I'm Back, Back, Back Again... Xiamen, China!

Xiamen had me back on my travelling grind, returning for a second time served another overpriced hotel casualty. I tried new foods, I wasn't ready for those noodles because what really were they? I trusted the process! Getting back to those Fujian streets serves a familiar neighbourhood vibe. Talking to locals? Those first couple of hours, sure I did the most! Don't! 

Labor Day Holiday saw me staying within China, after three years away I was not mad with a week or more off from work to explore unseen things in Xiamen with Fuzhou as an extension. I already knew that my hotel in Xiamen would have me calling the manager, things were basic during that 2018 visit for Chinese New Year and 2023's return was no different! Checking into my Amoy Hotel had me teaching the receptionists how to look for visas and scanning passports without bending pages, tested and tried I almost was! No shade, I kept things cute because I am embodying a new me, there's been a whole lot of growth during these past three years. As I walked into my room I made a quick observation, it was basic and from those first glances I wasn't mad by such a sight. I am used to firm mattresses because in China they are the norm but that hotel bed felt like a wooden dining table. A mattress protector or two? I walked down to reception with a new room in mind, two other rooms looked to be vacant? I kept it together, Xi!  

Reception tried to tell me that one room was out of action due to a leak in the ceiling, I almost changed to that room because the bed felt softer than my original room. The second choice had me feeling more hopeful with a slightly softer mattress, being the difference between three cans rather than six! The male receptionist assured me that the rooms had been reserved and that housekeeping didn't have any spare mattress toppers, I had many questions! They said that they couldn't change my room, that I would need to wait for a new mattress protector. With my Chinese reemerging, I half explained in a calm and non-threatening voice that I wasn't pleased and a little angry with the lack of resolution with two vacant rooms present. Exchanging WeChat accounts, I asked for food recommendations for that evening with nothing more said. Mere minutes after I had left the hotel for food, my room was kindly changed. I kept my cool and represented #TeamForeigner with respect and humility. I slept well with three cans needed! Yes!

I knew in my heart that second visit to Xiamen would be my last, the city centre stands uniquely on an island. That island presents a hotel headache during each and every holiday but with the Pandemic keeping Chinese and overseas residents at home for the longest, that first extended period of spending had those bookings in a frenzy! I had a plan and with that hotel giving me a headache I wanted to step out after that room change to enjoy some food because that train journey had been long and then some! 沙茶面? The photo translation told me that they were 'Satay Noodles' and with a love for chicken satay, I wanted to try that dish! The guy from the hotel had suggested that I try a noodle restaurant down the road, basic and quick service by nature, I had no idea what those noodles would taste like?! Satay Noodles they absolutely weren't but I was determined to give them a chance, I felt duty bound to do so! Mind over matter, I ate those noodles but what were those cartilage looking pieces of meat? Xiamen, really?

That day had started well before breakfast time, my second departure from Ningbo Railway Station almost didn't happen! The train tickets on my original train had all been snapped up, I paid the difference to travel on a later morning service but in first class. That D train service took me in a straight line along the coast but before I knew it, my mobile map pin suddenly took a swift turn, not this! I had already downed the only cans of beer on the whole train and that diversion had not yet served those five thousand tunnels! No, we took in six extra scheduled stops through the mountains with twice as many tunnels thrown in for good measure, I was over that journey I really was! In the grand scheme of things, such drama kept me going and reminded me why life had been so important for me to restore. Deep down the chaos kept me going but those noodles had me wondering and the hotel didn't impress me much. Xiamen still served chaos but for the reason she's a beautiful place! Fujian was very much in demand! Very! 

No lie, I recognised those Xiamen streets during that early evening hour! I was sure that I had stayed just a few streets away during my 2018 Chinese New Year trip, sure my suspicions were true! I was sure! I was looking for something sweet to eat, I found a bowl of 刨冰/Bao Bing. I had not enjoyed a bowl of 'Chinese Shaved Ice' since my 2016 trip to Changsha! That refreshing dessert was packed with red beans, taro balls and some kind of jelly, I had no complaints because that ice cold treat went down like an actual treat! I didn't want to sit inside the shop, an older man invited me to sit at his table that faced the street, I accepted his offer because I wanted to be outside on that warm evening. My dessert tasted right and that was a blessing because the evening had made me feel slightly sour, it was all good in the end! That old boy had some funny things to say about Xiamen's Gulangyu Island, I agreed. Of course, that sweetener had me feeling much better! Xiamen tried me for sure! Back for the last time? Yes, I do think, C!

That tunnel ridden high speed journey had me feeling drained, the hotel had me fussing and those noodles saw me questioning things! Xiamen had welcomed me back with the same frenzy that I had witnessed during 2018, I honestly had to push those feelings aside because each and every moment saw me acting different. The 'new me' felt proud because I thought about how 'old me' would've carried on, I used that super long hiatus to humble myself because Xiamen had a plan to test me! Clocking a Lawson store, I bought a fair few cans of Heineken because without that second mattress topper, well I would need to get slightly boozy before bed! If truth be told, with those two cans of beer I slept surprisingly well! Xiamen had me on my toes from the very moment that train pulled into Xiamen North Railway Station, everything else followed suit. I'm not hating on Xiamen, that island city has my heart but never again would I visit during a public holiday because inflated isn't the word! I was ready for that part of my 'Labor Day' holiday! Go!

Xiamen... This Is The New Me! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure