So we struck out packless to search some other hostels as we didn't really like that one and after an hour, found one that was very close, much better, cleaner, and friendlier that would let us check in immediately. It was like heaven. We've spent the last coupld of nights here at the Beijing Forbidden City Hostel and we're loving it. I meant to upload a picture, but the computer that I am at doesn't read my SD card reader and the other computer doesn't like this blog's editor. So, that is that.
Most of our pictures are in our flickr album, which you can see at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27338403@N07/
I say most becuase the SD card reader won't read any cards over 4G, which is what Shiz has in her camera (Shiz, of course, being the one who takes the majority of the pictures). So we've swapped out cards so that from Beijing on we'll be more able to upload pictures from her camera. Oh yeah, and of course we left her USB cable and another 4G card at Andrew's house in Shanghai. Arg!
To top all of this off, we've been up against some health issues. I figured that the first month or so would be a lot of our bodies getting used to a completely new diet and they have reacted accordingly. That combined with the horribly dirty Chinese air has had us coughing lightly (nothing serious) for most days, lots of runny noses (think that it is more the cold), and I just picked up a pretty nasty flu that will take another two days to get over. But don't worry parents, we're okay. Our bodies are just acclimating to the new lifestyle.
We both figured that China would be our warm-up for the next nine months and that it has been. We have learned how we want to travel now and better ways to use our money. We've worked out a good eating schedule and have spent too much time and money in transit. On Wednesday we'll be heading out to Vietnam where we'll be much more ready for the travel style, and it'll be much warmer.
Sorry if this post sounds negative, but after three weeks, we're just a little exhausted and worn. We tried to pack too much into three weeks in China, though we did get to see a lot (and there is just so much here). As a result, we've basically spent our time in Beijing so far relaxing. We did do The Forbidden City, but came home afterwards and rested. Today was mostly resting. Tomorrow is The Great Wall, and Wednesday will be rest and a plane flight. Due to Vietnamese and Cambodian travel restrictions limited Japanese residents to 15 days without a visa, those two countries will be done relatively quickly, but the places that we will travel to will be far less than China, so it won't feel as rough.
So, after almost three weeks, we've seen lots and lots of great stuff, have pictures that we can't upload, slept in all sorts of interesting hotels and trains, and are ready for warmer weather. But for tonight,