Our Separate Ways

This morning we arrived at the coach station early to catch our bus to Shangsha. I desperately needed to use the toilets and followed the pointing hands. I ran weaving in and out of the parked coaches until I finally arrived at the nasty looking structure with 'WC' painted on the wall. It was a familiar interior. One big trough in which to anything and everything you needed to do. I could deal with the less than hygienic or comfortable environment. What I did have problems with however, was squatting down along with the other men doing their business too. There were no screens! I just sat and smiled trying not to look. To make things even worse, I didn't have any toilet paper. So... I checked to see what kinds of old receipts I had in my wallet. An ingenious idea I thought. Unfortunately I had no receipts to discard and was forced to do the unthinkable. I selected the lowest denominations of Chinese currency and defaced General Mao in a rather distasteful fashion. I returned to the coach and told Ali about my expensive trip to the bathroom. She laughed for a long as I can remember. Luckily I picked up a couple of bowsers (steamed filled buns) and bananas for breakie. The usual rural sights passed us by as we headed along the bumpy road to Shangsha. Paddy fields, yaks and buffalos with farmers wearing cone hats. Women sold fruit on the side of the road. Others carried baskets like scales over the back of their neck. I read more information about Hong Kong. I'm now more excited than ever.

Once we arrived at Shangsha train station Ali and I arranged our alternative onward travel. Ali got tickets for Guilin and I got tickets for Hong Kong. Well, not directly - I have to take a train to Shenzhen which is close to the border crossing. We will be meeting in Kunming a week from tomorrow at the Camellia Hotel.