I’d never seen a panda before I went to China. After a nine day hiatus in Tibet, I got the 48 hour sleeper train from Lhasa to Chengdu in China.
Yes you read that right: I was on a train for 48 hours. That’s got to be some kind of record no?
Mixed feelings
It doesn’t matter how much you hear about China, nothing can prepare you for the adventure that lay ahead. Or so it was the case with me.
Hostels are a great way to meet new people when you are backpacking and they are a money saver too, as they are more often than not, cheaper than most hotels.
Some can offer extremely good value for money, comfortable beds, tourism services, free food and affordable laundry services, all under one roof.
And there I was in Tibet’s capital, Lhasa, taking in the scenery and smiling at the curious onlookers who were staring at me in bewilderment, when I suddenly felt as if my braids were caught in something.
Chaos, crowds and humidity greeted me as I stepped off the plane in Nepal and landed at its main airport, Tribhuvan. After a two week stint in Naples, Italy, I was ready for something a little different and I was not disappointed.
The thing I love most about Italy is the people. While the splendor of the Roman ruins of Pompeii in Naples and the Colosseum of Rome may eventually wane with time, the friendliness and hospitality of the locals has left a lasting impression on me that will remain for many years to come.
