After arriving by raft halfway through Guilin I jumped into the bus to the main road where the bus to Guilin would pass by. I rejected some offers for minivans and tuk-tuk's and after about half an hour this bus did turn-up. While it was kind of full; all seats taken, all improvised chairs taken, the only spot left was next to the bus driver on the floor. So I enjoyed the ride from that position. (I was offered a chair, but when you're travelling cheap you sometimes have to suffer the consequences.) After arriving in Guilin I dumped my bags at the train station and did some seightseeing in the city. It is a nice city with mountains in the middle and next to the main river is a good place to relax, even though I made my way back soon, after seeing something I did not want to see.
The train was comfortable a hard-sleeper jammed between a bunch of kids (14-16) coming back from a holliday, a Chinese family and a French family. With my basic knowledge of Mandarin I managed to fool around for a bit and enjoyed another night in the train.
After arriving in Kunming I found the bus to my preffered guesthouse. Soon I noticed they could arrange bus tickets to Laos, leaving me with one worry less. The first day I went to the so called muslim corner and enjoyed some kebab skewers. That night I played some pool with my roommates and this time I ended up playing a Danish drinking game (7 or less).
The next day me and my Danish roommate (Per) went to the park next to the lake. The park was nice and the lake was green, green as paint, the surface even was as thick as paint. Therefor I decided not to eat any seafood in this city. While walking around we saw a go-kart circuit and went for an irresponsible spin, looking at the people before us it was allowed to hit each other.
That night we went out with a nice mixed group of people; Per, an American, A Canadian, An Indian, an Afghan, some other European and me. We did some bar hopping, in the first club we noticed that some dancing foreigners are a good way to gather a crowd. At the following club a girl invited me to join her for a dance on stage. Next we where jumping around with a police officer. It is good to be a tall blond foreigner in China...
Saturday 22 August 2009
Monday 17 August 2009
Yangshuo
The next morning I woke up, cleaned up, made a run for a taxi and arrived at a huge train station. The train ride was good; I found out that I had booked a soft sleeper. During the ride I got my picture taken a few times again, posing with different people and in between I practiced my Mandarin. After arriving in Guilin, I asked for a ticket to Xi’an and they only had hard-seats available (27 hours). Not knowing whether I could easily get a ticket to Kunming from Xi’an and while running short on time, I decided to leave this one open.
Next, I figured out how to get a bus to Yangshuo, I had been told it is even better. When getting there I bargained for a big room, went for a walk and enjoyed the mountains spread around town. At night I went for a drink, ended up in a bar and was challenged for a Chinese drinking game with dices. I count myself blessed that I soon figured out how to bluff my way through. One of the girls I was playing with went to the stage, grabbed the microphone and I was told that she would sing a song for me. So I sat down near the stage and enjoyed the moment (never been more confident). One of her friends set me up with a rose, so I could thank her afterwards. The applause was ours, while she was the one that deserved it!
The next day I rented a bicycle, cycled my way through the rice fields, steered away from the water buffalos and enjoyed the round shaped mountains, huge mountainous rocks and various green colors. Along the riverside there was a small restaurant serving fresh lobster, so I paid 35RMB and enjoyed a plate full of fresh lobster. My last stop was at the riverside and I ended my day with a swim in the river, while the water buffalos passed by. The next day I decided to repeat this on a different route. Halfway through when trying to get my camera out for a picture, it slipped out of my hands and broke in the grind. Later on about 20kms out of town I had a flat tire, so I hitchhiked in a truck to the nearest town. Had my tire repaired and was off again. This wasn’t my most successful day.
The day before I left I biked my way to a water cave. We went in by boat, walked around, enjoyed the beauty of the dripping stalagmites and went for a swim in the river passing through, had a mud bath and cleaned ourselves up in the hot springs, deep enough to dive in.
For my return to Guilin, I had booked a bamboo raft to cover some of the distance. When floating down the river, I saw the scenery that made it to the 20RMB bill.
