Well today was always going to busy! I was all packed for Xi'an and having had my camera die yesterday, I set off on my morning off to see if I can get it fix or buy a new one. I met Fish and we did some research as to how much cameras cost in China. For one similar to my old one we would be looking at 700RMB (£70), this was going to be an expensive day!
We headed to the electronics market and the repairman opened my camera up, he said it was gone and that there was nothing he could do. So RIP camera. However this means I get to buy myself a new one! After some shopping around I decided on the Samsung WB150F, it is a beautiful camera with a hell of an optical zoom! It was much better than my old camera, originally they wanted 2,000RMB (£200) but after some brutal haggling Fish and I got it down to 1000RMB (£100) which is a decent price!
Next stop was the office to meet up with Mike and Cecilia, we were all going to buy our tickets back to Beijing on 15th June. We got a fairly good price about 500RMB for soft sleeper, still not looking forward to taking my two suitcases on the trains again but soft sleeper should at least be nicer than hard sleeper plus I got a bottom bunk!
After train tickets we went for lunch! Big dumplings in soup, I made the mistake of choosing the spicy one! A bit too hot for my tastes but I managed it! Next we had to go to Jiazhouxuang for our English corner. I was put with Deena and Will and I can honestly say that teaching with Will is infuriating; Deena and I can work well together but Will is a nightmare! Luckily I was allowed to leave early to get to the airport. Xi'an here I come!!
 |
| Practicing the panorama on my new camera... |
 |
| Its like having two extra kids, two naughty kids. |
The journey to the airport was rather uneventful if I am honest, I checked in
and settled down by my gate and watched an episode of Supernatural.
The flight
was good too, I got a window seat which was nice. The flight was only an hour
but the scenery in China is incredible, it is just so varied! Each province is
like a whole new country!
I landed in Xi'an and got on the airport bus into town. Now it was hot. Stupidly hot. Thank goodness the bus was air-conditioned! I met a Chinese guy called Alan, we talked about Xi'an and he recommended some things for me to try. By this point I was exhausted. I got off the bus and began the search for my hostel; thank goodness they rang me earlier that day because I was lost. I don't know why but I pictured Xi'an as small when it is in fact bigger than Xining... Anyway I began the walk in what I hoped was the right decision and eventually found the hostel.
I landed in Xi'an and got on the airport bus into town. Now it was hot. Stupidly hot. Thank goodness the bus was air-conditioned! I met a Chinese guy called Alan, we talked about Xi'an and he recommended some things for me to try. By this point I was exhausted. I got off the bus and began the search for my hostel; thank goodness they rang me earlier that day because I was lost. I don't know why but I pictured Xi'an as small when it is in fact bigger than Xining... Anyway I began the walk in what I hoped was the right decision and eventually found the hostel.
 |
| The Bell Tower |
The hostel looked really nice and I checked in with no problem. I got into my room and soon discovered the air-con wasn't working and the power kept cutting out. By this time I was exhausted and irritable. The hostel said they'd sort it out and I set off in Xi'an to find a bank. I spent so long looking for a bank of china, I just got completely lost. It was infuriating and HOT.
I soon gave
up and eventually found my way back to the hostel, exhausted, irritable and
hungry. I ordered a bacon burger and waited, once it arrived I realised that
there was no burger just bacon. Great just cherry on the sundae... I went to
bed grumpy and not liking Xi'an too much, I was hoping Sunday would be better!
No comments:
Post a Comment