Rather large walls are my second favourite fruit

*phew*

I barely know if I have the strength left required to write this entry.

Today saw me trekking for 4 hours along the Great Wall of China (you know? pretty large wall that's pretty famous and allegedly can be seen from space, although actually that's a myth?).

Oh yeah, and you read right. TREKKING. Yes, and on just a few hours sleep, thanks to that old friend jetlag. Hmmm... there had been a misunderstanding where I heard '4 hour drive' when it was actually '4 hour hike' that I'd signed up to.

Fabulous.

Especially for someone who's been sat stationary for 7 hours a day, 5 days a week in an office for the past 5 months. Even the fat American geezer in another group overtook me! oh the humiliation!

It started off with Lizzy and I being collected from the hostel at 6am in a minibus then driven along to collect some others (an aussie couple and a new zealander couple), before being dropped off at yet another bus, joining some others and starting the 3 hour drive to the Great Wall. Unfortunately I appear to have chosen the very special seat that was located somewhere on top of a heater that was blasting burning air on me the entire journey and as the minibus was full, had to sit it out in agony. Joy. And I had 3 layers of clothing on. Total overkill as it turned out.

About 20 minutes from our destination I found out that I was signed up to do a 4 hour hike, which was met with somewhat pain, as I'd been awake from 3am, and met with amusement from the others who couldn't believe I hadn't realised.

Oh shut up.

Boy oh boy I really wish I'd bothered doing PE at school. I am one out of shape bitch, I'm telling you!

On arrival our party (of around 10) were accosted by several peasant ladies trying to latch on to us, probably to try and sell us water along the way or get money out of us. Having established me as the weakling of the group, they particularly seemed to bug me, and kept prodding me to take 'shauta way', which took me around half an hour having it barked at me around 100 times to actually understand what they meant.

Bah. Sod 'em all. I didn't take the shorter way. I struggled on, up the bloody Great Wall's steps - my word, I can't begin to describe the work out I got, and how tired I was, and looking over the edge thinking that with one false step, I'm over, and my eyes kept closing...

The air was so clean, the sky so blue, and for as far as the eye could see were rolling green hills.. or would you call them mountains? in the distance topped with mist.

I have seen many spectacular views in my life, but this was truly one of the top. It was a real struggle, but well worth it. Apparently it was just 10k, but felt like far more with the clambering uphill, and having to navigate through the broken rocks a pathway. My hiking boots really showed themselves worthy today!

I took a lot of photos, which I hope to scan in at some point, although it may have to wait til after my trip. Honestly, words cannot do justice the experience I had today. I was completely blown away.

Near the end of the trip we had to cross a shoddy wooden suspension bridge over some hot springs that were blue-green. I didn't trust the bridge, as it creaked badly, so made my way across rather sharpish! I spent most of the 4 hours by myself as I lagged behind, but I didn't mind the solitude. I was just so happy to be there, and it was awesome to take it all in by myself.

Tomorrow I check out of the hostel and get the overnight train to Xi'an. 2 of the couples today will also be on the same train. Bloody couples, eh? Anyway, I guess that means I'll be linking up with Jordo on Tuesday morning (if he gets his ass out of bed early enough, the lazy swine... and yes, this is why I haven't given him the link to this journal - I have an outlet to slag him off.... ;)  cunning).

Laterz potaterz x