China - Day one: Acrobatic show

After our lovely Peking Duck meal it was back to the bus for our last stop, the Acrobatic show. And what a show it was?! The Acrobats were wonderful and the show was filled with lots of crazy tricks - juggling knives, spinning plates, stacking chairs - and at times it was so scary, that I couldn't look! Real birds performed in the show and I open mouthy stared at the spectacular things that was happening on the stage. But by the end of the show, I was so tired and overwhelmed by all that I have seen on our first  day that I really didn’t mind going to our hotel.

Up until now it was kind of unclear where we would stay, I only knew that it was a Holiday Inn and known for their amazing banquette breakfasts. But as I opened the door to our room, a new source of energy appeared my dear friends, because we entered the nicest, biggest hotel room with a lounge area, two double beds, flat screen TV, huge mirror and make-up area, closet and the very best – a bathroom…with a bath!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Both Gill and I was so excited that we jumped on our beds, laughing and shouting and probably waking the whole hotel. A BATH!!!!!!!!! Now, if this excitement about a “mundane” thing such as a bath got you wondering about my mental condition, it might be wise to explain to you, my dearest readers, that it has been exactly 8 months since I've had the privilege and joy of a bathtub. AND there are but a few things that I love more that a nice long soak in the tub (I got this from my mother). Unfortunately bathtubs are rarity in Korea and for the past 8 months I had to make do with a detachable shower head that is quite stingy with the amount of water it allows. Having access to a bath, was an absolute unexpected bonus and also the reason that I had to make due with just another five hours sleep – well, that is if you don’t count in the hour that I slept in the bath. Warm and fresh after my lovely soak, it was but a matter of seconds before I fell asleep in my marshmallow bed. Tomorrow I would climb out one of the 7 wonders of the world, and I needed all my strength for that…… (to be continued)