Travelling Alone in China

Shanghai Railway Station

YIKES! It has been so long since I have blogged. I have been on holidays for at least six days now, adventuring in Shanghai and Beijing. I was really regretting not going to Thailand, just as everyone said I would, until I was on The Great Wall of China. What an amazing experience. BUT. Let me start from the beginning.

My holiday started off pretty great. Everyone told me that travelling during the Chinese New Year would be INSANE. What I can say is that it has been AWESOME. Maybe because I have been travelling on the faster trains, or because I just have good luck, but it has been a pretty smooth ride so far. Fingers Crossed! I still have to get home!

Rooftop Patio - Shanghai

I never imagined that I would be travelling in China as a solo traveller.  I had some pre-conceived notion of the type of person that would be able to travel in China alone, and in my mind they were amazing, resourceful, and crazy! I never thought that I could do this on my own. With a little bit of preparation, and help from others, travelling in China is possible on your own. If I can do it, YOU can do it. David, a friend from Banff, gave me the motivation I needed to just get out there and experience it. So thank-you David!

My first stop was a hostel in Shanghai that a friend recommended - Le Tour Rest Youth Hostel. After a bit of an adventure finding the place, and being a little sketched out by the alley in which it resides, I found a little piece of solitude in this big city. I met some new people (one of which returned my wallet that I lost in the washroom, yes first night and already lost my wallet), had some amazing adventures, spent some time in Cloud 9 Bar in The Hyatt Hotel, drank in the view a long with a few pints, had a magician entertain us at our table, saw The Bund at night, spent some time on a rooftop bar taking in the view and generally lounging around Shanghai. Toured the Gardens, the market, got lost, got found and spent a lot of money! (so much for saving on this trip...).

Next, off to Beijing. On the fastest train I have ever been on! 300km's an hour! Can you believe it?! Five hours from Shanghai to Beijing. I arrived here and popped out of the subway wanting to go right back home. I know most of you have heard of the pollution which is covering Beijing right now, and believe me, you cannot imagine what it is like until you are breathing it in and looking at it in your face. I had to keep a positive attitude and remember I am here for six days and to experience what I can.

Literally hanging on!!

My first thought was how much it was going to suck at the Great Wall because there would be no view. Alas, I decided that I would book my tour anyways. Best decision so far. What a beautiful view on a crisp winter day. It was SO icy. We had to literally hold onto the wall to slowly make our way up the steep parts slipping and sliding away. It was totally worth the effort. As any adventurer does, we decided the best way down was on our butts. Holy moly, you can pick up speed on the wall sliding on the icy surface! What a great way to spend the day, sliding on The Great Wall of China! Seriously!! The only way to finish off any adventure is with a beer. Enjoying a frosty beverage standing on a wall that is visible from Space, and that so many Chinese people died to build is quite an experience. Our tour guide told us that the people who died at The Great Wall are buried right within the wall. This is an experience that I didn't know would effect me so much. To be standing in a place many will only see in photographs is quite humbling.

To end the day I booked an acrobatic show just down the road from my hostel.  WOW! Definitely worth it. There were no photographs aloud unfortunately, BUT - there was this clown at the beginning of the show, making balloon animals and such, well if he didn't find me in the audience and pull me up on stage. They counted down from 10 in English - then I had to take this big hammer looking thing and hit some sort of button, as soon as I did, smoke went off, people cheering, and BAM the show had started. There I was on stage with some random clown who was holding an umbrella over my head with an audience staring at me. Amazing experience.

I have five days left in this city, and the sun is out there somewhere, the pollution today seems a little less, so time for more adventures. This city has so much to offer, so many sights to see, so I'm off to breathe in the fresh air, meet some new people and experience what I can while I am here. Travelling alone is scary, sometimes nerve wracking, but most of all it somehow humbles you, makes you realize that you are very tiny in this very big world and definitely not invincible. I have been learning to rely on myself more than ever, follow my instincts and ask to ask for help. Most of all remember to always have your hostels card on you!! AHHH! (that is a whole other story). I hope you enjoy the photo's. I miss all of you terribly! Sending lots of love and big hugs. xoxo

The Bund at night....beauty!

This is what I saw when I arrived in the alleyway to my hostel...gah!!!

Our amazing Magician

Billy from the UK and Matt from Amsterdam/France

Yes I did find a Sushi Train...YEOW!

Gardens

How do they know?!

I guess they look happy?!!

Shanghai - Market

Stairwell at The Hyatt - Awesome!

