My train is at 3 so I'm up at 9 to charge my stuff before my 26hour marathon. As I'm packing my stuff one of the Chinese guys in my dorm offers to sign for me, I let him. An interesting rendition of Adele, rolling in the deep. As if the situation couldn't get any more weird he then dances for me. I think the less said about that the better. I go for breakfast with Fei Fei and we get some spicy noodle thing, as usual. It was delicious, perhaps I could get used to this spicy morning food. I check in the hostel and I can get a couple of metros to the east railway station so it should be easy. I get Jimmy to make me a final coffee before I leave and then say my goodbyes before heading on my way. Metros were no problem, a Chinese guy even speaks to me on the metro and tells me he is getting off at the same stop and that he'll show me where to go. I'll take all the help I can get. This east railway station is brand spanking new and it is also evident that China is trying to change. While standing in the queue to go through security, there is the usual pushing and bunking happening, but here there are police on duty who stop people who are pushing and bunking and then give them a good telling off before sending them to the back of the queue! This pleases me. Then when I get up to the gates there is an orderly queue formed and no pushing. The toilets were even clean, with a cleaner on duty who kicked some guy out for smoking, they even smelt fresh, a first in China for me. All evidence to me that China is trying to change. Even in the metros here, there are attendants who are trying to get people to let people off the train before getting on. I get the sense that there is a shift of attitude here, more than anywhere else.
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I get to my train and get to my bed, good old middle hard sleeper, my 26hour friend. I actually think this is the oldest train I have been on, and that this bed is the hardest. Maybe I'm just paranoid due to the time I have to spend here. Train leaves its usual 10mins late and we are off! I am grossly underprepared for this journey, I have brought a packet of Oreos, and that's it! You can buy stuff on the train so I'll have to be buying some of that!
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The most noticeable thing about this trip is how long the train remains stationary. We sit for long periods of time, not at stations, just random stops for 10mins or more. God only knows why, I can't help but think that the journey would be significantly shorter if it wasn't for these! I get some fruit and dinner on the train, it is decidedly average. An uneventful evening of blogging, reading and sleeping.