This was our final day with the Intrepid group and we started out with bus trip to the GREAT WALL – Mutiantu.
We walked up to station number 21. The views were incredible and the walk was a long one and so worth it. Some of the steps were really narrow – made for little feet…
When we walked down, we got to number 6 and took a toboggan slide to the bottom – whoa what a thrill, you had to keep your distance and nobody did.

That night we went to a very cool restaurant and dined on Peking Duck. The first course was the duck skin – crispy and delicious. Second course was the duck meat – so tender and full of flavour. The third course was meat with skin on and the fourth course was the bones to chew on and also, I was given one of the duck heads to pick apart.

Our Intrepid group was great and consisted of the following characters:

The Scorpion and nonSpiceGirl Aussies
Lost and Found Aussies
Dashing Brits
Budgee Smuggler Kiwi
Baijo Beijing Dude

Jess and I now have some great trips planned with accommodations in the UK, Australia and New Zealand

We are now in Mongolia and will be INCOMMUNICADO for 10 days as we venture into the Gobi Desert, staying in Gers and travelling on Yaks, Camels and Horses. The weather is very chilly and looking ahead looks like we dip into freezing temps at night. We are in the country of BLUE SKIES.

As we had missed our flt to Chongquing, we booked into a cheap airport hotel for an early departure the next morning. We dined on Drunken Shrimp which are “live” shrimp that have been doused with alcohol and then served to your table – they were still grey…
Speaking of food, the choices are vast and so un-Western! We had “Hot Pot” in Chongquing which is a steel pot sunken into the middle of your dining table – you order HOT or Combo and then the various dishes which include meat, fish, veg, noodles, rice, etc. We ordered “Hare Tail” thinking it might be bunny’s tail but no, it was a small, bony, little fish. Pigs’ Brains were Pigs’ Brains – very mushy but tasty. We threw all the various food into the boiling Hot Pot which was full of red peppers swimming in hot oil. WOW – over the top Delicious and HOT.

While waiting for the train, we ventured into a Walmart – OMG – the meat, the fish, live bullfrongs, alligators and many other dried reptiles were there on display. One thing we have yet to see is any farms wih livestock and there is a ton of “street meat”. Jess treated me to “Tongue on a Stik”!! YES – pig tongue on a stik – actually pretty good. There was also quails on stiks, frogs on stiks, bulls’ balls on stiks.

Now in Chongquing with 34 million and 36 celsius. We stayed at the Yangtze River Hoster in a room with 4 other female travellers. After walking and getting lost many times we hit a streetside cafe and had noodles and beer.

We took a bus to Wanchu to board our ship for the Yangtze River Cruise. Yangtze River is the 3rd largest river in the world. We were the only Westerners on the ship and we had 2 teenage boys as our roommates. The next morning we boarded a smaller boat to go into “The Gorges” and sat up with the Captain drinking stick tea. The scenery was spectacular!

The following day we were up at 6 am and off the ship and into dragonboats. Jess and I were lead strokes and we did a 250 metre sprint against another boat and won. None of the people had dragonboated bedore and it was a “HOOT”.

The 3 Gorges Dams are massive and only bus groups are allowed into the site with lots of very tight security – they took our can of unopened beer, a Swiss knife and bottle of Scotch upon entering and returned them 2 hours later at the end of the tour…

In Yijiang we ate at a roadside stand and then took a cab to the train station. The train departed at 11 pm and we were shown our room – it had 2 sets of bunks – 3 levels high!!! I got myself halfway onto the top level and freaked – there was no way I was going to sleep up there – claustrophobia had sunk in! One of the female train staff found me a lower bunk – what a night – the train was jammed, and stifling hot. I slept in my clothes with all my valuables tucked into my shirt!

TIME TO LEARN MANDARIN…

Jess and I left the Wild Wild West Canada, however, got lost finding Vancouver Airport with Michael as our driver…We even plugged in Consuela Miss GPS and she too could not find the right terminal.  At last we made it with only 3 hours to spare…

After checking in with Air China, we discovered that everything was closed.  So we headed to the Air China Lounge – they let US in!!!  And with open “bar” privileges… it was great as we chilled in comfy chairs and sipped on Scotch and appies until our flight was called.

We were in the back of the plane with a very strange curtain surrounding our seats along with 4 other seats – not sure why…  We took our “magic” pill and we were “down” for 10 hours.  Landed in Beijing at 5:30 am and it took 30 minutes to get thru customs.  We walked the airport and decided it was time for a Chinese beer as we had 2 hours to kill before our flight to Shanghai.  Found the Air China lounge and chilled out there with Chinese beers – scored again.

Boarded flight to Shanghai and slept for another 2 hours.

OK now time to put on my big knapsack – holy crap – it weighs a ton!!!  why did I bring so much stuff????  I could have just brought my “day” pack.  next time!!

To begin with, my pack never was adjusted for me, the “big mother”  was resting below my bum – yikes – had to adjust!!!  Got on the subway – really clean!!!  took 30 minutes to get to Peoples Square where our Ming hostel is located.  It is 36 c out – BOILING HOT!!!!!  and with ???? lbs on my back – we finally find the hostel – it is choice!!!

Showered and hit the streets – no JET LAG for us.  Walked and walked – so clean!  Went to the Bund area – really choice on the river.  The huge Department st store had the funkiest massage chairs that massaged our feet right up to our heads.  We really need these in Canada!!!

Hit the Waldorf Astoria to check out the “longest bar” in Asia.  Had drinks and then checked out a beautiful bank and there was a massive bronze bull outside.  Photo moment!!

Found the Captain which is a hostel with a rooftop bar with a gorgeous view of the Bund skyline and lights – WOWOWOWOWOW – I think we might just have to stay here when we return next week, if just for the view…

Back to our hostel and crashed.  Up to catch the subway to airport to fly to Chungking.  OOOOPS – we went to the wrong airport!!!!  missed the flight…  this is why we need to learn MANDARIN!!!!!!

OK so we booked flight for next morning and got a cheap hotel by the airport – did a little shopping – the 3rd floor of the “mall” was full of “games” for the dads to take the kids to while the moms shopped.

The grocery store was enormous and had everything.  We picked up a bottle of Chinese wine, which we are enjoying right now in our room.  It cost 5 bucks.

Time to go and have some noodles and then to bed so we catch our flight tomorrow at 7 am.