A crazy trip with the bro

We spent 18 hours on a train and got to Chung Du at 6 am. A map bought just outside the station directed us to the correct bus which would lead to the center of town; there we assumed we could find a Starbucks. It was there in all its glory sitting one floor below the golden arches. We waited at the door for it to open at 7:30. Free wifi, 2 frappichinos and many questions the English speaking employee later, we headed towards our hostel. Took a tour bus for three hours to see the giant Buddha, took a couple pictures, climbed down and returned to the city. Ate at a Thai restaurant near the train station, had mangos and sticky rice for an appetizer. Back to the hostel to chat with our roommates, the Hungarian Brothers. End of Day one.

Up again at 6 am, this time in a van on the way to the Panda reserve. Saw baby pandas, big pandas, drunk pandas and red pandas. Watched a funny movie. Bought some panda souvenirs. Matthew and an interesting conversation with the Ausie couple; she was a Christian and he didn’t understand it. Back in Chung Du we went to the American Embassy, it was nice to be in a place where I knew my rights were my rights! I could be a Christian, I could salute the flag, I could know I was safe. Watched happy Chinese students walk out holding accepted visas, smiles on their faces. Ate lunch at a Tex Mex, had Nachos with cheese and Vanilla Coke! Wandered the streets, found funny shops, and after a long time… a Starbucks. Tried to see a movie at the theater, but none were in English. (A week later we found out that Matthews word for “English” had been “Music” so I guess we were asking for music movies the whole time, perhaps they had an English movie after all. Ha!) Went to Hooters for dinner, witnessed to the waitress and gave her my email. The girls were trying to be something they were not and put on a pretty funny show dancing to songs like “YMCA.” Tried to find some evening entertainment and walked towards a 90ft bowling pin on top of a building. Made fools out of ourselves trying to do “tricks” next to the professionals in lane 6. They thought it was so disgusting that I LAID DOWN on the floor, but when I got more pins down with that move than Matthew, they cheered. Even though Matthew one both games. Tried our hand at ping pong, but were shamefully disgracing the sport. Matthew won the left handed game until later that he admitted he cheated by continually switching back to his right hand. So because of his cheating I won the night. Isn’t that how it always works out? Some how I always win. J At the hostel we watched Kung Fu Panda on a projector that shone on the wall in the “movie room.” Climbed in our bunk beds, chatted with the Hungarians who had once lived in Oregon, and fell asleep. That was a really weird day, day two.