Kevin Tiller

We got to Beijing approx 6am ontime. It was hot. I saw a thermometer saying 25c at 7am, and later on it got to 36C. We got thru immigration ok even though they raised eyebrows at the 72hour visa on arrival, it didn’t appear very popular. The first atm I tried wouldn’t give me any money and the official exchange counter only took cash so that cleared me out of AU$. I did find another atm that worked which was a relief. We also found a place to get a chinese sim and even got it activated immediately and it worked as txted Chelsea immediately.

We managed to get on the Airport Express train but realised that carting our luggage thru the metro, changing trains twice and then walking 1km with them to find our place down the back streets was going to be too much so we caught a taxi at Dong Zimen metro to where we were staying. I called the girl sunny and got the taxi driver to sort out directions. She then met us off the taxi. It was a cute place but jaz was a bit worried about the toilet situation, pee inside and anything else down the alley in the public toilets. We went straight to bed for 3hrs as we were both wrecked.

Amazingly in our room it was silent, no outside noise at all. With air om and wifi so very happy with it.

We got up approx lunchtime and went for a walk in the local area. We found a place to get some food – broad beans in aniseed, stinky tofu with an even stinkier dip and orchid with black fungus. It was good food in a nice place. We then went next door for a coffee (me) and cold drink (jaz). We then found a very cool road to art shops, and knick knacks. We spent a lot of time walking about and buying some small items. Rather than walk back we got the metro and walked a bit. Bought fruit on the way back to our place.

Earlier we had seen a place that hired out bikes so we went out approx 6pm and  cycled to Tian An Men Square. Although they drive on the opposite side of the road, and the roads are crazy busy, the traffic half follows the rules, it’s dead flat and they have mega bike lanes separated from traffic by small fences. So overall it was a geat experience and we got to see more of Beijing. We got back just as it was getting dark (it could have been a bit hair raising to cycle in the dark with no lights). Back at our place we spoke to dawn and the kids on the phone, then went out for dinner round the corner. We had cold noodles with sesame and a heap of eggplant.

Bed approx 11pm after a shower. We were both totally shattered.