It has taken me a long time to adjust to traveling in China. It’s the polar opposite when comparing it to travel planning in the US – you save more money the closer to the date you book your flight ticket. Round Trip is not cheaper than one way. The way there by plane might be cheaper than the way back or vice-versa. People accept reservations on cell phones, just text your name and date to them. You cannot buy a train ticket more than 10 days in advance (unless you use a travel agent). CTrip (the most popular internet/travel agency) takes only domestic credit cards. (And a large majority of most Chinese do not have a credit card) They hand deliver the tickets to you and you pay cash. Soft seat or soft bed on the train really does not mean soft seat/bed – it is just a little more leg room and less people.
Back to the main subject....We were planning to go to Qingdao but they have had an algae bloom in the last couple of weeks.
(read about it here http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-07/03/content_6817647.htm )
So it was good that we are traveling Chinese style and hadn’t made any reservations. New plans were made last night for our Monday departure. We are now going to Fujian Province south of Zhejiang. We are spending a couple of days each in Xiamen, Quanzhou and Yongling. The hotel in Yongling is really a earthen roundhouse known as a tulou. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujian_Tulou Staying in one of these places will be quite an adventure.
I will be back in the ZUFE apartment for a few days then will leave for Changsha (Cynthia’s hometown for another week of traveling – no plans as to what we are going to see- just relax and enjoy what comes.) I will return to ZUFE the 25th to pack again for my most anticipated trip – HOME - for a whole month on July 28th.
Side Note – The picture above was taken by Kris while on our raft tour. Great huh...
