Distance is no barrier to having fun.

To be honest, my weekend just gone is probably something I’d only attempt and achieve in China.

The plan, at the start of the week was to travel from Nanchang to Shanghai on the late train Friday. A 4hr, 700+km high speed train journey.

Party with mates!

Catch a train to Nanjing on Saturday afternoon. A 1hr 30min, 300km high speed train trip.

Party with mates!

Catch a train Sunday afternoon for a 3hr, 500+km journey to Wuhan to meet my wife as she returned from the USA. To finish on Monday morning with a 350km, 3hr trip from Wuhan back to where I started for work 9:30am Monday morning.

Well that was the plan. Had all tickets booked. All ready to go!

But - Wednesday I realize that I’d got my dates wrong! I’d got carried away in the complexity of the task and therefore the success of the plan. I’d missed a simple detail - my wife was coming back a week later!

Now in most countries I know, changing tickets & hotels would be a nightmare and costly. Not so in China. One of the tickets was an eticket, so that was easy just get the agent to re-issue for a later date, no fees. Two were paper tickets, so got my driver to change them. Again, no fees. Hotel - delayed a week - no fees. All reorganized by Wednesday afternoon - still Shanghai & Nanjing this week, but Wuhan next.

So how did it go?

Didn’t start well, late away from the office, traffic heavy. Only just had time to swing by my Nanchang hotel & grab a G&T and food in the Exec Lounge - before setting off. Got to the ticket office to pick up my tickets. 10min queue. Got my tickets and off through the security checks. As I’m putting my backpack on the X-ray scanner I suddenly realize I’m a bag short. I'd left it at the ticket counter.

Now, other than I’ve lost time, I wasn’t worried. I’ve got used to China being pretty safe for personal property. Sure, as you approach Chinese New Year things get a little worse. But you see most people leave their mobiles on a restaurant table if they go to a buffet or toilet. They’ll be there when they get back. I wouldn’t do that in the UK.

So, get back into the station, both bags, train is checking through. Jump straight on and we are off to Shanghai, arrive about 11pm.

Great - but like most city transportation systems ‘the last mile’ is always the most awkward. Shanghai was a 1hr wait for a taxi, then a 1hr trip across town. Quick register and clean up at my hotel and it’s almost 1am and I’m in the bar with mates. Some catching up on the drink front, but soon remedied.

6am, back at hotel, time to sleep. 11am, off again. This time to Shanghai Hongqiao train station. Get there with about 30mins to spare. Great. Well no - now there are two main stations in Shanghai - Shanghai, which is in the city center and Hongqiao, which is in the western suburbs. I’m at Hongqiao, my train goes from Shanghai! Now I’m embarrassed to say I've done this before. Last time like this time, after a heavy night out. So, after the “Oh Shit” moments and calling yourself an idiot, it’s back in the ticket queue. So, not for the first time, I’m changing tickets. Fortunately Hongqiao has a regular Nanjing fast service so I’m able to change my tickets with no issue. Only end up about 30mins late to Nanjing.

So, Saturday night and another Party. This time Nanjing at the Birthday of a friend. More alcohol, more fun, more lack of sleep.

To demonstrate the international nature of life, this photo has a Bulgarian, two Americans and me the Brit. I get back home by about 3am, so an early night !

Sunday morning, I go for a run and exercise in about 28oC and 70% humidity. So, cures any residual alcohol issues real quick as I’m soaking with sweat in minutes.

Sunday night, last leg, and I'm flying. Normally the most worrying form of transport in China. Flights are where China transportation systems are reliably unreliable. My luck is in, on time this time.

So over 1500km, 2 parties in 2 cities later, I’m finally make my Nanchang hotel at 10pm Sunday night. Gym Monday morning - fighting fit for work.

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