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Published: October 22nd 2009
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Ah. The joys of traveling.
So. Here we are. Hogging up the computer desk at Starbucks for hours on end because our lovely bank decided to freeze our debit cards and we have the equivalent of $15 to our names. Skyping the bank didn't work; apparently all the frapaccinos being blended in the background is problematic to our audio system. So my poor father is running over to the bank, where we will attempt to talk to the bank people on my father's cell phone...from China. I'm going to need a good stiff drink when this is all over...
But anyway, enough of our petty meldodrama about being stuck in China with no access to our money. How's your life? See? You thought YOU had problems, didn't ya?? Wanna join us in spending our final yuan on frozen coffee and green-tea cheesecake?
Okay, okay. Moving on. Last night (with the power still out at the hostel), we headed out to Beijing West Train station and caught a sleeper train down to Xi'an. We booked the "soft sleeper" which consists of four beds per room, but they're quite comfy and we found that we slept very well. We had
the top bunks and shared the room with two older Chinese guys. I'd love to tell you more about the train ride, but I slept through most of it so there's not much to tell!
Arriving in Xi'an we joined a mass exodus of bodies through the exit corridors - wall-to-wall people all jostling their way towards the doors (remember there is no queuing or personal space here!). Compared to the pristine airports and subway stations, the railway stations here leave something to be desired...definitely need a face-lift! Somehow we made it through the masses and found our way to the ticket counter, where we purchased onward tickets Saturday night to Guilin (a TWENTY-SEVEN HOUR ride over 1800 kilometers, but hey, who's counting?) and hopped a bus with a friendly tout/concierge who was, ironically, from the hostel we were heading to anyway...he even bought our bus tickets! We checked into a double room literally right at the center of the city, where all roads converge to the spectacular Bell Tower (which is about 200 feet outside the front door, we have a great view from our room!). We toured the Bell Tower and its sister Drum Tower earlier this
afternoon, but honestly we both had a little "train-lag" and weren't much in the mood for sightseeing.
Which, ironically, is how we found out about the whole debit card thing in the first place. We stopped at an ATM and none of our cards worked...then we were declined for a small purchase online...hence the reason we've been sitting at Starbucks for at least two shifts' worth of workers!! We just received affirmation that the problem appears to be on our end, and we should try a local bank in the morning...so hopefully that will work!! Otherwise we will have to get by on $15 for the next month or so 'til we get to New Zealand...either that, or I will take full advantage of my blondness and start charging 5 yuan a shot for Chinese to take their photos with me...better yet, 10 yuan!! It's not every day the freak show comes to town, after all...
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lena
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Awww Poor Babies!
Dear Jeremy and Amy, I love all of the pictures in this blog! I haven't had a chance to read your other blogs (because I was distracted with the Assembly and getting back to my routine) and this is my first, but I'm going back to get caught up. Jeremy has been keeping up since he reads them on the phone and has been telling me what's happening (which is really nice that he is involved). He has caught the fever and after reading the article on Bolivia's Lost World in the November Awake he wants to go there now. :D I just heard from Sandra and she wanted to know everything that is going on with me. She would love to get your blogs! I will forward the ones we've received so far.. She is planning a trip to Thailand. :D Sandra's email is: z_zandman@hotmail.com I would love to get your blogs on my email because I forget about having to check Jeremy's email. My email is above, please send me blogs too. We'll be praying you get your money and you arrive safe in New Zealand. Much Christian Love, Lena