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Day Saturday 27 OCT 2001 - CHINA HERE WE COME |
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After a year of Fund-raising and a week of worrying what to take
with me it was time to set off on one of the biggest adventure of
my life. |
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Neil turns up bang n time. A quick goodbye to my wife and wanes
then we're off. As we travel along Alderman road we notice a huge
banner saying "GOOD LUCK IN CHINA DOUGIE". Harry
one of my work mates had got up early to place the message between two
trees in the middle of a busy round about. What a great gesture.
I have been really taken a back with the response from my friends.
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We stop to pick up Mark who is part of our group for China. As
we travel along heading out of Glasgow my mind goes to whether I
have everything. Too late now. We arrive at Edinburgh Airport
with plenty of time to spare. A quick goodbye and thank you to
Neil for the lift. Bang on time [11.00] we leave for Amsterdam.
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We have more than 50 in our party .All ages and fitness from all
over Scotland and a few from further a field. At 13.30 we arrive
in Amsterdam. Brings back memories of visiting there when I was
touring Europe many years a go .Nae time to go Windmill Bagging as
I have a plane to catch to China. We have all to line up in alphabetical
order for the group visa which makes me get through departure fast.
At 17.15 we fly off to Beijing. Here we go then. OFF TAE WALK
THE WALL wae 57 strangers. By now were getting to know each other.
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Day 2 28 Oct - Nihao to the "Barracks"
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Arrive in Beijing at 8.35 local time and we are transferred to the
Huangyaguan Resort Hotel. This takes about 2 hours and gives us
our first look at China .I had been warned to expect the worse [WELCOME
TO HELL] but I think it was a trick by the group leaders to ease us
into Chinese accommodation actually loved every minute of our stay
there. It was build in a valley with the Great Wall on either
side. Fantastic setting. |
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So we go to our rooms. No keys. Find this strange having travelled
a bit but it seems that China is very safe country but I decide
to carry my passport, money and important items with me.
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Can’t wait to get out and explore so I venture out for a wander
round the surrounding area. The people seem to be very poor in
this area but very friendly. After that we end up having a small
refreshment in Sandy and Malcolm`s room. [actually a right
good piss up wae about twenty folk in a single room] Then it’s our
first meal in China. No bad. After dinner we have a quiz which
my team does badly. Then off to bed. |
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DAY 3 29 OCT HUANGYAGUAN PASS |
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We start the day by warming up by stretching and bending coached
by Paddy our fitness coach from Silk Steps. This was done every
morning right after Breakie. |
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First day on the wall. Will I be fit enough I ask myself. We start
by leaving the Barracks straight after breakfast. We started
by walking through villages which gives us a good view of Chinese
life. After 3km we arrive at a statue to some Chinese leader then
on to the wall. The views are magic here. We walk for a short distance
then descend down into the valley. We take our time as this is a
very steep staircase. We stop at the bottom for lunch.
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The lunch is basic [egg, nuts, and a double decker sanny]
but it fills you up. Plenty of water. The weather is brilliant really
hot for Autumn. In the afternoon, David one of our tour leaders
points to a red flag at the top of the other side of the valley.
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That`s our aim for the afternoon. Off we go. It is a lot harder
than the morning but at the top the views are spectacular. Back
to the hotel for dinner and a few beers. |
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DAY 4 Walk from Siniatal to Jinshanling ME AND MY SHADOW
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Morning drive for two and a half-hours brings us to one of the
most spectacular sections of the Great Wall. We will
walk from Jinshanling to Simatai. We had been warned in the morning
about aggressive souvenir sellers. As we reach the start off the
wall we see a large Group of Peddlers ready to pounce. I squeeze
my way through to be followed by a young girl not much older than
Yvonne my daughter. She looked very poor. I thought to
myself I had paid £80 for a pair of Salomon Super grip Hiking boots
and here she is walking the wall everyday in her plimsolls. She
didn't speak much English but she did know the aproperate words.
We were told if we chased our Shadow away another would turn up.
So just go along with it as if it was part of the challenge. So
I introduced my self to my Shadow. My name is Dougie I said what`s
your name. She mumbled something. I christened her Fran as I
was sure an Anna would turn up soon. She offered to carry my bag
for me but I said I would buy a book of her at the end of the walk.
I looked about I see that a lot of our group had taken up the
offer of help and that every person had a shadow. Fran found it
funny that my name was similar to a four legged animal which was
probably part of her diet. |
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This was the hardest but most rewarding day of the walk, following
the wall as it snakes over the high mountain ridges. Jinshanling
has 67 watchtowers with each one an example of different architecture.
