White Boy In Japan
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Back to USA
Friday, April 15, 2011
Sakura Pictures
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Chengdu To Xian 16 Hour Train Ride
Overnight Train Ride to Xian
It was very similar to the overnight bus from Okayama to Tokyo that I have taken a few times now. Except for the fact that the I had a bed, ate lunch, and experienced a much bumpier ride on the train. My brother Muir and I had two Chinese roommates on the train who were probably in their 50s and could not speak any English. I spent most of my time reading a book called The Tipping Point that I just finished today and started about 1 week ago. Almost everyday I have time to read and study Japanese. The train had both western style and squatty toilets which I made good use of. I probably woke up about 8 times to some the loud rattling of the train running on not so smooth tracks. Overall I enjoyed the train ride experience and would probably try it again in the future.
much love,
Steele
One Week In Chengdu
It is my last day here in Chengdu and I stayed at the lazybones hostel with my brother Muir Adams. We decided to move towards the center of the city for one night out of the hostel in our good friend Ryan’s dorm. All of you Americans who are used to having things done for you in English, even in other countries, China is a bit different. When we order food much of the time people do not know any English and the menus are often only in Chinese without pictures. This makes life a little bit more difficult for us, but allows to experience what many non native English speaking foreigners have to face every time they leave there country.
I have enjoyed the food quite a bit here in Chengdu. When I first arrived in Chengdu and had a few meals with my friend Ryan, I told him that I would trade Japanese food for Chinese food any day. This could be true for different parts of China still, but probably not Chengdu. Almost all of the Chinese food we have had in Chengdu has been very oily and very spicy. Eating this a few times is good and fun, but eating it for every meal gets old pretty quick. I am happy to have my own kitchen in Japan to allow me to learn how to be a better chef and eat the food I want to eat. I’m not saying trying new food is bad, because I love trying new food. I just don’t care so much to try new food that tastes almost the exact same a million times.
Hanging out with my good friend Ryan has been a blast. When I look back on it, I have known Ryan since elementary school. I once told Ryan a story about me being a bully at Grant Elementary school. I was on top of the playground and there was a kid who wouldn’t go down the slide, so I shoved him down. Then when I got to the bottom he started crying and I got a pink slip (says I am in trouble). I quickly figured out that was Ryan after we had become good friends in high school. Spending time with him here in China has been great. He has taken my brother Muir and I to many different places around Chengdu and to try lots of his favorite restaurants with him. I have been impressed by his ability to get around and communicate with his Chinese after only 6 months of studying a very difficult language.
To give an idea of how prices of things here compare to your country:
Bus Fare: 1 - 2 YUAN (20 - 40 cents)
Eating Out Local: 1 - 2 USD
Eating Out Nice: 4 - 7 USD
Magnum Ice Cream Bar: 5 YUAN (80 cents)
Hostel, One Night, Two People: 127 YUAN (20 dollars)
Tomorrow night we will be taking a 13 hour train from about 9PM to 10AM from Chengdu to Xian. We bought the most expensive ticket to be in a sleeper car which cost us about 45 dollars each.
It is definitely nice being in a country where things are much cheaper. I would recommend traveling to a country that is cheaper for you as your money will go much further.
much love,
Steele