On Sunday I wanted to start walking, but spent time trying to figure out how to get the GPRS network to work. It works wonders with the Norwegian SIM card, but unfortunately not with the Chinese. So, after having spent quite a few hours alone and then at the local China Mobile place up the street, I was sent to a repair shop.

I came in and this guy was leaning over a mobile cell phone that looked like it was in a deep anaesthetic sleep, with wires hanging out of its open guts. The only thing missing was the classical ‘beep-beep’ sound of its heartbeat. Maybe there was no heartbeat at that point!? So I quickly turned around, as I know my HTC phone works great.  The problem is in the software setup somewhere.

Then I headed back to the hotel once more and decide to lighten my rucksack. I poured out everything on the bed and think ‘Half’. I just want half of whatever I can afford. First the provincial maps are cut so that only the route I’m following and the area around are left. Next I decide to get rid of moisturising cream and liquid soap as half a bar of soap will do and weighs a lot less. (Probably I’ll throw that away too) To you who think I’m a girly: when I went to China my hands were in a bad state. An incredible difference in humidity helped and things are better now.

I go through my clothes next. I only have one pair of trousers, so that is saved. But I have brought some fairly light woollen tops and one of them bit the dust. An extra pair of soles go, as I have found and now use the best ones. The largest waterproof bag goes, as by this time I don’t have that much to keep waterproof! My ten year old wallet says goodbye. And speaking of money… I have spent so much time exchanging large notes for smaller ones to be able to pay for things when I’m in the villages, that they actually weigh quite a bit! So half of them are spent on hotel bills.

Not long ago it was pretty cold here, so I have brought a little bit of used light winter equipment. This also goes. Next I throw out half of the salt tablets (for keeping the salt balance in the desert) and half of the Ibuprofen anti flammatory tablets go. Then I open the different medicine packets and manage to compact and lighten them a lot.

I also brought one of those aluminium emergency rescue blankets. It joins the rest of non-wanted items.

My Great Wall mentor Andreas advised me to bring some pictures of family and friends to show people along The Wall. He even asked if my girlfriend has blond hair which she does. This is very popular here in China. Anyway – I browse through the pictures, and throw away about… half.

All the things are placed in a plastic bag and I am amazed at how much weight I have saved. Don’t have any scales here, but I assume it is at least 2 kg. That is more than this Lenovo Thinkpad I’m writing on now! So, a day that could have sent me into a major depression because of technical difficulties is saved by the ‘half’ project.