its 6.30 am...i have packed for 4 months in 1 bag but my bag is about to burst. my weighing scales aren't working properly so i've got no idea how heavy it is! it'd better get on that plane.

once we get to beijing, we're meant to catch a train to qufu...but as none of us speak mandarin, it should be an interesting experience.

i think the first fight is going to happen at the checkin desk. i have always shotgunned the aisle seat...and mark and geoff were happy to take window and middle between them. but ofcourse geoff has decided to mix things up by also wanting aisle...fun times haha!!

right, better get ready...

china here we come!!!

Typical.

Geoff here...

It's 2:15am, on Monday 1st March, the day we're supposed to be leaving, and I'm sitting here waiting for my clothes to dry. I still haven't packed. Mark and Gaurav are all ready to go, probably fast asleep having got everything ready well in time.

If it wasn't for getting the wrong memory card for my camera (naturally...), I would post a picture of my ridiculous room, which basically has my massive bag in the middle, and every single thing that I'm taking on the trip, apart from the wet clothes, spread out around it. There is simply NO WAY that it is all going to fit.

Good times.