9 September

Beijing, China
 
This morning saw me speeding along on the bullet train again, back to Beijing. I had booked myself in a cheapo Ibis hotel for my last few days in China and I was keen to spend as much time sight seeing (and shopping) before blast off back home on Friday evening. First port of call was the famous 'silk market' for some serious shopping. Jesus christ, i have never experienced a market like it, talk about hard sell, they literally grab you and pull you into their stalls, it really was hard work. They start with totally 'piss taking' prices to see what your reaction will be and end up normally dropping to about 80% of their asking price. I bought way too much stuff, but the kids christmas presents are definitely sorted at a fraction of the price that I would have paid in the EU. While I was at it I bought myself and the good lady a present or 2 ( I had to or she would give me shit for what I had bought myself LOL). After a few hours of being accosted by stall holder dragging me into the crappy stalls and trying to sell me junk I had just had enough, it was time to get back to the hotel as I was still feeling really bad from this never ending cold.