(As usual I’m behind.. I’ve back dated some entries I wrote awhile ago and finally got the chance to publish them.)
Oh China… I choose you because it was warm in May in the north. The “plan” was to travel from north to south to stay away from the cold. I’ll admit I was very nervous to see you at first. Landing in Beijing gave me a rush that I’ve never felt before. Now I feel a bit more at home with you.
Random Thoughts, Facts, and What I Got Use To
- I love how you introduced me to squat toilets.
- Forgetting to bring toilet paper with me to the restroom for the first time.
- I now carry toilet paper with me all the time.
- Seeing kids with the slit pants became normal to me.
- I’m no longer aware of the people staring at me.
- Hard Sleeper trains are your best bet. I always preferred the way top bunk.
- I will now to try to go on dates back at home to KFC.
- Became somewhat numb to the travelers “Good Byes”
- Made some fantastic friends from many parts of the world.
- I speak much slower English now cause it’s the only way some Chinese will ever understand me.
- I’ve got hand gestures for every possible item or place.
- I suck at planning but I’m good at following people who do plan.
- I always ask someone at the hostel if I could read their Lonely Planet book for a little while since I never got one and can never find one to buy.
- Although the language barrier can be rough in China, it’s extremely easy to get around as long as you have patience and common sense.
- I’ve mastered bargaining. Certainly an art form.
- The UK has taken over backpacking. They are everywhere in China.
- Because I’ve met so many English folks on the road, I’ve somewhat adapted to their British English language.
- I can never get use seeing the Chinese guys lifting up their shirt to their chest and walking around town.
- Opening a business in China is like opening a business in the 1950’s. Bring a good idea here and you’re good for the long run.
- Pushing, shoving, and cutting is normal.
- Even if you have a reserved seat on a train, rush to get to your reserved seat as fast as possible for absolutely no reason.
- I’ve eaten tons of foods not knowing what they were.
- Street food tastes fantastic in China. Less likely to get sick as well.
- Apparently the Chinese never heard of WD40 cause every single bicycle, motorbike, and car has the sound of pain on their brakes.
- Driving on the opposite side of the road is perfectly normal way of passing someone up that is going too slow.
- Safety regulations don’t exist?
- Screaming even to say hello or thank you is normal.
- The locals make every attempt to help foreigners (Exception to Taxi drivers)
- “Boo Yao” (No, I don’t want) is used more often then it should be used.
- I’m addicted to the Chinese culture.
- 30 days in China is not enough. I’d say at most 90 days is pretty decent amount of time to travel most of the country.
- For everyone back at home, China is completely different from what you think it is.
- China is real travel…
China, I will be back… Leaving from Kunming, China to Laung Prabang, Laos on a 24hr bus ride over the border. On my own again to a place I know nothing about.
Now for Laos
