Into Opium’s Den

I don’t have much to say about Harbin. The people seem quite friendly, but after my travel nightmare of the last few days and with being sick, I am trying to shut out the world rather than curiously inviting it in.

I tried to solicit help from the hotel staff to aid me in buying a train ticket. Although I got lots of smiles and giggles from the female staff, all they could do for me was point me to the train station across the square. Thanks.

I am in staying in the Hotel. For 180 Yuan I checked in at 6 am this morning and the room is old, reasonably clean and the perfect sanctuary in which to recuperate from flu and my travel nightmare of the last three days.

There is a Californian Beef Noodle next door and a KFC across the road. There are plenty of food stalls next to the station, on the right as you exit, so my immediate needs are all taken care of. About 15 minutes walk away on Jihong Jie I saw a place called English First. I went in and spoke to a teacher, Casey who is a Nigerian English teacher that has lived in China for 5 years and loves the place. It was great to speak to someone in English. I think it has been more than a week since I have had a conversation rather than struggled simply to make myself understood.

I found it really easy to get myself a train ticket today. I managed to scrawl down a few phrases onto paper and made my way off to the ticket booth. I had the ticket I wanted in no time at all. Wait a second, I am getting ahead of myself. I think I have the ticket I wanted. Only once I get on the overnight train to Beijing tomorrow I will know if I have got the ticket I wanted!