Interlude… Generally, all the people we have met so far in China are so friendly, inquisitive and helpful. They really do see a westerners and stare in bemusement until you smile, then they beam back.
And a lot less dirty than India when thinking mass city, huge population. However, while waiting for the train, at the station I had to visit the ladies.. I kid you not, channels in the floor which you hover over, while you can see other ladies doing exactly same. So undignified!! While on this subject gross, I know , last time we took the night train in China, there was actually a western toilet. But we thought, no…, common sense would dictate to sit on the seat!!
At one point into the night, I went to use the toilet to discover foot prints on the rim of the toilet!! What the hell. The equivalent would be us sitting right on the floor of a drop toilet…. Thursday 13th March Arrived at Yichang at about 3pm after the long journey.
Huge place! Difficult to figure out, but we found long distance bus station and bought tickets to wudan Shan for tomorrow. Pronounced wooo-DAN shan by the locals apparently very different to how we have been saying it. Got on a random bus, then got off as it seemed to be taking us away from town, then walked halfway back to where we had started to find a hotel for the night.
Nice hotel, just relaxed and sorted ourselves and our bags out. One thing about China is that smoking is allowed everywhere!! And so many people smoke. Friday 14th March Wudan Shan Up early again. Breakfast at the hotel a crazy experience. No coffee we were looked at like mentalists for asking , but then we are looked at like mentalists anyway.
