Train Whistle Blowing... Morningtown ride.

So we went off to the Beijing station, as you can imagine it was jam packed. We had ‘first’ class tickets which entitled us to use the ‘soft berth’ lounge, as that was meant to be better. Well, people were loitering by seats to jump on when people stood up to go to the train. The locals were really smart and had it stitched up with the next person so as to limit our availability to the seats. In the end about half of us had seats, and he others didn’t. So when the next lot tried o stitch me up, I said fairs fair and just took it. They were a bit shitty but my goodness it was a bit rude!

Anyway within 30 secs of taking the seat (how embarrassing) our turn to board was announced.

So we found the first class carriage .. Kevin called it a cabinet. It was tiny. David and Kevin took the top bunks and us girls had the bottom ones. The boys had warned us that they both snore so we weren’t expecting to get much sleep. However Kevin just snored for a little while, just little gentle snores, so that was ok. Not that we all got lots of sleep... there was nothing soft about the soft sleepers. There was much laughter though... David showed his bum to all and sundry in the corridor as he got changed into his PJ’s on the top bunk. And I did a very nice fashion parade down past all the other rooms down to the loo... nightie and hairy legs... Not my best look! Any wonder I’m single!

I got hit on the head in the night by a 600ml full bottle of water.... that was a bit ordinary at 4am, but all in all, it was fun. We just laughed and laughed and then tried to sleep. We were exhausted, and knew we would be even more tired the next am.

The train got us into Xi’an at about 7.30 am. The station was absolutely stuffed full with people meeting the train - more than were on the train. We saw beggars... professionals who either have had their limbs removed or are made up to look like they’ve lost their hands etc. We just ignored them.

The new local guide is Angela and she is really nice. She looks 14 years old but she has been married for 5 years.

Xi’an looks and fels much older than Beijing and much poorer. More old cars, more rural feeling even though its a big city.

After brekky and shower we headed off to the museum and the small wild goose pagoda. Both beautiful places. At the pagoda I purchased some beautiful silk wall hangings. No sure where they’ll go, but had to have them. Just amazingly beautiful. Hand done calligraphy.

Last night we went to the most fantastic show following a dumpling banquet. We had 18 courses. I loved it. There were sweet ones as well. Walnut. (just beautiful) and a red bean one as well. Yum!

Here they serve soup at the end of the meal. Just watery broth.I believe the general consensus is that we could do without it.

The concert/play thing was brilliant. The costumes were amaxing. Beautiful girls, lovely singing and dancing. Telling a story.

Then there were musical pieces, we saw some instruments we had never seen before and a guy who could make the best bird noises Ive ever heard. We loved it. The photos wont do it justice but as soon as I can I'll get some on for you.

Oct 5, 2009

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