Next, I figured out how to get a bus to Yangshuo, I had been told it is even better. When getting there I bargained for a big room, went for a walk and enjoyed the mountains spread around town. At night I went for a drink, ended up in a bar and was challenged for a Chinese drinking game with dices. I count myself blessed that I soon figured out how to bluff my way through. One of the girls I was playing with went to the stage, grabbed the microphone and I was told that she would sing a song for me. So I sat down near the stage and enjoyed the moment (never been more confident). One of her friends set me up with a rose, so I could thank her afterwards. The applause was ours, while she was the one that deserved it!
The next day I rented a bicycle, cycled my way through the rice fields, steered away from the water buffalos and enjoyed the round shaped mountains, huge mountainous rocks and various green colors. Along the riverside there was a small restaurant serving fresh lobster, so I paid 35RMB and enjoyed a plate full of fresh lobster. My last stop was at the riverside and I ended my day with a swim in the river, while the water buffalos passed by. The next day I decided to repeat this on a different route. Halfway through when trying to get my camera out for a picture, it slipped out of my hands and broke in the grind. Later on about 20kms out of town I had a flat tire, so I hitchhiked in a truck to the nearest town. Had my tire repaired and was off again. This wasn’t my most successful day.
The day before I left I biked my way to a water cave. We went in by boat, walked around, enjoyed the beauty of the dripping stalagmites and went for a swim in the river passing through, had a mud bath and cleaned ourselves up in the hot springs, deep enough to dive in.
For my return to Guilin, I had booked a bamboo raft to cover some of the distance. When floating down the river, I saw the scenery that made it to the 20RMB bill.
Friday 14 August 2009
Beijing
I have to think hard about this one, while it has been two weeks since my last story. I could not post anything before, because Blogspot and Facebook are on one of China's infamous black lists.
After getting back to UB, I walked around in the city for a bit and made my last tours around town. Luckily survived the streets again and paid 5 cents to check my weight with one of the people with a scale on the side of the street, no changes there.
The day to depart for Beijing was coming up. I felt a bit lazy and decided to take a taxi to the station. Better be save then sorry, (haven't really been living up to that one). I found a taxi at the end of the street and had to smile when I opened his door. This one I met before, when I took the taxi to the bus stop, when going to Kharkorin, I had to pick up my train ticket first. This had caused some confusion, so I had tipped the driver 1,000T at the first stop. When arriving at the bus station I had to give him another 5,000T, what we agreed upon. I only had 10,000T and he didn't feel like giving me any change, because he wanted me to pay for the way back as well... That would be a first. After some discussion, I managed to get my 10,000T back, bought a bottle of water and gave him 5,000T. He wasn't really happy and with the use of my dictionary we had a lively discussing about this. I didn't feel like giving in and giving him any ct., T or pence more and walked away, to my bus. So it was a weird surprise to meet him again. I asked him his rate; 5,000T, offered; 1,000T (one way), which he refused. Walked to the next driver he asked for 2,000T and I was happy to pay.
When arriving at the train I found out that I was once again stuck between Dutch people and on top of that had two Belgian in my coupe. (This is what you get when you wait to long with posting your stories, Irkutsk - UB).
Even though I was stuck again between the Dutchies, with two of them in my coupe and a French guy. As well, I met another Dutch guy, I had met waiting in line in front of the Russian embassy in the Hague. His and his fathers 'roommates' where a Danish couple I met a few days ago out in Tsetserleg. -What are the odds...-
At the end I was hanging out with some crazy French, showing up with salmon caviar and vodka. So I pulled a bottle of vodka out of my bag as well, a nice one with peppers inside of it. We where joined by some of the other Dutch around and where having vodka in the no man's land between Mongolia and China. In China, among other forms, we had to fill-in a declaration of health and they put down our temperature, which ranged between 34.5 and 35.2. We crossed the boarder and now I know Chinese are very cold-blooded..
