After a decent night’s sleep (not that it felt like it) I got up and showered. Breakfast wasn’t included in the price but buoyed by the thought of (I know!) a cheeseburger on the train, I didn’t care.
It’s amazing how some Hong Kong taxis won’t take you to certain places. The two outside the hotel refused to take me to the station so I had to get the concierge to get me one.
At Kowloon station I was lost. There were huge queues for customer service and although I had left plenty of time to catch my flight, I wasn’t so sure about getting the train though and missing it meant an hour delay - that would have had me worrying. A young couple came with their young son, we got chatting and they offered to help me. They were tourists from Ningbo on the east coast and were moving around visiting relatives. We got the train but to my disappointment it wasn’t the same as the one I took to Kowloon. No upper deck and no cheeseburger.
They did have a restaurant car next to ours and also seat service. I did have a couple of what now seemed positively cheap beers after HK and eventually ordered some beef and peppers with rice. It turned out to be very tasty although I couldn’t finish it all. For some reason we were half an hour late in leaving but that was only a minor worry.
In Guangzhou I took the tube and it was markedly at odds with the opposite journey. No seat. In fact I never got one until well over the halfway mark. Whilst standing I couldn’t help but wish I had eaten something particularly potent the night before so I could revolt everyone with a hideous pong and cause an evacuation in the immediate vicinity. Sadly I wasn’t up to it.
At the airport I was able to obtain a carry on bottle at twice the normal price but then I had been paying similar in HK just for a beer. I even had time for a couple of cold ones and could have had another because the plane was ultimately delayed but as usual; only after we were all locked inside it. I knew it was going to be a long day but this made it even lengthier.
Still, I was met at the airport, I had smuggled some hotel matches in my checked bag and managed a few puffs before we set off for my new domicile. After a quick stop for me to buy yet another lighter we arrived to find the FAO waiting at my flat. which is in the middle of a building site. Well they seem to be ripping up the road for something.
The first thing the FAO did when I took out a cigar was to advise me the apartments were no smoking. I gave him a thoroughly old fashioned look and informed him that not only was this never mentioned before either verbally or in writing and that he knew full well I smoked and hadn’t said anything, so I was going to smoke anyway. He said he was telling me now and tonight it was ok. I bit my tongue and decided to meet that one head on later when I was sure of my ground. I now am. The “rule book” I was given merely states you are not to smoke in bed (which I never do) and by inference they are stating they know you will smoke. Anyway, if I like the school and the school likes me I will stay for the next six years so a repaint I think is a pretty good deal for them.
Then I was left to my own devices.
Amazingly the internet worked and if it is like that all the time I will be very happy. Ten times faster than Chizhou. Unless I am blind or stupid there is no airconditioning. Not needed now although the radiators will be soon I suspect but it WILL get warm next summer so I need something doing about that. They showed me the washing machine, a sodding top loader with everything in Chinese. Except it’s not plumbed in. How did the previous occupant use it? They used a bucket. What??? Sorry but that isn’t me. They can plumb it in. they can also show me how to work the damned thing as well because after they left I tried to do a wash (I only had one clean shirt left for today) and I pressed every option after slinging three big buckets of water in. It took me two hours to get it to wash a bit, then it stopped so I emptied it and did a rinse. Could I get it to spin?
The coat stand in my office (here I have a kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, living room and office) currently has my laundry dripping onto the floor.
I went to bed at two and in the gloom of the bedroom (the light doesn’t work) I ended up sleeping on a Chinese hard mattress and a quilt, using another quilt as a pillow and I think I slept under a curtain!
So today I have been out buying essentials. Toiletries and the like. I had to use a dirty shirt to sort of dry myself after my shower as I have no towel. I still have stuff to buy that the little supermarket never had but I was parched, there was no mug to have a tea or coffee so breakfast was jing jo. It’s the same as slaking your thirst in the morning with rum or scotch. Any everywhere I went the cafes either never had any beer or they didn’t have cold ones. I did find a place very close to my home that had some but for some reason the people here don’t speak Chinese! Bin pijou has worked for me all over China but not today! I should learn Chinese? Really?
So I need to go out again shortly to try and find a decent sized supermarket (and jing jo, I never saw any anywhere) to get what else I need. I was going to find a Bank of China to change my HKD but as I don’t currently have my passport because the school are registering me with the local plod and possibly opening me a bank account, I will have to clear out my Chizhou account. Payday is around the 10th so with everything I have got if I am careful I may just last without having to borrow.
Last night with the things I found wrong I was initially annoyed but of course after six years in the Middle Kingdom I know I will get things fixed to my satisfaction. When I first came to Chizhou there were things amiss and as I wasn’t a spring chicken even then I wouldn’t sign the contract until I had categoric assurances. This time I have China time under my belt.
No comments:
Post a Comment