Duck, duck, duck and more duck.

Forbidden City

Military Museum

DUCK, DUCK, DUCK, DUCK!!!

Beijing has one or two things to offer in the sightseeing department. So we got to work and started working down the list. Naturally we saw Tian'amen square and the Forbidden City. In itself a mammoth task, taking most of the day. The city took us hours and luckily wasn't too busy, so we managed to get a few decent pictures with only about a thousand other tourists in them.


Reminding Tom who is boss

After those two we were fairly shattered but still, we headed down to WangFuJing food street to see people eating bugs and other weird things on sticks. Unfortunately the amount of things on sticks have greatly diminished from only a few years ago and the street was just one long shopping alley full of novelty chopsticks and silly hats. Still some of the stalls had food but nothing like what it used to be like.

Of course we did a day on the wall. Climbing the damn thing nearly killed me, steep steps in nasty humidity and heat does not make for a relaxed wander about the wall. The weather was hot and humid so the visibility was slightly poorer than it could have been but still a very impressive sight. Not to mention much easier than my first visit in the snow nearly 4 years ago! To get to the wall we took the cable car/ski lift up and the toboggan back down. There were loads of idiot Chinese guys in front who thought it was funny to stop and go really slowly. They got what was coming to them when a chain of people (including Tom) slammed into the back and one lost his flip flops. I nearly died laughing!

Otherwise Tom did lots of shopping, after a few bartering tips and team pressuring. Tom would stand and try to get a cheaper price and I would walk off saying "oh look they have some here." It was a well rehearsed and successful system!

Tom flew home on the Monday and I on the Tuesday, sadly to work on Wednesday. Holiday over!

Report over for now.

Barnes in Beijing (again)

Bullet train station

Beer museum

 Monday morning rolled round and we had a 07:30 flight to Beijing. Amazingly we got a phone call at 4:40 from a very grumpy Chinese taxi driver telling us he was running late. Not a nice wake up call! Anyway we were at the airport with plenty of time so it wasn't a complete disaster.

Two famous faces on a bottle of beer

 We stayed in the Sanlitun hostel again and I had splashed out and booked us a twin room. Luxury for hostel living!

Only for the one night though, as we went straight to Qingdao for a mini trip to the coast and to visit Sam. I love the bullet train and was feeling a little guilty at not getting Tom a train journey somewhere, so we hopped on the bullet to the coast.

Qingdao is one of the places I am considering to moving to after I finish in Kunming. I loved the place after my first visit so thought a repeat might be useful for finding out if I really like it there.

I do!

We only had the on night and two half days in the city but we managed to visit Sam, wander the pier and beaches and get to the beer factory museum. A fairly hectic and fast paced visit but the highlights were all checked out.

The hostel was on a little pedestrian street with a food alley way behind it. The seafood available here is among some of the best in China; or so I have heard. Other than the seafood, I am still convinced that the food in the Northern parts of China is much better than that in Yunnan. So naturally I gorged myself on street food and snacks every time we walked past some.

Southampton 8800km

We met Sam on the Monday evening, and it seems no matter how many times we see each other or talk, it is still strange seeing someone from home in China. We met him for a drink in an Irish bar and a  quick walk about the harbour. It was a beautiful night so sitting on the waters edge was just what the doctor ordered, a nice chilled evening after the recent chaos of Kunming and school.

Tuesday brought an epic trip to Marks and Spencers, the map was a little misleading as it was about a 30 minute drive. Anyway, I left Tom with a drink in Burger King and treated myself to loads of new (and not glittery/pink) clothes.

An afternoon train back to Beijing and we could begin our Beijing sightseeing adventure.









The day the brother arrived

Me and my biggest kids

After 4 years living in China; Tom finally made it out to visit. I think we were all beginning to wonder if it was ever going to happen.

I could only get a week off work so he spent a week wandering about Kunming whilst I was working. It was a pain but it meant I managed to get a week in Beijing.



Me and Tom with the medium sized kids

Sunday has my favourite classes so Tom came into school with me and we messed about with the kids. Lessons weren't exactly the best I have ever taught but they were up with the most fun.

My favourite part being pairing Tom up in a paired relay race with a boy half his size. they had to clamp a ball between their noses and race down the corridor. Entertaining for me at least, being the judge.

Sunday night we went out to a  restaurant near my house and had an early night. Hideously early plane to catch in the morning so we attempted to get organised and hit the sack.

Next stop: BEIJING!




Me and Tom with the smallest kids doing kung fu.