Hello from Beijing! This is our first ever official blog post and we are so excited to share our adventures so far with all of you!
Last night, every single one of us was exhausted after our long flights and the stop over in Shanghai. After arriving in Beijing at three-something-in-the-morning (Australian time), we got through customs, collected our bags without any problems and wandered outside to the bus. We were hit with the sour smell of smog and, looking up into the dark sky, there was not a star to be seen past the bright city lights. After the long bus ride to the hotel, we dragged ourselves up to our rooms and into bed, looking forward to the sleep in that awaited us.
Today we awoke and opened our windows to see China in daylight for the first time. In that moment it truly hit us that we had actually arrived and were about to begin our Big Experience: something that we have been told about since year five. Through our windows we spied buildings such as the CCTV building and various other very modern skyscrapers that owned the city’s crowded skyline. Our first impressions of Beijing made us realise just how different it was compared to what all of us were used to as well as how busy and big it really was. The sheer size of it blew us away…imagine the entire population of Australia living in one city!
This morning we headed off to one of the most anticipated days of the trip. Originally we had planned to visit the Forbidden City but unfortunately it was closed (don’t worry – we will get to see it tomorrow), so we went to the Great Wall instead. We were all so excited on the bus ride out of the city, knowing that we were about to see the Great Wall of China the flesh…or in the stone at least.
When we arrived we stood at the base of it and looked up to where to rose up out of the mountain. After letting the breathtakingly beautiful view sink in, we realised that the almost vertical climb that we were admiring was actually the section of the wall that we were going to scale! After mustering all the courage we could gather, we began placing one foot in front of the other and slowly making our way up the ominous and seemingly endless staircase. It was very challenging but in the end, when we were standing right up at the top, we knew it was all worth it. The view was breathtaking, and we felt that we were literally on top of the world as the mountains were all below us, with the Wall continuing to weave its way across the mountain tops like an endless snake.
After we completed our climb, we had the opportunity to purchase souvenirs at the market situated at the bottom of the wall. It was heaps of fun being able to barter with the shop owners and competing against each other for the best bargain. We’re hoping our skills will improve by the end of the trip!
Next we travelled back to Beijing to see Wangfujing street, known for its crazy food options and shopping. Simon Rodgers won the award for bravest culinary adventurer eating a tarantula, a snake and a scorpion! After such an eye opening experience we are all much more appreciative of our parents’ cooking!
We all very excited about the rest of the trip and the experiences still to come. We have survived our first day, overcome our first mountains (literally), and area ready to face an even busier day tomorrow.
By Paris Wilkinson and Simon Love
“Tastes like scorpion,” according to Simon.
