The Forbidden City and a clear blue sky

This morning started early - and very different. The truck was leaving for Mongolia and we were not on. Since we are taking the train we get an extra free day in Beijing so while the others were on the truck we stood in the rain and waved good bye.

When we were done with breakfast we left to visit The Forbidden City. It was crowded there but we managed to get in and get audio guide and then we spent 1½ hours on our own going to see some of the different areas of the forbidden city. We managed to see some of the main temple and palace areas, some of the impressive porcelain, the clock collection and the palace garden. We were there in the middle of the day - rush hour or always this many people? We don't know but it was packed and a bit difficult to see some of the inside of the temples. Malene mostly walked around to get an impression on the magnitude of this place.

As if by magic the sky started to clear when we were about to leave so we also got to see it in sunshine. It is an amazing place with too much to see and too much to take in. But still amazing.

We headed back for the hotel to check out and then left for our new hotel a few metro stops away. The sky was all blue and sun was shining. What a contrast compared to the other days in Beijing and what a changed city we suddenly experienced.

Some of the guys who ended their trip in Beijing were still staying at our hotel, so we walked back to met with them for one last dinner. And then we enjoyed the nice Beijing evening as we walked back to our hotel through the bar area. Located around a small lake it was like most bar areas - loud, crowded and mad. Naturally we had to stop there for a beer to enjoy the atmosphere. Beijing has so much to offer.

See you later truck

Tiananmen Square - more visibility today

New pub manager taking care of money and important documents to enter Forbidden City

The Forbidden City

Beautiful porcelain

Impressive palaces

The Forbidden City getting a little sunshine

Malene, Mikkel, Kate and lovely sunshine

Backpacking

Walking through a hutong

Almost clear evening in Beijing

Going out for dinner

Lake in the evening

Sightseeing in Beijing - or - Panda, panda, panda

Early morning. Left for Beijing Zoo before eight and arrived there when the opened the gates - three seconds past eight. Got tickets and went straight for the panda area. Got a bit disappointed when all we could see was one panda in a cage clearly just looking straight into the wall. Then things got a lot better when we spotted a couple of pandas sitting in their outdoor fenced areas. One of them enjoying his bamboo breakfast - the other just walking a bit around. A few minutes later a couple of other pandas emerged from their cages and started to explore the outdoor areas. We spent around an hour there enjoying the pandas and relatively empty zoo.

Then we went to Tienanmen square and walked around the square looking at buildings and monuments. Sooo crazy with th smog n Tienanmen square we could hardly see hundred meters ahead Instead of just having itchy eyes we seemed to taste it as well.

We decided to do the Forbidden City tomorrow with Kate and Cameron since we have an extra day here. Malene went back to the hotel to write a bit on the blog, Mikkel headed out with Kate to have a look at the Olympic Stadiums and the CCTV building. Even on a day that was grey with smog the Olympic stadiums and the CCTV building looked impressive.

In the evening we went out for opera - the Beijing Opera. It is different from normal opera and unbelievable hard to describe unless you have experienced it. Lots of loud music, lots of dancing and martial arts fighting - and beautiful costumes as well. Our ears and heads were tired afterwards because the music was more noise than music.

Picked up some sushi on the way back to hotel for a late dinner in our own room. Sometimes it's just nice to relax and be on our own.

Panda getting closer to panda

First panda....we were a bit disappointed

That's better. Panda having breakfast

Cameron and panda

Well I can just turn my back to you

Panda meeting panda

Out for a walk

Stretching

Hello

Cuddly panda

So tired now - must have a morning nap

Tienanmen square smog

CCTV building

Olympic stadium

Chinese opera

Impressive Chinese opera

Dinner at home

  

Hung-over Hutong walk

Got back to the hotel at around 5 in the morning. Really quiet in the street just one food stall open. So naturally we needed some food since we were drunk. Took a bit of persuasion to have them doing burgers for us instead of the porridge they served at that time in the morning.

Then we went to bed. Had a lazy morning and didn't leave the room until 1 in the afternoon. For more food. Agreed with the other hung-over people to take the metro three stops and take a walk in an area with nice houses. Turned out it was souvenir street with tons of tourists, noise and stuff. The side streets and alleyways were nice though. We walked for about an hour just sucking in the impressions before heading home.

Then there was time for another short nap before wet met for pre-departure information with guide Anja and those who continue to Mongolia. A bit strange to suddenly be a small group of just 10. Three more will join us here - 2 Swiss girls and an Israeli woman.

Malene and I are taking the train to UB though. Together with Kate. We booked tickets online and had them delivered to the hotel today so we cross the fingers that everything works out since the truck will leave a day earlier than our train. Looking forward to overlanding by train for a full 27 hours though.

Met the new driver and then it was off for dinner with the group - Peking duck. Good food and the last group dinner with many of the people who have been on the truck since Istanbul. And with Bob. So there were a few speeches and lots of laughter.

On the way back to the hotel we handed in some laundry. Very convenient to have them open until 22 on a Sunday night. Then back to the room for Skyping and doing a bit of internet and going to sleep soon. Tomorrow is an early morning. Going to look for pandas - the real thing.

Hang over food - Chinese style

Different ways of being hungover

Hung over and beautiful

Hungover Hutong walk

Easiest way to unload water melons - Throw and catch

Afternoon sun blocked by Beijing smog

Peking Duck getting prepared

Peking duck and extra veggies