Italy to China

Hi everyone, Well we took the fast train from Venice to Milan.
Just over 2 hours - Thank heavens we were first class cos I reckon anything less would have been more uncomfortable. Got to our hotel without trouble - but Milan on a Sunday is as dead as a doornail.
Our first port of call was food - on recommendation by the hotel staff we went to a Chinese/Pizza restaurant and had Chinese food in Milan. It was great as the food to date had been either a bit oily or a bit bland. Then we went for an amble to a park where there was like a local food market - couldn't buy cos we were off the Beijing the next day. From here we walked about some more and stumbled on some castle with the obligatory fake bag sale people trying their best to sell - without much success I must say.
After a so so sleep we caught the train to the airport in Milan. Very officious here! We weren't let through to check out until the exact minute of 3 hours before departure. Our thought of upgrading to business class for this leg of the flight was sadly and swiftly crushed when it was announced to the gentleman in the next queue that business class was full - as was the plane.
So it was a long hop in good old economy. I got to watch 3 movies on this flight - they all blurred into each other - but they were movies I had grand intentions of seeing at the cinema but never got around to. Given the strong head wind we were flying into for most of the flight we were late getting into Singapore for our connecting flight to Beijing. We already had a tight connection. We were met by a man with a golf cart and whisked about 10km through Changi airport (possible a very small exaggeration) to jump onto our next flight. We were forewarned that because of the distance and time our bags might not make the connection. Well oddly enough Cia's bag made the connection but my bag didn't. So off to the lost bag department were I was given some emergency money along with the message that my bag would be couriered to the hotel about 11.30pm. So after a deep breath we thought we would try to get a bus to the hotel.
This was fraught with minor dramas. Got ushered off at a stop nowhere near the hotel and after many attempts to find a taxi to take us to the hotel - we finally found a cabbie who was worth his weight in gold. He got on his trusty two way radio and put us onto someone who spoke English and finally got us to our hotel. We should have just caught a cab - but we didn't think it would be quite such a saga. The whole trip cost about AUD10 including the aborted bus trip.
I thought New York was large - it is a country town compared to Beijing. It didn't help that their National Day holiday last for 7 days. So everywhere we have gone the locals have swarmed to view their heritage.
It took 3 days before we sighted a bit of blue sky - because of the smog. There is a lot of infrastructure work and building happening in preparation of the Olympics next year. They have heaps of heritage/old buildings etc - but after a while they all look alike.
The Great Wall of China is an amazing structure. Mind you I nearly had a coronary walking it and Cia struggles a bit with vertigo. Thank heavens for the chair lift and the slide toboggan back to the entrance we took.
The overnight train in the hard class sleeper was an experience - but up there was getting through Beijing train station - Grand Central station at peak hour times about 100!!! Massive.
We went to the Terracotta Warriors on the day we arrive in Xi'an - which was Cia's birthday.
This has been the highlight so far. Mind boggling.
We have eaten Chinese food coming out our wazoo and I am almost a walking chilli!
We have seen more rain in China that we have at home for a while and today it has been a bit chilly.
Tonight we brace ourselves for the overnight train again to Suzhou where we spend a day and a half before we head to Shanghai.
That's all for now.
Clare

A word on crossing the road in China. It seems that all vehicles have right of way, whether this is legally so or not I am not sure but who is going to argue with a bus. The Italian technique of boldly stepping forth and forging ahead just about gave our tour guide a coronary. There are pedestrian crossings to give an idea of where one should cross the road. Its very scary at times as the traffic DOES NOT stop for mere people. When the walk light goes green you check the road for traffic and step out, gauging your pace according to whats coming your way. Turning traffic seem to be allowed to ignore red lights. Its all a bit confusing.

Now on to loos. Luckily China is very good at supplying lots of public loos. Usually squat though we have found in the bigger places that they may have one or two western ones. You have to supply your own wipes which you dispose of in the bin provided and not down the loo. The ones on the train are only squat and are quite a challenge on a moving train. Not to mention dirty after many uses over night. Some people definitely need a packet or two of 'aim straights'.

That's it from me for now
Cheers Cia