Hi there, just a quick update to say we are doing fine, sorry we haven't blogged for awhile not much internet access here, also we have been very busy!

 

We spent a few days in Shanghai, amazing place, full of shops, high-rise offices with a smattering of old colonial building - prinipally on the famous Bund.  Lots of people stare at us and afew of the brave ones will shout hello or come and chat and practice their english.  Also in Shanghai we visited an art museum and yuan gardens.  The weather wasn't always great so we missed the French Concession.

 

After Shanghai we moved onto Hangzhou, for the heaven of China (apparently) West Lake.  Unfortunately the weather was bad so we were stuck in for one day.  Went to the quietest Irish bar ever and played pool with a Chinese guy called Bobby, and went to a German bar for St Patrick's day - yup got it abit mixed up!

Hangzhou was nice when it cleared up, but still busy (at least to us!) this quiet place is home to 6 million people.

Have been really getting into the tea, when in China ou just have too, my favourite is Jasmine.

Also have got to say, the hostels here have been really cracking, travellers out there China HI's need your support!

 

From Hangzhou it was another sleeper train to Beijing, we shared with a guy called Joe and Mr Woo, they helped us order some food from the very confusing Chinese dining cart.

 

Beijing has been a real revelation.  More on that next time, as we are tired and have to get to sleep for a early morning trip to the Great Wall!

 

Love you all, lots of love from Katie and Patrick XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Well by golly we are here, can't believe we made it and that we didn't bottle it!

 

So mainland China eh?  Here are a few words I would use to describe it:

Grey, BUSY, bizarre, confusing, beauracratic, hectic, old and modern!

 

The train ride from Hong Kong was wonderful, after all this time riding the rails we finally got to go in a sleeper!  Ha, here is the only place we could afford to do so!  We had a four berth but no-one joined us so we were on our own.  We got slippers, a toothbrush and a big duvet and wow two pillows - better than alot of the hostels.  Plus the food wasn't bad either.  Each carriage gets a big flask of hot water to make tea and noodles!  The actual scenery was very industrial for the most part, or we would whisk over VERY polluted waters and fields full of rubbish.

 

Pulling into Shanghai we realised that getting around was going to be difficult with our big bags.  13 million people live here.  No-one queues and in crowds you have to develop very sharp elbows very quickly! We got to the hotel but had to be transferred to another one, this resulted in a big argument between the taxi driver and the hotel staff (don't think he knew where to go) we didn't know what was being said or anything, but we got there in the end and the hotel paid so that was good.

 

Upon check in we came across something that we haven't experienced before; the guy did not know what British was (hope that doesn't sound all British indignation, stiff upper lip!).  We tried to explain that we are English, and he didn't know that either, Patrick tried to point to it on a map in our 'point it' book and then he thought we were from Ireland.  We thought we got it cleared up in the end, but then coming back from dinner he called us back and asked us again what nationality we were and he had got a translator this time.  Still not sure if he gets it, I suppose it is quite confusing! But they are very strict about paperwork (our passports were scanned to use this internet).

 

Today we had some breakfast from one of the street stands, a kind of pancake omlette thing, a pockie (a big dim sum) and some wierd tea with big soy bean balls in it! 

 

Then we went to Shanghai Museum which was great, some wonderful things in there which were made (for example) in 13th century BC! So ornate and skillful. Took a few hours and still didn't see everything.

 

Just had a wierd all you can eat in 90 minutes buffet in a place called Hawaiian Food that was a mix of Italian and Chinese.  As I said everything seems so bizarre.

 

Now we are in an internet place which took some searching for and we are trying to print Russian visa stuff off by using google translator to the guy who works here, not going well!  Our next section of the trip is looking more and more unlikely, but more about that next time.

 

So we are ok, hope all our readers are too!

lots of love from Katie and Patrick XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

 

 

 

 

Well we have finally hit China... well kind of. Actually we have just polished off five days in Hong Kong (alot of it spent waiting for our China visa - damn bureocrats.) Wondering what Hong Kong was like? Watch Rush Hour 2 - it is actually fairly accurate except that everyone speaks english and no one is killing chickens in the street. If you haven't seen either Rush Hour films then frankly you've never lived.

Along the harbour front in Kowloon there is a walk of fame for Asian movie star (the traditional stars and handprints deal. So we had a wonder along - hoping to spot Jackie's. We needn't have tried so hard. The massive crowd was a dead giveaway!

Of course HK looks it's most amazing a night, down at the waterfront or up on the peak. Hopefully Katie's expert photography will do it justice. We are now in Macau, which like Hong Kong was leased out for ages, only this time to the Portugese. It really is a fascinating place, where Chinese and mediteranian culture mixes vibrantly, from 17th century chuches to one the biggest collections of casinos in the world. In fact round this neck of the woods Vegas is refered to as "America's Macau!"

So look out for more updates soon as we head for Shanghai.

 

Laters.

 

Patrick and Katie