China

It's about time I do an update....I've been out of sorts in a way and I since I'm feeling better and my ankle isn't being a jerk anymore I figure I should write about my trip to china.

For my first two days in China I had a bit of free time and was able to write a journal....I'm posting that now (with some pictures of course).

Sept. 22

Today was good. I got on the airport bus at 9:00am. We got to the airport at 10:30 but we thought it would've taken longer considering that its chusok right now. The plane ride was uneventful except for the fact that we got a meal.....on a 1 and a half hour plane right....totally wasn't expecting that one. The other thing was some creepy guy who kept telling me I was beautiful because I think they were the only english words he knew. I said thank you in Korean and he proceeded to speak at length in Korean back to me totally ignoring the blank looks I was giving him.
After the airplane ride to Qingdao airport....about as small as Saskatoon airport, I met up with Sammie and Sue again (whom I went on the trip with). We proceeded to reconfirm our tickets for the trip back to Korea....it turned out to be quite interesting. Sue ended up speaking in Japanese to a representative from Japan Air. After, we got onto the airport bus and it took us closer but not exactly to where we where going. We proceeded to ask a passer-by and he asked if any of us spoke french. Sammie, being from Montreal spoke with the man half in English and half in French. Isn't it weird how languages can help us get around even if its not the first language of that country?
Finally, we arrived at our destination, a hostel and that is where I am writing this letter to you. The hostel is quiet and fairly clean....esp compared to my house....kikikikiki. I'm sleeping in a dorm room for 8 ppl....right now there are 4 others....I haven't really talked to anyone but as everyone knows, that'll quickly change I'm sure. I have finally decided that I'm going to go to Beijing tomorrow. I'm going to take the 7:00am train....it takes 5 hrs because its the rapid train......kinda like the KTX. I should be able to wake up that early. oi. I don't know quite what I'm going to do....will write more later.

Sept 22 9:30pm

So, I went downstairs to buy my tickets to Beijing and find a place to eat, but on the way and in typical Anne-Marie fashion, I met someone. She is Chinese but speaks English very well. Her English name is Nymphissi. She also wanted to eat and so I went with her to hunt down some food. On the way we also picked up an alarm clock.....I figured it was probably pretty important that I wake up on time for my train....not a good way to start a trip by sleeping in after all.
She took me to this outside restaurant/street stall thing. it was selling charcoal grilled squid covered in this messy barbeque sauce. I was hesitant to try it but I finally said a the hell with my stomach and dug in. It was delicious but ofcourse having the "Hickson genes" in my blood I spilled all down the front of my shirt. I swear its genetic! Darn you MOTHER!

We also ate some noodles. They were yummy too (even the cilantro didn't taste that bad). However, the pile of oil on the top of the soup was a little hard to take... noodles in Korea just don't have the grease that the ones in China do, atleast the ones I tried in China....I didnt get to eat a lot of different dishes... you all know I like to try new things but it takes me a while to warm up to different country's cuisines.

Well I guess its time for me to got o bed. I have to wake up at 6:30 tomorrow to make sure I don't miss my train. I know....how boring can I get. Oh yah....I also did a little shopping...suprise suprise....I bought a cute wallet and a funky black and white box (that I now use to hold even more junk).

Cheers till tomorrow!