Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,
 
As usual I woke with the feeling that it was time to move on yet I had no idea where I wanted to go . After a chat with Luo Wei I decided to head to a smaller city called Zhenjiang City which was only an hour or so away from where I was. With nearly three million people, it's a little bigger then Melbourne but what I would consider a very small and comfortable city here in China.
 
Population wise that is, but there are not too many cities that can equal Melbourne's urban sprawl!
 
After I said a smiley good bye to the family that ran the hotel I headed across the road to the bus station and then found I had to walk around the corner to the Long Distance Bus Station. That was fine as a rather cute station girl came with me to make sure I didn't get lost.
 
Walking the thirty meters around the corner!
Love China!
 
The journey took around an hour during which I was being taken around the Kaifeng shops chatting to Luo Wei who was doing her best to take advantage of the summer specials on a winter jacket. My bus soon dropped me off somewhere along Zhongshan Donglu which after buying a map I found was pretty much where I wanted to be .
 
And so began my Cheap Hotel Boogie.
 
I walk, get asked for heaps of money by greedy hotel staff and then when I sit for a smoke and a Tuk Tuk driver who takes an interest in me (without asking for money first) then gets the second part of the gig. I give him my hotel price and off we go. He does the bargaining and when a hotel is found he also gets a nice tip for his trouble.
 
I ended up at the Great Wall Hotel which is found down Jiefang Lu.
 
It was the third hotel we tried on that road and the other two wanted several hundred for a night but The Great Wall was happy to accommodate me. It really is a beautiful hotel too. A heap of conference rooms, restaurants, wedding rooms etc. It really is surprising the hotels that will come way down in price!
 
After dropping my pack off I then headed up Jiefang Lu towards Chang Jiang (or the Yangzi River). I then headed to Beigushan Gongyuan that houses Ganlu Si (temple). It only took ten minutes to walk there and I spotted many bus number fours so I guess they are still the main bus to take to that part of town . Though bus number four still remains the same the bloody entrance fee for the temple surely doesn't. It's gone from 15 Yuan to 40 Yuan in four years. I hummed and harred about paying it as the grounds looked pretty small but in the end I entered as I was sure there would be a fantastic view of the Yangzi from the top of the hill where the temple was.
 
Was it worth it?
Not at all mate.
It shouldn't cost more than the same 15 Yuan it cost four years ago!
 
The temple is not a working temple and its rooms are full of dolls dressed in ancient clothing. The views are mainly of bamboo and trees that cover the Yangzi River and I didn't' think the grounds were that great. There was an old run down Taoist Temple beneath the mountain but it was closed and like I said, run down.
 
The iron pagoda is still on the hill just as you reach the temple. It has of course seen better days and so would you have if you were made during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618 to 907). It was once thirteen meters high and now probably half that . The temple itself did offer nice views of the city and it was peaceful and nice but when compared to other 40 Yuan temples I guess it didn't compare.
 
Unless we are talking about the Shaolin temple then this one wins hands down.
For me anyhow but each must decide their own!
 
After the temple I headed down to the promenade that runs along side Changjiang Lu and the Yangzi River. I would have preferred to have paid 20 Yuan for this and 20 Yuan for the temple, ha ha! The promenade was beautiful. As Amigo had never been or seen the Yangzi we chatted and I happily took her along its banks in the beautiful sunshine.
 
Love mobile phones!
 
I then walked all the way down past Heping Lu and headed back inward. As I was walking down an old dusty side street that had been half demolished to make way for 'new Zhenjiang' an elderly gent came over to me and said 'can I help you young man?'. I thought that maybe he had heard or learnt this line and practiced it many time etc. I answered 'no thanks, I am just walking around looking at things before they all disappear' . We then sat down and chatted for almost an hour. He used to be an English Teacher along time ago and has continued to practice and learn English ever since.
 
He was amazing and the only reason we parted was because he had to go out with his family.
 
After waving good bye I made my way towards Zhongshan Lu and chatted to two primary school girls who had been following me for about five minutes. We took a few photos and they then headed home. By now it was around eight so I headed back towards home to do some hand washing and to wash away the day.
 
The day was a scorcher!
I have no idea of temperature, I just know if it's warm, hot or bloody HOT!
 
On my way home I found a little eatery just off Jiefang Lu and Zhongshan Donglu. There seems to be a huge night market that covers several streets and nearly as long as a city block. I haven't been to explore yet but I will on my way home...which was supposed to be three hours ago.
 
Argh, you can do these things when you travel.
 
Beers N Noodles toya.....shane
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The soundtrack to this entry was The Chemical Brothers
The album was 'Surrender'
Out of control mate!