This weekend I got to take another little holiday off too Hangzhou to meet Martha, my friend from Prague. The train ride down wasn't so bad…although I promised I would never to a seat train again I decided to bite the bullet and took the fast train down with a fairly comfy seat. Comparable to planes - actually a tad better!
It was easy peasy! I took the 1.5 hour train to Beijing, ate some AMAZING McDonalds (not sure why the heck it tasted so amazing) and jumped aboard my 11 hr train to Hangzhou! Pretty sweet…I got seated next to a guy who could speak a little English and was more than stoked to have me next to him. I tried to study a little bit but slumber found me on route to Hangzhou and I pretty much slept until I arrived the next morning!! Alright!
I managed to make the giant taxi trek to Martha's alright. Very impressed with her chinese directions. It was a typical reunion…running at the sight of each other! Haha! Makes me laugh to think about it! The whole time we were hanging out we were just thinking how surreal it is that she is from the states, me from Aus, we met in Prague and now teaching and living in China! It really is amazing how you meet and make friends along the way! I definitely count myself lucky to have her as a friend here! We had such a great two days!
Our two days literally consisted of breakfast (western style), walking around the lake, a boat ride on the lake, real coffee, a foot massage, drinking and hanging with her expat friends on rooftop terraces and clubs that played western music, another massage, more food and drinks, a head and shoulder massage, more walking, tea @ a tea house on the lake and a sad goodbye! Man, it was the best two days and I definitely was grateful for the western injection, the night of chatting with the Brits and COFFEE!!....oh and FACEBOOK! I'm back baby!! Back!
Hangzhou is absolutely gorgeous….I really was amazed at it's beauty! And the fresh, breathable air that smells of trees and flowers. Oh, and the highlight for me was sitting down to some fantastic Indian food! So good! I had been craving it so bad. Martha and I started the tradition in Prague so we had to continue. It got me excited about eating the real deal as if I couldn't be any more excited!
Ah, the club experience was hilarious. We walk into a busy club, empty dance floor….take it by storm and get every chinese person up dancing with the novelty westerners! Haha! It was such an experience to watch people mimicking my lame dancing as if I was some celebrity. Too funny!! We also turned the shy guy at the bar into a god by making him show off his breakdancing moves and cheering him on! Good Night Indeed!
The trip back was pretty sweet also….I had a soft sleeper this time and was in a compartment with three other Chinese women who didn't snore thankfully! I pretty much slept the whole night…although your mind does play tricks on you when you are half asleep and the train seems to be derailing! Haha!
The rest of the morning I spent reading a teeny bit of study and messing about….I did however forget to eat for 24 hours so I was a little weary when I got home…..not to mention I was so flustered and frustrated as the taxi drivers at the station were just being pain in the ass hawkers who wouldn't let me just get in the taxi and show them the way…and put their dam meter on….so I started walking in the scorching heat until I found a lady who was willing to play the game properly! Ah, so annoying when you live in a place and get treated like a tourist!
I am loving these little trips away and glad I did them while I had the opportunity. I will be off to Beijing with Martha at the end of the month to see the Great Wall if all goes well! I have to also go to Hong Kong this month to sort out my visa to stay here so I will be still flitting around the place. I also plan to do some of the south west of China when I finish up here to head over to Dubai. About 10 days so that will be sweet! I didn't really think about travelling in China when I was planning to come but now I am here I realise how much there is to see.
My friend Kasey is now in Chongqing which is one of China's furnace cities. 40 degrees celsius and super humid makes it one of China's furnace cities. She is from Colorado so I am a little concerned for her! Haha!
In other news. My friend Chelsea who I also met in Prague has said she wants to come over for the three months that I leave to replace me in my job. I am super stoked….she will be great with the kids and I reckon she will have an amazing time. I am sad that she will be here while I'm not but I am sure we can still spend some time together when I get back! So it is all working out nicely!
Uni started this week! I haven't even got a chance to touch it as I have been away! Whoops! But I will knuckle down next week and give it a good hard kickstart. I have also been a little distracted catching up on facebook - haha!
My backpack arrived today for my backpacking trips! Man, my life just keeps getting more and more condensed!! I will be a pro light traveller after this!
It is getting super hot here in Hangzhou….it is heating up quick smart. Between the dirt and sun, I think I will come back a different colour! Haha! Nice! I have quite the tan coming along as it is from riding my bike around! YAY!!
Gotta fly….got a big day of uni tomorrow! Haha!
Love to you all….
HJ xx
P.S. I uploaded a million pictures to FB - check them all out there! :)
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