Good morning, everybody!

First of all, my apologies for this extended absence. I’ve been back in Switzerland for the past few weeks and have been quite busy! I’m on the road again, and as I have a lot to catch up on, here is a condensed summary (in pictures) of the rest of my trip to China:

A few days before going home…

18.12

“My fingers are numb from the cold and make it difficult for me to write. Anyway, it’s a beautiful sunny afternoon, as I’ve had few in China, and I’m in a very nice park in the middle of a picturesque lake; are there better conditions for writing? To enjoy the moment, simply. To get out of your train of thought and watch people laughing, having fun. Yes, it’s a beautiful afternoon. The gentleman who cleans the park garbage just greeted me with a big smile, intrigued by my little red notebook. I’m starting to get used to this country. I still can’t quite realize that in less than a week I’ll be back in Switzerland. While I was dying to go back a few days ago, now I don’t know. Of course, I’m looking forward to it, but I can feel the emotional mountain coming up, and all those things that I deliberately wanted to leave behind, that I probably don’t remember anymore, but that are just as likely to hit me in the face. And then the same question: How on earth am I going to explain everything I’ve been through? But first things first. Right now I’m still here in this park, with traditional music playing in the background and two little old women just sitting on the bench in front of me. I wonder what they’re talking about. Tonight I’m taking a night train to Beijing. I have to find a hostel to stay there. It’s strange to think I’ll be doing it for the last time this year; I’ve done it so many times…”

Beijing: People, lots of people, the Forbidden City, pollution. POLLUTION. (and the Chinese wall)