I was in the southern China. Only 2 cities (Shenzhen and Hong Kong) but so many emotions! What a trip… I’d like to share at least some of the experiences.
There were some adventures and moments of doubts. I had the plane in the early Friday morning. I supposed to take the airport bus at 5:30 … Yeah, right – I woke up at 5:40!!!! I couldn’t believe my eyes! How come? Just that day my alarm clock broke!! I thought: Great. No breakfast.
I dressed up as quickly as possible and went to take a taxi. I acked my luggage n the back-seat, I told taxi-driver where I want to go (feiji chang)… but he started to say something nervously and pointed to another car. Obviously he didn’t want to go so far away. It’s far away – I paid 97 yuans!!! … but I was on time.
I was on time on the plane hoping that everything is just fine starting that time. No way… the plane couldn’t start because it was broken! My god, I’m so happy they discovered it when we were still on the ground!! They announced that we have to change the plane. We waited almost 3 hours for the next one. Air China…
I finally arrived Shenzhen, my friend was waiting for me all that time in the airport. Poor Kai, very good friend. It was hotter than in Hangzhou; or only I felt hotter because of the flying problems. The city can impress people. Wow – I was so amazed by it. Beautiful and so modern. And so big! Personally I can’t imagine how people can spend over 2 hours by bus to get to downtown. Shenzhenese can, that’s obvious.
Do you know Window of the World? It’s famous place in Shenzhen with copies of popular buildings and objects from the world. Eiffel Tower, Forum Romanum, David, traditional European houses… Look great! But… I started to feel something I was afraid the most: a toothache , terrible toothache which for that time was just a small pain. It was much worse the next day.
On Saturday I went to Hong Kong. I have a friend there (he’s local); it’s so good I could meet him because otherwise I wouldn’t be able to go anywhere. So complicated rules and procedures (for example with buying the appropriate train ticket) if you see them for the first time. With Ricky it was very fast and convenient (big thanks!). Hong Kong is a wonderful place. I became a big fan of this city!! And for sure I’ll come back there in future! The streets there are so narrow; anyway despite this the cars and pedestrians can move quite smoothly. Of course it’s noisy but… everybody speaks English! Oh, it was like music for my ears when I entered to any shop and heard: Execuse me, sir, how can I help you? After almost 5 months of hearing Ni hao! it was memorable experience.
I could bargain quite easily. At first I thought that all prices are fixed but Ricky told me that almost always it’s not true. So indeed, this is a paradise for shoppers. If you have time, of course. And if you don’t have a toothache, of course.
In the afternoon I wanted to go back to Hangzhou. I felt really badly. Even the cruise through Victoria Bay didn’t satisfy me. I came back to Shenzhen in the evening. Have I told you about 2 hours in the bus? The longest hours of my trip. I could think only about my pain which was greater every minute. I could feel every hole on the road when the bus went through it. I told Kai that I couldn’t stand it any longer and I wanted to see the doctor – IMMEDIATELY. We found the hospital… my god, without dentist! It was too late for the dentist! The emergency doctors (they smiled to me strangely, or just laughed) gave me some pain-killers. Oh, it helped. The long day was over.
Next day I slept very long. It had been raining since the early morning. Only in the afternoon we could go somewhere. We went to see Den Xiaoping’s monument. He was very important in Shenzhen’s history. People say Shenzhen wouldn’t be so prosperous without their former prime minister. We also went to the beach – yeah, yeah, so many people in the water! That day I felt much better then before. Very pleasant and comfortable. Ohhh…
I had a plane back to Hangzhou on Monday. No problems this time, no Air China – I took Southern China Airlines. I met a funny girl on the plane – her mother is from Singapore, her father is from Taiwan, she studies in China because she likes this country. I guess I’m not the only one.
I tried to take a taxi in Hangzhou. I tried… It was a rush hour so very difficult to take anything but I found one. I packed my luggage on the back-seat (again), I told the taxi driver my address – he must have understood me, I speak quite clearly! Well, he only said no!! I could see fear in his eyes! Am I so scary or am I just a foreign guy? I felt discrimintated at that time and I thought: No way, I will take a bus, you will not get my money… I was so mad and tired. When I’m tired I happen to be not very nice.
It’s good to be back home. Yes, you’ve read correctly. I’m in Hangzhou, I’m at home.