On the first night I landed in Beijing airport after a thirteen hour plane ride which actually went very smooth No turbulence and I sat next to a guy who was 21 years old which made time fly by super fast (no pun intended) because we simply spent the whole flight talking and watching movies! Once I landed I met Keith at the airport and we found out hotel in the Dongcheng District in Beijing. First day was simple- just relaxing and taking in the sights. On our second day we went out to a park and watched a whole lot of badminton games, people dancing, playing flutes, and singing opera all around the park :)
We only spent one night in Beijing and then Keith and I had an overnight train that went to Pingyao, Shanxi Province in China. It was a fourteen hour train ride to Pingyao- a perfectly preserved ancient walled in city. We are currently here at hostel number two and soon going out to eat for dinner!! We are staying here for a few days and sight seeing the beautiful remnants of the city.
(In one "room" on the train there were six beds. We had two beds on the lower level and there was a middle and a higher bed above us on both sides)
A few initial thoughts that struck me as I got into China:
1. The bathrooms: I was definitely not prepared for the bathrooms, let's just say that. At hotels/hostels there are western bathrooms provided; however, everywhere else that you go the bathroom is a toilet but in the ground, so that in order to take care of business you must squat. It is definitely something that is going to take a lottt of getting used to, that's for sure!
2. The smog (especially in Beijing): Even though we were only in Beijing for one night/day it was extremely hard to breathe in the city while walking around. There were a few people with masks in order to make breathing easier, but you definitely tire more quickly and the sun appears foggy behind a thick cloud of smog.
3. The subways: I have never been on the subway and it was such an awesome experience! It was crowded and you kind of had to push and shove your way in so that you get onto the subway. I fell right onto all of my luggage because I forgot to hold on to the handles and I definitely got some stares.
4. Taking a tricycle/buggy (thing): Once in Pingyao, we took a "buggy" to the inner city and it was the craziest drive ever! There are seats in the back and then a motorcycle where the driver sits. There weren't really any rules to the road... the driver went against traffic beeping and speeding along trying not to hit people or run into other cars. We made it safe, but whew that was one awesome ride!
Well that is all for now, just a little catch up from the past few days! I'll be sure to post more as soon as I can! (Also, I am really trying to upload some photos but am having a few difficulties that I'm hoping to fix)
No comments:
Post a Comment