December 06

Xiamen December 6, 2005
Xiamen is one of those places that have nothing to do but where at the end you find yourself always and never know why. There is nothing to see and even less to do, but the fact that we walk because the plane is cheap or because you have to change the bus or one of those futile usual reasons that lead you astray, short notice to the syntax but in the end we skim (December 2005, Tripluca begins with rhymes, historical moment).
I had to start a flight and SuperTransiberiana Bkk (again? Bangkok Bkk is!) Xiamen coast about thirty-forty Euros so go there.
The time to arrive, to find the legendary Alfonso (nothing with a name like that .. but you know that in Poland is the name of Alfonso protector of whores?) And here are 5 days past.
The mystery of the negotiation time (Report.. Sorry, previous blog) is thankfully solved by his invitation to lunch Mr. Black, the other the same time, where his girlfriend embroiderer is the closest thing to that ideal wife 've ever seen: kitchen by God, always smiling, does not break the balls and you take pictures in the park by her boyfriend in the middle of the flowers with background of the pagoda.
Women who read, I do not want to hurt, I have two mitigating factors:
- Alfonso gave me a can of beer and Fujian Sedrine here that I drink it on an empty stomach (note: There are pre-eastern Europe for which I have the soul sensitive to alcohol)
- Every time a woman enters my life, I'm astonished with the incredible number of tricks to complicate the day that God has given us with all its perfect balance.
(Ok, you're probably thinking the same thing of men for whom we are equal).

About women. My personal masseuse, I've never seen, proved to be a woman of easy virtue.
Do you think that shameless was not calling just me but all the rooms in succession!
I discovered his betrayal because at some point in the evening I heard the phone ring, I answered, she said, "Hey, Ni Hao" I "Xie Xie, bu yao", in short, the usual ritual, and just put the phone down, a time and the second half, played in the next room, then immediately another and so on.
I did not cry just because he called me first.
Note: CIS: called from the hotel because it certainly would never have time to redial and call the other rooms so quickly. Internal collaboration.

Chinese Girl:
- Woman takes child in her arms, falls codpiece, baby pee in the gutter. Saw at least five times, in short, a habit. Nice and simple.

Today Alfonso me another appearance at the hotel, gives me a series of sweet biscuits and beer and tells me that when I go to YangZohu (above Shanghai) there is an empty house for me. I have to call the sister who gives me the keys and I can stay there.
Initially I think I say that the next time I come back we can go there and tell you so when ever you, then I understand better and I was surprised.
Do you think that now I'm going since July (the Philippines under the name of woman) in Shanghai who invited me to stay for free in the room last year. What happens? Playland? But it was Perth?

Ok, listen to this and tell me if the traveler is not life strange
- Project start: go by train in Wuyi Shan, the mountains between here and Shanghai. Cost about 15 euros per berth.
- Arrival in Bangkok and I have no clothes except for a heavy sweater. Executioner is a cold in the mountains.
- I go around Xiamen to buy something heavy enough to deal with the Siberian winter
- Xiamen is subtropical and can not find anything
- Before returning to the hotel I see an office of Xiamen Airlines and later out of curiosity. A ticket costs 40 euros for Shanghai.
- The day after (today) are ready to embark for aeorporto Shanghai.

So the SuperTransiberiana start with two flights.

(A hole in the ice because it is in these places that you can enter the "social fabric" of a town. Been a Alfonso and you're in the middle of China's true)

Pictures of Xiamen

December 03

Xiamen What was it, I left that Friday? Today is Sunday night already. Apart from the usual work in the room without a window, but hails decent, I have dedicated myself to visit the famous island of Gulangyu, one of those "must". Ok, did I must continue with my life.
Today I saw Alfonso, the guy who helped me last time with the internet and invited to eat in the house of his friend.
We fired two hours driving around the city. Has neither eaten nor drank anything. Usual talk of old friends and return to hotel.
About: I has two containers Ulong tea (not green, not black) of the more expensive varieties.
Luckily this time I had something for him and gave him a series of Thai snacks.
Do not take it as a kindness, gifts here are like pistol shots, if you take too much you die, you have to reciprocate or that six out of the game. Even though they often do not know to be in a game. Asia.

