The Terracotta Army

The huge army is only a small part of the immense underground mausoleum built by emperor Qin Shi Huang (or rather built by thousands of slave-labourers on his behalf), which also included terracotta gymnasts, terracotta civil officials, terracotta geese and ducks, a giant world map with seas and rivers of running mercury and two bronze chariots to transport his soul to the afterlife. These even had bronze handkerchiefs and bronze flasks of tea for his journey. He's also the one who started the Great Wall...

Nutjob.

Reason number 74

There's a fairly miserable old man at the site who apparently discovered the terracotta soldiers when he was digging for a well in the 1970s. He basically sits in this shop all day long signing books about them. We bought one of course, but imagine our surprise when it was presented to us in a Morrisson's carrier bag! Get in!

Huaqing hot spring

Photographic evidence that Kara does get a wash from time to time!

Train times

Our home for the 12hr train journey to Xi'an, home of the Terracotta Army - Kara with a tin o' beer, Meg with bog roll and Jack with his diarrhoea tablets... Let the good times roll!

Folk Jam!

This sounded much better when we were there I'm sure...

Forbidden City

Remember this when you're thinking of breaking those New Year's resolutions...

Goodness gracious...

...Great Wall o' China!

Temple of Heaven

with our friends and travelling companions Jack and Meg (not the White Stripes)

Spare me my life!

One of the most important things we teach our kids here is what to do if they are robbed by two men...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0W1VY4b9IQQ

Caption Competition!

Post your amusing caption to the comments section to be in with a chance of winning an exclusive 'Dee-Wee-Dee' of these acrobats' stunning performance!

Peeking duck

Check out this cheeky chap! Cracking a wry smile even though I'm about to eat his sorry roasted ass in pancakes with spring onions and plum sauce!

Beijing

Basically the only difference between me and Mao is that he wore his earmuffs a bit higher on his head.

'How do you spell Dubyah?'

Oh George, even our 3 year old pisspants students know how to hold a pen the right way around! Shame on you.
(A photo of a photo of Bush trying to sign a piece of concrete at the symbolic Dorasan train station near the DMZ - 'Not the last station from the South, but the first station toward the North.' Okay, if you say so)

'Picture Postcard from The Axis of Evil'

Both 'sides' maintain small farming communities near the border. The South calls theirs 'Freedom Village' (they don't have to pay tax, but if the North attacked they would be the first to get shat on) and lovingly refer to the North's as 'Propaganda Village' (they have the biggest flag!)

DMZ (continued, again, again...)

This is the 'Bridge of No Return' between N and S Korea. If you're Korean and you cross it, you can never go back. Also the scene of a grisly 'axe-murder incident' by North Korean troops on US troops and South Korean civilians (which the US Army inexplicably seem to have photographs of...?)
Apparently Bond drives over the bridge in Die Another Day. I don't know I never saw it. But have you seen the new Bond?! It rules! Can anyone confirm that it is really that good and it's not just because we've been starved of decent cinema? Thanks

DMZ (continued, again...)

The border. This is it, this is literally it. North Korea to the left, South Korea to the right! (you can tell by the workaday commie dirt compared to the fancy US-subsidised gravel!)

DMZ (continued...)

A genuine North Korean guard! (apparently). This one couldn't handle the eye fight though and disappeared behind one of those pillars for a cheeky wee!

DMZ

Also before we went to China we visited the demilitarised zone (DMZ) on the border between North and South Korea. This is Panmunjeon, a UN Joint Security Area which the border runs directly through and on which site both sides have a military presence! Though all they are basically doing is standing there and having a big stare war with each other!

First snow in Geochang

Belated Xmas greetings all ye blog faithful! Sorry for the lack of updates over the festive season. This was a winter scene in Geochang before we left for China!