The Proposition

Disappointedly I missed out on filing past Mao with the hoards. It wasn't meant to be. Damn congress. I visited the Summer Palace - where past royals would escape the summer heat in the Forbidden city. This was for the most part under reconstruction. The city is preparing itself for the games so it seems many touro sites are scaffolded. I'm good at doing scaffolding tours. Ie Athens before the games too..

I knew that it would be cold in the north but I hadn't expected it to snow. Yes, there I was wondering around this fantastic antique / flea market about the size of the Queen Vic markets looking at the communist propaganda when the snow began to fall, slowly at first and then much heavier (people were cheering!). The market was fantastic. I now own an original Chairman Mao clock in a spaceage red. The Communist children on the face of the clock wave in unison to the ticking. I also haggled for some Commi prints. 1 original and 3 replicas. I was trying to explain to the man that I wanted an original print so I took out my mandarin phrase book and attempted to ask which print was Original "kai-twor sing"? He looked at me blankly as my pronunciation was so bad so I pointed to my dictionary. The old man was peering over at my shoulder at my open book, unbeknownst to me I was pointing to the word immediately above original, which was orgasm.... Well that had the old fella blushing... I'm not sure if he's had that haggle before!

Left Beijing last night. I must say that my first Chinese train experience was a good one. I had one of those fantastic hard sleepers. They provide the pillow and doona which was one of my concerns as I have only a sheet and thought I may freeze to death. The journey took 12 hours and I was woken at 5.30am to get ready to disembark. Very organised - especially as I'd been advised that I would be reaching my destination at 10.30am.

So here I am, in this beautiful township of Pingyao. It is surrounded by a 6km Ming Dynasty wall and has the charm of other walled towns ie Jaisailmer in India and Sarlet in France. It is exactly what you would imagine China to be. The architecture is incredible as the entire town was Unesco preserved in 2002. There is something reassuring about wandering around cobblestone paths.