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I realize now that my last post, while informative was also probably much too long. Therefore, I am really going to make an effort to keep the length of the blogs to a minimum and maybe post more oft. (I think I'm going to start using that word, if it is even a word at all. Oft. Mmm nice.)

Ok. It dawned on me there were a couple of interesting stories that I have journaled but not blogged. Because of my redefined blogging style I will address one of them here and maybe another later.

Let's backtrack to the "Chinese Family" I mentioned about a week ago but never ended up talking about. (That was the period of frustrating hostel computers.) Rather than staying a extra night in Yangshuo (the beautiful Chinese city of step mountain pillars and rivers) I decided I would go ahead an move on to Xiamen. I hop on the bus to Guilin where my flight leaves and get there by 4:00 pm.

Instead of telling you about my exciting 8 hour wait in the airport for a plane that "was rerouted". I'm going to skip right to the part where at say 12:30 am I am gathered around the boarding station with about 30 other Chinese people. I'd like to remind the reader that in China there aren't many people who speak English, and in the Guilin airport that night there might have been three but I have no idea who they were.

The only thing I did know is there were a lot of angry Chinese people and one sore thumb gathered around for an explanation of our now canceled flight (that I put together myself). I find an airport worker who speaks enough English to confirm my assumption, and then do what any foreigner would do. Follow the crowd. I could guess who was on my flight so I follow a group of them onto a bus, where I receive the usual busload stare down. The bus takes us to a four star Chinese hotel. Not as nice as American 4-stars but the rooms did have a toilet and some comp. paper slippers.

Fortunately one of the front desk agents spoke a bit of English to tell me there was breakfast tomorrow and that the front desk would call me when I needed to be in lobby for the plane. After a wonderful sleep I march myself right into that restaurant, see some familiar faces who I greet with the one of two Chinese words I know: Ni Hao. I assumed maybe they would invite the stranger to eat with them. They didn't. So I wandered around until the waitress sat me at my own table in the corner.

Back to the room. Nap. Back to the restaurant for lunch. This time I see some people in the elevator from my flight, and this time I walk right next to them as though one big family. We are sat accordingly. Over lunch they warm up a little bit (maybe just needed some fishhead is all) and I could tell we were making some good connection.

Eventually we all go back to the airport, but now people are pointing and fighting the ticket counter for me. Walking me through every little step. Until finally right before our plane arrives, I gather everyone (almost) together for a family picture. I know Chinese love to take pictures so I had a feeling it would be successful. And you can see for yourself it was.

One big happy family. By the way an added bonus to my new friends, two free meals and a free night in luxury, I also got a refund of 200 yuan. Yes that's 25 USD, but with my bargaining skills that can go a long way in China.

posted by Travelin' D @ 5:52 AM