It was late when we reached Kunming. We needed to change a bit of currency from US dollars to Chinese RMB to pay for our cab ride and our first night's stay at the hostel. However, the money changing station at the airport was closed. As we debated what to do, a man came up and offered us a taxi ride and said that he would accept US dollars. I told him where we were going and he said it would cost $20. I have been told that bartering is the national sport of China, so I talked him down to $15. We walked outside and walked past the official taxis toward an unmarked car. Annalisa stepped in at this point and said that we would take a registered cab. The man was upset by this, but he also went back up to $20 on his price. Very confusing. Armed with a little map and the address of the hostel printed in Chinese, we loaded our big bags in the trunk of a regular cab and put ourselves and our smaller bags in the back seat. The driver spoke next to no English. The ride cost 20 RMB, or about $3. Who knows how much we would have finally paid for the gypsy cab or where we would I ended up. I am grateful that Annalisa, who has much more travel experience than I have, put her foot down. I had looked at pictures on the Internet of the area around the hostel, but I did not recognize anything when the taxi driver stopped to let us out. Reluctantly, we gathered our bags and walked gingerly in the direction he pointed. Around the corner we saw the city gates we had been looking for. The hostel held one of our passports for collateral until we could get our currency changed and pay our bill the next day. We splurged by getting a private room rather than bunks in a common sleeping room. The only private room available had twin beds with thin pads, but it did have a private bath, which was nice. Exhausted, we got ready for bed, only to realize that New York is not the only city that never sleeps. Especially if you are right above a disco. Thumpa thumpa all night long. |
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Our First Night
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