Proposing on the Great Wall
Tom gathered together a secret stash of French champagne, Swiss chocolates and a diamond ring and announced we should go on a day trip to the Great Wall. He went to great pains to research a spot that would be off the beaten track. Simone thought he was just really sick of the city and didn't really think about why he'd asked for the day off work.
On the way to the Great Wall, Simone explained the plan to the taxi driver who exclaimed "Nobody goes to that part of the wall, it's no good." But to that part of the wall we went (for that very reason).
We set off from the more touristy Jinshanling (where we refused a guide) and walked along the wall to the part where the military has closed the path and you have to climb down. You're supposed to walk through the woods and then go through a village before climbing back onto the wall. So, thinking this was what we were doing we followed the arrows... through the woods and because the locals had helpfully repainted the arrows, they led us right back to Jinshanling (much to the delight of the guide we'd refused earlier).
So off we went again, back along the wall and to the correct village where a toothless lady told us "don't take that path [the correct path], if you want to go to Gubeikou just go down to the road and get a car."
Eventually we found our way back on the right track and onto the wall, where Tom revealed the ring, the champagne and the chocolates. Really it was the chocolates that sealed the deal.
On the way to the Great Wall, Simone explained the plan to the taxi driver who exclaimed "Nobody goes to that part of the wall, it's no good." But to that part of the wall we went (for that very reason).
We set off from the more touristy Jinshanling (where we refused a guide) and walked along the wall to the part where the military has closed the path and you have to climb down. You're supposed to walk through the woods and then go through a village before climbing back onto the wall. So, thinking this was what we were doing we followed the arrows... through the woods and because the locals had helpfully repainted the arrows, they led us right back to Jinshanling (much to the delight of the guide we'd refused earlier).
So off we went again, back along the wall and to the correct village where a toothless lady told us "don't take that path [the correct path], if you want to go to Gubeikou just go down to the road and get a car."
Eventually we found our way back on the right track and onto the wall, where Tom revealed the ring, the champagne and the chocolates. Really it was the chocolates that sealed the deal.
The Wedding that Almost Wasn't
Many bush fires, a last minute relocation, a mad rush to find new accommodation, a cake smuggled to safety on a convoy and finally a wedding...