School holidays

What a busy week it has been. We had one week, well 10 days off. It began with my Aunt and Uncle visiting from Dubbo before they embarked on their 21 day tour of China. They spent a few days with us, which included, all of the tourist sites, lessons in how to use chopsticks, eating, walking, massages, eating, dancing in resturants and more walking. We also took them to see things that they probably wouldn't see on their tour - the wet markets, complete with snakes and toads. Plus Auchan, a supermarket (admittedly a very big one) which my Uncle concluded held about half the population of their home town in it.

It was great having them here - thanks for the Frangelico and let us know how the rest of your travels go!!

After leaving my Aunt and Uncle in Shanghai to meet their tour group, Mark and I met up with our friends Ric and Gin and embarked on a train trip to Beijing. We got a sleeper cabin...it's about a 12 hour journey... and were very excited by the slippers they gave us on the train.

An absolute highlight was the Great Wall. Apparently not built to keep the rabbits out, but invading barbarians. We went to Mutianyu a little further away from the popular and often crowded Badaling. Took the cable car, climbed the very very steep section of the wall and then took the toboggan ride down. Yes toboggan... it was great, what a cool way to get down from the Great Wall of China.

Saw Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Olympic stuff, ate Peking Duck and now I must rest.