Arrived early morning in Quingdao







We could not get a through train to Quingdao so we had to get 2 trains - the first took us to Ji'Nan, it set off at 12 . 05 and arrived at about 6pm - it was a pleasant trip but the scenery was pretty boring - lots of corn on the cob fields and rice paddies - .... that's about it. We were hoping for more of the bullit train but although the diesal train was fast - it was a bit dated to say the least.


Then when we arrived in Ji'Nan we then had to queue up to get the next ticket - fortunately it was a sleeper, but it did not set off till midnight - so lots of time to kill - so a quick meal then lots of haging around - well Chinese stations are not the nicest and the best places in the world - especially the looooooos if you get my drift ( Phooo - in all senses ) plus they have a thing about low voltage lights - so you can't see what you are doing.



Anyway Midnight arrived and we joined the scrum again and eventually found our bunks - not bad considering - better than the previous ones - but - no lights so again how do you see --- during the night - I broke my specs - could not find the screw.



Then about 5.30 in the morning - on come the lights and this chinese - sort of comminist music - I suppose it had some meaning as everybody got up and started stretching their bodies.



At 6 we arrived - we decided to get the next ticket to Shangai whils it was fairly quiet - but I think it is not a sleeper - so the 19 + hour train journey to Shangai should be funnnnnnn...



Then we were sort of accosted / helped by this chap who took us to our hotel - In the end it was pretty good - though a little dated - the room was large with a sea veiw - not bad for 320 Yuan per night ( 21 Sterling)



W have had 3 nights here - sat on the beach - checked out the attractions - including a revolving tower built by the Germans about a hundred years ago - up a cable car to another tower / spire, to a working Budhist Temple and basicaly enjoyed ourselves - oh and lots of walking too - Suri is calculating the steps with her pedomiter - so maybe we will get a chart of all our walking by the end of our 3000 mile across China journey.



We had a rather special crab meal - which was really good but a tad on the expensive side for China - still you gotta splaxh out occassionaly



But now as I write this we are waiting for the train to Shangai