Alley/Hogg Trip 19^th July, 2017

Another early start with everyone congregating in hotel reception ready for 0800. First on the agenda was a trip to the hand painted Yellow Crane Tower. This sits in a park, sizeable I think, for there are three routes you can take to see various different attractions.

Our Wuhan coach had weaker air-conditioning than the one in Shanghai, which was unfortunate for the heat was fierce and humidity overpowering. Nobody failed to break into sweat.

No attraction in China is complete without endless stairs to negotiate and this place was no exception. Heat, humidity and all the walking I had recently done combined to exhaust me so that by the time we got to the pagoda I was done in.

I looked up at the five storey edifice with horror and commented that unless there was a lift, I would remain at the bottom! Mr Zhang, on hearing this, went and enquired and indeed there was a manned lift reserved for the disabled and over 70s. Apparently I pass for 70 these days! And yes, the view from the top was quite spectacular, with the added attraction of a lovely cooling breeze. The NZ folks are really throwing themselves into the spirit and I swear they are rivalling the amount of photos their Chinese counterparts are taking.

It had been noticed that at times I was struggling because en route to the next activity it was explained to me that it was a visit to a couple of important (but boring) office buildings that involved a lot of walking (they were 1km apart) and that I may like to give that one a miss. I did but of course when the coach parked up off went what little aircon it had and it rapidly became a tad on the warm side.

We were outside a museum so I pleaded with the door staff to let me in for free as I just wanted to use their toilet. They did, although finding one that wasn't out of order was a problem, as was exiting the building when I finished. They made me go out of the back, so to get back to the bus meant a long hike. By the time I arrived the rest had returned and were wondering where I had disappeared to.

Lunch was excellent. I get plonked on the same table as the New Zealanders and we get slightly different dishes. I think every effort is being made to select foods that will excite our guests and by and large, they are admirably succeeding.

As I type we are 90 minutes into a four and a half hour high speed rail trip from Wuhan to Xi'an. Personally I prefer to fly, first or business class on Chinese domestic flights are one and the same and of course over long distances, quicker. However sometimes it can end up being faster to take high speed rail journeys. Everyone gets a seat (I can count on one hand the “standing” ticket people I have seen on HSR) and it is comfortable unless you are like me, a smoker! Unlike the slow trains where you can puff away as much as you like between carriages, the HSR is smoke free. What us pariahs do is leap out when the train stops, spark up, and if you are lucky you may get three draws on your cigarette or cigar before someone blows a whistle furiously to indicate you need to re-board pronto! It becomes a game of cat and mouse. It should though be mentioned that the train we were on today achieved speeds of 304kph (190mph) so it does gobble up the distance. For me on this trip the problem has been and will continue to be throughout, the fact we seem to be taking trains daily. Great if you can nod off but thus far I have failed to do so. And what with coaches and trains so often, when I sit typing in my hotel room the room is moving as if I were still travelling - even the beds do!

However, it has been heartening to observe the Kiwis throwing themselves lock, stock and barrel into what is for most of them their first trip abroad. To my shame, they are soaking everything up like a sponge and indeed have learnt more Chinese in 4 days than I have in 7 years!

I cannot fault the various agencies involved in this enterprise. I assume the schools and both governments have had a hand but let us not forget the travel agent who has ensured transport and thus far, really nice hotels. In fact this evening whoever organised dinner even managed to exceed today's lunch!

Our visitors tend to talk to me about things they are coy about talking to their Chinese hosts. I guess I am fulfilling the role of a Bosun at sea – the bridge between officers and crew, I am their conduit, their buffer and it is my part to risk causing offence! And it is a job I am happy to perform. The youth of Rarotonga, Rotorua or wherever they are from have been under the impression that their hosts thought they didn't appreciate the food laid on. I know as well as they do now that we cannot eat as much as the Chinese. Anyone who has read my blogs has often heard me comment on tiny girls eating quadruple what I do.

So tonight we had sweet and sour meatballs, jaozi and a sort of spring roll “cornet” with a prawn inside, along with other dishes. The ones I mention were particularly well received and disappeared alarmingly quickly! I then heard mutters about “if only they could get some more”, so who the hell else was going to take the bull by the horns? We got seconds, I was a hero. I would have been quite happy to have stumped up for the additional cost because it would have been worth it as it proved to the Chinese leaders that yes, given the right food, and this was the best meal to date, the Kiwis can at least attempt to do them justice. I think all concerned will go to bed happy tonight bar me, for I feel a little like Oliver Twist!

Tomorrow is a busy day.