Day 5

Up at 5.00am, our the door at 6.00am, 10 mins walk to the station, through ticket checkpoint, show passport, baggage inspection, old hand at this now. Every station, luggage scan and we go through the metal detector, just keep baggage together and keep together to stop other people getting in between, we have learn to push in and stand your ground, just like the locals. Also get to front of queue as although you have seat tickets, baggage space is first in, best dressed. Everyone has luggage, so we are not out of place.

We are hard seat, actually basic high padded seats, we have 4 seats ourselves so great. The joke being that we are all in one carriage, with 4 empty ones next door.

Using maps.me to track our progress, We have no data, so it is great to see where you are. It works off line and you download the maps your want and you tag all the places you go.

Always have photos of family and where you come from as a conversation starter, the family opposite speaks no English, but Sue had good discussion with them using the photos.

Arrived at Zhangjiajie, on time. Out the front and into a building on our left, had to laugh as I though the first place we went into was a ticket office, no, it was a bank, honestly you could not tell the difference.

So next door to the train station, absolutely no English now, after 15 mins of pointing and mime, they sent around to the middle distance local buses, they bundled us on, we had no idea if it was the correct bus or not. 20 CNY each fit the 75 minute trip.

Arrived OK, then it was a quick walk to the hotel Qing Man, Richard the owner met us and we planned our 2.5 day assault on the park. As the weather was misty and it was getting late we went the Golden Dragon Cave, 100CNY each, 2CNY each for the bus fare. The cave is a 2.5 hour guided tour, in our case all in Chinese, luckily an American honeymoon couple assisted with the important bits. This is a must see, the caves, the water trip, the stalactites etc were spectacular. Not sure if we agree with all the way it is designed by the Chinese. Very slippery, so be careful.

Returned to have dinner, another adventure, Sue picked a busy restaurant and in we went. We had spicy chicken, bulk hot chilly and even bonier lumps than the night before, but very tasty, a bacon and veggie combo, and hot diced vegetables and beer, 195CNY.

Then as feeling weary, Sue spotted busy leg massage shop, so had foot and leg massage for 30 mins, for only 50CNY ($AU10) each, no tip required.

Now bed as 3000 steps beckon tomorrow.