CHINA

You know how there are just some wonderful people in the world? Well Sky is one of those. Not only did he help me with everything at the hotel & organizing the train, he came back the next day at about 4.30 to help me again again even though he didn't start work until 10 that night. He rang Amanda to make sure she had received my train details, came with me to the station & sat waiting with me (why we were there an hour & a half early I have no idea but as the only non Chinese in a packed station I was very grateful), got onto the train with me & made sure I knew where my bunk was. When we booked the ticket he insisted I get a bottom bunk. When I got there I realised why. Each little compartment had 3 bunks (open to the passageway) & to get up to the top bunk on the third level would take some skill. So all in all I am certain I would not have managed without his help. I gave him some money & an Australian cap (which of course was made in China) to thank him. It really seemed inadequate for all he had done. He even asked me to get Amanda to call him when she met me in the morning so he knew I got there safely.

So I had a 12 hour train journey to look forward to. I entertained myself reading while it seemed that every other person took a double take when they saw me. I was certainly an oddity & the Chinese don't see anything wrong with staring or coming back to have a second look. After a while a man who spoke English (who looked quite a bit like Jackie Chan) came & talked to me for ages - I guess for him it was a good chance to practise his English.

Sleeping on the train was actually better than I thought. It was quite comfortable (much better than sleeping on the plane) with a pillow & doona provided & I was lucky enough to not be surrounded by loud snorers! The next morning Jackie Chan came back for a chat & to see how I had slept. Next thing I knew we were there so I followed the masses of people knowing they would lead me to the exit. Amanda & I had no trouble spotting each other even though we had never met before. We most definitely stood out!

And then we had McDonalds for breakfast - a little bit of home in China!