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Back to Beijing
23/09/2001

Kaifeng
20/09/2001

Hong Kong
17/09/2001

Chaozhou
11/09/2001

Xiamen
09/09/2001

Shanghai
07/09/2001

Putuoshan
04/09/2001

Shanghai
02/09/2001

Qingdao
30/08/2001

Taian
24/08/2001

Tai Shan
23/08/2001

Taian
22/08/2001

Qufu
21/08/2001

Beijing
19/08/2001

Flight AF128
16/08/2001

Barrel Heald Farm
15/08/2001

Taian
Wednesday 22 August

Ed Uneventful day really. As was mentioned previously, got woken up this morning by loud power tools, but still appreciated the air conditioning when we finally dragged ourselves outside (Jo thinks I am obsessed with being cool, but it was 35 degrees again today).

Had a rather pleasant morning at the Confucius family mansion (home to 77 generations of the Kong family, the heir to the house lives in Taiwan at the moment - v. sad that he can't come back to his family home). Lots of lovely little courtyards and gardens. Lots of nasty little insects that like Eds and Jos.

Caught the (air conditioned) bus to Tai'an, which is the town at the foot of Tai Shan (a big holy mountain - holiest mountain really). Got a dormitory at the Tai'an Hotel for Y60 each, which turned out to be just a five person luxury room which we appear to have to just the two of us. Going to climb the hill tomorrow, so we have got hold of some salty western bread and have some of Jo's jam left. Unfortunately we were so hungry that we stupidly decided to buy some "butter" in the chinese bakery - it has (had) the consistency of lamb fat and the taste of a good anaesthetic. It is now disinfecting our lavatory bin.

Just popped up into the internet cafe for a bit to write this nonsense. Hope someone is reading it.

Friday 24 August

Ed After our last entry we went back to the hotel in good spirits and said goodbye to the group of children we had met there. There were three of them, and they were typically happy and bouncy and wriggled around like mice. So charming were they, that we gave them some shiny coins and a little jar of our travel marmalade. They will probably find it as disgusting as we find food gifts given to us by chinese people. Got on the train with little fuss and spent the afternoon travelling to Qingdao on a luxurious air conditioned carriage. V. nice.