My China Musings

This blog is my thoughts on many things and about my adventures of living and traveling in China.

Travel

Being here  as long as I have, I have traveled many places and sometimes I have traveled on trains. Most people in China do not own cars, although that number is getting smaller everyday.  China does have a very extensive train system. Traveling by train is usually pleasant. I say, usually, because from a Westerners point of view...traveling during holidays is horrendous.  During holidays, the trains are overbooked. And that is really an understatement.  You cannot imagine how many people can be stuffed onto a train. There is literally no space that doesnt have a body in it. The restrooms will be filled  with families and if you have to go...tough. People will crawl under seats to sleep and to travel. If the overhead bins were not filled with bags, there would be people. So, now you have a picture of how crowded the trains are, imagine a vendor trying to push their carts through this mass of humanity to sell their wares. It happens.  Maybe, you can see why it is not the most comfortable way to travel. And I have not even touched upon the smell(s). I won't describe that, you can imagine smells for yourself.  I only traveled twice on standing room only trains and that cured me.

If you would like an adventure without  travel, just visit a train station during holiday travel time. The masses are pretty orderly until it is time to get on. Once the call to board has been made,  a ball of people surge through the gates and run as if they were  being chased for the nearest train car. People will actually fight, tooth and nail, to get aboard. People will pull other people through open windows for a fee. I have watched as men climbed over the backs of others. I got to see a lady get thrown onto the train by her husband and then he fought his way on. It was not the best travel experiences of my China life. In fact, that was the only times, I have felt fear in China. 

After not so good train experiences, I decided that travel by bus was better during holidays. The buses, also, take on more people than buses are intended to hold. But it isn't so bad as trains. Passengers will be put on stools in aisles of buses making it a little inconvienient to get on and off. At least, everyone has a seat.

Even with crowded buses and trains in China, I still like to travel and to see. China has such a varied landscape and it can change, drastically, within a few miles.  Come to China, you can see for yourself. Till  next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 02:29 | link | comments (1) |
china, travel, holiday, living in china

This time of year.

I haven't been able to post to this  blog lately.  It seems as though Mother Nature decided to take out the fiber optic cables that connect Asia with the rest of the world. You have all read about the seven point something quakes off the coast of Taiwan. They damaged the communication cables and so the internet has been extremely slow and telephone connections not always the best.  Reading email has been a challenge. Hopefully,  the cables will be fully repaired and things back to normal by the end of the month.

School is coming to the end of the first term. Students are  scrambling to get their train tickets to go home for the winter holiday. All of Asia, I dare say, will be celebrating Lunar New Year in mid February. Traditionally,  everyone tries to return to their home village, town or city. Traveling during this time of year is just plain awful. Trains become more packed than a sardine can. Buses charge one and a half, their normal fare. But that doesnt stop determined people from  going home.

Now is when China really shines, literally.  Streets are cleaned. Public squares are actually scrubbed with a mop or  broom. Houses are cleaned. Not just the surface, but every nook, cranny and window is white glove clean.

Traditional foods are being prepared. Fish is salted and dried. Every family makes a kind of sausage and, of course, the recipe is guarded. Food is the biggest thing in the Lunar New Year celebration. If you come to China now, you would not believe how many different dishes can be served at one meal. I went to a dinner once in Xiangfan, that had 51 separate dishes. Yes, I said fifty-one. So much food, it  was unreal. Not alot of money is spent on decorations or gifts. Usually, children receive money and clothes. Maybe, a toy will be given. Nothing to compare to the gift giving that is practiced in the West.

Decorations are not very elaborate. Good luck saying are written on red paper and posted around the doors. Flowers are used. Maybe, you will see a few lights or red lanterns. But again, nothing to compare to the extravaganzas you see in the west. The main focus of the new year here is people.  Families being together.

Now is a fun time to be in China or anywhere in Asia.  Till next time.

posted by: CarolenChina at 22:55 | link | comments |
china, holiday, earthquake, living in china

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