Changting - Ningdu

It’s been a while since I updated the blog. The problem is very simple. I get up, I’m out on the bike for 10 or so hours and then I come to the hotel and just crash out after eating.

So here is a brief synopsis of what has been going on. I’ll write more about the wedding at a later date.

Not really much to say about this ride. I’m going through now what I guess what the very heart beat of the Red Army. There are many monuments and a variety of posters and slogans scattered along the way. I rode through Rujin and as you can see from the photo it says it all. According to wikipedia it says: "Ruijin is a popular tourist destination for both its natural scenery and its "Red" heritage. It is a pilgrimage for surviving Maoists from China and around the globe."

It was one of the few days where it didn’t rain and as a result I made pretty good time into Ningdu and was all checked in at the hotel nice and early. The owner of the hotel was like most of them, a little surprised to see a foreigner on the front door. Her eyes further widened as I lugged my bike into her nice clean lobby and rested it against the wall.

She didn’t seem to have any problem giving me a room. She showed me two, one was 80RMB (about 8 pounds for the night) and was perfectly good enough for me. The second was a much bigger room but 100RMB (10 pounds) I said I’d like the first room but she told me in Chinese that the ceiling was too low for me and it would be much better for me to take the second one. I insisted the first would be fine but she simply wouldn’t take no for an answer and not wishing to be too forceful I relented and took room number two.

20 RMB doesn’t sound much but I’m trying to keep to a budget of 100 RMB a day. This is probably not really that feasible at the moment given that I’m staying in hotels and eating out, albeit at very cheap local places. Once the weather warms up they’ll be plenty of opportunity to pitch the tent and as a result save some cash. The extra 20 RMB that I spent meant that instead of eating a meal out I went to the supermarket to stock up on some fruit, vegetables and some snacks.

I attracted the attention of some locals in the supermarket and was followed around while shopping by two very keen middle aged ladies and a young twenty something girl. The line of questioning was very familiar.

“Where are you from?”
“How old are you?”
“Are you married?”
“Do you have a girlfriend?”

Each answer of mine brought about school girl like giggles. I didn’t mind, it’s to be expected I suppose. I’m guessing Ningdu doesn’t get too many foreigners.

After my quick shop it was back to the hotel. My good intentions of writing this blog went out of the window and I instead opted for a bit of TV. However tiredness took over and I once again failed to get past the opening 10 minutes before falling asleep.

Next stop Le’an.