Xiamen
This morning arrived and I had very mixed feelings, I was enjoying my time so much while staying with Yazmin and Lee, that I did not really want leave, but the reason I was in China was to attend Suzy’s wedding, and I needed to move on to Xiamen.
After breakfast Lee, Yazmin, Sophia, Kyra, Johanna, and me set off, to North Shenzhen station, where I was to catch the High-speed train to Xiamen.
Upon arrival I collected my ticket and the we decided to have coffee in the departure hall of the station (bad Idea) I placed my ticket and Passport (Non Metro rail stations in China are run just like airports with Arrival and Departure halls and strict security, Identity needs to be produced and all bags are scanned before you enter the departure hall) and was allowed to proceed but ONLY ONE person was allowed to enter with me and that was only because I did not speak or read Chinese.
Disappointment that we could not have coffee in the departure hall, so ok there were places outside we could have coffee there. NO! I had already used the ticket to enter the station and if I left I would not be able to re-enter, that was a real downer. I think we were all disappointed, that we could not really say good-bye as I had wanted to, at least Sophia and I could have coffee and some egg-tarts.
When the time arrived that the gates to the platform were to be opened we lined up to enter, just behind us there appeared Suzy’s parents, he aunty and her daughter and Suzy’s little sister, they recognised me and introduced themselves with the help of Sophia’s translation.
They were not travelling in the same carriage as I was so I had to settle-down on my own and I was comfortably looking out the window when there was a tap on my shoulder, it was Suzy’s dad with some refreshments for me even though they were in a different carriage (I was travelling 1st class they were travelling 2nd class) they looked after me very well and it was appreciated.
Four hours and about 900km later we arrived at our destination Suzy and James were there to greet us to take us to the hotel they arranged for us to stay in it was only about 200m from where they were living with James’ parents.
The Following pages detail what happened during my stay in Xiamen
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Welcome to Herman and Carolann’s Travels to Asia
China 2016