中国89 - bike all wrapped up and shipped! (Qingdao to Chizhou via train)

中国88 - MISSING GEAR ACQUIRED (Qingdao)

中国87 - one of my greatest fears followed by a ray of hope (Seoul to Qingdao)

한국84,85,86 - A Ferry Stressed Medal Recipient (Seoul to a Incheon Port)

한국83 - Operation Seoul by Christmas was a success! (Yeoju to Seoul)

My box of equipment went on its own adventure to Weihai. It was put on the wrong ferry by accident. Luckily the ferry company was able to ship it to the terminal in Qingdao overnight and I picked it up today! What a relief.

Since I wasn't able to pick up my box until the late afternoon I decided to scope out the railway station ahead of time. It is enormous. Like an airport, you need to go through security and have a ticket to enter. But I was able to find the China Railway Express office and ask about my bike. They said they could ship it and it would get to Guilin within a week. I plan on going there first thing tomorrow. 

Oddly enough the losing of my box makes me feel better about shipping my bike (and the same box) to Guilin. I felt that they really made finding my box a priority. Rather than "Oops, we lost it!". Since it may take a week to get to Guilin, I plan on doing some train travel in the meantime. 

I also had some time to explore Qingdao. The air quality really put a damper on the expierence. Qingdao was a Germain colony at one point, and it really shows in the architecture. It actually reminded me a bit of Vienna! I had some tasty street food. That made me realize that I way over payed for dinner last night (13$!). If you go to the right place a huge meal is only around 5$! I feel like a lost lamb in these places though. 

I feel a bit like a lost lamb. If you lean into that feeling, it's pretty fun! I had to be shown how to order using wechat and how to use the buffet. Then I caused a small scene when I got cold water out of the water dispenser. Did you know that people almost always drink hot water in China? It's a historical practice that has survived through the ages.

Tomorrow will be interesting. I need to take my bike and box to the CRE office to ship it off. Only once that is done will I book a train ticket south. So hopefully I can get a ticket!

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Ian Caragol

中国88 - MISSING GEAR ACQUIRED (Qingdao)

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中国89 - bike all wrapped up and shipped! (Qingdao to Chizhou via train)

中国88 - MISSING GEAR ACQUIRED (Qingdao)

中国87 - one of my greatest fears followed by a ray of hope (Seoul to Qingdao)

한국84,85,86 - A Ferry Stressed Medal Recipient (Seoul to a Incheon Port)

한국83 - Operation Seoul by Christmas was a success! (Yeoju to Seoul)

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