Some years once more I traveled in February in north China via the Gobi desert. It sounds worse then it was, I traveled by prepare regardless of an outdoor temperature of minus 10C at daytime. It was superb to see the Gobi desert inside the snow.
During that journey I accustomed be in cities like Hohot, Lanzhou and later in Xining. From right here my plan was to journey south right into a primarily Tibetan and Muslim space. The thought was to have my first cease in Linzhia, after which to Xiahe the place there the well-known Labrang Monastery, one of many largest Tibatan monasteries in China, still outdoors Tibet after which extra to Langmusi, Zoige, Songpan and at long las Chengdu.
In the morning I went to the bus cease, purchased a ticket and appeared for the bus. There was just one bus prepared at this small bus station.
Luggage goes in the to the last degree multiplication on prime of the bus, with a chunk of plastic overlaying it for rain, snow and different climate components. So I pulled my pack over and made positive it was wrapped correct so I would not free it. Satisfied, I bought my seat inside the bus, ready for leaving, which ought to be any minute.
I appeared out of the windowpane and... detected person strolling away with a black/purple backpack. It could not be mine, power it? I went out of the bus and detected my pack was gone. And so was the man who took it.
My backpack contained nigh the batch I had with me besides cash, digicam, dairy which I had in a small day pack, plus, after all the garments I accustomed be carrying. All my moving-picture show rolls had been gone too (that is why I can't supply a photograph of Xining, I haven't got any from that journey). Nothing from the attractive Gobi desert, Mutianyu Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple of Heaven and different sights I detected earlier that week in and round Beijing.
The driver was upset too. The police got here, and I discovered person to assist me out with the interpretation about what occurred. The bus was regular to depart at 8am still at 11 the bus was nevertheless there. At a sure second the bus driver got here to me and requested if it was OK that the bus would go on it is journey. After discussing with the police, I united the bus power go with out me (though I'd not get my ticket once more).
The agent turned bent on be a really pleasant and useful man who put my story in Chinese on an official paper, which was then translated by a really useful girl who spoke English (she was an English flight simulator though I doubt her college students would be taught to talk correct English from her as her English was very fundamental).
After all of the police work, I bought the paper for the coverage. It was written on very skinny paper but it sure enough made the journey abode and I bought a refund for my items from the coverage firm. But because it goes, you may reply supplies, books, even a digicam, you cannot change a photograph made at a elite time.
The girl requested me to affix her and her family for dinner. She instructed me she was embarrassed with the behaviour of her fellow countrymen. I instructed her this behaviour can occur anyplace, simply unhealthy luck it occurred right here and now.
The dinner was held in her personal home, which is uncommon in China. Usually your Chinese couple convey you to a restaurant. However, this was my first expertise of the Chinese hospitality. The family was not flush still particular for the event that they had purchased cock toes (my first expertise with cock toes) and different nice meals. After the ache of the lack of my backpack, this was giving the day a great finish.
What is left is the recall of these youth of my first journey in China. What was extra essential is the recall of a thieving and the assist you get when you really want it. I've in the to the last degree multiplication been grateful for the individuals who helped me out that day.
Later that journey I had a small Chinese army backpack, which not by a blame sigh needed to get on prime of the bus. However, some months after I cam once more in Holland, I went once more to China, and once more with a backpack. And once more, I had generally the pack on the roof of the bus. Most of the time there was but not adequate house inside the bus have an tremendous once more in anyway. That day in Xining was the in one case my backpack was stolen. Bad day perhaps, and in some ways I discovered a lesson. But I bought assist in fixing the issues, yin and yang, you free some, you win some. Trust me, I did win fairly a little that day.
Since these days I've traveled, completely on bicycle, many locations together with a number of years in China, still I not by a blame sigh went once more to Xining.
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