Two episodes of the past:
1) Step near the bus stop and saw a car that stops. Types of fall style LAPD (Los Angeles Police Department) and a guy in handcuffs. The square in front of billboard of times, the immortalized in a digital photo (he poses with coopearazione) and took him away.

2) I'm waiting for the bus. A suspicious person tells me something, I do see a laptop in her purse. He tells me a price that could be 3000 or 30,000 RMB (300 Euro or 3000) and makes me go a little sign beyond the boundaries that makes me see.
- "Bu Yao" (not want), and I go to my IBM.

Chicca series finale "China's oddities." Alfonso does not work tomorrow and all day free. The wife is from parents.
- "Let's have fun all day long" (probably to walk), "come and get you to 11".
I have to work and tell him if you can go to 12.
- "Ok, no problem."
Before leaving, he says:
- "Ok, then at 11"
- "Better if you get to 12, okay?"
- "Okay, okay, at 11:30 okay?"
I agree and am wondering if there is a reason behind this negotiation timetable.

December 01

That's it. After nearly six months of relative stability 'in Bangkok are again in a real trip. Two / three months I will be here (Xiamen) in Martellago / Peel 'land, from China, Mongolia, Russia and Eastern Europe.
A Burmese guess with almost all the contributions paid told me not to take the train in 2006 and I challenge the fate that way.
As Hemingway said, * "all trips begin beautiful evil" and it starts just enough sfigatello.
(* Note: not 'true that he said so)
I mean just to show that the established 'tends to fart travelers in Bangkok, I burned a bad credit card PINs because' encrypted with the infallible system TripManuale. If we add another expired, and, behold, I find myself alone with PostePay and Amex, few address the wolves of the steppe.
Today AirAsia flight arrival in China with a 45 Euro and ultramodern airport of Xiamen any machines (ATMs), I had the grants.
Everyone starts in Chinese, so they go to Chinese / English and then return to China, why you're there to push buttons without knowing what you're doing.
Then I take a taxi would cost me 2 / 3 euros, counting on picking up the trustworthy China Construction Bank near the hotel. I have in my pocket the business card of the hotel that are in place.
Or rather, where's' over? I had it 3 minutes ago! I also showed the girl's passport control azz ... .. ok, I have a map and more 'or less the way I remember.
I get in the taxi and tell him imperiously: "here".
He looks a little 'uncertain and tells the classic:
- "[感叹] 多么 的"
- "Co pa (go)," I say
Obviously the road is not shown 'that, and I realize I do not know how neanchedire "right" "left" (I try with "Fine" and "Prodi", but should not be) but then I find myself better or worse and 30 RMB (3 euros) later we are at the Hotel.
I go down and tell him to wait.
Within the hotel, ask if they have a room, I shoot the usual price, fell to the ground and leave the backpack invicta.
I tell the driver to wait and I zompetto around the banks on the night of Xiamen. As step two, nothing. I take a taxi and go the other all'Infallibile time fails.
Then we go back to the hotel and try to pay it in dollari.Il meter and 'to 40, about $ 5, I offer him $ 5 or 5 euros, and he accepts them both.
I pull out a calculator to recepscionste and try to make him understand that you are asking too much.
But the meter and 'already' at 45, he says. Then I give him $ 10 and sent him home to his wife to get an extra ration of noodles. Moral: how to turn a trip into a 2 euro 10.
Buy the TripManuale, written by an expert.
The recepscioniste are magnanimous and accept a deposit of 20 euros. They write the serial number on the receipt of the bill and send me to bed.
Wait:
- "Wo yao shan wuang (Internet)"
I rattle off the power magic, login and pass, shower and off to write the report.
No, the girl of massage has not called yet. I have abandoned all.

The route of the Trans-Siberian