Orient Express

Well the name is half right. From Kunming to Guilin by train takes 18 hours, thankfully there are beds if you are prepared to pay a british sarcastic massive 25pounds for your soft sleeper ticket. Although express might not be exactly appropriate (though it is around a 1000km trip) it was on time, which after 18 hours is pretty impressive. It was also comfortable and warm, with wake up calls for your stops. And, like everywhere in China, a constant supply of hot drinking water for your tea leaves.


Guilin does have the scenery going for it though im back to wearing a hat and scarf etc. This was taken 100m from my hostel. Yes, that's a cormorant catching fish from that boat.

Warning: the following photos may produce feelings of extreme jealousy

Viewer discretion is advised, particularly if you are experiencing heavy rain.













Kunming, south China; plenty of noodles, lots of Chinese people and not a single hint of a cloud for a week. Nothing. Not even a faint wisp that's got lost or decided to run away from the big bully nimbus.

The most famous landmark in the area is the stone forest (visiting tomorrow) but a trip out to Xishan (western mountain or hills) was well worth it. After 3 or 4 hours walk depending on how often you stop to admire the view, or if you fancy some lunch at the restaurant along the way, you reach Dragon Gate. Here you have some spectacular views of lake Dian and Kunming itself.

The Cuihu park - mostly consisting of a lake with lots of walkways is great if you want to listen to random groups playing traditional chinese music. The hostel is warm clean and full of friendly people. Did I mention it is sunny?

QI things from China - Receipt Scratch Cards

Some quite interesting things from China are the receipt/scratch cards given at the end of a meal. To insure that the restaurant records the transaction at the end of a meal, the customers are given an incentive to ask for a receipt...

The receipts have a small scratch off panel which may reveal a prize of some money.

So far in the 12 weeks I have been here I have only seen them win twice (in both case 5yuan or 33pence) the most you can win is 100yuan (6pounds).

Travel Plans

Well, I've finished my teaching work at Longre - Xi'an, and im planning out the rest of my trip. More details later but for now...

Xi'an to Kunming (warm sunshine, stone forest)
Kunming to Guilin (someone famous said something about the most beautiful scenery under heaven)
Guilin to Hong Kong (that place)
Hong Kong to Manila (Philippines)
back to Hong Kong
Hong Kong to Xiamen (port town)


Xiamen to Shanghai, Wuxi, Huangshan in Anhui province (all close.. well ish)
Shanghai to Seoul (Korea)
Seoul to Hiroshima (Japan)
to Kyoto
to Tokyo
Home

see you then!

China's low budget Titanic

Listen out of your window during the day in south Xi'an and you could be forgiven for thinking an out of season Ice-cream van was plying its trade.

In fact, what you are hearing is the warning cry of a truck of doom. Spraying water over the road and any hapless pedestrian not moving out of the way fast enough, it slowly progresses up and down the streets, blaring out a mobile phone ringtone version of Celine Dion's "My heart will go on" with each high note ever so slightly out of tune.

Alternatively and slightly less painfully a similar sounding "Happy Birthday" repeating endlessly is the tune of preference for a second truck driver.

Chinese DVDs

So you can walk into any number of stores and hand over 10 yuan (66pence) and receive in exchange, a very nicely boxed DVD with one or multiple films hidden on its shinny surface.

Many of the covers are excellently designed, though occasionally the films description on the back of the box can leave a lot to be desired. This is NOT the case with the DVD box for the film "Material Girls". What else could you possibly want from a DVD box than an honest and open review of the contents? On the other hand, it might be better to get someone who can read english to copy paste the review from the internet next time. (the image on the right... go on have a click)

There's Ink Everywhere

Proped up against the Xi'an city wall and tucked around the corner from the south gate you will find art street. There are numerous shops selling paint brushes, inks, paper, carvings, paintings, musical instruments... you get the idea. After I finish my volunteer work in 2 weeks time I am planning to stay in a hostel on art street for a few days to get used to living on my own in China, and because it looks like a cool place to stay.


And I haven't yet mentioned you can get a big plate of pork or beef dumplings for 66pence here.
Or that the hostel is 2pounds a night for a bed, or 4 pounds for your own room.