Travels with Kathryn

I am writing this at Guilin train station waiting for my train to Zhangjiajie (no idea how to pronounce this as my attempts are usually met with laughter by locals). Anyway, a leisurely morning of a lie in, a late breakfast (including spicy noodles, but this time in the air conditioning which seemed sensible) and then a sit on my balcony looking at the view over the lake.

So, unfortunately, due to construction works, you can not actually drive up to my hotel – you get dropped off the other side of the Rong Lake (it’s all of a 3 minute walk). But this does present some difficulties in attempting to book a taxi. My attempts at doing this via the hotel reception were met with a “no” and that I would need to sort myself out. This is what I did – via the all-encompassing Alipay app (it’s far more than just a payment app and includes Didl, a ride share app) and ordered myself a taxi. Nothing happened. I let it attempt to “find me a driver” for 5 minutes before I decided to go into another hotel and ask pathetically for help. Well, the Lijiang Wangyue Hotel did just that – taxi ordered, paid for and I got to enjoy their air conditioning whilst the receptionist practised her already good English. Hurrah.

Another slighty hiccup at the train station. As previously written about, you have to show your ID and ticket in order to enter a train station. I confidently walked up to the “special assistance” lane (as the automatic barriers only work wth a Chinese ID card) showing my passport and E-ticket number and am meant with blank looks. There was some discussion between the two ladies, and then I was told “no ticket.” I thought not to worry, I had been warned that sometimes a paper ticket is needed so I bumbled off to the ticket office and with the same confidence, handed over my passport and mobile. Now the problem becomes apparent – the ticket number is not valid, and I do not have a seat on the train. PANIC STATIONS. So, I asked if there were any seats on the train and was told there were in first class so I TMaP’d it and purchased another ticket at the vast expense of £58.11 (which is in addition to the $56 I’d paid China Highlights to book said ticket for me). I now have a ticket and have sent a grumpy email to China Highlights, including that they double-check my next train…

Anyway, I am now in the station (the barrier ladies much happier to see me with an actual ticket to scan) and I have purchased a selection of train snacks. I shall now research what first class gives me as opposed to the second class I was expecting.

At about 20 minutes before the train was due in we were called to “check in” for our train i.e. another passport check, and I notice there are a number of westerners on the train. I am not used to such wierd big nose people being around me!

I am now on the train and first class seems to mean bigger seats (2:2, rather than 3:3) and footrests. Other than that, it is about the same as second class from my perspective. So, update on what went wrong with my ticket – there was an error on my passport number, it may have been me, it may have been the agency but I should have double checked it and therefore my fault. Ultimately, it is a mistake that has cost me money, but I am on the train and on route in accordance with my plans.

I have 7.5 hours and so far I have watched the penultimate episode of Race Across the World, done some cross stitch, eaten my lunch, crossed into Huan Province – only 6 hours to go…

An aside on China and single use plastic. You will see from the lunch above that everything is wrapped in multiple layers of plastic. Although they would never admit it, its something that China and the USA have in common. Unlike in Europe, where we are trying to limit the use of plastic, these two countries have multiple layers around everything, e.g., the packet contains a single dried apricot. This was in a big packet, in another plastic box. So excessive. Both countries are also still using plastic straws wrapped in plastic, which I know some of my younger readers will be horrified to read.

I am now have 3 hours ago and I am still in Huan Province. Due to mountains being in the way, I am going something of a slight loop rather than a direct line. I entertained myself with playing with the maps. I am also making excellent progress on my cross stitch having finally finished the central section.

Other than that, not much to report although I note that the air conditioning seems to have been turned off. I am not sure why when the outside temperature is still showing as 34 degrees.

Why is the last hour always the longest? Maybe because it’s gone dark so there is nothing to look at?

I finally arrived at 10.02pm and there was a driver waiting for me. He was certainly in a hurray, as I was frogmarched to the car and off we sped into the darkness. The hotel I’ve booked is in the National Park itself, and at the illuminated sign, we turned off and seemed to head up into the unknown. But no, an abrupt stop, and I was met by the hotel proprietor carrying on umbrella. Well, all I can say is that this place looks beautiful. I’ll take some better photos in the morning but for now:

Time for a shower and bed. Tour starts at 9am tomorrow – fingers crossed it stops raining!