Overnight train to Shanghai - May 13, 2009

Took the bus to the train station and discovered why they are calling this “adventure travel”. I can't shake the thought that GAP is making a higher margin by providing very inexpensive travel between cities and cloaking it in the “environmentally conscious” thing. We took an overnight (sleeper) train to Shanghai and it was an adventure – six bunks stacked three high in our compartment, with it being rather challenging to get into the upper bunks. The only bunks that have enough room to sit up are the lowest ones - fortunately for us, we are among the oldest in the group so they assigned us the lower berths and we are relatively comfortable. Mike, who is 6' 3” tall, had to do his best spider-man imitation to get into is bunk and he certainly won't be making that effort very often. The toilets have no fixture, just a hole in the floor, though there is a small sink (but no soap). Toilet paper is not supplied. The trip is 12 hours long ... okay, I knew most of that when I signed up, this was the cheapest tour option, and I knew it would attract the type of people that we enjoy traveling with (i.e., non-wimps). However, I am getting a bit old for this style of travel.

I might as well spend a minute or two on the members of our tour group. As I say, they are not wimps and most of them value the same kinds of experiences as we do. We are not the oldest in the group and we are definitely not the youngest, though we have been married the longest. Several in the group are either in school or just finished a degree, including Kelly, who just finished a Master's in Engineering). I cannot remember any major disagreements so far – on the contrary they have been full of positive energy and seem to be enjoying the adventure (with the possible exception of Dane and Erica, who apparently cannot even share a room together while they are quarantined).

Well, other than the toilets, the train ride worked out okay. I got up in the morning ad sat in one of the fold-out seats and watched the countryside go by. I got a glass of soy milk and a bowl of soup from one of the girls that was selling them. Eventually, others woke up, got up, and talked.

We arrived in Shanghai and caught a taxi to the hotel. Jenny had written out directions for the driver in Chinese so the trip was uneventful, if somewhat chaotic. The hotel is very nice and she had managed to get us a double bed – this one is a lot softer than the one in Beijing and I think we will enjoy our stay here.