Better Take a Seat

Better Take a Seat

4- 30- 13 Tuesday

Well I’ve had better mornings than this morning. I woke up with my head all stuffed up again but after making some oatmeal and fully waking up I felt a little better. It rained all night long and the thunder and lightning actually woke me up a few times. We didn't need to get up and leave until 8:00 for the rafts so I was up well before needed and took the opportunity to get all ready and head down stairs and sit in the lobby because Sam and Crista were still sleeping. Mark wanted to get breakfast and I wanted to get out of the hostel so he got the others to come out and eat. When we walked out of the hostel I could feel the humidity hit me and not going to lie, I really like it. I found some bread so that I could make sure I was filled up for the raft ride and headed back to the hostel. Mark came over and told us that the bamboo rafts were closed because the water was too high after all the rain yesterday and all night... dang it. We got all our money back and went out to get a bus.

Back packs in hand; we set out to travel to youngshuo. We all stood at the bus stop waiting as bus after bus was jammed pack full of people to get to the bus station. No way were we all going to fit on these things with our bag which practically doubles our person size. But it’s cheaper than a taxi. Mark, Kristen, Andrea and Sarah wanted to try a taxi to get to the bus station. So Me, Crista, Sam and Rachelle decided to stand and wait for the next bus and we would meet the other group at the bus station to find and buy our tickets to Youngshuo. We waited and waited and finally just gave up with the bus Idea and gout ourselves a taxi and as we were turning the corner, saw the other group getting in there taxi as well! Haha they laughed and rolled their eyes in an “I told you so” manner and then lost sight of them. We drove for a while, not because it was a long ways away, but because the traffic was so bad. I’ve never seen China roads so congested and I thought it was just because it was 9:00 rush? Either way, we made it to the Bus station and started to wait... as you could probably tell, waiting becomes a major theme of the day. We walked up and down the bus station that clearly was a bus station but Rachelle and I knew it wasn't the same one we went to yesterday to get to the rice terraces. Shoot. There are two! So how do we know where the other group is? We don't. We just had to assume that they were at the other bus station in the same boat we are. We thought about trying to get a taxi and say “other bus station” but that idea faded as quickly as it came when we glanced back at the bumper to bumper traffic right outside the bus station. There is no way we are going to be able to get a taxi. We stood there for a min trying to weigh the pros and cons of what to do. Was the other group going to wait for us? Should we just meet at our next hostel and hope they do the same? Meanwhile we are getting bombarded by old ladies shoving pamphlets in our faces saying “hello! Youngshuo?” “hello! Youngshuo?” “hello! Youngshuo?” oh my gosh! We ask them how much to see and they say 50¥. we weren't sure what they were saying so when a Chinese girl started talking to them we asked if it was good or bad? She said it was bad because it was too expensive. To be honest we were more concerned about safety rather than expense so we didn't shut the idea down completely but still went to check out the Bus station tickets. It was 22¥ and left in two hours. 2:30. we decided we knew it was legit and wasn't going to double cross us and it was cheaper so we were going to play it safe with the 22¥ and 2 hour hang time. No big deal, it’s not like we haven't gotten good at occupying ourselves for long periods of time right? We found a restaurant to pitch our tents for a while and got to waiting. Talking about people places and things and everything in between to pass the time. I got up to go to the bathroom when I saw there was a sign for Wifi we got a password from a worker and sent Mark a message to his Ipad in case they get to the hostel or maybe they sent us something, but mostly for peace of mind. If something happened to us, they know where to start looking and what our mindset was!

Two hour rolled around and we headed back to the bus station. Finally! We are going to be headed to youngshuo! We get passed the easiest security check and to the back where the buses are into a massive crowd of people and I mean massive. We had no clue where our bus was and couldn't figure out the ticket so we decided to fall back on looking confused and hoping someone would help. We stopped a lady and pointed to the ticked and held up our hands in the universal “i don't know” shrug, she checked our ticket and pointed us down to the far end of the crowd with what I took as “good luck.” we started our baby elephant line.

When I was little and went shopping with my mom, she made sure I was holding onto the cart at all times. I had to have one hand on the cart and walked right along with my mom. I can remember doing that when I was little and even now have had a good laugh when my mom and I catch me doing it now when we go grocery shopping together. Now don't think I was an angel shopper because I can also remember the adrenaline rush and trying to stifle my laughter while my mom was looking for me while I was hiding in the middle of a clothes rack. But, I am proud to say that I have grown out of the clothes rack stage and have become quite the baby elephant when it comes to crowds. Baby elephants will walk behind their mothers and hold onto their mom's tails to stay in line. I have found that even now, if I am in the grocery store by the shopping cart, I will grab onto my mom's, (or whoever I am with) elbow to make sure I am not lost in the crowd.

