The Romance of the Three Bengdoms
Beng, Seng and Towkay Teng's excellent adventure
As chronicled by The Chronicler

Cast:

Davido Beng	Justino Seng	Daniel "the Towkay" Tayng	Fay @ the Tour Guide @ Italian Linguistics Attaché @ Historian and Chronicler	Celine @ Mrs Seng @ French Linguistics Attaché @ The Camper Girl

Act I: Madrid
· David, Daniel and Fay arrive first.
· Arrive at a chocolateria HOURS after we set out looking for it, encountering luminous dustbinmen, museums featuring huge legs of pork, and helpful Spaniards along the way. We have the famous "Chocolate con Churros" which Justino Seng will later crave every ½ h after trying his first one.
· A would-be pickpocket/snatch thief flirts with Fay. She is pleased but herded away by the guys.
· Wonder what the hell possessed me to being the damn Discman, Terry Pratchett and cdcase. Later find out that Celine's bag is the size of Portugal.
· Fay meets cute flyer-guy.
· Meet Justino and Celina Seng. Laugh at their bag size and proceed to the Palacio Real. It is beautiful, ornate and we get to see real, mounted, knights' armour.
· Tried Paella. It's salty rice with chicken, seafood etc. Fay bravely attempts the black paella. It's good.
· Avenue of the Museums is beautiful at night. Museo Reina Sofia, Museo del Prado (the famous one), Catedral de San Jeronimo…

Points to note:
- No one in madrid speaks english (who actually works in the service sector)
- Talk to Fay about Christianity's schism with Roman Catholicism/Protestantism at your own peril.

Act II: El Escorial · About 1 h train ride from Madrid · We have a Chinese meal at "Ristorante Hong Kong" staffed by Shanghainese. David waxes eloquent about Justin's inability to get free crackers this time around. · Superb collection of pictures which Daniel explains well with religious knowledge · Lovely inlaid Mudejar wood doors. The most spartan royal apartments we've ever seen. · Amazing Mausoleum. A black marble staircase lighted by golden candelabra leads down into opulently decorated round room that holds the bodies of the Spanish kings since 1550. We see the tombs of the royal infants, children and relatives. · Walk out into courtyard larger than a football field. Fay realises that she missed taking a photo of Charles V's tomb (disguised as Carolus V) and collapses, swearing. · Take photos with the gorgeous mountainside scenery as backdrop. · Celine is angry that the 4 star hotel here costs the same as the rathole in Madrid.

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