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Published: December 11th 2008
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hi everyone,
We have finally arrived in Sanya and the weather is lush and probably worth the horrific train journey here.
On Saturday afternoon, Sunday and Monday we were in Hangzhou. On Sunday we walked the whole way round the West Lake which is pretty but quite touristy. We just stuck our headphones in and danced the whole way around. At about 12 we took a brake for lunch and I (Lucy) had some clear gloopy soup that just tasted of gelatine, so after 2 spoonfulls i opted for the much safer but less filling option of candy floss. Then on Monday we walked around the hills near the lake which were much quieter and had some really nice views. In the evening we went to the train station to catch our first train to Nanchang. At 21:25 our train was called and people started to rush through the gates to the platform. To get to the platform you had to go down some concrete steps and next to the steps was a kind of slide, where people could put there wheely suitcases on it whilst they pegged it down the stairs. Well as we were at the top
of the stairs some guy put his wheely suitcase on the ramp and then accidently let go, it went sliding down the ramp, and then veered off onto the stairs where it annihilated some old guy hitting him squarely in the back of the legs and knocking him to the floor, where he hit his head hard on the steps. At that precise moment the train guard blew his whistle and everyone ran even faster for the train, anyone who was above the old guy just stepped over him and his large amounts of luggage, (none of the chinese seem to travel light.) Me and Katie were amongst the people who were above him and im afraid to say we also stepped over him and his luggage. We felt really guilty but we didnt want to miss our train, and he was concious, plus we wouldnt of been that much help as our chinese isnt exactly good.
We then boarded our designated carriage which was packed. Amongst the crowd we miraculously spotted two free seats and quickly took them, we were so pleased and started to make ourselves comfortable for the 8 and a half hour train journey. Then
only 5 minutes later a guy thrust his ticket into my face speaking rapid chinese to me, so i thrust my ticket back in his face, he looked at it and laughed and then gestured towards the floor, we were apparently in his seat and he let everyone know that we didnt have a seat. So after everyone else had seated we amongst about 20 others in our carriage attempted to make oursleves comfortable in the alley between the rows of seats. We took it in turns to either sit on Katies backpack or a tin of paint that some guy had. Then just to make it worse every 15 minutes some prick with a trolley tried to cram his way through the already over crowded alley to sell noodles, and the trolley behind him sold drinks, and then the one behind that fruit. So we had to stand up and move our paint tin and bag to the side to let himthem all through. By about midnight we thought things had calmed down and that it maybe possible after all to sleep on a tin of paint, when some absolute wanker came through to our carriage with a speaker
on his hip and a microphone in his hand trying to sell latex gloves!! After him was a guy selling pump up torches and then a guy selling UV lights, each sale show took about 15 mins of shouting into a microphone that really wasnt needed. We were sat on the paint tin and Katies bag for 6 hours until someone finally got off the train and we could claim their seats. We instantly put our heads on our laps and fell asleep.
We got off at Nanchang at 6:25, our next train to Guangzhou was due to leave at 15:00. i would like to say that we spent those 8 and a bit hours seeing all there was to see of Nanchang but we were so tired we just paid 10 yuan to go to the posh waiting room, and slept. At about 12 we ventured out to get lunch but quickly retreated back to the station. We really wouldnt be the best tour guides for Nanchang but we could tell you all about the train station.
Anyway we got on the train at 15:00, we had splashed out for this journey and had paid for a
hard sleeper instead of a hard seat, so much nicer! We managed to sleep really well on a carriage where people dont seem to find it rude if they blare out there music on speakerphones at 2am, and who chain smoke in a non smoking carraige. Anyway we arrived in Guangzhou at 5am and then bought our last ticket to Sanya which was supposed to leave the following day, so we could stay in a hostel in Guangzhou for a night and have a well needed shower! The ticket lady however made a minor cock up and booked our train ticket for the same day so we were in for a 3rd night spent on a train! So we washed in the public loos at the train station using baby wipes, copious amounts of deoderant and splashing out on a clean pair of knickers. We mangaged to do all of this behind the shortest toilet door you have ever seen.
Our train didnt leave till 21:25 and as we had mamanged to sleep more than an hour the night before we ventured out and saw Guangzhou. There were some really nice parks, which is where we spent most of
our time. We then returned to the train station and got on our train. We slept really well and didnt even bother setting an alarm as the train didnt arrive in Sanya till 12:25. By about 8 am the train pulled into the station Haikou, which is in North Hainan. The train man then came over to our seats and gestured for us to get off, "no we go Sanya" we repeated to him. He put his hand out for our tickets, which we handed over, he then pointed to Guangzhou to Haikou that was clearly printed on our tickets, we had seen this before but our ticket lady had assured that we were going to Sanya. Anyway we refused to get off, and when the ticket man got all in a fluster a semi english speaking chinese woman came to the rescue, and explained to the ticket dude that we wanted to go to Sanya. We ended up paying extra but oh well. The ticket lady in Guangzhou really hadnt done us any favours.
We finally arrived here and the weather is really nice and the beach is lush, full of palm trees and the sea is really
warm. Plus Katie just recogonised a guy that was at the train station in Guangzhou and he said that he was made to get off at Haikou aswell and had to take a bus to Sanya.
Well sorry it was such a long entry but had to get some things off our chests. Will upload more photos when we are more tanned. Loads of love Katie and Lucy xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Jimmy
non-member comment
I am from hangzhou and i am in sanya
just came across your blog, it's fun cuz i am from hangzhou and now i live in sanya for over a month so far. i just wonder where do you guys stay in? hostel or any hotel? reply to my email plz...hope to meet you guys and have a beer...lol