we met a couple of students who wanted to practise their english with us. They were very nice people, and wanted to come for a drink with us. Before we knew it they had shown us to a back room of this tea house where an entire tea ritual was performed in front of us by a beautiful Chinese girl. She spent an hour with us letting us sample loads of different Chinese teas. It was more fun then it sounds as everyone was so nice. Then they showed us the bill which was 3000 Yuan (about 200 quid!) Bloody expensive tea that, and how could we refuse as everyone was so poilite! We could have done much better things with that money and beautiful Chinese girls then having a cuppa... The students wouldnt split the bill with us either as they were far too broke...

Today was spent exploring the Forbidden city which was fascinating. Avoiding the street hawkers is becoming an Art form. I swear I saw one of the Chinese students from yesterday trying to convince a couple of dumb looking Westerners to come have a nice cup of Cha with them.

Anyway I must stop for now, I am off to a Kung Fu demonstration and the walking ten kilometres along the great wall tomorrow. Just have time for some good old PG Tips

Talk soon,

Phil

Dear all....

I thought I would start this blog a few days before I embark on my epic trip around Asia and the Antipodeans. My flight leaves this coming Sunday 21st October.





I have two Credit cards, two months unpaid leave, 14 flights, 2 trains, 2 ferries and a big packet of Imodium to get me through. I hope I can update this blog fairly regularly to keep you all up to date, although some places I am going to don't have Internet, and predictably, some times I will be far too lazy.

I have been planning and fine tuning this trip since July, so hopefully nothing can go wrong ;)

My companion for the journey is a filmmaker friend of mine called Lee, who has done lots of work in Asia - including several music video shoots - so he knows his way around a lot of the places we are going.

I had a scare recently with Visa problems - the lack of one to be precise! I obtained my Chinese visa fairly easily via a trip to London, but did not have time to get my Vietnamese visa the same day. I sent off for it by post, and then came the major post strike! So I was on tender hooks the last few days hoping my passport would come back in time. Thankfully I got it last weekend. If that is the only panic I have during this trip, all will be well.

The first leg of my jouney will be mainland China. I will be flying into Beijing and getting a train down to Hong Kong through Shanghai.

PHIL WYATT
Cambridge, UK.
18th October 2007


NEXT TIME:

ARRIVING IN CHINA

DOING THE TOURISTY STUFF