We made a stop in a small town called Suzhou (I think). In Japan, if I want a ticket, I walk up to a machine, put in my money, and buy the ticket. In China I go to a huge ticket office, which consists of 30 lines each with about 100 Chinese people waiting in each one. Robbie and I wait in line for 15 minutes at the counter that says "English Ticket purchasing". It closes when we are 2nd in line. We run over the other English line and finally get our tickets.
We get on the train and find out Robbie and I have seats behind each other not next to each other. There are two people sitting in my seat. They say "Oh sorry" and one moves across the aisle. The girl next to me is kind of slouching in her seat and listening to a portable music player kind of loudly. In my mind all I can think is "Geez Japanese and Chinese people are so different. If this girl was Japanese she'd be so much more considerate to me." Anyway, after listening to her talking to her friends I realize I can understand about 5% of what she is saying. Wait she is speaking Japanese. So I ask her where in Japan shes from. They are a group of friends from Tokyo. Really nice group of people. One of the guys they are with actually lives close to me in Osaka.
We get to the town of Suzhou. Its known for its rock gardens. As soon as we get off the station, I realize we are definitely out of the International city of Shanghai. Mainly because people are staring and pointing at us, but mainly at my buddy Robbie since he's 6'8. We take a Taxi to the center of town. Eat a nice lunch. Walk around the city see some temples and gardens.
Head back to the train around 8pm.
This time its a 14 hour train ride to Bejing. It left at 8pm and arrives at 10am.
We get on the train, we have a bunk to sleep on. Its called a hard sleeper. I'd say its a room about the size of your average American bathroom. With 3 bunk beds on each side. Its cozy so I don't really mind it.
We hang out in the dining car until some lady comes up and says "You must leave now so other people can have your seat." The Chinese guy next to us says he doesn't know what shes talking about since there are empty seats behind us. But we don't want to cause a problem so we go back.
I sleep ok on the trip. I'm a little on edge since I found out yesterday (from my sister) that there was a huge train wreck on the same track I'm riding on just 2 days ago. I think 70 people died. So every time the train jolts (which was about every 30 minutes) I wake up in panic.
The next morning is spent looking out the window at the Chinese country side. Nothing but farms and Soviet looking schools and houses.
We arrive in Bejing 1 hour late. Wake up and head to the hostel.
Night trains are actually quite nice since we didn't lose a day and we didn't have to buy a hotel room for the night. The cost was about $50 one way.
Robbie at the garden called "Tiger face garden" or something like that.
This was the tiger, or lion.
Chinese school children.
Waiting to get on the train. It looked like an airport in here.
My bunk. In the middle.
Taoist temple
Two pagodas.
canal around Suzhou
Polar Bear?
Main view of the Tiger garden
Me trying to get this bird to speak some Chinese. The first thing he says is Ni Hao (Hello). The second thing, I have no idea)
1 comment:
Chad, it has been way too long since you have posted. And way too long since we talked. Hope you are doing great!! Later hater, kasey
Post a Comment