The day we left for Beijing 20/12/2013

IT'S HAPPENING - ADVENTURE TIME

As soon as the concert finished we were out of there and thanks to Daisy, had a taxi waiting out front for us to take us to the train station.  Well the taxi could only take Paul and the suitcases and Daisy was back on the phone trying to get another taxi for us.  And then there were none available.  I was a bit worried.  It was past 4 o' clock and our train was to leave at 5:15pm.  Eventually one came along and off we went where we met up with Paul who was waiting for us.  We were pretty early so we had to wait for them to open the gates which was 1/2 an hour before the scheduled time.  And when it is time to go through, it is a push and a shove.  I suppose the people with the cheaper seats have to rush through to get a good seat, where we had booked a birth and so we knew we had space.  On this type of train you get seats, where you sit for 12 hours to your destination.  Then there are hard sleepers where you have a very thin mattress and you sleep with three beds on top of each other, so you can't sit up on them, just lie down.  Then there is the soft sleepers, which we chose, which are in a birth of four beds, not too soft but comfortable.  Once on the train, after the pushing and the shoving, it was relaxing and we made ourselves at home.  I must say this train had a western and a local toilet, one at each end of the carriage.  But we didn't know this until after midnight.  You become an expert using an eastern toilet, especially when you have to use it when the train is rocking back and fourth.  Ha Ha .  It was the first time my girls were on a train.

 Kerry and Sarah on the top bunks

 Getting settled.

 The passage way.

 We even had a little table in the birth.

 They provide a flask and boiling water at the end of the passage so we can make our own coffee.

 Where ever you go in China, don't forget your toilet paper.

 When you get on the train, they come fetch your tickets and give you these plastic cards and about 15minutes before you get to your destination they wake you up and exchange it back for your tickets.  You also need your tickets to get out of the station.

Girls enjoying themselves.

Our pad kos with KFC and coffee.