Love!

Rooftop Patio on The Bund - Shanghai

New Friends.

Malabar Shanghai

Super Fast train from Shanghai - Beijing

Our group for The Great Wall

Cheers!!

Modes of Transportation

Path by the river in Jinhua

Since my last blog a few things have happened. I am a firm believer that the Universe provides you with what you need at the exact moment you need it. And as it always does, it came through. After a bit of moaning on my end, the Universe was sure to remind me that there is a good side to living here and reminded me to be sure to notice those things every day.
The next morning after my bit of a complaining blog, I woke up and the sun was shining, it was warm and beautiful outside. To be honest my first thought was, "I can do laundry!!" (for those of you who don't know we do not have dryers here...). I opened all of my windows and enjoyed some "fresh" air. Next, I went to the cafeteria for lunch, and one of the third year students comes up to me out of the blue and says "Ms. Killens, you look so young, and skinny today". Well bless your heart Percy. I thought, things are looking up!

I immediately felt bad about all of my groaning in the previous blog. Next, I know, hard to believe, but this day just gets better. I am on my walk and I run into a young Chinese woman who speaks English, she stops me and wants to chat, but I am getting my walk on before exam time, so I give her my number and she says she will call me for coffee, and I am sure she will. MEET NEW PEOPLE! Check.

Next, this very elderly man on a scooter keeps following me on the road, and normally this would totally creep me out, however something about the bright pink ball cap and cheeky smile he was wearing made it all okay. He kept offering me a ride on his scooter. Don't worry, I didn't take it, but how thoughtful of him right!

I believe the Universe put things in my way today to remind me of the kindness of people in China and that there are people out there to be met, new friends to be made, I just need to be open to the new opportunities. So, here I am, open to all of the new opportunities. BRING IT ON! Which brings me to the most exciting part of the blog!

Part of the path on my walk through some farmers fields.

Modes of Transportation - I started thinking about all of the different ways people travel in China - specifically in Jinhua because this is where I spend most of my time. I decided to walk into town, instead of taking the bus, and instead of reminiscing about how much I am frustrated with this city, I took my camera out today and started snapping photo's of all of the unique ways to get from point A to point B.  While I did not capture all of them, I got some sweet bicycle shots. What a difference it makes when you walk into town (takes just over an hour) instead of taking a taxi or the bus. I got to see so many things I had not taken in before. Walking is good for the soul.

Thank-you Danny. Great afternoon!

After all of my photo taking I decided to head to Danny's Cafe to first, say hi to Danny, and second to have some tea to warm up and mark my exams. I walk in, and Danny says "I read your blog, you think the air is bad here? I'll take you up the mountain, it's better there, let's go."
SEE! Dear Universe. You always pull through. So we headed out, not on a scooter, but a motorbike. Mode of Transportation was my theme today, and I got to take my first ride on a motorbike in China. And go up a mountain. (don't worry Danny, I'd never tell them we were running out of gas so we had to turn around half way up). shhhhhhhhh.

Please enjoy the photos. I also want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support and dedication to reading my thoughts. It means a lot to me to hear what you have to say, and know that I have some of the best friends and family a girl could ask for. xoxo

MY SWEET RIDE TODAY!!!

Impressive that these things travel such far distances and still work properly.

Even the kids have transportation!

This would the equivalent of our Garbage Truck.

Amazing Right!

These bikes are just Awesome.

You know who you are if you can ride around on one of these. Weird, but Aunt Cindy I thought you would like this one best...)

And your bike can double as your work station! I'm not sure if you can see, but the guy on the right had a smile the size of Canada. He was so happy I was taking their photo. I wish I could have chatted with them more.

A little newer upgrade.

The regular old bike

Pimp Townie.

Everyone rides bikes.

All of these guys were super pumped to get their photo taken. They are actually all smiling,  and after I took the photo they wanted to take it again with peace signs. I Failed to capture the moment.

There is just no limit to what you can carry on the back of these bikes. I really wish I could have found one today that really shows you how amazing their balance is.

And the scooter. There are more scooters than cars here. And there are no rules as to how many people you can fit on one of these. Car seat WHAT? Babies travel in their Mom's hands sometimes while driving. 

The one I use the most. 

Green is my favourite colour, so I had to take one of this sweet sweet ride.

Awesome.

P.S For those of you who do not know, if you click directly on the photo, you can scroll through ALL of them, and they will be made bigger so you can see them in more detail. xoxo