Beijing - day 2

Today we went to Panjuiyuan market (on the tube - bags checked at each entrance, 20p for however far you want to travel!) - occurs every Sunday - a massive 'souvenir and junk' market - great fun to bargain! Typically final prices are around 20% of the asking price - kids had lots of fun bartering! there was also an 'antique' market (!).

We bought two cloissone vases, which are really pretty (but we later found out you can get them everywhere!), Neve got a lovely embroidered picture, and our piece de resistance was 'boob lady' which Felix really took a fancy to - she's made of turquoise and is very heavy! Ross and I waited for about 30 mins whilst Felix (with moral support from Neve) went back about 5 times to eventually 'win' her (he got from £45 to £15 - worth the money for the entertainment value alone! In addition, she does now take pride of place between my lovely lions infront of the TV!

After this, our colleague ('Johnson' Chen) called to say he'd take us out to dinner. We met him at the Olympics Stadium, which was great to see, and then took us to 'Southern Beauty' a chain of very tasty chinese restuarants where we ate 'proper' Kung Po chicken (with loads of Sechuan pepper which makes your tongue literally go numb - Felix thought this was most bizarre!), and a beef dish which they cook in oil in front of you. N and F went exploring in the restaurant - and Neve walked into the goldfish bowl - we kept this quiet and didn't tell Johnson - Neve was very good and didn't complain having to sit all evening with a goldfish-pond-encrusted foot!

It was really cold - we really weren't prepared for this, which is why we're all bagged in so many layers! The loos were absolutely disgusting - holes in the ground with buckets for loo roll. However, at least they had walls and door, which many of the loos we've been in didn't - lovely watching some Chinese lady poo, particuarly nice was watching a waitress with diahorrea - we didn't choose to eat in this particular restaurant!

 Round one - unsuccessful bartering for 'boob lady' (you can see the frustration on Neve's face, and the notes in Felix's hand!)

  "Why the bloody hell do we need this poxy boob lady anyway, I'm f-f-freezing!!!"

 RESULT!!!! Boob lady is ours - F and N were so made up!!

Felix and Neve pulling strange places in this cool back packers bar in a Hutong (Chinese alley) we found which sold beer and pop corn and chips
Look at our beautiful children!

 BOOB LADY!!!

 Neve's lovely embroidered pic of chinese parasols, and this cool fish bag and purse (£2!)

 The Bird's Nest - most impressive!

 It was very big!

 The water cube - very pretty

 Us and Johnson (bless him) infront of the watercube

 More pics in front of the watercube - it was cold!

Environs of the park. (There were a whole load of children racing around like speed ice skaters on really fancy roller skates - Ed)

A 'monumenty' thing which changed colour - bit blurry becuase our camera is scared of the dark

Felix wants it pointed out that he didn't like to be in the pics, so this is why he looks somewhat strange throughout!