Well I got to take my first train in China to get from Beijing to Xian. The days travels didn't start that we'll with it taking 45min for a cab to arrive at the hotel. I know now that taxis don't like early morning traffic in Beijing and avoid fares in the middle of the city. I thought for sure I'd miss the train but got to the station just in time. I had to ask around which way I should head as my ticket was in Chinese and I had no idea which of the many entries I should use. Looking at the terminal from the outside I couldn't see either end. Once inside I was once again struck by how modern, clean and tidy it was. All signs had English so it was a breeze to find my gate. I must say having the backpack on did feel good again!

The train took just short of 5 hours to get to Xian. For a while there we were travelling at over 300kms. It was quite a novelty watching the electronic board give you the speed. The scenery was less than spectacular but I was surprised but the amount bare land. I kind of figured with over 1 billion people they would all be shoulder to shoulder all around the country!

Once I got off the train I got passed around many different taxi drivers who did not want to take a middle aged kiwi into town. 20 mins was spent arguing prices and having drivers just drive past me to collect the person behind me in the Que. Eventually the attendant manning the taxi stand got 3 different drivers to stop to get me only for them to drive 20m up the road and gesture for me to get out. They would then go back into the line to collect a Chinese person. I played dumb on one of them so he got my backpack out of the boot a dropped it outside my door! Another already had a passenger who decided he also could do without me as a passenger so he yelled a bit until I was removed. By now I was feeling slightly dejected and very pleased it wasn't a experience I was having on a family trip. Finally I got a driver who was forced! to take me by the staff. He was pissed. He said "no meter" to me and I said "yes". He said "no meter" and I said "Yes". We had now travelled out of the terminal and he said 200 yuan($40) I said "no". It went quiet for about 2km when in an industrial area he pulled over and said "200" i

Isaid "no" I knew the fare should be 30ish. He then said "100" and starting yelling and waving his hands so I joined him in a parody and said "50".He promptly said "ok" and starting driving off smiling away .I replied to him that I thought he was a "f***tard" And smiled back at him. He then offered me a cigarette! 20km later I was dropped off a my rather pleasant and quiet accommodation. The 7 sages youth hostel. I'm in a 2 bedroom family room with heaps of room for $60.

Tomorrow I have booked a tour to see the Terracotta warriors! Can't wait ill be in a minivan and not a taxi!