The Wall of Greatness: Duck Duck Scorpian

Yesterday I did the running man on the Great Wall of China. Hell to the yes. We left the hotel at dick o'clock and went off in search of the wall. We were taking public transport and thought we had it all figured. We were looking for bus 919, which would have been easy, if there weren't 72 different bus 919s. We lined up in at least 5 of them before we found the correct one. Of course the Chinese were their usual helpful self continually directing us to the wrong line. If we were in Japan someone would have walked 3 blocks to deliver us to the correct bus stop - here, you're lucky to get snarled at.

Once we were on the right bus it was smooth sailing. As smooth as sailing on Chinese roads can be. The bus drivers here are the craziest mofos I have ever come accross. I will never complain about Adelaide drivers again!! There was at least one moment where we were holding on to one another for dear life and saying our goodbyes. But we got there safe and sound. First stop was the toilets. Big mistake. HUGE. The memories of that throng will never leave me.... women barging through - knocking little old ladies out of their way, people opening the toilet doors and screaming at others to hurry up, women getting in to the cubicle before the other person had left yet. I couldn't do it. It was chaotic. And those tiny women are freakin scary. Jazz on the other hand was having a dandy time. Thankfully we found less offensive toilets further up the hill.

The wall itself, as anyone could imagine, was just stunning. It's the first time that we've been in China that I have felt real reverence for a place. We were at the busiest point on the wall - Badaling - but we went in the opposite direction along the wall than the crowds. Not sure why they all go to that section but Jazz seems to think there is a sacred site around tower 6 or 7 that area is just wall to wall (pun intended) people. In the other direction it is much calmer and there are a lot less people. I was startled by the steepness in places. There were one set of steps that were verticle, it was more like climbing a ladder than stairs. But we made it a fair distance up without too much difficulty. We were surprised to find that there were a heap of Cherry Blossom trees blossoming around the wall. I'm not sure why they are so revered in Japan, and not even really mentioned in China. Along the way we were graced with the presence of a group of Irish school boys. It added a very humerous element to the adventure. Especially when they were attemping to barter with the hawkers. Ahhhh school boy shenanigans in an Irish accent. Gold.

After the climb we pretty much headed straight back to the hotel for a nanna nap. The wall was freezing, but we both got fairly sunburnt. After our nap I had a hankering for some Peking Duck. C'mon, you can't be in Beijing for a week and not eat Peking Duck. The guy at our hotel is a wealth of knowledge and sent us to a local restaurant. It was devine!! We ate a butt load of duck and the freshest, tastiest dumplings I have ever had the pleasure of eating. It was flavour heaven. We then headed down to the Night Markets.

WARNING: Not for the squeamish.
The night markets are a bustling strip of hawkers and bizzare food stalls. You could eat - snake, octopus, tarantula, cockroach, seahorse, starfish.... in fact if it's meat - it's there on a stick. They are all stuck on sticks and put up for display - the scorpians little legs are still running 10 to the dozen. Then they flash fry them - chuck them in some spices and you eat them. Yep. We ate scorpian.

Today we're having a rest day, because tonight we are taking our first overnight train. Tomorrow we will awaken in Xian!