Saturday 4-6-13
Today I was excited to finally get to take a shower! Crista and I got up early to make sure that we could get a shower. (there were three for the whole hostel) I got all my stuff together and asked Crista what we were going to do with towels. She told me she got one for her last night and I didn't even think about it. I guess I just thought we were all on the same page in the group that we were helping each other so I went into the room to try to ask for a towel and everyone had their own towel claimed... ah so I got the every man for himself memo and I used the stall to change into my clothes for the day and brush my hair back up into its pony tail and I was ready for the day an hour early! I knew this was my last chance to shower which would end up putting me at 5 days with no shower but you know what? I’m down with that! In fact, that is going to be a record breaker! Crazier things have happened. I got to eat and chill out until we met Lisa, our friend who we met last night, Along with her two other friends. We hopped on the bus and made our way to one of the most beautiful places I have seen so far in china.

It was an accident and a definite tender mercy that we were so close to the festival, there at the right time, met Lisa to help us get there and the weather was ideal! While we were there the group broke up after deciding a meeting place and Me, Mark, Sam and Crista tagged along with Lisa and her friends. We walked up and down and all around this park and took picture after picture trying to capture its beauty! My inner wanna be photographer came out and I was snapping pictures right and left. I am not going to try and deny it, I could have spent another 2 hours there!



I am not gonna lie, he has skills but I mean he had a pretty easy target. I saw the pictures and in that moment I realized I could be really freaked out or make a new friend... considering the fact that I could out run him without breaking out into a run I found myself a new friend. The only communication we had with each other was my friend popping up in the middle of me taking a picture, him pointing at one thing and then the sun which I took as him telling me about lighting and then where to stand and he would capture a photo, he showed me the result and I mimicked him the best I could and showed him my product.
If I was off he would take another photo and emphasize what I was missing and I would try again, when I got the desired product, I got a thumbs up and he would walk away... every time I would hear in my head, “Good young grasshopper”
If I was off he would take another photo and emphasize what I was missing and I would try again, when I got the desired product, I got a thumbs up and he would walk away... every time I would hear in my head, “Good young grasshopper”
at one point, Mark sat on a rock waiting for us and eventually we all accumulated at the rock and decided to take a group photo. That turned into Asian after Asian posing next to our group as camera after camera flashed. We finally had had enough and had our 1- 2 -3 RUN!!! we really are celebrities here and not going to lie, its kind of fun!
We got to the hostel in time to check out and head to the train station. We were there about an hour early so Me, Kristin and Mark hit up a noodle shop and then some street vendors and I got this yummy tortilla with egg cooked inside of it and shredded potato stuff, sauce and lettuce.. oh man it was so good! And of course I topped it off with a McFlurry from the good ol McDonalds by the train station.
ice cream, I am an ice cream sniffer, I love ice cream so much and could probably down 20x's what I was able to get my hands on during our trip but I know its not my fault. Its genetically wired into me so I figure its best to just embrace it! It was so warm outside I was really sad to have to leave so soon but I also kind of miss home and I’m ready to sleep in my “bed” we got into the waiting area and knew there was no point in trying to look for seats so we found an empty space near a few empty chairs to wait for boarding time for the train, Geoff had a deck of cards and a few tricks up his sleeve so to pass the time he showed me and Crista a magic trick, before we knew it he was crowds of people around us taking pictures and I’m assuming talking about us.
ice cream, I am an ice cream sniffer, I love ice cream so much and could probably down 20x's what I was able to get my hands on during our trip but I know its not my fault. Its genetically wired into me so I figure its best to just embrace it! It was so warm outside I was really sad to have to leave so soon but I also kind of miss home and I’m ready to sleep in my “bed” we got into the waiting area and knew there was no point in trying to look for seats so we found an empty space near a few empty chairs to wait for boarding time for the train, Geoff had a deck of cards and a few tricks up his sleeve so to pass the time he showed me and Crista a magic trick, before we knew it he was crowds of people around us taking pictures and I’m assuming talking about us.
One guy leaned over and asked what the rules are to the game so we got him to “pick the card” and be mystified by Geoffs magic trick, when he pulled out the guys card he was very impressed! It’s so funny how all we have to do is sit on the floor and pull out a deck of cards and we are an exhibit! They had no idea what Geoff was doing but they were captivated by the 11 Americans sitting in the corner entertaining themselves. At 3:44 we loaded up and claimed our beds for the start of our journey back to good ol Weihai. From my lack of sleep the past two days I crawled up onto my top bunk and got all situated to take a nice 3 hour nap. I got up to eat dinner and chat and then get back to sleep for our early morning tomorrow.
Love all the adventure! Cute grandpa! :)
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