2022: Reverse Culture Shock & Me... Part 3!

U.K infrastructure she better don't! I am not sorry to say that it's time for round two because I am not quite finished making my claim about the dysphoria I've felt since being back in Britain! Baby, I can say with the clearest of convicts that you're not that Great! Those domestic Chinese flights, I miss those complimentary in-flight drinks and meals! I'd like things back to business!

Listen here real quick, these critical observations come from the heart, I do not want dog walk my own country's effort. This is a love letter to those Victorian stations such as; Manchester Piccadilly because that infusion between period and contemporary styles has me appreciating that serving of character. We must recognise and celebrate such period transport hubs but remember that we are seriously falling behind our European and Asian counterparts. Alright, Birmingham's New Street Station took a new 'Grand Central' title but all the glass and modernity in the world cannot sweep away the widening social gap as our stations become suitable places of refuge for the homeless as our cities gentrify themselves, that's some shady shade! If that is the case then we need to address such developments with the changing times, responsibility to preserving such styles means nothing when gateways become glorified homeless shelters. I have been reminded full with the displays of poverty during certain English train trips, alright babes? 

I am not campaigning for a solution to that deprivation because such issues won't ever be addressed in this modern world, no matter how many television appeals are made. I had my life wrapped up like a Christmas present in China during those train station experiences. Trading period features for glass and space-age designs, I felt secure when I had to show my passport upon entering the monitored security check. Travelling passengers and railway staff were the only people who were allowed onto the upper waiting levels, only gaining access to the necessary platforms with that all important 火车票! That's a 'train ticket' to you! I felt that process kept things moving and curbed any extra build up of people, those goodbyes were left for the ticket barrier at the main entrance. Knowing when I arrived at the waiting area with the platform entries in view, well that sight told me that the next step would be the platform's edge. Yes, I felt safer having only those with a valid tickets allowed through the barrier. I preferred it that way! 

U.K, Hun? When I think about flying domestically within the U.K compared to within Mainland China, well there's no comparison! During those first two years spent in China, I had not cared to see that my passport only had enough pages for my work permits, so with that issue I stayed within the People's Republic of China during holidays. Flying from Wuhan to cities within the China Mainland like Chongqing, Xi'an and Chengdu, no alcohol may have been served but those soft drinks were complimentary! During my easyJet flights to both Edinburgh and Belfast, I didn't mind flashing the plastic to buy a whisky or wine but I would've settled for a juice or water like China Southern or Hainan Airlines offered me for free. To think as well onboard Jet2, I paid extra for my breakfast but only one drink accompanied the meal. I don't think it's a lot to ask for, pour us a complimentary soft in-flight refreshment within the U.K! Like, on a domestic flight? Yes, what's that all about? Free drinks on both Int'l and Domestic flights with Chinese airlines! 

Baby, don't play! When I was a kid and teenager, it wasn't uncommon for a complimentary airline meal to be served up on either Charter or Scheduled flight out of the U.K. Nowadays, the presence of an airline meal comes with a supplementary price tag on the likes of Jet2, easyJet and many others in the U.K market. Taking things back to those Mainland Chinese skies, I remember getting a small yet 'free' in-flight meal onboard both Domestic and Int'l flight to and from China with Chinese airlines such as China Eastern and Xiamen Airlines. That rice or noodle meals were basic but I had something to fill me up before arriving at my destination or back to the city where I was based. So, when I was Alicante bound with Jet2, you already know that I paid in-advance for that in-flight English Breakfast! I'm not O.K about this situation if you ask me, U.K! I know that once I'm back in China, I will appreciate those complimentary drinks, snacks and meals! Oh, Tianjin Airlines were on the hard sell, only then I wasn't tempted! No, C!

Is the bus still running? Taking the bus to my then Wuhan kindergarten was my chosen commute method, getting that Guanggu bus after I switched companies in September 2015. Getting my '武汉通' had me on the right track, I just needed to catch the right bus and get off at the right stop! All of those changes felt natural and I never caught the wrong bus, truly those morning and afternoon commutes allowed me to know more about Wuhan. Jumping off the bus in the mornings outside the noodle shop allowed me to grab a piping hot container of '热干面' and a warm pouch of '豆浆'. Beijing served an outstretched walking situation, then in my second Beijing, Shunyi based kindergarten saw me bike my way to that school. Beijing had me buying my own '一卡通', so I would take the bus occasionally because those '£1' daily '滴滴' taxis, the Pandemic was about to change everything that I had previously known! Perspective was about to bite me in the behind, now I feel like I am ready to break it down! Yes, BeiJing! For real, real???

Finding myself back in the U.K, well I found myself on a StageCoach bus on my way to Sherwood Forest from Nottingham. It was a shock to my system because I had to actually use coins rather than a 'travel card', navigating my way around that 'Robin Hood' looking situation. As my time in the U.K has taken a longer turning road, I had gotten used to using my bank card as 'Contactless Payment'. I remember after getting my second COVID vaccine, for love nor money I wasn't able to use my bank card on that Wolverhampton bus. After Tweeting my bank, it wasn't so because I hadn't made a payment for a few days! What was that olden day B.S all about! The U.K gets me so mad sometimes! So, once I get my chosen '通' back in my life, I won't be shrugging off the bus once that part of my life normalises. The bank card situation feels like a joke now but in that moment I didn't appreciate that 'Reverse Culture Shock!' I feel ready to embrace whatever transport comes my way and get to work with whatever payment method! 

It's clear that I am a lover of 'High Speed Rail', something that the U.K currently hasn't caught on to. I have also been known to take a slower train, I actually loved taking that 'K' train from Kunming to Dali for the first time, the 'Hard Seat' carriage wasn't bad at all. I loved being amongst those local people, much like the passengers who I sat near to on those first China High Speed Rail journeys. Progressing on from Dali, I took another slower train onto Lijiang. Sure, the experience from Kunming to Dali had me panicked because when that train stopped at the station I had no idea that it was my stop. It was a different experience because the 'D' and 'G' trains, missing those announcements and stations with modernised signs had me wondering. Trusting my instinct that station stop was mine, Lijiang welcomed me and then on the way back to Kunming, the scenery made it all worth it. Gaining that different train travel experience in the long run, well it worked out for me. The journey hasn't stopped, I'm waiting for my next stop! 

Yunnan's slower train travels were only a warm up for a certain Lhasa bound night train journey. I had originally planned to take the night train from Wuchang Railway Station to Lhasa in China's Tibet Autonomous Region but China life threw me a massive curve ball! Flying up to Lanzhou had to be done, those Wuchang sleeper ticket had sold out and with advice from my Tibet Travel company, a diversion had to me made. My 'Hard Sleeper' bunk saw me sleep on my first night train, watching the scenery pass me by over the Tibetan Plateau'. Waking up in another city, place or even country had never appealed to me more after that Lhasa train sleepover! Throughout my second stint in China, I forged ahead with those night train journeys. Waking up in Changchun, that morning arrival allowed me to travel throughout the night and arrive feeling fresh after a nights sleep! You know that I seized every single moment after my feet touched the platform in Changchun, it was such a good feeling! Memories aside, I'll get back, C! 

More Memories To Be Made! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure