LAST DAY

We had a big night last night with our closing cerermony and banquet dinner. We were given Tang suits to wear and keep. They are beautiful silk jackets. Mine is green and Sandy's pink. We all had to wear them for the evening and groups performed items for the carnival. When we returned to the hotel a party was organised which was pretty crazy.

Well, what would you expect with a bunch of Aussies and Kiwis. The Brits were well into it too.

The last few days have been very busy. The Great Wall is incredible. Who would have thought we'd be walking on that this year! That certainly was the highlight of the trip. The day before the Forebidden City was also amazing. Every day we seem to be fed 3 banquet meals. Sandy and I have gained a few kilos for sure. On the trip to The Wall we had lunch at a rural restaurant and had 15 courses- then had to walk the Wall! Yesterday we skipped lunch and went to the market and picked up a snack from a street vendor.

Buying stuff at the market has been an experience. Some of the vendors are pretty aggressive. The ones on the road to the Wall even held your arm and blocked your way. We are certainly getting better at bartering and have picked up some good buys.

Today is our last day here and we are setting out this morning for a bit of sight-seeing and shopping. I think we are going to Tianemin Square and the Temple of Heaven, then the Silk St market. I still have quite a bit of money left and David told me not to bring it home!!! I hope everything is going ok at home and with you guys at school. It seems like it is all bad news for the miners. My heart goes out to those poor families. I cant imagine how this is affecting those communities and the rest of the country.

OK, I'm off for a shower then busy, busy, busy.