CHENGDU

What a weird, controlling state China is ! Having not been allowed to view our blog anywhere in China we were at least allowed to edit it via entry through at the French Blogger site. It seems that the powers that be have now closed this access point so from now on we are entering details onto yahoo for inclusion on the blogsite when we get to somewhere not quite so scared of joe public. ANYWAY, rant over .......

We left Xian on the night sleeper which left 4 hours late ....... railway station packed full of smoking Chinese people. Wait was made bearable by 4 bottles of beer and a bottle of wine! Arrived in Chengdu at around 4 and were immediately hit by the impression that it is a much more relaxed city than the others that we have visited. Traffic is still as frenetic with cars, mopeds and bikes all using the footpaths as a second lane but there are, well, just less of them! Also surprised by how people seem to care a little more for the spaces around them .... much cleaner (though with still a long way to go) and a lot more pleasant.

The city has the obligatory statue of Mao but interestingly has a permanent armed guard to accompany it (the former 'mayor' of Chengdu has been under house arrest in Beijing since he advocated a non violent solution to the student uprising in 1986).

Succumbed to a 'western restaurant' run by a chinese guy who came from poor peasant stock and who was supporting his family at age 12 weaving bamboo baskets. The restaurant was called Peters Tex Mex and it was one of the best 'Tex Mex Meals we have ever had (and that includes lots of trips to America). Had mashed potato as a side order where all the restaurant could hear were the groans of delight and pleasure that came from Emma and I ... better than sex? Not sure but it sure came damn close! Two bottles of wine later and all was well with the world.

Went to visit the Panda Breeding Centre outside of Chengdu and spent 3 hours going ooooh, aaahhhh, soooo cute etc etc at the sight of all the Panda but especially the baby Pandas who are just too cute for words .... did you know that a Panda when born measure about 8cms? We also had the opportunity to view these newborns in their incubators .... amazing sight.

Managed to get our TTB permits to visit Tibet via an agency ... all very weird as we never actually got to see the permit and whilst we were told that we would leave at 8:30am we were told the night before (about 9pm) that we would have to leave at 4am .... taxi took a really weird way to the airport and it all felt a bit surreal! However, once we got to the airport we were ushered through and it has to be the quickest check in / boarding ever!