This was my first time on an overnight train. We upgraded and got a "soft bed" which really means that 4 people are in the cabin- not 6 as in a "hard bed". But as you can see from the picture many more people were in the cabin most of the time. Also they don't count children under 12 as a body so 2 people may be sleeping in one bed. This leg of our trip was 23 hours. It was not too bad - we were in a
car with a grandma and grandpa of a big family, also on the train, so
she ended up taking care of us as well as her family - I was stuffed with all her food and snacks she brought by
the time we left. No one snored too loud. Bathrooms were sort of gross
but still useable. I got the bottom bunk which was pretty comfortable except that it was the community sofa during the day. I tried but I could NOT get up on the top bunk - you have to
really really stretch those legs and have strong arms. I gotta work out more!
After the train we were taken to a hotel - it was HORRIBLE. I went downstairs to get a hairdryer and the receptionist was putting on her makeup and refused to turn around to help me. No hot water until they turned it on at a specific time. The rooms were occupied with lots of men playing Mahjong (they gamble on the game).
The next morning we hopped in a car and did a tour of
this area - temples, lakes, and the Yellow River. Then another 12 hour overnight train. It was drizzling a little and I fell on my BUTT on a slippery sidewalk
outside of the temple, butt no permanent damage just sore and purple in some
unmentionable places.