When getting to Beijing I figured out how to take the metro to my hostel. Before getting into the metro station they scan your bags, safety is a priority. I think this was the best check I had for my luggage since I left Holland.
The next day my elder brother (Erik) would arrive with a mutual friend (Koen), they just came back from Shanghai. After some confusion about when, where and if we would meet (I misread some text messages), we met in front of the famous bird's nest. During some unplanned showers we got back to the hostel and I gave my friend (Angela), living in Beijing, a call. This was already somewhere in the evening and Erik and Koen where cleaning-up upstairs and I was showing Angela where I was staying. She had brought a bunch of candy a metro card and a simcard. While having a chat we heard a lot of noise in the hallway and we had a look and saw a guy with a severe bump on his head. I had met him before, a friend of my brother. He and some friends where harassed by some drunken Chinese when they wanted to take a taxi to catch their flight home. Later on the noise came back and when looking outside I saw a Chinese guy getting a serious beating by another Chinese guy (thought they where two of the three drunken Chinese), meanwhile at the other end someone was calling the police. Later on when one policeman had arrived following the fights and the Chinese trashing the place. One of them was challenging the already bumped foreigner to hit him, I didn't want another beating to happen, so decided to step in between and tried to make the Chinese guy loosen his grip. Which ended up in me wrestling the Chinese to the ground. After being jumped by another guy Erik pulled me away and send me to his room not wanting me to get involved. After half an hour of noise outside, even after more policemen had turned up. I went outside again to have a look and we where all summoned to bring out our passports, because I was a witness seeing someone getting a beating and was wearing a torn t-shirt I had to come with the police, my brother and Angela went along. We sat down in an empty room and Angela translated my side of the story. After writing down my contact information we where free to go. That was our first intended night out.
The next day we went to the Great Wall and went for a stroll to experience the greatness of the Great Wall. After getting back we met again with Angela, whom had invited us for dinner. We went to a 5 story restaurant to try the famous Beijing Duck. Which lived up to it's reputation. Next, we went for a drink and learned a Chinese drinking game. Did some bar hopping afterwards and went back to the hostel, met a bunch of people hanging out and sat there till the early morning. The day after Erik and Koen had to catch their flight home, luckily I was the only one that overslept..
After being angry with myself for not being able to greet my brother and friend in the morning, I went out to buy a train ticket. Next one up, Xi'an. Meiyou! Another day? Meiyou! Ok, Guilin first and from there try and buy a ticket to Xi'an. Just a detour of about 1,000km. The day continued with some more famous sights, Temple of Heaven, Tianamen square and the Forbidden city. Unfortunately closed by the time I got there, at least I have one more excuse to return to China some day.. Angela showed me another famous dish, the hotpot, again no complains. We ended the day with some souvenir shopping and I practised my bargaining skills.
After getting back to UB, I walked around in the city for a bit and made my last tours around town. Luckily survived the streets again and paid 5 cents to check my weight with one of the people with a scale on the side of the street, no changes there.
The day to depart for Beijing was coming up. I felt a bit lazy and decided to take a taxi to the station. Better be save then sorry, (haven't really been living up to that one). I found a taxi at the end of the street and had to smile when I opened his door. This one I met before, when I took the taxi to the bus stop, when going to Kharkorin, I had to pick up my train ticket first. This had caused some confusion, so I had tipped the driver 1,000T at the first stop. When arriving at the bus station I had to give him another 5,000T, what we agreed upon. I only had 10,000T and he didn't feel like giving me any change, because he wanted me to pay for the way back as well... That would be a first. After some discussion, I managed to get my 10,000T back, bought a bottle of water and gave him 5,000T. He wasn't really happy and with the use of my dictionary we had a lively discussing about this. I didn't feel like giving in and giving him any ct., T or pence more and walked away, to my bus. So it was a weird surprise to meet him again. I asked him his rate; 5,000T, offered; 1,000T (one way), which he refused. Walked to the next driver he asked for 2,000T and I was happy to pay.