When they say you push to survive in China, they aren't kidding. You have to shove your way or there is no way. That is where the “baby elephant” technique is developed. The leader is appointed and we fall in line grabbing onto each others back packs and not letting go. It really works like a charm.

 We were in the process of shoving our way through the crowds when a Chinese man took us by surprise by speaking great English let us know that our bus is delayed and he wants to go get a refund because he is sick of waiting. Turns out, our bus is delayed another two hours... oh my heck! We asked him to let us know if we can refund and we would try to do the same if we can. He was more than willing to let us know and told us that we would come back to let us know. So we waited. But whats new?

The man actually came back to tell us that we could get a refund and we could follow him and he will help us get a refund as well. Its a good thing he was there because I don't have the most frugal mentality when it comes to things like this. I usually would have looked at the situation and thought of the hassle of getting a refund and thought, “eh its really not THAT much.” which in reality, 22¥ is like $3.00 but I suppose it all adds up in the end! Rachelle stood in line with our handy helper while Crista, Sam and I stood back so we would be out of the way. When Rachelle came back the man told us that he had the number for a lady who has a taxi service who could get us a taxi. It would be pretty expensive compared to the bus but there goes my “eh, its not that much.” mentality. Especially if the man was gonna do all the calling right? He told us to meet back where we were standing (the entrance of the bus station) in 20 min because he wanted to get some food and had to wait for his friend to call him back. Sure thing, what’s 20 more minutes?

We walked over to some benches outside the bus station and sat down in front of this completely high, drunk or psychotic Chinese man sitting in the most populated area of the bus station. Here was a bald, Chinese man, dirty as can be, wearing a full

camouflage outfit, surrounded by frustrated hopeful passengers of the buses out back, while this man was clearly not there for a bus. He was sitting there with his legs crossed, randomly shouting and spitting words out with giant obstructive movements, creating an invisible boundary that shocked/appalled spectators dared not cross. I must say, having a front row seat to this crazy guy made those 20min go by so fast!

While sitting there, Rachelle told us that our new friend was from Hong Kong and was here visiting for the week. Unfortunately, for the sake of our story I will have to just let you know that we never did get his name so instead of “the man” I will call him H.K.

We met H.K. Outside the bus station while he was helping another boy and two girls with the bus ticket refund. He was out to help everyone today! H.K. Told us that his friend at the Taxi place couldn't get a Taxi out here for another 2 hours because the river flooded from all the rain... ahhh, so that’s where this water is coming from... stupid condensation. So now what? We told H.K. About the lady telling us about a Van to youngshuo for 30¥ and asked him if it was a good deal. H.K. Jumped at the opportunity and tried to go talk to her but got stopped by two taxi drivers who were offering to take us for 100¥ a car. H.K. Would not be having that though so he started to talk with the old ladies. Meanwhile, we had our new friend whom we shall call Quate.. because like H.K., we didn't get his name either... oops.

 Quate spoke English really well also, so we were really relieved that we could start communicating with people. The taxi drivers kept coming over and yelling things to us when we were talking with the ladies about the van. I’m not going to lie, they did look crazy. The old people here have no manners and drive me crazy. The push, the shove, and they snot rocket in the street. But the worst thing I have to say would be they just come up and touch you. Yes, that’s the western coming out but seriously, you don't brush your teeth, I know you don't wash your hands so don't touch me!

Apparently, the Taxi drivers were telling H.K. That the ladies were lying and that they were just going to take our money and they don't have a van... ah!! what?! These ladies are so sketch! It’s a good thing we didn't fall for their trap! H.K. Kept talking with them and then asked us to watch his bags and told us he would go see if they had a van. Oh yeah, ha good idea, don't trust the taxi driver who is trying to rip us off. Here we are, 3 American girls, 1 guy from Quate and 2 Chinese girls who speak no English in the middle of a busy bus station in front of bumper to bumper traffic trying to figure out how to get to Youngshuo... stress. And lots of it. I was mostly annoyed from carrying my crap on my back, if I could have just stashed my bag in a locker and then tried to figure things out, I probably would have been much more of a help but what’s the fun in that?

It took H.K. A little more time than we thought was necessary and weren't sure if that was a good or bad sign... I just had my fingers crossed that this was the last of our Guilin bus nightmare. “Please work, please, please, please?!” H.K. Came back ready to go, they have a bus not a van and we only pay 30¥ each, “lets go”. YES!!! We are going to make it to Youngshuo after all!!

We all walked back around the building and went back through some alley ways to a parking lot with a few buses. We loaded onto the bus and sat on little stools in the isle. Yeah, it was so full we didn’t have seats! But, at this point we were happy to just get going!
I pulled out my lap top and started tying away to pass the time and it seemed to work because that was a really short bus ride! Before I knew it, we had arrived.

