Join the Frolicking: Training Across China!

So, while I (in general) love my life in China, Beijing isn't the prettiest of cities, what with the pollution and general spitting on the streets. So it was awesome to see four places in China that made me realize what a beautiful country it is! Ariella, Meagan and I embarked on a 10 day trip as soon as school got out to travel to Chengdu, Zhangjiajie, Yangshuo and Hongkong. Basically, our strategy was spending a night on a train, a day in a city, a day on a train, a day in a city. It was a cray-cray but an awesome adventure I feel lucky to have gone on. :)

Sooo many people! Just getting into each train station made me want to swear. #nosuchthingasaline #pushandshovepeoplepushandshove

Snuggled up in our first sleeper train for the 30 hour ride. Thank God for my nook and cheese.

*Things I Witnessed on a Chinese Train Part 1: Two parents encouraging their two year old to pee into the metal bin that's supposed to act as a trash can. They sit between the two sets of bunks (including the one I sleep in) and the mom holds the girl out, spread eagle, while the dad makes a whistling noise that inspires the pee pee. Oh thank you Huggies, there is a God; they're putting a diaper on her.
*Anendum: I rejoiced to soon. They attempted potty training again . And succeded.
Ariella: "You know what they have in America? Seat covers. Seat covers everywhere. Seat covers for dayssss..."

Yes. Meagan brough a french press with her on this journey. We made fun of her, but we all reaped the bennefits.

*Things I Witnessed on a Chinese Train Part 2: A cleaning lady pokes Ariella in the butt to wake her up. Why? She is changing all the sheets. Woman spots a foreign object on the table (where I have kept my cheese) that can only be...a child's turd. Woman picks it up. And continues on her merry way!! Doesn't blink an eye. Doesn't reach for disinfectant wipes. lblblblblb*

One of the many adorable childrens on this trip. We became friends.

Stop 1: Chengdu! We had the famou Sichuan Hot Pot! It was spiiiicy.

And then we saw Pandas!!! They're so fluffy I'm gonna die!

Active Breakfast Time.

Stop 2: Zhangjiajie, aka the Avatar Mountains. We actually couldn't go to the Avatar Mountains because of weather/timing but instead we went to the Tianmen Mountain, and it was one of the most incredible places I've ever been to. We took the longest cable car in the world (30 min) to the top of the mountain in the clouds.