A new frontier

Arriving in Beijing Airport, the contrast with India couldn't have been more stark. The place positively reeked of cleanliness, efficiency and modernity. Even the tarmac in the car park was gleaming and I didn't see one piece of litter or cigarette butt anywhere. Admittedly this is an airport that was built for the Olympics so is brand spanking new, but it was still impressive. As was the fact that people seem to actually understand the Highway Code out here, a phenomenon I haven't experienced in the last 7 weeks!

Unfortunately, another contrast with India is that it's dropped about 20 degrees in temperature, so have had to dig the fleece out of my rucksack. Think my carefully manufactured tan is going to disappear very rapidly.

Wandered around the Forbidden City today, the best preserved area in the whole of China, where the rulers of the Ming and Qing dynasties spent their time, only venturing outside its walls when absolutely necessary. It's beautifully preserved and hugely impressive. Had planned to go to Tiananmen Square afterwards but it was 5pm by the time I'd finished looking round, so will do that tomorrow instead.

But so far, so good.

Beijing, China