Thailand to China.

Hi again!


So today is Womens Day in China, and that means I get a half a day off work. Good opportunity to write my long ignored blog....

I am back to work these last two weeks since having a whole month off. February was a fantastic month! I started off my months by going to Thailand for 10 nights and having the most unbelieveably relaxing time. Everyday was spent in, on , or around water. The weather was amazing, hot and beautiful everyday(and their winter, much to my surprise!). To be able to see gorgeous clear blue sky again was so refreshing, not to mention the lush green I could see everywhere! Good old Wuhan isn't so bad, but getting out for a while made me realise the things I really crave, such as a little but of eye candy regarding my landscape.

Wuhan, although somewhat dirty and boring, is home, and after a bit under two weeks I was looking forward to... Ah, but I had decided previously I would get into Shenzhen(some 3 provinces away from home) and rock up to a counter somewhere in the airport and book myself a ticket home. But it was not meant to be... I arrived into Shenzhen at about 2am, three days before Chinese New Year. Bad idea. Shenzhen is a transport hub of China and I'd bet my life that at least half of their 10 million residents were trying to also get out of there. I digress... So 2am, in the airport, can not be bothered with doing anything about getting home at this point, just in dire need of a shower and a nights rest after travelling since 6.30 that morning.

Suddenly I am approached by a woman asking if I need a taxi. I think what the hell, the dodgy 'not' taxis are usually cheaper in Wuhan than a regular taxi and right now I just needed to get to somewhere sleep. I asked her to take me to a hotel, that's not too expensive and off we go. 5 mintues and 100rmb later(absolute bloody rip off, but to tired to argue) I am dropped off at a 'business hotel' where I paid $50au to stay in a complete dive. I happen to notice that you could also rent the rooms here by the hour. On the elevator ride up to my room, there were fairly blantant pictures of what's on offer there. Still, beggars can't be choosers and it had hot water and a couple of good locks on the door, so it would do for the night. Wasn't sure how I felt about the broken peephole in the door that had been plugged up with a filthy tissue, but figured I'd have the lights off most of the time anyway, so it didn't matter. I did feel like I would have to go to a chemist the next morning and buy a shit load of disinfectant to wash myself with though, and I was not real keen to get into the bed..But I'm writing this, so obviously I survived.

Next morning, I had no desire to get ripped off again, so I legged it to the airport, only to find out that there are no avaliable seats to Wuhan for over a week, unless I want to wait on standby(for a mere 1080rmb, a ridiculous amount of money to fly anywhere in China). I was on a deadline to get back to Wuhan to met Dora though, so I politely declined and made my way to the taxi rank. After being offered to be taken to the train station via taxi for 600rmb(literally laughed at this guy.. I told him I was not a tourist and to bugger off..) I got a legit taxi this time (cost me only 110rmb!) So ended up in Guangzhou train station with half of Shenzhen and fought my way through the ridiculous crowd to find the long distance train ticket booth. After much handing over and returning of my phrase book, as well as plenty of bad miming between myself and the lovely young girl behind the counter, I managed to ascertain that I could catch a 20 hour(!!!) train to Wuhan at 3.40am(13 hours away from the time I bought the ticket). I grabbed it, 260rmb later, with horrible knowledge that I could only get a standing ticket(!) but with the satisfaction that at least I would be home soonish and I would get in three hours before Dora. Sadly, in my sleep deprived state I got confused and though I would get in after her and sent a panicked email to her telling her to wait somewhere prominant for me... but thats another story I'll get to.

So with half a day to kill I holed myself up in a starbucks, to exhausted to do anymore touristy things, while lugging around my suitcase. Sadly, Starbucks closes at 12, so I was thrown out with another 3.75 hours to kill. Made my way back to the train station and found one of the only vacant spots within a 500 km radius of the place and sat down. Started chatting to the Chinese old fella who was next to me, who was also making the long trip back home to Wuhan for New Year. Another young guy joined us a bit later, who spoke English, and ends up being the hero of this story... Philip is a Japanese translator working in Shenzhen, but also from Wuhan. We all chatted for ages, when I felt the coffee having it effects and I realised I would have to brave the portaloos set up for the holiday rush. Ahh... but what to do with the suitcase... do I try and fit the thing in with me? Or maybe extend one of the straps and hold it through the door whilst trying to pee? I gave up both these ideas in the end and thought, bugger it, I'll take the risk. Philip kindly agreed to stay with my things and keep an eye on them. Bless his little cotton socks, when I came out of the filthy disgusting excuse for a loo, he was still sitting where I left him, complete with my case.

Anyway, so 3.40 rolls around, my new friend and I turn out to be on the same standing train cart, so he helps me to get on and settle into my designated standing position. I lucked out, I had to spend the next 20 hours in the wobbly bit between carts, he was about five people away from me, further in the cart. I have never felt so much like cattle as I did on that cart. There was literally NO room to move. I tried to arrange myself as best I could in a 30cm x 30cm area, keeping in mind I would need to be sleeping for most of this trip to try and kill time and avoid having to climb over everyone to go to the toilet. Suddenly Philip is pulling me and my stuff off the train and telling me he's been chatting to our cart attendant, and in honour of my being a foreign guest of the country he and I are being moved! Into the staff cart no less!!! Which had seats!!! And a table!!! Oh such bliss! I nearly snogged him on the spot.

The next 20 hours ended up being fairly pain free, Philip and I played cards for ages, slept a bit, ate some interesting food(he kept offering me really weird shit and its considered rude to refuse, and I'm not the rude type, particularly considering what he's already done for me!). We mostly chatted, about all things, what I miss about home, how I like the food, religion, love, philosophy, politics, differences in culture. It was great, particularly as he was giving me very honest responses, which is unusual in Chinese people. Mostly they tell you what you want to hear or are very careful about what they say for fear of being overheard(party members are everywhere). We were mostly left to our own devices in the cart, with the staff coming in every now and then to eat, smoke, play cards with us and practice their English on me. Philip was kind enough to translate for all of us!

So in the end I got into Wuhan, 3 hours before Dora, then stupidly left the train station... forgetting that once I'm out, I can't get back in to find her when her train arrived. Luckily, Dora had her wits about her and managed to leave after I wasn't there to greet her, found a public phone and called me, so we could meet up:

Dora: "Where are you?"
Katie: "Standing near a massive blue sign.. its real big..."
Dora: "They're all big and blue!"
Katie: "oh... um...."

My fabulous directions worked a treat and she found me. Hurrah! Then we went home and slept.

Having Dora here was great! I worried a lot that she would hate it, and find it boring, since everything was shut due to Chinese N.Y. But we chilled out a lot, ate food, did some touristy things. We saw a fabulous modern art exhibition with my Chinese friend Carmen. Later on I took Dora out with Carmen and we met our other friend K, who then paid for us to go to Karaoke! The ultimate Chinese experience!

Chinese New Year itself was mental. Dora and I kept rushing out of my room and up onto the roof to watch the spectacular fireworks! Believe me when I say you have never seen fireworks until you have seen the ones they let off at New Year in China. We had a panaromic view from the roof, and they were going off everywhere you looked. And it went for hours!!! In the end we couldn't see the outline of buildings anymore because there was so much smoke in the air.

Anyway, Dora left after several days, to make her way across the country. It was sad to see her go, but so great to have had her here at all.

After that, it was just me chillin' out until my birthday and then School resumed..

Birthday was much fun, if spent a little crazily! Did get send home in a cab by one of my lovely friends though, bless him!

And here I am, looking forward now to Mum and Dad coming over in nine weeks!!

Take care all, love you lots. xx