People's Tour: Episode 1

In a brief hiatus from laziness (due to no classes and too many tv shows on youku.com) 4 weeks after my last trip, 1 week before my next one, I've decided that it's time to post something about my travels in Guangxi and Guizhou. Inspired by youku, and being realistic about my laziness, posts will come in episodes.





Couchsurfing in Guilin


After a 25-hour train trip, Tasha and I met Stan, our couchsurfing host at what we considered a "fancy" restaurant. 2 other couchsurfers joined us going to another restaurant since most of them were finished. One of them was a German guy named Mark, who was one of the tallest, most talkative men I've ever met. He kept talking about us giving his eyes to him. Tasha and I were talking about playing madlibs on the train. I asked Mark if he'd ever played and he said "I have no idea what the hell you're talking about." I shot back "Now you know how I've felt for the past hour and a half talking to you!"





Stan, a Serbian has been living and teaching in China for over a year and hosting couchsurfers for just as long. Within the 48 hours that we were at his place, 4 French, 1 German, and 1 Chinese had passed through his doors. This doesn't include the pizza party which also had Australians and Canadians.




The first morning I was woken up by a phonecall from Benjamin, who needed us to let him into Stan's. We decided to climb nearby Tunnel Hill because it was free and had good views of the city. After spotting a small, secluded trail off the street, Tasha and Ben wanted to try it. Hoping for nice, smooth paved steps I suggested that we find the main entrance. But there was a guy sitting on his scooter playing the erhu (traditional instrument) and I think the lure was just too much for them. Umbrella in one hand, tea bottle in the other, I trekked up the trail. After about 5 minutes in the rain, I fell uphill on slick rock. When I stood up, my very light khaki pants were covered in mud and my knee bloodied. This reinforces my theory that it's impossible to stay clean in China. Shaken up, I followed Ben & Tasha until we literally hit a wall. We would have had to climb straight up it.



We decided to give up and meet Stan for lunch and coffee dowtown. After asking around, we got on the right bus exhausted. After about 15 minutes, we knew were going out of town the wrong way. It's like we were the deleted scene out of a National Lampoon movie. We eventually met up with Stan and I drank the best Yunnan coffee I've had.



That night we had a pizza party. About 12 other people came over. Most of them were expats who were teaching and in the couchsurfing community. Everyone was really nice, but I never felt like I had much in common with them. They spoke very little Chinese and knew very little about the geography of China. One Canadian had no idea where Sichuan was. There were two Haiwaiian girls who said they really didn't feel like Americans, which was surprising to hear. While the others attempted a jam session, I spent about 20 minutes in the bathroom scrubbing my stupid pants.



Our last morning was sunny and Tasha and I climbed up Tunnel Hill without any injuries. That afternoon, it rained again so we decided to watch a movie. When he was in high school, Stan was a professional BMX biker. So, we were surprised when he suggested we watch the rom-com "Fool's Gold". We asked him what it was about and he said "You know...nice boys...nice girls..." Tasha and I cracked up and used that line all through our trip.

Finally!!

The "new post" button and I are finally getting along. You might be wondering why my blog address contains "gantingles". My Chinese name is Gan Ting and my friend Durf calls me Tingles. Much more fun that the name I've had for 28 years. I can't take much credit for the title "TIC"...I heard that through some other volunteers. They got it from the movie "Blood Diamond" where they say "TIA...This is Africa" when something happens that can't really be explained other than the simple fact of their location. Now, when something happens in China that we don't understand (pretty much on a daily basis), my friends and I throw up our hands, roll our eyes, sigh and say "TIC."

I'm thinking that Durf and I should make a documentary when we return to the states. Basically, we would do things in China that wouldn't fly in the states. For example, at a restaurant: yell at the server, then throw napkins and bones on the floor. Don't want to give too much else away pending our future Oscar nomination.

The day before yesterday, Bo Tao and I were shopping in Xi Men, the market district of Nanchong. While looking in what felt like the 30th bag store, I got a call from Wendy. I met Wendy in Leshan during summer project through Nate. Wendy won my heart when Nate was telling a story during dinner about St. Patrick's day and said "I was wearing a green hat" and Wendy responded "Congratulations!" We almost fell out of our chairs laughing.

Anywho, the call...after exchanging hello's/how are you's?:

Wendy: My grandfather passed away the other day. We are now on a mountain waiting for his funeral to start.
Me: I'm so sorry to hear that
Wendy: It's ok, he was 98. Anyway, my nephew is here and his name is Dan something something. Can you give him an English name?
Me: How about Danny?
Wendy: (after asking him) He doesn't like that.
Me: Ok, how about Daniel?
Wendy: Yeah, he likes that.

We talked for a few more minutes, at the end of our conversation I couldn't help but think TIC.

Maybe Durf and I should add that to our list of things to do in our documentary. :)