This train cuts across Mongolia and the Gobi desert, then enters China.
Scenery as we left Mongolia changed as we cut across the edge of the Gobi. It got flatter and less and less vegetation was evident.
The whole train is lifted into the air and the bogeys substituted for the different gauge when crossing border with China.You stay in the car while it is being done and the whole train carriage by carriage is lifted up a couple of metres as the work force is very efficiently doing the work. There were huge work moral posters everywhere telling them how happy they would be working safely together.
The scenery changed once again as we traveled through China.
We travelled through some heavily populated and polluted towns living on the edge of the railway line. Passing by workers knee deep shovelling coal out of railway wagons, power station cooling towers with rubbish everywhere. There were many farmers out in their fields harvesting corn which was spread over every flat surface making a yellow carpet as we passed by.
Next were the bigger towns and cities and we were seeing the first high rise apartments.
Beijing was good. Our hotel was right near one of the historic hutongs (an enclosed courtyard owned by one family).
In fact our hotel was designed on the havelli concept, it had 7 rooms all opening off the open courtyard. The only common area was the courtyard itself where the breakfast stuff was set out. A good idea and very pleasant... until it snowed. It didn't matter how long you cooked the toast, by the time it reached the plate it was cold. Just add solid butter and freezing jam for an appetising breakfast treat. We quickly retreated to the air-conditioned comfort of our room. This is the "breakfast table" with the toast-making facilities in the background.
We visited Tiananmen Square. It didn't seem so big, partly because of a huge colour screen across the middle glorifying the achievements of the PRC.
It was to be the Communist Party conference in a few days so a begillion police.
Mao's mausoleum was closed while they gave him a touch-up. Beijing has lots of parks so the 5km walk from our hotel to the square was a lovely stroll.
It rained on our first day so we bought cheap (and unfortunately small) folding umbrellas. It was a bit of a slog back through the rain. The next day we were prepared, rain jackets and waterproof trousers + umbrella. And then all that picturesque snow!
Near our guesthouse there was a great street for eating! This was our favourite dessert on a stick..... Fruit covered with sticky toffee!
The Beijing HK train was quite good, wider beds than the Ulaan Baatar to Beijing leg. As though the beds weren't hard enough, they added a horsehair underlay just to make sure. At least the train food was cheap and good.
A quick whizz through customs and into the MTR to Tsuen Wan. There have been a bunch of new MTR lines added even since 2005 when we were last here, you can now MTR to Tuen Mun (where Castle Peak Monastery is) and Yuen Long, there is a new station right beside the Skyline Plaza where we lived (but no longer a hovercraft to Central), you can MTR to Sai Kung peninsula (for a quick barbeque perhaps).
We went to Temple Street market, Mong Kok market,
Ian bought yet another laser level (3 is a good number). This one has perpendicular lines in three planes plus a spot pointing down. To be used for setting out the deck remodeling when we get back. And I bought 2 more bags that I really needed!
We caught the ferry to Lamma Island .
View from the walk on Lamma Island
Lamma Island was great, so laid back after the mainland, nice walk over the hills and then a slap-up feed at one of the seafood restaurants. They have live-in aquaculture in the bay. Really just a whole bunch of plastic drums tied together and then a shanty built on top.
Also went up the mid-levels escalator system on the island and then walked down the 700 steps back to the MTR!
Got our visas for Vietnam and Cambodia and bit the bullet and booked our ticket back to NZ for mid January. We couldn't get our visa to Laos as Ian has no room in his passport cos some countries just stamp in the middle of a page!......
Flying Vietnam Air to Hanoi.... It's goodbye for sure to any winter clothes that are still in our packs!
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