About two weeks ago I decided I would travel the 2.5 hour bus ride to Yuxi…alone. I got the cities names written in characters, got a basic map of the city from people who have lived/visited there and was even going to have help navigating the bus station in Yuanjiang.
As luck would have it, Xiao Wan had two friends driving there that evening. I ran home backed my bag and entered their car. Second hand smoke is rampant here, not always but enough.
Anyway, they don’t speak english and my phone at the time was just plain slow and blah so even trying to have them write characters and I take picture and translate was quite working. So they talked, I looked out the window and was grateful for a free quick ride.
Here is the problem, I needed a hotel and it was already like 9 at night. First thing we do is drop off his buddy. We go to a hotel (how nice of him) he tries to help me book a room. But he starts to leave so I’m like SHI SHI NI and he pauses and the hotel lady is making confusing gestures… come to find out they were booked.
Back in car go to next place and I tell him hey I need 2 nights… this place is like 280 RMB a night. Take out the passport but then he just puts it in his name. Thanks again sir. But then he pays for me. I’m oh dude so not necessary… but actually yes he did pay but he got a room himself..right next to mine.
So I go in my room start to just get settled, and he makes the chopstick to mouth sign. Alright I guess we are going get some food. Sounds good to me. We walk, I start making a map for myself, because I don’t know if we will leave together or really where I am in relation to anything.
We meet his buddy again and walk down pretty much BAR district.. The previous main road was the shopping road for clothes. He invites a few people and one speaks very limited english but hey at least I can do more than just gesture, sort of laugh if they do and make them happy by downing alcohol..which they love to see.
Then near the end of the evening, which seems like will never end and they just keep drinking…a college girl comes who can speak well. But she and her friend only stayed a little while and then we all left. One bar was called Mo Fun.
Next morning I am in bed half asleep gearing up in my mind on what to do that day. I had a few landmarks/parks that I heard was good and can give to a taxi to take me there. Now I was waiting to shower in the morn bc I was just so tired.
Well 8 rolls around and I get a knock on the door. It’s him again and he motions lets eat and bring all your stuff. We go down and breakfast is … yup noodles and meat. Then we check out.. And I’m like just roll with it justin you can book a hotel on your own since it was just one night. But I was distraught because I felt like I was stinky and wore the same outfit that I wore previous day (which many people here do) (but I felt dirty you know).
At this point, I’m like okay, I got a ride, hotel, meal (2) and so I guess he probably needs to go to work and I’ll be on my merry way. NOPE we get in his car and he motions for me to give him the paper that has the places I want to visit.
He takes me to Hongta Shan Park. The tall red statue in pics. I still don’t know his time frame and how long we can stay and honestly if he is sticking around or just dropping me off. Well he sticks and we walk around real quick.
Then he takes me across town to Nei’er Music Square. This place is gorgeous. A huge platform to dance, with arch walkways, a theatre across the street, a big man made lake with huge buildings being built in backdrop. Just a beautiful area and from seeing pics later, at evening is lit up in multi color lights like normal chinese buildings. I love the lights so I’m cool with it.
Again, we walk around together, do a little phone translate…i have chinese option on phone of course. We drive, pick up his friend again and then he says where you want to go… I say take me to the bus station. That’s my reference point for A. to leave and B. the second chiro office is just down the street.
Part 2 of Yuxi trip will pick up from here.. Me getting dropped off at the bus station area.
