There and Back Again

Two days ago I made my first solo trip to Xiaozhai. Since I have a little card with the apartments address on it, I'm much less nervous about going out on my own some where.

There's a bus stop right outside the main gate of Gao Ke. A couple of the buses that stop there go through Xaozhai. After a couple minutes of waiting I got on the 34 bus, because it was the only one I knew for sure went where I wanted. I had no idea how many stops it was, but I figured I'd recognize the area when I saw it.

I knew it would take a bit so I grabbed a seat once one was available. After nine stops the area looked framiliar, but I didn't see the big steps that let me know I'm in the right place. After another two stops I knew I had missed it. It was still early , and it was a one way road, so I didn't want to get offthe bus and track down the other stop. I think this was a good idea, because afer a couple more stops the bus went by some tourist areas that I'll want to go to later. Now I know how t get there.

After a little longer the bus doors opened and everyone got off. End of the line. The buses goign the other way picked people up across the street, but I didn't want to sit on the bus for who knows how long and risk missing the stop again, so I grabbed a cab, and was lucky enough that she could understand me when I asked to go to Xiaozhai.

She drove quickly (like all taxi drivers do) and I got to right where I needed to go. It was cheaper than I expected at only 10.5 kuai. I headed straight for the place where the expats at Gao Ke go to buy DVDs. I only bought a couple and used a bit more of the time too look around. The whole area is an interesting place. I may go there one day I get off early and just wander around for a while.

When I was done I had to go and find where the 34 picked people up. I needed to make sure I would remember it when I came back again. I found it whith only a little bit of walking. It was actually easy to spot what with all the people standing on the side of (and in) the road, all looking in generally the same direction. I checked the signs and found the characters for Xiaozhai. I took a picture to remember them easier, but it's the only stop on the 34 that only has two characters so it's fairly easy to spot. I feel like I'm playing a weird version of Pokemon, but instead of collecting little monsters, I'm going around the city looking for bus stops. Whenever I see a place that has a bus I recognize, I take a picture and write down a note about where it is.

Finding the 34 was easy. Getting on it was vastly more difficult. I guess the 34 is a popular bus going the direction it was, because a small crowd of people would start running whenever one came around. The first one to stop, I quickly gave up getting on. The sudden aggressiveness of the Chinese people around me was startling. My failure forced me to wait another 10 minutes or so for another 34 to come around. This one stopped earlier on the street than I expected, so I was near the back of the mob, and failed once again at getting a place on the bus.

Third time is the charm though, and I was prepared. I started on the edge of the crowd where the bus would go by first. As it approached, I ran alongside it so I was near the front when the doors opened. Amid the beeps and clunks of bus cards and change going to pay for the ride, I managed to get my one kuai into the slot. Everyone was putting there hands for the machine as well, because if they've paid for their ride, then they're getting on that bus even if they have to be tied to it. Once I made it on, I was crammed into an awkward standing position. It was difficult because my right foot only had about an inch of space on one of the steps, and all of my weight was on that leg.

A stop later though, a couple people got off the bus, and the crowd at the front was able to move back on the bus. By four stops I was able to get a nice position near the middle of the bus, and off to the side, so I wouldn't have to move out of the way for other people. After the initial boarding process, the ride went fairly smoothly. I made it back to the apartment, and we celbrated my victory over the Chinese Public Transportation System by watching some of the movies I had so bravely traveled to acquire.

I went back to Xiaozhai yesterday. One of the movies we were watching (Aliens 2. You can't buy all four Aliens movies and skip the last half of the second one. It's unthinkable!) stopped playing correctly half way through. So I braved the buses again, this time paying a bit more attention to what buses stopped where, and found a couple more ways to get wherever I need to go. I wasn't able to exchange the movie, but I can come back in a couple days, and he'll have a new copy. That's the main reason we get DVDs from these guys. They speak a bit of English, and will replace DVDs if they don't work.

I looked around and bought a couple more DVDs that I had been looking for the other day. I also got a couple cups that I had been looking at in another store. I was in a good mood, and splurged a bit by eating at McDonalds. I also ate there because I was getting a bit cold and the building is warm.

Once again I was prepared for the battle that is getting on the 34. I made it on on my first try, and quickly made my way to the middle area where I'm not in anyone's way. I was a little nervous though. It was dark out and with it being only my second time coming back on my own I didn't want to miss my stop. Gau Ke is fairly distinctive though, and I got a bit lucky and made it back all right.

I had heard about the buses here being crazy at times, but all of the ones I had ridden on before were fairly clear and I was usually able to get a seat if I wanted. So far I haven't had to ride many different buses, but I'll have to start thinking a bit more agressively when I need to ride a new one. Jsut to be sure.