China

Sorry about the lack of updates but China still does not want its people to know about the world outside. Only internet access was in hotel and very expensive. Now in Sydney, Jan has had food poisoning since we arrived and been very ill. In bed at present, 12.30 on Wednesday here in Sydney, so you will have to put up with my story of Beijing.
On arrival something of a disappointment poor visibility due to awful pollution and just masses of concrete buildings, could have been anywhere in the world.
Once we got into the heart of Beijing and did the tourist sites, Forbidden City, T'men Sq.,Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and the Zoo then everything was as wonderful as we hoped.

The most amazing day of all though was the hash trip to a non-touristy part of the Great Wall. 3 coach loades of hashers arrived in a small village about 100k out of Beijing.We followed a trail onto a long climb up onto the Wall. Still in dis-repair and with lots of prickly vegetation the trail went for about 2 hair-raising miles along this magnificent creation with stunning views every way you looked. We had hit on a clear day and these are evidently not as common as one would hope. Getting down was tricky as well but we all made it back including Jan, on her first hash, although she did a short cut trail back off the Wall.
Loads of drink and some great local food was waiting for us on our return to the village followed by a boisterous "circle" at which Jan (virgin) and I (worried as to where she was) both got down-downs.
Lots of other tales to tell not least of my "massage" in the hotel, the story of this will wait until we return, a good tale to dine out on for many a month!!!!!