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Thursday 28 January 2010

China winter blog - part 1

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Last month I was travelling through China. I decided to leave my laptop behind in Korea and write down all my travel experiences by using pen and paper. I actually wrote quite a bit and will share these experiences with you by updating my blog.

30 December - Harbin to Mohe

After waiting for 1 hour at the waiting lounge of the train station with a few hundred if not thousands of Chinese people it was time to board the train to the most Northern city in China “Mohe” A few days before we went to the station to buy tickets. We were able to buy tickets but we couldn’t get a sleeping bed. The train ride would take up about 21 hour and therefore it would be nice to have a sleeping bed.

Boarding trains and busses in China is done in a ordered manner of the strongest goes first. In tradition of the strongest (biggest) first I gently pushed my competitors aside and boarded the train.

Chinese are small but take lots of luggage with them; it took me a while to re-arrange the bags of my fellow passengers in order to store my own bag. Traveling second class in China is a real cozy experience with plenty of people to talk with if any language in common… That I yet have to find out, so far so good my 21 hour sitting train ride has started.

Directly after boarding we asked the train conductor whether there were sleeping beds available. He told us to wait and ask him 1 hour later again. A little less than an hour later we asked the conductor again. We were told that there is about 20 other passenger on the waiting list for a sleeping bed. I am afraid it will be a long ride sitting all the way out…

31 December – On the train

12 ‘o clock 2 hours from departure most people were able to sleep in very creative ways. The person next to me who is lucky to have a small table sleeps head down on his table. The two teenager girls opposite of me found themselves a comfortable head on head sleeping position. Moreover you will see most people sleeping with the head hanging between their legs.

4 ‘o clock in the morning more and more people start to leave the train at every stop. Having more space is comfortable but not comfortable enough for sleeping… By now it is 6’ o clock haven’t closed an eye yet but there is hope! My Chinese friend went to the carriage of the conductor to claim the first bed that becomes available. There isn’t much too see besides sleeping drooling people, the window is pitching black and only reflects my own shadow. Interesting to notice is that the window frame is covered by a thick layer of ice.

After 8 hour sitting in the train I finally got a sleeping bed! It costs €7, 50 extra but is surely worth the money considering the other option of sitting 13 more hours … 6 Hour sleeping later I wake up due to the trains loud horn telling it is going to depart.

At 11 ‘o clock in the morning the sun is high up in the sky looking through the window there is this incredible landscape of mountain ranges (of inner Mongolia), pine trees and snow. Lots of snow!

Still tired I fall asleep again for 3 more hours. At 3 ‘o clock 17 hours from departure I suddenly wake up by the noise two little kids produce by running back and forward through the carriage. With only 4 hour remaining and plenty of energy after sleeping for 9 hours I encourage myself with the idea of taking a hot shower as soon as we arrive at our hotel .

Posted by Frank on Thursday 28 January 2010 - 22:29:51

Monday 25 January 2010

Back online

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DutchTravelers.com is back on-line! It seems some people were having fun by putting e107 based website on blank. The solution to the problem was simple but as I was busy I didn't have time to fix it right away and simply referred the main-page to my photo gallery page which was still working. A update of my e107 content management system (CMS) did the trick. Now my website is back on-line I make an update about my travel experiences in North China. Stay tuned!

Posted by Frank on Monday 25 January 2010 - 03:55:17

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Blogarchive

Cold weather Frank @ (30 Dec : 12:30) (Travel)

Merry Christmas Frank @ (19 Dec : 18:52) (Korea University)

Hartelijk gefeliciteerd Frank @ (05 Dec : 19:57) (Travel)

Final stretch Frank @ (02 Dec : 15:58) (Korea University)

2 maanden Seoul Frank @ (23 Oct : 11:38) (Korea University)

Video News Frank @ (20 Sep : 21:03) (Korea University)

Beijing Frank @ (20 Aug : 18:58) (Travel)

Zhangjiajie Frank @ (16 Aug : 18:20) (Travel)

News for 2010