The people of the countries in the socialist camp should unite, the people of the countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America should unite, the people

and greeting from china. Am a little drunk, checked into the Grand Hyatt about 4 hours ago and got my hamburger and my first red wine in a month. I am so Irish white trash when i want to be. It's so different and similar here. Coming in on the train we saw the Olympic stadium well the one they call the Bird's Nest anyway. the city looks like an American city , lots of skyscrapers and large apartment buildings, but once you hit the actual city it's so exotic, not like anything i have ever seen before.
Leaving Mongolia i was put in a compatment with two Kiwi men and an Irish guy, all in their 50s at least. And I was on the top bunk, I was not happy. When I came into the cabin the started singing "when irish eyes are smiling" and cracked open a bottle of Jameson, it was only 8.30 in the morning. Then their guide came in to say that one of the Kiwis, a guy called Brian, was actually two carriages down and had to move. So I quickly volunteered and ended up in a compartment with two American girls and a Mongolian girl.

It was so much better. The train was so cold, the heating wasn't working so I just hid under my covers and slept it's the only way to avoid the cold. We also had no hot water so there was no tea or coffee. But I got talking to the Mongolian girl, Ocheeaau,. and together we got to the dining car and got some takeaway stir fried beef and some beer and some hot soup. She was leaving for Japan to go to college and was home sick. I knew how she felt because of how i felt on the first couple of days of this journey, I think we made each other feel better. She was lovely. But then the train broke down in the middle of the Gobi desert. For 4 hours. Just sitting there. There were camels and just desert. It was so hot and well it got rid of our no heating problem.

Eventually after about 5 hours, we got started again and the two American girls came back with a girl from Northern Ireland and also an English guy steve who is a black cab driver in London. We just decided to party all night long. There didn't seem like anything else to do ... The border crossing were pretty uneventful, they brought on sniffer dogs but our Mongolian cabin mate assured us that the customs guy was drunk. We also encountered the sexist border guard ever, this women got on the train, she was Mongolian immigration, she was dressed in black millitary gear, black leather boots with three inch heels, i mean everyone on the carriage was like, oh my god, do you think if i don't obey she'll whip me, spank me? She was so hot, one of the guys in the next cabin asked is he could take her photo, she said no. it was so funny. She would have turned the straightest girl gay and the gayest boy straight.

Bejing is lovely. I didin't think that I would say that but the people are so cool and there is a lovely athmosphere, even yesterday just walking around people just stop you and say hello, not to steal your bag, just so be nice. And eveyone is smiling all the time. just nice. But christ our lord i would be pissed off if i had listen to Olympic shit all the time, in fact i am pissed off already listening to Olympic shit already.

I have at leat another week here before i leave for my train journey thru china. Hmmmmm. This hotel is nice. I think i need it.

This is my last transsiberian day, it's strange after this long. But would i recommend it to a friend, that is something i have thought about, yes no and maybe depending on your attachment to creature comforts. If you want a shower each day no, if you want adventure yes, if you want to see extremes yes and if you want an unsmelly toilet no.