We made it ! 7925km from St Petersburg to Beijing by Rail. That’s a major tick in our book. So excited that V has even written a post… and here it is..

Woke up this am to much more interesting scenery. Mountains, valleys rivers and tunnels before arriving in Beijing.

Found an ATM, broke a 100 RMB note (why do ATMs insist on dishing out high value notes that no one wants?) and got on the right bus. Being given detailed directions to your hostel is the best thing ever. It made us feel like Kings just being able to use the public transport straight off the bat.

Bus fare is super cheap at 1 rmb (about 10p) each, though we have now learnt that the conductor ladies do not like being given anything except exact change.

The first thing we have noticed here is that all the signs have English on as well. Even the bus stops were repeated in English.

Our hostel is a lekker spot down the end of a pedestrian market. To get to it you pass by all manner of things being sold, people cooking outside, bicycles and electric mopeds beeping at you to let them pass. It’s chaotic and wonderfull.

We have noticed a few people with dogs. Not sure if they are pets or if it’s just easier to walk your dinner home instead of carrying it.

We checked out Tiannemen square this afternoon and caught the lowering of the flag ceremony at sunset. Lots of domestic tourists out doing the same thing. We had two teenage girls come up to us and start chatting. We weren’t sure if they were trying to sell us something, practice their English or if they were just being plain friendly. It was an odd experience.

Something we weren’t aware of is that once they have lowered the flag, they close the square and boot everyone out.

Tomorrow we will be doing Mao and the forbidden city followed by dinner at a Tibetan restaurant with the lovely family we met in Mongolia. Looking forward to it. Sim is in desperate need of a haircut so we might also brave one of the many hair dressers we have seen so far.

BTW we had the best KFC zingers for dinner tonight. Sim has been craving one for weeks now. We have spotted half a dozen KFCs since arriving. We love China already.

[Picture: V chilling in the hostel’s courtyard]

– Posted from my iPhone