The flipside

Packing, sitting on rucksacks, squeezing 6 months into 3 cases and hand luggage again.

Leaving just as we’ve started to find our way around and before we’ve finished exploring.

Cross words with the kids because we’re stressed.

Five hours on a bouncy, speeding bus.

Fighting through crowds, carrying 2 bags, towing one and herding the family.

Negotiating with the taxi scrimmage, trying to indicate our desire with train noises and gestures to phrase book pages.

Cross words with the kids because we’re stressed and squashed in a too small taxi and not sure we’re going to the right train station.

Three hours on hard waiting room seats, announcement cacophony.

Giving in to children’s pressure and buying Chinese KFC alternative for tea.

Eating said burger, by far the worst meal we’ve had in China.

Trying to find storage for luggage on the train while hoards of impatient fellow passengers elbow past.

Cross words with the kids because we’re relieved to be on the train but are tired and have 20 hours to go.

Laying in hot, hard too short bed, relieved that it’s Jos turn to share with the wriggling nightmare that is Will.

Dozing, listening to piped musak, snoring carriage-mates and Jo yet again telling Will to just please lie still and be quiet.

Waking to a wiff of toilet and cigarette smoke.

Sitting up, forgetting where I am and banging my head on the ceiling.

Waking to the sound of 60 Chinese clearing their throats and spitting.

Woken by my daughter in the bunk below kicking my bed.

Sitting up, sore head again.

Cross words with the kids because their DS’s have run out of battery and we’re grumpy and there’s still four hours to go.

Watching mountains and beautiful scenery rush by and wondering what we’re missing.

Heaving our tired selves and our bags onto a new station, ready for the taxi mayhem.

Back in a city, dodging mad motorcyclists.

But…
Arriving to a lovely welcome at Wada hostel, kids especially so.
Wandering around city with surreal karst mountains around.
Blogging whilst Ellie and Will make dumplings at hostel party tonight.