Train from Hong Kong to Shanghai

After a few days of rest at Jess and Mike's place and a few last minute buys and I was back on the train for another 20 hour train ride. I left Hong Kong on Saturday and would arrive in Shanghai on Sunday. On the train ride I made friends with these 4 Indian guys.

Three of the Indian Guys

Me and two of the Indian guys I meet

They were really excited because I could speak English and the Chinese were having a lot of trouble with their accents.I can not blame then I found it hard sometimes. They were from Bangalore and were on a 1 month holiday in China. One of them kept telling me that in 200 years there will only be one race and one blood type. I can not see it happening. I got to ask them heaps of questions about the cast system in Indian and other social issues I have always wanted to know. It was really interesting.

Then that night I made my way to the dining cart for a drink and to make a few more friends. Before long I had befriended the chef and a few other guys who worked on the train. I then spent the rest of the trip eating and drinking for free. They did not speak much English but where really fun.

Me and the chef. He was so funny and did not speak a word of English

One of the guys who worked on the train who speak a bit of English

The next morning I meet these two people from Canada who were travelling about China. They said they wanted to go to Tibet. We thought we could try and work out a travel group together cos you can only go to Tibet in a tour group and it is cheaper the more people you have. I had been given a quote from one agent for $AUS2500 for 5 days so really wanted to find a cheaper option. They gave me the address of their hostel cos I had not worked out my accommodation yet.

Once I arrived in Shanghai I went to the bus station to work out a ticket to Haian, near Nantong. I was going there to see a factory for my Dad again. Buying the ticket was harder than I thought i would be cos was not clear where and what was the bus station. Finally this guy took me to the station which was a huge building around the corner from the train station. I felt really silly for not seeing it earlier and asking all these local city bus stations for a bus to a town 4 hours away.

After getting my ticket I headed off to find the hostel. The hostel was a bit out of town but very close to the subway system so it was fine. The hostel was really big and packed. I had a drink with a Germany guy called Leif who was living in a town about 2 hours away and working for Siemens. He had come to shanghai for the weekend and invited me to come to his town for a look around. I was really keen as it looked like I was going to have to stay in the shanghai area for a week waiting for my Tibet permit to come.

After the drink I headed into the city to finally meet up with Bernard's daughter Sophie.

Sophie and I at 'face' bar in Shanghai

Sophie was great fun and really interesting to talk to. I was so glad we got to meet up. She is working in Shanghai as a journalist and explained to me how the government must have a sensor that reads everything she writes. It sounded really amazing. After seeing Sophie's place and briefly meeting her partner Ben I went to a dumpling house for dinner.

While at the dumpling house I meet this couple called 'Simon' and Jin Wei who lived down the street from my hostel. They were so nice and asked me if I wanted a lift home. I wouldn't have normal said yes but they were really nice.

Simon and Jin Wei at their apartment

On the way back to the hostel they invited me to their house so i accepted the offer. They lived in a very nice apartment complex near the hostel. They had a pet dog which they were both obsessed with. He was really cute.

Simon and Jin Wei with their dog.

After about an hour of chatting their friend arrived with her dog for a walk. I was really sleepy and had to take my bus to Haian at 7am so I took this moment to head back to the hostel. Even though the hostel was only 500m away they insisted on driving me. I still can not believe how nice everyone in China is. I have really not meet anyone who was not nice here so far.

The next morning I was off to Haian by bus