7/26 - On to Guiyang, Guizhou

I think today is Wednesday.  We've totally lost track of days.  This must be day 12 since we left home, day 10 of our China trip.  Our breakfast was once again toast.  We're all still pretty cautious with what we eat and don't have much appetite.

The national guide from the yellow group took us to the Guilin train station.  We arrived 10 minutes prior to the station opening and there was very few people.  It seemed odd since we're usually surrounded by throngs of people.  Once we got in and through security a young Chinese boy, maybe 15 or so, sat across from us and seemed intrigued by our family. We had a short conversation and then he went on to take some photos around the station.  Just shortly before boarding call he began to panic because he couldn't find his ID and train ticket.  We tried to have him breath and slowly think through what he had done. None of us saw him fiddling with them so....he began to panic and got the police involved.  We asked him if security had handed it back to him but panic had set in and he couldn't remember.  My momma radar was feeling so stressed for him, traveling alone and now without his proper papers.  The boy began to pray and we continued to try to help and encourage him.  Eventually the police viewed the video and found that security had not given him his papers back.  Whew, he's all set and can board the train.  I feel better too!

The train is a whole new experience for us!  Our guide told us what to expect so we have some idea but the fact that the train is only in the station for 4 to 5 minutes has me stressed, not knowing how it all works!  As the train pulled into the station, we had no idea which car # was the one we needed.  So, rather than risk missing the train as we looked for it, we just hopped on!  Turns out we were in car #4 and needed #6, so we had to walk through two packed full trains, trying to dodge people and carry all of our luggage too!  I was a little stressed!!  We eventually make our way to our seats just as the train is pulling out of the station.  Hope the next train is a little easier to identify.  Our seats are the back of car #6 which is where there is supposed to be extra room for luggage, but it's full of people standing.  Natalee & I are sitting in that row and the people standing are over top of us, pushing and pulling our chairs, talking loudly, sneezing, etc.... It was far from ideal, and yet another experience!
The train ride itself was really smooth and fast, about 125mph!  The young boy from the station is on our car too and he keeps getting off at every stop to take pictures.  At one stop he barely made it back on before we pulled out again!  He is making this mom very nervous!  (We found out at our last stop that he's from Singapore and is traveling to see family.)

Three hours later we arrive in the capital city of Guizhou province, Guiyang.  This is Megan's birth city. Our guide finds us and off we go.  Our driver takes us to our hotel, Novotel, which is in a different part of the city than where we stayed 8 years ago.  Our rooms are quite small but have everything we need.  Megan seems to be having a bit of anxiety about being here which is totally understandable.  After resting for a little while we head out to explore our neighborhood.  Kyle had jokingly said maybe we'd find a Starbucks and be able to use better internet.  Guess what was literally around the corner from our hotel?  Yup, Starbucks.  We walked around a bit, found several pharmacies and a couple of 7-11 stores plus the malls under the intersections.  We end up back at Starbucks fora cookie crumble frozen drink, it was so good!  Nat has been craving a muffin so she enjoyed that too.  Internet didn't work for us because we don't have a Chinese phone number, oh well.  Back to the 7-11 store to buy some ramen and Fanta orange pop for our dinner and then relax.  Tomorrow will be a big day!