Up, Up and away.

With Yama gone, Eve off back home to Belgium and Gill still lost in Shanghai's magic, it was time for me to fly to China's capital, Beijing. I was looking forward to the luxury of a flight and the glamour of not taking another long train trip. I had breakfast from the local mini mart. Something not so tasty, but hey, what can you do when the restaurant staff, at the hostel, can't be bothered to open on time to serve breakfast! I was hoping that this wasn't how my day would be turning out. Full of annoying little encounters. Luck must have been on my side, because sitting just outside the Hostel doors was a taxi! A modern miracle really, an available taxi in a city of millions. In no time, I was at the airport and waiting at the gates for my flight to board. Calmly reading my book and enjoying some peace and quiet.
When the flight touched down at the Beijing airport it was a nice warm, sunny day. What more can a visitor ask for?
For the ground staff not to steal all that they could off my bloody bag, for a start! For the Taxi driver not to rip me off, an astronomical amount, when he drove me to my hostel, from the airport, for another. For the reception staff at the Hostel not to be rude and insulate but helpful and slightly happy. Just small asks really. Nothing too big or complicated.
I spent the rest of the day relaxing in the Hutong style court yard and organizing my trip to climb the Great Wall. I thought it best to stay as far away from the general public as possible and recuperate, for the next few days ahead. One big outing, into the big wide world of China, per day, was enough to send the most sane person, crazy. Yet alone a fiery kid like me!
Tomorrow was another day...And I was going to tackle the Great Wall of China!