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At first I was only going to upload the pics and save the remaining story telling for when I'm back but knowing me I'd probably just forget all the details...sooooooo...here goes...
Last I left you guys I was in Bangkok. Didn't take any new pics since it was the 4th time I was there and didn't really see any new. The main point was just to chill for 3 days and recuperate after the whirlwind tour of Vietnam and Lao (which I still am kicking myself for not having enough time to really explore). But anyways, Bangkok. Out of pure fluke both Bianca and Abi were getting into Bangkok the same time as me before then finished up their 3 months of traveling and heading back home to the UK. So we all spent the last 2 nights together and celebrated Abi's b-day by having the Travel agent Tony (who had made a lot of coin off the girls and majorly ripping me off on my guest house when I was in Chiang Mai) to take us all out on our last night to only local Thai places free of any farrangs (us westerners). We ended up at this local
riverside Thai restaurant for dinner and few beers then made our way over to a local karaoke bar for even more beers...after even a few more beers I reluctantly joined in on a duet (song I no longer remember the name of) and remember feeling the windows vibrate from the off-tune melody coming out of my vocal cords.
I then hopped onto a morning plane to Beijing China and then another connection south to the city of Guangzhou to check out the 103rd Canton World fair. Arriving at almost midnight, taking the airport express into the heart of the city, I realized that the subway had already closed for the evening...hmmmmmmm. Taxi? Two taxi drivers later and a good 30 minutes of attempting to explain where I was trying to go, I started walking...
Found me a hotel in hopes of finding an interpreter. In luck, I asked the night manager to translate the address of the Riverside Youth Hostel and ended up getting to the still thriving waterfront at almost 2am. Went to check in and realized I had zero Chinese money....damn. On credit and good faith I was given my room and crashed for the night.
The next morning I awoke excited to see what I was going to see at the fair which was supposedly selling everything and anything from furniture to gifts, decorations, toys, and house hold goods. But first, I need money. I start walking...
Find an ATM...out of money...2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th ATM...out of money. Starting to get a little worried. I reach into my pockets and pull out what remaining Thai currency I had and got it exchanged for 10 Chinese dollars. So now with $1.25 CDN equivalent to my name my stomach starts grumbling. Damn.
Deciding to put my hunger aside I pray that I have at least enough money to get on the subway make my way to the fair and figure out the money situation later. Low and behold I had just enough for a return ticket!
Get to the fair, register...they want 100 Chinese dollars as a registration fee...double damn. Visa? YES! cha-ching.
Ask where the ATM is (6th attempt now)...out of money! Ok, really really not so good.
A local sees my frustration and suggests checking out the 5 star hotel across the street...they might have one. Now with the
amount of traffic in the area there is no "crossing" the streets in the city. The only way is to walk a block, use an underground tunnel, and walk back a block...stomach starts growling again. Make my way through the lobby and the angels start to sing, the clouds start to part, and a ray of sunshine beams down onto the Citibank ATM kiosk...money!
After a very hearty lunch, I started the fair. Now the first few booths were pretty disastrous...it was quite clear that I had no clue what I was doing but by the end of the day (and a few eavesdropped conversations on proper lingo) the booth owners were asking me when I could place an order and giving me free samples of their product! To celebrate, I went to go see Iron Man (which was an awesome movie!!!) since I've been going through americanized tv/movie withdrawal for the past 2 months and got a well needed and deserved nights sleep.
After finishing my second day at the fair, and picking up a few more samples, I boarded my short night train to Hong Kong and found my hostel in the downtown core. Now Hong
Kong is an absolutely beautiful city. The night skyline is simply picturesque, and the city is filled with night life that reminds me of good 'ol NYC. Though walking around the city in flip flops probably wasn't the smartest idea since while on the city escalators (they run from the ferry all the way up the mountain) I took a miss step and sliced open the back of my toe (you don't want to know how I cleaned it) and after hobbling around found me a pharmacy to get gauze, iodine, surgical tape, and some local white powder that heals heal wounds. Don't worry, it's all good.
Now little did I know when I got my Chinese visa 2 months back, that entering Hong Kong would constitute leaving the country (though Hong Kong does belong to China officially now!) requiring me to get another 30 day visa to re-enter. And being that today is Friday and the embassy is closed over the weekend I probably won't be able to get it until Monday night thus delaying and possibly limiting my stay in Beijing. 😞
But in hind sight that's probably a good thing...I've gotten so good and used
to only spending so little time in each city that I'm always on the go from spot to spot...so it'll be good to see the city in leisure. I might even go check out Disneyland here (saw the stop on the subway map). Though I have to say Hong Kong is an extremely expensive city...most "normal" meals cost $20 per entre for something of the likes of simple spaghetti.
I'll try to post some more pics as I move back into and up China to Beijing and tell a story here and there, but I'm might just save some of the story telling for in person when I see you all soon!
Miss you all...
D
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