Finally, we are … what the heck this is amazing. I hopped off the bus feeling smaller than a grain of sand. Surrounded by giant mountain sides. Steep cliffs shooting into the sky everywhere you turn, directing the path of travelers. Youngshuo, is beautiful! I only had a minute to take in our surroundings before H.K. Was making sure we knew where we were going. He was asking for addresses and phone numbers to the hostel and asking locals which way we should go.

We did appreciate the gesture, but we were hungry. We just rode on stools for the past two hours and have been super stressed. People were getting agitated and I felt like I was walking on egg shells. Quate called the hostel to tell them that we were headed over and then tried to call a taxi for us which was sweet and I appreciated it, but for others, food was first priority. After we tried to explain that as tactfully as possible, we said goodbye and parted ways. By now, my throat was hurting again and my nose was getting stuffy so I really didn't care what happened cuz I just felt like crap.... again. I don't know what this bug that I have is, but it really has definite bipolar tendencies!

We finally got some food after some heat was being felt and then headed to the hostel. We got off the little bus that we were told to take and then found ourselves lost again so we asked what looked like a police officer for some help. They looked at the address and pointed to the ground. Yes, I know we are here... grr. So we gave them the phone number. The police officer looked at us a little funny as he opened his reading glasses and pulled out his phone. We tried our best to bat our eyes and plead for understanding. He hung up and said “wait”.

Sure enough, two minutes later the receptionist from the hostel came over to get us. Yeah, we really were that pathetic. In our defense however, it was tucked away around the corner similar to an alleyway but without the creepy connotation that comes with the word.

The man at the hostel spoke pretty good English and led us up to our rooms. We walked in as he apologized that it isn't the most westernized hostel but hoped that it was good enough conditions to satisfy us. It wasn't the nicest hostel we have ever been in but it was totally fine with me. I didn't really get what he meant about it not being westernized. I mean I know we usually have mattresses on our beds but does he think we need drapes over our windows and central air? O well, no biggie. We set our stuff on our beds and took a breather. I had to go to the bathroom, once I opened the door it all became clear. Behold the squatter... and behold the new Dellany... I shrugged, squatted. Not going to lie, us girls have competitions to see who has the best aim and I am pretty high up there in ranking. The one thing I haven't quite figured out is which way I am supposed to face... do you think Chinese people have the same problem with our western toilets??

The guy at the hostel was our number one man while in youngshuo since he is the only one who could speak English. I don’t know his name so for now... we will call him Keeper. Keeper let us know that our other group had come a few hours ago and had just barely left the hostel about 20min prior to us showing up. We got our messages from mark saying he wasn't sure what happened but they were at the hostel at 2:30... the same time we found out our bus was delayed... typical! Whatever. No time to waste let’s get going!

We headed out and down the street lines with little shops everywhere. This place was so enchanting! I felt like I was at the fair all over again but instead of surrounded by animals, it was mountainous rocks covered in foliage, towering over the buildings. This place is so beautiful. Sam and Crista were talking about skipping xingping all together and just staying here for a few more days than planned. I was too overwhelmed by the beauty and excitement of this place to think about tomorrow.

We made it to the main road full of places to shop. There was everything you could imagine. There was everything and anything from string sandals to cute sun dresses. Chinese dolls and scrolls. Ice cream and bars. Yeah, there were bars. One bar had some pretty funny Chinese guys standing at the front wearing funny glasses and fake mustaches. Rachelle and I asked to take a picture with them and of course they were fine with it. After that, Rachelle walked into the bar. American music was blasting and I felt like I was back home ready to do an undercover buy... oh yeah, ha I’m not! It took Rachelle about 30seconds to say she was done and walk out. I followed giggling to myself while recalling all the memories from my job before I came here.

Rachelle and I were pumped for the night. Crista and Same aren't big shoppers or even lookers, so there were long gone ahead of us. We saw the other group and they told us that they have just been walking around all day because everything was shut down from the rain. They were headed back but Rachelle and I were just going in. We walked into another Bar to see if it had a place to dance, so I guess to see if it was more of a club. More party less drinking but after stepping inside, we could tell it was a no go. Too bad cuz it would have been an awesome dance party!

Rachelle and I spent the night walking from place to place looking at everything.  We laughed and joked and I had a great time. We decided to make our way back once 11:00 rolled around but made sure to get an ice cream for the walk home. We made it back to meet our group trying to figure out our plans for tomorrow. After much collaboration with Keeper and the group, we decided that we are going to go Biking to the mud caves for sure, and then play the rest by ear. I’m feeling pretty under the weather right now so I am going to call it a night and hope for the best tomorrow morning!