Full day of travelling! Can't wait. I was also interested to see Osaka airport after Phil tells me it looks good. Unfortunately as I come across the bridge to the island, I notice nothing spectacular. Let down Phil! False intel!
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So it's on with trying to find where to go, when I do I'm there so early that I can't even check my bag in, I have to wait half an hour. As soon as I get it checked in I go straight through security, don't want to be leaving that to late. Compared with travelling in the UK this is a breeze, everything moves so quick, I was waiting at security for no longer than 10mins, so I don't know what this issue is at home because it is busier here and there seems to be no issues. I wasn't able to get a direct flight so I'm flying to Nanjing, 3 hour stop over then on to Beijing. There was a flight that had a 30min stop over, but I don't really want to have to try and rush somewhere I've never been, trying to get a flight. I just opt for the 3 hours.
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I decide to use some of these functions on a Japanese toilet before I leave, after all it is my last chance. Well, quite the experience, I had a water jet where I have never had one before! I changed the pressure and temperature, felt a bit weird. Then finished off by having a fan dry me and then I pushed the fake flush button a few times. I'll be honest, I was laughing to myself. Probably sounded quite ridiculous to anyone else in the bathroom.
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So a lot of people I have met tell me that China is going to be completely different to Japan. Ultimately the people are just rude. I got a good sample of this in the airport. Bunch of Chinese people trying to check in, everyone is standing quietly except them, shouting to each other. Then someone arrived and they just ushered this new person up the queue, past the rest of us that had been there! Of course no one said anything because they are all so nice. What a joke! As we were boarding the plane I was given another example from the same group. There was a middle aged couple, the man, who was quite small, probably suffered from short man syndrome, as his wife is bigger than him. Anyway, they are in front of me as we get on the plane, we are making our way up the plane, when suddenly they realise they should have checked where they were sitting. They stop, turn around, and, I'm not joking, walk right through me and the person behind to get to their seat. They don't even speak to you, just push through you. I haven't felt as angry since the Fuji queue incident! Ohhhh I can tell its going to be an exciting time in China.
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So I get to Nanjing and unfortunately in Japan they could not book me straight through, so I have to get off the plane, through immigration, get my bag, check in and back through security. Luckily this airport isn't too big so it's fairly straightforward. The down side to this is that there is nothing to do here, and I can't get on the wifi because it's all in Chinese. There aren't any boards here, or screens. Nothing is displaying any flight information. The only thing they have is an announcement, in Chinese then English. I'd better make sure I don't fall asleep and miss my flight! I was pleased to discover that my visa I got in Japan was real, could have been awkward otherwise. I'd got some food on the plane, it was only a 2 hour flight but there was a meal included, wouldn't get that at home. I also got a meal in my 2 hour flight to Beijing, result.
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I didn't even need to go through immigration when I get to Beijing. Just straight through the airport and on to the train, then change at the subway for another line. It's much more 'push and shove' here than in Japan. If you want on that train you have to force yourself on. They also stink! I nearly passed out on the train the BO was that bad. Got me to thinking how I didn't smell BO once in Japan, and I was on plenty of trains. I'm here 5 minutes, and boom! Right up the nostrils! Though on the plus side, the metro lines don't have names, they have numbers! Much better idea. I had to get on line 2, way easier than trying to remember a name. I mean Japan tried the old colour coded line maps, problem was there were so many lines they literally ran out of colours!
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I get to my hostel, directions were perfect. It cost me £2.70 for my trains. My trains to the airport in Osaka, £15, quite the difference.
The place is nice, room is a good size and though they don't have a common room, there is a bar area that you can chill in. I have dinner with Lilac from Israel, I can't remember how to say it properly, so I call her purple. These two Danes join us, Troels and Louisa. Troels, a beast, big bushy viking beard on him, writing a book an interesting chap. We drink for quite some time exchanging stories and tales of the road. The beer is so cheap. It is 10 Yuan for a 600ml bottle of Tsingtao in the bar. Thats £1! We were drinking until 3am. Nice! I'll be doing nothing tomorrow.