Blogging from the train

I write to you from the top bunk of a sleeper train on my way to Guangzhou as the  landscape speeds past. Kidding. I will class it as 'rolling past' and no more. Bullet train would get us there in seven hours. But I am going to go ahead and say that twenty two hours is way more fun.

So! Around fifty of us lucky interns lugged our luggage into possibly the biggest train station I have ever been in. It was literally heaving with humanity. Consider that the train I am on has upward of fifteen carriages each with twelve cabins of six beds apiece, and that the station has goodness knows how many platforms. You will get some idea of the numbers.

We trundled off to find our cabins. I was lucky enough to have drawn a ticket that placed me with a group of interns for the night and not with strangers for my first sleeper train experience.

Hello roomies!

Turning down the delightful prospect of a jam session down in carriage 12 I took advantage of the proffered extra strength night-time cold and flu medicine  (thank you Beijing), climbed into my coffin and clocked out. 'Coffin' is actually a regular nickname for the top bunk of sleeper trains as it is eight feet up and about two feet away from the ceiling. The upside is that at least I know where my bags (and everyone else's) are.

Pictured: A bed for the night. (I just about fit!)

 Awaking 13 hours later I praised the heavens for destroying over half of the journey with sleep. Go team! Pottered about to find the loo, needed counselling when I got back (still a little shell shocked), before digging out my breakfast provisions. Chased down a trolley lady who clearly didn't actually want to sell anything, just train for the trolley Olympics with porridge and noodles, before settling down to a hearty breakfast.

Pictured: one classy meal, complete with browning rice paddys rolling past.

Will now amuse myself and compatriots for the next six hours before being picked up at the other end by my school. Excited and bricking it at the same time!

Zài jiàn for now!

PS. 'Zài jiàn' is now irrelevant as they speak Cantonese where we are going. Thanks for the Mandrin lessons guys.  -_-