I last wrote to you on the eve of our trip Hangzhou, the idyllic lakeside city 200 km from Shanghai.

We went on the super fast bullet trains that travel at 350 km per hour and got there within 40 mins. It was so fast! I imagine this will be the closest that I get to moon rocket travel. The best thing, is that a return ticket on this super fast beast costs only 8 pounds. In fact Anna and Nik are travelling the entire length of the country on a sleeper train cabin in a few weeks, a journey of nearly 24 hours for less than 30 pounds return.
I can't even get back to Cambridge to see you lot for that price!

It is craziness. The train terminals are the size of airports - seriously big, with TVs everywhere and security checks and x-ray machines through each an every gate. It kind of makes you feel safer, but also increases the the tension. It's a weird feeling.

Hangzhou was so, so beautiful. Our hostel cost 4 pounds per head it was heavenly (and a lot warmer and comfier than we are used to!) The hostel also did 30p beer and pool, and v cheap meals which we took advantage of. Apart from something called 'meat floss' which appears ontop of the bread. Meat floss. The horror!

I don't know where to begin in describing the wonder and breathtaking lushness of Hangzhou. so I'm don't think I'll try. All I can say is that it is one of China's most beautiful cities, because of the vast lake and islands that the city surrounds. We went on traditional boats from island to island, and took a bus into the hilly and rather mountainous countryside. It really was breathtaking.

After all of our sightseeing we went into town for some traditional nosh - in particular, something called 'beggars chicken'. Unfortunately, I made myself sick by looking at the tanks of live animals in all of the restaurants, which then ended up on Nik and Ricks plates. Not good times.

We got the super fast train home on the Saturday, then went out to a couple of clubs - one that Nik djs at regularly called Dada and one that blew my mind - called 88.

I have never seen anything like this place in all my life. Imagine an incredibly ornate underground club, covered in gold and filled with beds and chaise lounges. There are male and female hosts and hostesses who wear provocative uniforms and dance around whilst waiting on the large tables of Chinese youth who have just ordered massive bottles of whisky or Champagne and are dancing to booming R&B, and obviously fancy themselves as gangsters.

I absolutely loathed it! Though it was an amazing sight. We didn't stay, as the vision of a PVC clad host of indeterminate age (14? 44??) Dancing for us whilst simultaneously shouting 'bottle Hennessy only!' And pointing to the 880rmb price tag, whilst refusing to serve us a beer was too odd. You exit via a large illuminated glitter tunnel, out into the cold, where the street kebab seller and the man with a monkey on a lead lurk for your post-club pleasure... Luckily we sent onto club Dada, a vast improvement. Notible that evening for the tallest couple I've ever seen, a man and woman over 7 foot each. Rick felt like a dwarf.

On Sunday we went to the equivalent of Camden market - there wasn't much there, but there is a good second-hand culture, and bartering is fun. I've surprised myself by being quite good at bluffing and arguing, even though no one understands me. Everyone thinks we're Russian for some reason and shout 'Spacibe!!' Pleadingly at us all the time. After that rick and I picked up our glad rags from the tailors - they are really beautiful. If only I'd thought properly, we could have done the bridesmaids dresses for Melon!

I had a horrible dream last night that I was missing the wedding and was trying to get back to Cambs, but no one could understand me. Woke up all frazzled! Think it means that I am missing you all too much.

Anyway. That brings us to today - a very weird day that involved me getting a cut and colour at the salon that Anna was raving about. I won't say anymore - I'll let you be the judges. I will say that every time I look in the mirror I get a shock...

Hmmm.

At the moment we are at monday mojito madness - mojitos for 10p! I am enjoying the lychee flavoured one, and soon well be going for some 10p street food. A good deal for very little!