When arriving at the train I found out that I was once again stuck between Dutch people and on top of that had two Belgian in my coupe. (This is what you get when you wait to long with posting your stories, Irkutsk - UB).
Even though I was stuck again between the Dutchies, with two of them in my coupe and a French guy. As well, I met another Dutch guy, I had met waiting in line in front of the Russian embassy in the Hague. His and his fathers 'roommates' where a Danish couple I met a few days ago out in Tsetserleg. -What are the odds...-
At the end I was hanging out with some crazy French, showing up with salmon caviar and vodka. So I pulled a bottle of vodka out of my bag as well, a nice one with peppers inside of it. We where joined by some of the other Dutch around and where having vodka in the no man's land between Mongolia and China. In China, among other forms, we had to fill-in a declaration of health and they put down our temperature, which ranged between 34.5 and 35.2. We crossed the boarder and now I know Chinese are very cold-blooded..
When getting to Beijing I figured out how to take the metro to my hostel. Before getting into the metro station they scan your bags, safety is a priority. I think this was the best check I had for my luggage since I left Holland.
The next day my elder brother (Erik) would arrive with a mutual friend (Koen), they just came back from Shanghai. After some confusion about when, where and if we would meet (I misread some text messages), we met in front of the famous bird's nest. During some unplanned showers we got back to the hostel and I gave my friend (Angela), living in Beijing, a call. This was already somewhere in the evening and Erik and Koen where cleaning-up upstairs and I was showing Angela where I was staying. She had brought a bunch of candy a metro card and a simcard. While having a chat we heard a lot of noise in the hallway and we had a look and saw a guy with a severe bump on his head. I had met him before, a friend of my brother. He and some friends where harassed by some drunken Chinese when they wanted to take a taxi to catch their flight home. Later on the noise came back and when looking outside I saw a Chinese guy getting a serious beating by another Chinese guy (thought they where two of the three drunken Chinese), meanwhile at the other end someone was calling the police. Later on when one policeman had arrived following the fights and the Chinese trashing the place. One of them was challenging the already bumped foreigner to hit him, I didn't want another beating to happen, so decided to step in between and tried to make the Chinese guy loosen his grip. Which ended up in me wrestling the Chinese to the ground. After being jumped by another guy Erik pulled me away and send me to his room not wanting me to get involved. After half an hour of noise outside, even after more policemen had turned up. I went outside again to have a look and we where all summoned to bring out our passports, because I was a witness seeing someone getting a beating and was wearing a torn t-shirt I had to come with the police, my brother and Angela went along. We sat down in an empty room and Angela translated my side of the story. After writing down my contact information we where free to go. That was our first intended night out.
The next day we went to the Great Wall and went for a stroll to experience the greatness of the Great Wall. After getting back we met again with Angela, whom had invited us for dinner. We went to a 5 story restaurant to try the famous Beijing Duck. Which lived up to it's reputation. Next, we went for a drink and learned a Chinese drinking game. Did some bar hopping afterwards and went back to the hostel, met a bunch of people hanging out and sat there till the early morning. The day after Erik and Koen had to catch their flight home, luckily I was the only one that overslept..
After being angry with myself for not being able to greet my brother and friend in the morning, I went out to buy a train ticket. Next one up, Xi'an. Meiyou! Another day? Meiyou! Ok, Guilin first and from there try and buy a ticket to Xi'an. Just a detour of about 1,000km. The day continued with some more famous sights, Temple of Heaven, Tianamen square and the Forbidden city. Unfortunately closed by the time I got there, at least I have one more excuse to return to China some day.. Angela showed me another famous dish, the hotpot, again no complains. We ended the day with some souvenir shopping and I practised my bargaining skills.
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