These remote areas of the wall are fantastic; there are high ridges
with both ruined and restored watchtowers, with some of the wall
overgrown by vegetation and in it's natural un-repaired state. At
Jinshanling the wall zigzags up inclines and straddles between peaks
like a suspension bridge, the staircases on the wall here can be
very steep, especially at the Simatai end where there is an option
to climb another 2 km further up steep stair cases. |
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About half way along the wall another Shadow [Anna] appears coming
towards me from the Simatai end. I explained that Fran is my China
for the trip. I had been set up as we go on a few hundred yards
and Fran tells me she has to return to Jinshanling to look after
her kids. Being a big softie I buy a book of her and wish her well.
Then Anna moves over to greet me with hello hello. Here we go again.
She walked close by offering to help at awkward parts of the wall.
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When I stopped she stopped when I walked she walked. When we
reached Jinshanling I gave Anna a few quid which brought a huge
smile to her young face .Today had been very long walk
but a day I will never forget. We are staying at Jinshanling guest
house tonight. About 5.30 pm we walk back up to the Wall to watch
the sun go down. There's music coming from one of the watchtowers.
It's our group doing a bit of highland dancing. The Dashing White
Sergeant is getting big licks. Nothing I like better than standing
on people's toes. |
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After dinner we have a bonfire and some Chinese firecrackers and
swally some more beers.[Why not] Then it's off tae bed chinese
crackered. |
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DAY 5 31 st Oct Mutianyu
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After breakfast I wander out for some fresh air to clear the head
to be met by Anna trying to flog me some more souvenirs.
I quickly retreat to the hotel. We Drive to the Mutianyu section
of the Great Wall located in Huairou county, this is one of the
more popular sections of the wall, where President Clinton and other
VIPs are brought to. After a three km pre-walk I decide to take
the optional hike up the side of the mountain. This the hardest
walking of the week. |
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We have to wait while our guides bargain with the local farmers
to let us carry on their land. Once on the wall we had an unobstructed
view in both directions of its great length meandering along the
mountain crests. |
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In the afternoon we take the toboggan slide down to the market.
Where we are met by eager vendors. That night we stayed in Changping.
We have dinner in the friendship store then it's back to the hotel
for our Hallowe'en party. |
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DAY 6 1ST NOV - The Wall at Jurongguan Pass |
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This is a short but very vigorous walk that loops along the mountains
either side of the pass. The wall here is reconstructed and in good
condition, starting with a steep haul up a staircase of some 1600
steps. This was quite hard walking up so many steps
but the longer the week goes on the fitter you get. I meet a few
expats here from Australia and Canada. It's was quite strange talking
to people that had left Scotland many years ago at the Great Wall
of China. Is the pictures in Gascube road Glasgow still there. I
tell them it was in Cambridge St and it was knocked down about 25
years ago. They laugh and say their going to go hame someday and
check out my information. We shake hands and we are off again.
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Finally at the bottom Roy buy's us all a "WALLS ICE CREAM".
Just what we needed. Back to the hotel to freshen up for
our train trip down to Xian. Then stop off at KFC for dinner.
MAGIC. NAE CHOP STICKS. |
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DAY 7 - LAST TRAIN TO XIAN CENTRAL |
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We stock up with supplies for our 16 hr train journey from Beijing
to Xian. Around 5 `o Clock we leave Beijing main train Station.
We are booked in Soft Class which means we have a bunk to sleep
on. Later on I had a look at the other classes and was pleased
where we were staying. We had a nice private compartment with four
beds in it. I take the top bunk. As we leave Beijing the views
from the train are very interesting. We pass through many villages
and land is very flat. [farm land]. As time goes on the darker
it gets. |
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The party starts. Fifty-odd Scotsmen together for hours on a train
means the drink will flow. Flower of Scotland, I belong tae Glasgow,
the northern lights are all belted out from different carriages.
I was in a compartment with another 12 squeezed in. One of the staff
on the train comes in to see what going on. Hey give the man a
drink. NO REPLIES from the guard. Take a small whisky.
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He leaves in a hurry but returns five minutes later with a
jam jar Which he receives a large one in. We all introduces ourselves and
he says his name is Coco. After a few halves he leaves the
worse for wear never to be seen again. A few hours later a member
of the transport police is offered a drink. Which he declined
and lifts his jacket to show his pistol. We don't offer again..
Time to catch some sleep. |
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We arrive in Xian bang on time and transfer to the Orient hotel.
