To Beijing and join the Silk Road Tour Group

21.9.2013
Sadly, no eggs for breakfast today! Back to congee and toast.  Kevin collected us at 10 to 9 and took us to the airport.  We waited around for ages but eventually took off for Beijing.  A straight forward flight and we got from Terminal 2 to T3 without difficulty and met "Frank" our guide for the next few weeks. It took ages to get booked into the hotel which is very smart.  Kingsize bed etc.  Met the other members of the group who seem pretty good.  Range in age from late 40s to us so we would be the oldest together with our Melbourne friends, Judy and John.  Had the welcome dinner and all gave a short talk on why they were on the tour.  WiFi here so Vibered the kids, but no Google and so no GMail and no Facebook and no blogging.  Frank seems to be a really nice guy and I am sure will be a good guide.

22.9.2013
An 8.30am start for the walk to Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City. Tianamen Square is a huge area and there were lots of people and police.  Large but not really attractive.Big, big buildings.  The Forbidden City  also is large open areas with large buildings  (pavilions) some of which have  nice decorations and roofs. We finished in a so called garden with more pavilions, lots of rocks, and some trees but no flowers to speak of.

Tianamen Square

 

A view of a bamboo roof and decorations

 

A dragon sculpture in the Forbidden Palace

 

The Marble Boat in the Summer Palace Lake

 

A view of the decorated ceiling in the covered walkway

  Grabbed a bite to eat before being bussed to the Summer Palace which is really a big lake with lots of paths around it.  Also the "largest corridor" in Beijing which is a very long covered walkway beside the lake.  It has an amazing decorated ceiling.  We also saw the Marble Boat, which is quite spectacular. A huge model of a 2 storied boat all done in white marble.  Bus back to the hotel, a rest, then a Peking Duck dinner.  The Peking Duck was not up to Melbourne standards so that was a disappointing.  Also barely enough food for the group. 
Bill is not feeling well!