After having a very quiet day at the hostel just lying around, watching TV drinking coffee I filled in the day until going to catch the train. Did not really feel like doing much else, as I was a bit under the weather with a cold and sore legs and a bad headache. Taxis make it a lot simpler by being so cheap, when they know where to go! The huge numbers of people waiting at the station area, quite unexpected, with the huge Xian wall as a backdrop fascinating. Got to the station about three hours before departure so did some more people watching, then got roped in by a young Chinese guy studying English to help with his homework!! Made for an interesting hour or so.
Then took myself up to the soft sleeper lounge for peace and quiet, downstairs in the ordinary traveler’s area it was wall-to-wall Chinese, some squabbling over the odd spare seat that someone had their parcels on and they wanted it to sit on. Fished out the inevitable noodles for dinner followed by a very sweet dessert, the calories………! The three flights of stairs with no way to get suitcases down seems to be the norm , but this time there were people wanting to be paid for taking the bags down. I made it very clear I was having none of that crap, and then one of them picked the case up and carried it for me! It must be very hard for disabled people here; at least they get to use a western toilet!
The train this time was a Z train which is one of the more modern Chinese trains, and it certainly was a heaps better than the Hang Zhou-Xian train, even had a western toilet as well as the squat toilet .The train , leaving at just after 7.30pm meant I didn’t bother with dining on board. I joined a lovely young couple from Canada/Philippines and we spent an enjoyable evening just chatting, finding many interests in common as travelers are wont to do.
Awake at just after 6am I was delighted to see the red polluted sun rise, some of the best photography happens just around sunrise, and I was not disappointed. The train arrived in Beijing soon after 8am to one of the bluest skies I have seen since being in China. A long queue for the taxis wormed its way through the rows unfortunately I struck one that did not have a clue where to go,(I suspected it was an untruth) despite having the address written in Chinese. He eventually made the hostel but only after phone calls to his base while driving at high speed in Chinese traffic. I suspect it cost double the normal charge, ah; such are the joys of travel.
Today after the exhausting trip to the great wall, was designated rest, catching up on washing and repacking the suitcase again in preparation for leaving Beijing on Tuesday on the Transsiberian! Having done all that one of the receptionists suggested the markets as I had broken my watchstrap. Helpfully giving me bus number and Chinese directions asking the driver to drop me there. A girl I was speaking to at the bus stop said she would tell me as well, so had the bases covered.
I did not know what to expect, but it blew me away, total fun even if it did get monotonous listening to a Chinese person every 6 feet saying, “Hullo, excuse me”! Selling stuff is definitely their forte! I got my watchstrap replaced and it actually fits now, where the old one never stayed in one place! The cost a mere $3 NZ , the same strap to replace would be $40 at home. I would of liked to have browsed more than I did but one just didn’t show too much interest before being overwhelmed by sales people.
. Bought some branded leather wool lined warm gloves for the cold places. The price ticket on them from the manufacturer ¥499! I paid ¥140 which in NZ$ 28. I considered them a snip, as very ordinary gloves at the Farmers were over $30 before I left! Getting into the swing of bargaining, I also got an Ipad camera connector kit and another battery charger thing for the camera and Ipad. It allows me to use the Ipad all I want no matter where I am. I hope that I can still charge everything up along the way. Lunch at subway” sub of the day” some sort of bacon I think, but disgusting whatever it was so I left it out and enjoyed the rest. At¥15 around the NZ $3 mark.
Got back to the hostel in time for dinner, noodles of course, and then out to see the Chinese acrobatics show.
On the way seeing Tiananmen Square, huge place, with people everywhere doing all sorts of things. I have not had the urge to see it close up so what I saw will have to do! Although I have seen, it from several angles as the hostel is very close and the buses I use go past it.
Absolutely amazing show, thoroughly enjoyed it. Lined up to go in after the locals who were bunched in tightly at the front of the queue, they opened the doors and there was this almighty rush with screams from some of the people caught in the middle. A bit like the how the sales used to be, before they became a permanent sale! It seems they do not allocate seats with tickets, so the first in first served rule applied! This surely is a fascinating country. I scored a seat at the very back on the aisle and was mightily pleased! Mostly clear view for using the camera. The performances of the acrobatics wonderful to watch,. The motorbike riders in the enclosed wire ball outstanding.
An enjoyable ride through the night lights of the city back to the hostel!