Oct 5, 2009 - Day 16: Beijing - Great Wall

I can hardly begin to explain the emotion felt about seeing and standing on the Great Wall of China. Finally we arrived at Simatai, about a three hour drive from Beijing and stood there marvelling at the wall snaking across the top of the ridge. ... It was a majestic sight to see.I can hardly begin to explain the emotion felt about seeing and standing on the Great Wall of China. Finally we arrived at Simatai, about a three hour drive from Beijing and stood there marvelling at the wall snaking across the top of the ridge. ... It was a majestic sight to see....

Sep 28, 2009 - Pingyao - Day 11,12,13

28 September '09 We met quite a few people in the hostel who had been in China for various amounts of time and reasons. We would have loved to stay in beautiful Pingyao for longer and it was only 1 pound a night, however it was fully booked. ... Claire’s impulse buy of 2 standing ticket to Chengdu was brought to reality when the hostel staff explained that it would be a 28 hour journey and the trains would be so busy people would be sitting in the toilet.28 September '09 We met quite a few people in the hostel who had been in China for various amounts of time and reasons. We would have loved to stay in beautiful Pingyao for longer and it was only 1 pound a night, however it was fully booked. ... Claire’s impulse buy of 2 standing ticket to Chengdu was brought to reality when the hostel staff explained that it would be a 28 hour journey and the trains would be so busy people would be sitting in the toilet....

Sep 27, 2009 - Moving on to the lovely Pingyao - Day 11

Our train to Pingyao was pleasant with the locals showing a lot of interest in us and our books. ... Pingyao is an old city completely surrounded by walls and cars are not allowed to drive on these roads. ... We fell in love with Pingyao and is the most oriental looking place we have been to without being fake. ...

Jun 7, 2008 - The Great Wall of China!

After fuelling up on a big breakfast, our bus picked us up from our hostel at 8:00am for the 4 hour drive to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, where we are starting our 10km hike to Simatai. ... Our guesthouse in Simatai was pretty ordinary compared to Beijing. ... The bed was a slab (I mean literally, the mattress was only about 3mm thick!), which is not what you want when you get back from a 10km hike! The bathroom smelt like urine and was pretty gross, but luckily only one night here.After fuelling up on a big breakfast, our bus picked us up from our hostel at 8:00am for the 4 hour drive to the Jinshanling section of the Great Wall, where we are starting our 10km hike to Simatai. ... Our guesthouse in Simatai was pretty ordinary compared to Beijing. ... The bed was a slab (I mean literally, the mattress was only about 3mm thick!), which is not what you want when you get back from a 10km hike! The bathroom smelt like urine and was pretty gross, but luckily only one night here....

Jun 6, 2008 - The Great Wall

What is nice about this trip is that we leave at reasonable times. Our introduction was " This part of the wall is really tough, with the original wall at parts incline so steep you have your hands on the step in front of you and is 10 km's to Simatai. ... Once on the wall there is no going back".What is nice about this trip is that we leave at reasonable times. Our introduction was " This part of the wall is really tough, with the original wall at parts incline so steep you have your hands on the step in front of you and is 10 km's to Simatai. ... Once on the wall there is no going back"....

May 17, 2008 - BUSTED.... the screenplay, draft one!

‘BUSTED IN CHINA’ written by: Trevor Swift & Meredith Kushnir based on a true story PINGYAO, CHINA - DAY TIME It is a sunny & bright day. This is the first theft that has occurred in Pingyao in over two years and consequently the locals are disgusted and angry. ... TREVOR returns and shortly thereafter is followed by another police officer requesting that they come to the station to identify the thieves and give a statement! TREVOR, MEREDITH & FAYE are ushered into a trishaw and are driven through the walking streets to the station.‘BUSTED IN CHINA’ written by: Trevor Swift & Meredith Kushnir based on a true story PINGYAO, CHINA - DAY TIME It is a sunny & bright day. This is the first theft that has occurred in Pingyao in over two years and consequently the locals are disgusted and angry. ... TREVOR returns and shortly thereafter is followed by another police officer requesting that they come to the station to identify the thieves and give a statement! TREVOR, MEREDITH & FAYE are ushered into a trishaw and are driven through the walking streets to the station....

Apr 30, 2008 - Pingyao

Then onto road for long boring bus trip to Pingyao. ... Pingyao is ancient walled city, pretty intact in spite of the revolution, as didn't have the money to improve. ... Day 2 in Pingyao May Day, tho no parades or anything here. ...

Mar 28, 2008 - Kumon

The kids refused to have their picture taken with the sign! (This photo was not taken in Pingyao. ... I just needed to get Pingyao on the map. ... I included information about Pingyao in our next post with Xi'an. ...

Mar 25, 2008 - The Great Wall Rocks!

By Laura The Great Wall of China was built over two thousand years ago by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, to keep out invaders from the North.By Laura The Great Wall of China was built over two thousand years ago by Qin Shi Huangdi, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, to keep out invaders from the North....

Mar 9, 2008 - Pingyao

Hello again. We took a night train to Pingyao, a beautifully preserved old city still in the city walls. ... We couldn't get a train directly to Pingyao so we had to stop and change trains in another city. ... This city was horrible.Hello again. We took a night train to Pingyao, a beautifully preserved old city still in the city walls. ... We couldn't get a train directly to Pingyao so we had to stop and change trains in another city. ... This city was horrible....

Oct 16, 2007 - Tiayuan/Night Train

This morning we left Pingyao and headed for the Shuanglin Temple just outside the city. My Mexican friends said it was just like being in Mexico, they even had some of the same merchandise! We finished our tour too late to have dinner, so had to stop at a "supermarket" in Taiyuan to buy something to eat before boarding the overnight train (crackers, Chinese pringles, nuts). ... This time we were able to board before everyone else, but had to walk in front of all of them, I'm sure they hated us! This train wasn't as traumatic, or maybe I'm used to it by now.This morning we left Pingyao and headed for the Shuanglin Temple just outside the city. My Mexican friends said it was just like being in Mexico, they even had some of the same merchandise! We finished our tour too late to have dinner, so had to stop at a "supermarket" in Taiyuan to buy something to eat before boarding the overnight train (crackers, Chinese pringles, nuts). ... This time we were able to board before everyone else, but had to walk in front of all of them, I'm sure they hated us! This train wasn't as traumatic, or maybe I'm used to it by now....

Oct 15, 2007 - Pingyao

Pingyao is a charming walled city that was the financial center of ancient China, in fact, the first bank was here. ... We were able to see some of the old banks, government center and the Confucian temple.Pingyao is a charming walled city that was the financial center of ancient China, in fact, the first bank was here. ... We were able to see some of the old banks, government center and the Confucian temple....