Hello again. Now left China so able to access blog and face book. I missed not keeping a record on line so wrote a diary every day, something I have never done before. I am finding that as the weeks go by country's blend into one, days are lost in travel. All ready the first week in China is fading and I need my diary and photos to remember. ( or is that the old cronie in me!!) well I will keep china brief, but will start with the first day as that was horrendous, how we didn't pack up and go home I don't know!! When we set out on this trip, we packed light, 1 medium suite case, a small holdal and hand luggage, mainly for Bevs pills, and the travel wheel chair. (thank god we did, as that became our luggage trolly!!!) We had already sent home several things that we hadn't worn in the first few weeks so thought we were doing good! The day our tour in china started we were told that we kneaded to take the subway to catch the bullet train. No taxi I asked, to far she replayed! So we walked dragging our own bags down the street, down stairs to the subway,( very few lifts in these places!) then we changed to train. No'2, then we had to walk through customs into China to board the bullet train. Great I thought if the rest of the train journey is as good as the bullet, we would cope! We were lead into a false sence of security! After going in and out of afew different stations, up and down several more stairs, pushing and shoving, hot and bothered we fought to get onto the sleeper. Our bunk was booked, but we're told that the food was not to good on board so to bring our own, (another thing to carry! Well for those of you that know me, I was not best impressed! There were no "cabins" just open corridors, six to a compartment, as the oldest we were given the bottom bunks, Bev would never have got up and down in the night for the loo! As it happened he didn't go many times and I only went once in 16 hours. I was to afraid of fainting with the smell. They were appalling, and that is an understatement. No air con, just open windows in 33-35c. It was a living hell. People coming and going all night, and they don't talk they shout to each other from the other end of the carriage!! We had bought Chinese "pop noodles" which everyone seems to eat, so we didn't go hungry, thank god as the "chief" went up and down with a dirty old cart serving food, open to every cough and sneeze going. At 4 in the morning, very British we had cerial and a very British cup of tea, also having carried it in our luggage. I couldn't wait to get off, and was very worried that the whole trip was going to be this bad, fortunately it got better as the days went by. But the Chinese are NEVER on time for any thing so off course we were two hours later than expected, all I wanted to do is shower and change out of the clothe we had slept in. before we could we had an hour and 45 minuets drive to the hotel. The driver was a mad man and my placid, calm Bev had just about had enough, and shouted at him to slow down and drive better, we both wanted to arrive in one piece! We had a few minor hick ups after this day, but mostly it did get better and I am so glad I visited this huge huge country. You have to take the rough with the smooth!!!