In the afternoon we walk 10 km which will take us through typical
peasant villages. We pass the Weihe River and bamboo trees,
which spread like a green blanket over the hillsides. We walk to
the Zhongnan Mountain, a site famous in China as the place
where Taoism originated. We walk a further few km up to the top
of the mountain (about 500m above sea level) where the views over
the Shaanxi Plain are spectacular. |
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In the evening we go out to the Shaanxi Grand Opera House to
see a recreated of Tang-Dynasty music and dance. I nearly fall
asleep. EVERYONE ELSE SEEMED TO ENJOY THE SHOW. [the wee drummer
was quite funny] |
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DAY 8 Sat 3rd Nov |
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The modem city of Xian was once the site of the mighty city of Chang'an,
the capital of 11 Chinese Dynasties, and was also the starting point
for the great trade caravans of the Silk Road. |
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In the morning we were driven out to see the amazing Terracotta
Army. Although there is no historical record of the thousands of
life sized armoured soldiers and horses, it is believed that they
were intended to serve as bodyguards for the ghost of Qin Shi Huangdi,
the famous Yellow Emperor who first united China and reigned from
22 1-20 BC |
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I shake the hand of the old farmer who discovered the Army. He
was paid a few yuan for his land but is making more now signing
autographs. |
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Until you actually stand with the whole Terracotta Army in front
of you. You realise that this is the Eighth Wonder of the world.
The light is very poor so it is very hard to take a good picture.
We then watch an 360 degree film. As we leave the hall and travel
back to the bus we come to another stall with a old man claiming
he discovered the army. Back at the bus. I ask our CTS guide
which one was the original? He laughs and
shrugged his shoulders. In the afternoon we do our walk along
the city walls with the Aberlour banner. We travel back to our
hotel by Taxis. I was in the front wae my fingers cross.
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At night we have our Gala dinner to celebrate our achievements.
Everyone has been asked to do a turn. I get roped into being the
legs and arms of an backpacker in a crazy sketch. Happy with that
better than singing. A lot of effort had been put into the show.
When we go into the room we are handed a glass of champers and
a "Back to the wall medal". Which was a nice gesture
from the charity. As the night goes on I find out there are many
talented people in our group. The whole show was very well organised
by Jane. One of the group leaders. George one of the older members
of the group gets up to sing which seems to bring the show to a
finale. After the show we head out a bar along the road till the
wee small hours. |
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DAY 9 Sunday 4th of Nov |
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Flight to Beijing in the morning. Flight was fine. Then transferred
to The Exhibition Hotel for two nights. It was great travelling
from the airport to our hotel. Great to get our first real view
of Beijing. Beijing was a lot more modern and we see the
odd English signs. In the afternoon we go on a rickshaw tour of
the the Hutong Area [ancient city alleys] and visit a typical Hutong
family and finish up in the local Tea house for a cuppa. At night
we go out for an Italian meal. EXCELLENT |
| DAY 10 MONDAY 5TH
OF NOV - MALKY`S TOURS |
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The last full day in China but the best. I decided not to take the
official tour of the Forbidden city but take Malky`s Tour of Beijing.
[Around Beijing in 80 minutes] We scoffed down breakfast and met
in the Lobby. My guide for today was Malky a retired Architect
and his assistant Sandy. Malky had been on a previous trip
to China. So he knew the sites or so I thought. Sandy was to do
the commentary. [he had great difficulty remembering the names of
anything]. A quick head count and the 3 off us we're off. First
stop the Beijing Zoo. Straight to the Panda house. First time
I`d ever seen a Panda. MALKY SHOUTS TIME UP and we are off.
That was some zoo 2 PANDAS, 4 SPARRA`S AND A MAGPIE. Taxi
for tie me doon square shouts Sandy. |
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Tian`anmen Square is huge. Little prepares you for the experience
of being in the square. First thing you notice is the giant portrait
of Chairman Mao. This is what travel is all about seeing famous
sites for real. Take lots of pictures here. Now to the Forbidden
City What a place. The Forbidden City is the largest palace complex
in the world. 9999 rooms. Over 491 years the residence of 24 emperors
of the Ming and Qing dynasties. The ordinary Chinese were barred
from entering. What a place. |
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A Quick head count and we're off. Next stop Starbuck cafe for
a coffee stop. Strange being in China and hearing the Eagles
record Hotel California playing. After that, Silk Alley for some
serious shopping for gifts for the long suffering family at home.
Taxi back to the hotel. A quick shower and out for dinner.
Seeing this is the last evening we go for a Peking Duck Banquet.
Brilliant What a day. |
| Day
11 Tuesday 6 th Nov - FLY HOME VIA AMSTERDAM |
| THANKS
AGAIN FOR YOUR HELP OVER THE LAST YEAR HOPE YOU HAVE ENJOYED SOME
OF THE EVENTS THAT HAVE BEEN ARRANGED TO HELP FUND ABERLOUR`S WORK
WITH SCOTTISH KIDS. |
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CHEERS,
DOUGIE BAIRD.
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THANKS ALSO
GOES TO THE SILK STEPS STAFF
THE MAD ABERLOUR
TEAM
JANE, BASH
AND JOHN
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A
TRIP OF A LIFETIME
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