China, Korea and a little bit (of Japan) on the side

[JackMiles]

Here’s our group. Guess which one is the knob,

Definitely not the one on far left. Richmond FC beanie = obviously bloody good bloke.

 

[Justinf]

Slept very well and could have had a decent sleep in quite easily, but I had a 9am pick up for the Great Wall.
My driver, Joe, was great. Chinese drivers are either mad or very skilful or perhaps both.
Weather today was still cold around -2 but sunny and none of that devil of a wind from yesterday.
I quite enjoyed the 75-minute trip to the outskirts of Beijing and then to the Mutianyu section of the Wall.
This is meant to be the least visited part.
I was kinda glad i forked out a hefty price for this way of travel. I got to bypass the shuttle bus which seemed like a massive pain for such a short stretch of road.
The fare didn’t include the cable car up to the wall, but Joe sorted that out for me. It was CNY140.
Once I alighted from the cable car I was at Tower 14 of the Wall. Most people walk to Tower 20 and turn back from there as it’s closed further onwards.
I set out and there was a LOT of steps and stairs.
My knees have been giving me so much grief and I knew this in advance, but I soldiered on

 

[Justinf]

It soon became obvious that my knees were not going to allow me to complete the final stage from Tower 19 to Tower 20.
It’s not so much going up the steps, it’s coming down that really hurts and given it’s quite steep, there was a serious chance of me falling.
I decided to err on the side of caution.
My mind was willing and I seriously thought about doing it just to prove a point, but to whom?

 

[Justinf]

So I turned back and decided to take my time and stop and look.

 

[Justinf]

 

[Justinf]

 

[Justinf]

All up I spent about an hour and a quarter at the Wall itself, which was enough for me.
Cable car back down where Joe was waiting for me.
Nice trip back with some hair raising freeway moments, but made it back in one piece.
Had some good chats with Joe about China and the way it is being run. He talked, I listened. I don’t want to get him into trouble, so I’ll leave it at that.
Back at the hotel at 2pm.
So was $280 worth it? No.
Was it worth it for me? Yes.
Completely hassle free and I got to see the Great Wall.
So how was it?
It was good. Absolutely amazing that they could build something like that at such a scale hundreds and hundreds of years ago with no machinery.
It didn’t take my breath away and that’s OK.
Would I go back? No.
Would I go to another section of the Wall?
Maybe, but unlikely.
I’m super glad I did it, though.

 

[zig]

3rd form left?
Oh well the Dutch guy is seriously under-dressed!

Yes, he was an easy pick. Sadly there always seems to be one in every group.

 

[moa999]

Is that fog or smog?

That's normal China unfortunately.

Think you picked the right section of the wall. Mutianyu as you found has some really steep bits and is way less busy (and commercialised than Badaling).
Badaling now has a train station as I understand so can be the cheaper option to get to.

$280 for a driver with a (presumably) nice car to drive you 1.5hrs each way and wait around for a few hours in between is pretty decent in my book.

 

[Justinf]

Decided to head out to Great Leap brew pub.
Was a $5 DiDi ride.
My first draught beer of the trip and I have earned it.
Started off with this one.


And there it is.

 

[Justinf]

Yes, he was an easy pick. Sadly there always seems to be one in every group.

Guess who I saw at the wall and pulled my hood over my face to avoid eye contact?

 

[Justinf]

Happy camper here.

 

[cjd600]

Top TR as always mate.
Did none of your Spurs gear make it on the trip??

 

[rbjhan]

I've been to the great wall....many many years ago, pre-digital age.
So I don't even have a photo to show for it now
Honestly didn't think it was that great (plus knees and ankles are not good these days) certainly no plan to go back.

 

[Justinf]

That's normal China unfortunately.

Think you picked the right section of the wall. Mutianyu as you found has some really steep bits and is way less busy (and commercialised than Badaling).
Badaling now has a train station as I understand so can be the cheaper option to get to.

$280 for a driver with a (presumably) nice car to drive you 1.5hrs each way and wait around for a few hours in between is pretty decent in my book.

Yep I was happy with it in the end.
Gave him a $20 tip as well and he has followed up and recommended brew pubs and the best and cheapest way to get to daxing airport on Wednesday.
Can’t complain with a 9am pick up and 2pm drop off.

 

[Justinf]

S

I've been to the great wall....many many years ago, pre-digital age.
So I don't even have a photo to show for it now
Honestly didn't think it was that great (plus knees and ankles are not good these days) certainly no plan to go back.

Knee cripples in solidarity

 

[Justinf]

Top TR as always mate.
Did none of your Spurs gear make it on the trip??

I forgot to pack it.
I really wanted to wear something in Korea for Sonny.
At the moment it’s a bit embarrassing to be a Spurs fan.
It’s all quite depressing.

 

[Justinf]

So I WhatsApp the tour guide Joe and said I was drinking the banana beer in the bar he recommended.
15 minutes later he appeared and what followed was was absolutely amazing.
He sat down and gave me a gift. He lived nearby and jumped on his scooter to see me.
Here is the gift.

 

[Justinf]

It’s these types of experiences that makes travel the best.
Not the sights. Not the food. Not the adrenaline rush.
The interactions with locals and genuine human beings.
To say I was touched was an understatement.
Joe and I spent the next hour and a half chatting. I’ll leave the topics here. Not for public consumption given the nature of it.

 

[drron]

It is amazing that you see this in China. We visited Beijing 6 months before the Tiamen Sqare incident. Our guide in Beijing was a young University student. We got on famously. his commonest line in museums - This is a copy the real one is in Taipei.
We took him out for meals and chatted for hours. I have always wondered whether he survived Tianmen square because he was very likely to have been a demonstrator. The thought comes back every now and then and your post triggered it again. but I am glad I haven't forgotten.