The next morning we slept in a little bit then packed up to head back to Changzhou. We gave our keys to the others in our group as they were going to sleep in longer and check out for all of us. As we didn’t want to carry around all of our stuff all day and our hostel provided a luggage room we left all of those things that we didn’t need in the luggage room and then headed out. We hopped on the metro and followed our directions heading to the appropriate metro stop that would take us out to the tombs. Once we got there we headed out and found a marketplace near where we should catch our bus, so a few of us stopped and got some food along the way. After we’d gotten food we headed out to find our bus.
Problem. The bus we were searching for did not exist. So we went back into the metro station and asked information for help. Multiple times. However, each time we asked for help was less helpful than the last, the language barrier didn’t exactly help the situation. After awhile we just gave up trying to ask them for help and we went out the bus depot where our bus was supposed to be and searched. Still no luck. However, we had a sheet of paper with the bus information on it so one of us asked a couple of the bus drivers and they kept doing the same thing pointing outside of the depot along the street. So outside of the depot we went and we found a bus stop and looked at the buses provided on the sign. Still no luck, after awhile we found someone who spoke English who pointed us in the right direction. Finally we got on the bus, asked if it was the correct one, got the affirmative and were on our way.
Problem solved right? Wrong! While on the bus the woman who took our money was in a sense passing notes to Lorilei trying to communicate to her that this bus wouldn’t get us to the Ming tombs. After awhile she directed us where we should get off and which bus we should get on to get the Ming tombs. So we got off and got on the bus which she directed us. We were still a little bit skeptical but when we saw a sign for the sacred way we knew we were on the right track. We had also planned on going to see the temple of heaven before we had to leave Beijing but our detour on our way to the Ming tombs sort of destroyed that plan. Eventually we got to the Ming tombs, paid and were in. We spent some time in the tombs exploring and taking pictures. We enjoyed ourselves then were headed out. On the way out we saw a convenience store where we decided to stop for a minute. Inside this convenience store I found a little treasure, Ritz crackers, I got a couple of packages and I savored them. Once we were done at the convenience store we stopped by the restroom and then headed out to meet the bus. We got on the bus, where we debated stopping at the sacred way but decided against it and off we went.
After awhile on the bus we realized that the bus wouldn’t stop where we thought so we had to ask for some help. We received some helpful information by a woman who spoke English on the bus, she looked Chinese but spoke English very well and was probably Asian-American visiting China. We got of the bus where she told us to but still had some trouble finding our way. We asked for some help but had some trouble communicating. After some time we found our way and followed the street until we made it to a metro stop. From that metro stop we were able to make it back to the Tiananmen stop and to our hostel. Once at our hostel we got all of our stuff from the luggage room and stopped briefly to get something to eat. We also discovered that rather than taking the metro to the train station a specific bus would be faster. So, once we were done eating we hopped on that bus and headed for the train station. Once at the train station we found out where the waiting area for our train was where we met up with the rest of the people from Changzhou. While I waited I went with Dylan into the McDonald’s and got some Mcnuggets. The time came for us to board the train, there was just one problem. Katelin, Zac, and Madelynn weren’t there yet. I was waiting on Lorilei to board the train, however, Nick was waiting for the other three to arrive and Lorilei had me just board the train. After awhile of wondering if they were going to make it they made it onto the train. We somehow managed to have everyone in cars with the same people they were with on the ride to Beijing so we kept essentially the same sleeping setup. We talked about our weekend with everyone for a little bit and heard about everything then headed back to our own car and slept most of the train ride. When we were nearing Changzhou we packed up what we’d gotten out and got everything ready. Once the train stop we headed off the train and towards the bus stop. We waited for a bus, took the first one that arrived that would drop off near the school, enjoyed the ride, got off the bus and headed back to the school. Closing this particular chapter of the China adventure.
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