China - Tibet Autonomous Region and a bit of Japan on the way home

[Matt_01]

Time for the train, 22 hours on the world’s highest train. In making the arrangements to get to the station Bob realised the Taiwanese mother, daughter and I were all on the same train. He seemed a little perplexed as to why I was travelling with them and the Husband/ Dad was not. The daughter explained to Bob that her dad thought the train trip was too long so he is flying out. For clarity the Taiwanese family that were on the same tour all spoke perfect english. At a guess Mum and Dad were in the 50/60+ age bracket, the daughter was late 20’s early 30’s. In the coming posts my reason for providing clarity will become evident.

 

[Matt_01]

Bob was at the hotel waiting for us, handed out the photo copy of the permits which were told to must keep and then we were off.

The soft sleeper lounge

The J lounge, we were not allowed into this one which seemed to annoy the daughter as she made it clear to the staff she had a sleeping seat.

And the best of the general sections, there are 4 so you just need to work out which is the least busy.

 

[Matt_01]

The fun begins, the mother, daughter and I had worked out we were all on the same train. We had compared notes and seating arrangements, the one thing that we all missed or incorrectly assumed was that we would be living together. I had paid the single supplement, Mum and daughter had paid for no travel with man.
Our house, F quarters

Dinning car

J quarters, 6 per room

And the rest

 

[Matt_01]

As we had realised we would be living together, I said be prepared as I snore, the daughter replied, don’t worry Mum also snores and is bad. We all just took our place and settled in.

 

[Matt_01]

The daughter mentioned there would be a presentation about the train and it would be in Chinese. It went on for around 35 minutes at the entrance to our house. After this I was just happy to sit in silence, but that didn’t happen, the train lady came back with the English version. The english version was a link on her phone so I was looking down the barrel of at least 35 minutes of her watching me read through and listening to everything that had just been said. At some point the daughter realised I had enough, she spoke to the train lady at which point I had to take photos of the links and the train lady went away. I asked why she went away and the daughter replied, I told her you were just married and would like privacy, I have no idea if I married the daughter or her mum.

 

[Matt_01]

The photo up thread of the dinning car, the chap standing up had apparently taken a shine to me. He kept bringing the food cart back asking if we wanted anything. The daughter found this somewhat amusing, and later informed me she told him I was married and not available. Read on it just gets better.

 

[Matt_01]

In the morning there was a stop and another girl joined, she seemed to be taken back by the fact a western bloke was in the cabin. The daughter and her had a conversation and new girl seemed to be ok.

 

[Matt_01]

During the morning a medical emergency occurred on the train. The daughter came running back to the cabin said just stay here and then ran off with her mother in tow. After things settled down I asked what had happened, she told me there was some confusion, the train staff had assumed I was a doctor. A bit later there was train staff and the policeman at our cabin door asking for credentials, the mother, who was a doctor handed hers over. At some point along the journey I had asked what work were they in, Mum was a doctor and the daughter was a translator. At the final stop the daughter asked if we should travel to the airport together. I took a punt I would be able to get there on my own and we went our seperate ways.

The train trip was great and although a few strange things happened travelling with the Taiwanese family was actually a blessing in disguise. They all spoke perfect English and were always willing to help. For the record, 100% I am not married to the mother, daughter or the Chinese chap.

 

[Matt_01]

Getting off train in Xining and to the airport was not that hard, i.e. get off the, train, follow the signs to ‘taxi’ avoid anyone along the way calling out taxi good/ best price. With the help of the translator app a few minutes later we were out the train station and on the way.
About 2/3 of the way along I noticed a sign that basically said the airport was ahead my driver was turning right. Via the translator I said to the diver ‘airport’ and a u-turn later we were back on track.

MU entry

This is the only lounge at Xining Dom.

The lunch service was over, I guess the lounge staff felt sorry for that western chap and had the cook knock up some noodles. They were very good.

 

[Matt_01]

Arrival at PVG domestic was as per usual, I stayed at the airport and in the morning was in my happy place with JL.

 

[Matt_01]

So that is it for Tibet. I will compete the TR when I’m back in AU as I am now at least a week behind.

Unless you have any interest in the ‘12 original castles’ or care to read the ramblings from a 50+ solo male traveller winging his way around Japan there is no reason to read on.

 

[Black Duck]

Thanks for the report Matt-0. I am looking to read the ramblings of your trip around the castles.

 

[LinaLee]

That’s reads like such an adventure that should be made into a tv series . Loved it.