Woke up EARLY (4:30am early) to finishing throwing things
in our bags and get downstairs for the 5:30 taxi taking us to the airport. At
this hour, there’s no traffic, so we made it there in just over 30 mins. We
paid her the 120Y and said goodbye. The flight was on time and full. In
classically bewildering fashion, the other passengers were already queued up 15
mins before they even called for boarding. Amazingly enough, without queuing,
our seats were still right there waiting for us when we got onto the plane. (shaking
head in amazement and frustration) We had a layover in Xi’an for an hour about
an hour into the flight, where we collected at least 30 other western
foreigners. Then it wasn’t long at all before we were in Shanghai (3ish hrs) at
Podong (pooh-dong) International Airport where we found that the couter was
closed…in podong. Hmmmmm…
We decided to try for the metro to get to our hostel, Naza
hostel ($27/night booked on agoda) near the Bund. But the board at the airport
is a bit confusing because it makes it seem that all metro lines originate at
the airport (they do not). Then we realized that the map was for the airport
bus that then took you to the start of each metro line. However, line 2 of the
metro really DOES start at the airport, so we decided to take that and just
transfer to line 4 (6Y, but the cost varies depending on your destination). It
would a 14-stop journey for us. Not too bad, really. But what nothing, nowhere
tells you is that at a certain point (the half way mark for us) the green line
#2 from the airport terminates and you must transfer onto the waiting train
(also on the green line) that then continues the journey in the same direction
as the train you were just on. Then THAT train goes back in the direction it
just came. So, to clarify, two trains from opposite directions come into the
station, where they then unload passengers onto the opposing train, and then
each train reverses its direction to go back from whence it came. Confusing?
Oh, you betcha! We were mystified.
To be fair, it does announce in English that the train
terminates there, but it doesn’t say all passengers must change trains or they
will return to the airport! Also, none of the maps in the train indicate that
something special happens at this particular station. They also show the green
line 2 metro line as a full and continuous route (presumably on the train
you’re currently on).
So after staying on our original train (which is now
returning us to the airport), we got off at the next stop, and on the opposing
train. Then, at this fateful stop, we were greeted with a nearly déjà vu
experience. The train stopped. All the lights went off. The other train came.
All passengers got off both trains. And then both trains went in the reverse
direction. But at least this time, we were on the CORRECT train, going toward
our transfer point!
We got off on Dalian Road, went out exit 4, took a left,
then another left at the corner (Kunming), walked a block and took a right at
the next street (Baoding Road) and Naza Hostel is on the right just a few
buildings in. Easy…after asking directions, since the ones from the website
weren’t quite as clear.
We dumped our bags then headed out in search of food and
to wander. We ate some noodles and spring rolls (9Y) at a nearby restaurant
across the street, then wandered into a large street market area where I picked
up a bag full of fresh edemame (3Y) and Steve got some local meat dumplings
(3Y) that were not very delicious. We then walked down to the waterway area and
waited for the sun to go down and the lights on the buildings to come up. It
was really pretty—but the best part was the older French inspired area to the
west of the famous skyline area. Then we headed back to the room to try to sort
out our next move. All I can say for sure is, Chinese holidays suck for the
non-Chinese.
As of yet, we’ve got no idea where we’re going from here.
You’re guess is as good as ours at this point…
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