Hello From Beijing!

"So, we arrived safe and sound in the Beijing airport! After we took off in Edmonton, and had a quick layover in Vancouver, we were in the air making our way to Beijing. It was an amazing trip!! I thanked God MANY times for our continued safety and just for the spectacular-ness of it all!!! Here is a riddle for all of you. We left the Vancouver airport at 12:40 pm on Tuesday. We arrived in China at 3:40 pm on Wednesday. But we were only in the air for 10 hours. ... How does that work?! Time change is crazy. On the way back, I have a feeling it will be even better. :)
We met up with our contact in Beijing (she had a sign that said "Alana Book", the Mongolia North team captain) and drove to the Peking Youth Hostel. During that trip, we had our first experience of the frustration of the language barrier. We could not understand her at all, and she does not know any English. But everything worked out okay in the end. As it always does. Thanks God!!
We arrived at the Peking Youth Hostel, and oh my, it is amazing. I will take lots of pictures, and you all make sure that I show them to you, because it is so beautiful. I still can't believe we are in China!! Amazing. My favorite part is that there is a ladder that you can go all the way to the roof, and you can see over lots of Beijing. Me and Nathan (another Mongolia North team member) went up there, and it was the most beautiful thing i have ever seen. Honestly.
We got checked in, and went to bed. Many of us were very tired due to Jet lag, but thanks to God, we haven't been hit by it too hard. I don't feel tired at all! And i easily woke up, on my own, at 5:30 this morning. Sick, i know. :)
We woke up the morning after we arrived at 6:00 and we were in the tour van by 6:30 am, on our way to the Great Wall of China. WOW!!!!! really, i cannot sya enough. But don't worry, everyone, I took lots of pictures. But still, I don't think they will do it justice. You'll just have to go! All in all, it was a very amazing day, and my favorite part was this: we got to zipline off of the Great Wall of China. At the Samatai Great Wall, they have it set up that you have to walk up, but when you get to the top, there is an option of ziplining down. AWESOME! :) Jessi (the final Mongolia North team member) and I went together, and it was spectacular.
After we got back to the hostel, it was about 5:30 pm. Anika, Alanna, Nathan and I went out for supper with a couple guys we met at the hostel and went to the Great Wall with, Benjamin from Germany, and Dina from Australia. Very cool guys. We got back to the Hostel at about 9:00 and went straight to bed, exhausted from the long day. But, at the same time, i was so invigorated and found it quite hard to sleep. What a spectacular day! How do you expect me to sleep after such a day! But eventually I feel asleep, only to wake up at 5:30 this morning, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. :)
Today, we are soon off to Tianaman Square and the Forbidden City. This afternoon, at 4:00 pm or so, we will leave this beautiful Hostel and make our way to the airport to depart for UlaanBaatar, Mongolia. I really don't know what to expect, but I am STOKED. :) So I am signing off, as we have to eat breakfast and then go. We will right you all the next time we have a chance!!
Love you all, and God's blessings from Beijing! :)
(I apologize for all the ":)" smiley faces. I tend to that a lot when I am excited, and believe me, I am excited. :) ..there I go again.)
Talk to you later!! And spread the word about this blog.
God Bless,
Demara"