I was contemplating where to go for my year-end break then remembered that we could still enter China visa-free for 30 days. After searching and consulting maps, I decided to purchase Batik Air ticket to Zhengzhou. From Zhengzhou, I could travel by train to Xi’an. Batik Air rescheduled the departure times from both KL and Zhengzhou so I had to find a hotel in Zhengzhou near the airport which offered complimentary airport shuttle. I usually use Booking.com to search for hotels (no Airbnb in China!) then turned to Trip.com because there were a lot more hotels listed there. I even rebooked my Xi’an hotel via Trip.com and cancelling the booking I made on Booking.com as the price quoted by the former was lower by more than RM100. When I checked Batik Air site following my ticket purchase, I found that prices had fallen and was not amused when I found my ticket cost a few hundred Ringgit higher than if I had waited. Grr!
Wednesday, 25 December 2024
I made my way to KLIA T1 and checked in (online check-in didn’t work) my bag before going through passport control. Our flight would depart from Gate C so I had to take the shuttle to the Satellite Terminal. After performing prayers, I walked to my gate. We took off on time and landed at 22:40. We had to wait a while before the door was opened though. I hurried to the passport control and was told to fill up a form first. That done, I collected my bag and then went down to Gate 3 at Level 1. I had to ask a local bloke’s help to contact You’aimei Meijia Hotel and he used Translator on his phone to communicate. It turned out another couple was also heading to the hotel. After ten minutes, the hotel shuttle arrived and it took about five minutes to get to the hotel. I quickly checked in and went up to my room. Thankfully I didn’t have problems falling asleep.
Thursday, 26 December 2024
I woke up for prayers. I went down for breakfast and after asking where breakfast was served and much struggling with the language barrier, made my way to a local eatery. It wasn’t very clean and I was surprised that the hotel served its breakfast there. I had a bowl of soup and some fried bread. As I was leaving, the owners said something to me and, confused, I showed the hotel card. They waved me away. I did wonder on my walk back if the reception had misunderstood me when I asked where breakfast is served. The hotel did provide complimentary breakfast and that was what I asked for. I went back to my room and did some reading before checking out at almost 12 noon. I asked how to get to the nearest metro station but after a while, the hotel staff advised me to take the hotel shuttle back to the airport and ride the metro from there. So I did that and waited at the airport until it was Zuhur before I made my way to the metro station. The fare was RMB7 and it took more than an hour to reach Erqi Square where the Memorial Tower, the landmark of Zhengzhou, is.
I spent some time walking around and getting lost before getting my bearings again. Made my way to Zhengzhou Railway Station but it was too early as my train was later in the evening so I detoured and walked to Fuminli. The area was getting spruced up, including the mosque there. I asked a couple of girls who later asked some locals and after much gesturing, one man beckoned for me to follow him. I thanked the girls and followed him to Qingpingli Mosque nearby. I was shown the entrance to the women’s area and I was welcomed by the local women there. Performed evening prayers there, Alhamdulillah. I tried finding a halal restaurant nearby but didn’t see any restaurant at all. I tried to go to some shopping mall (looked like a wholesale mall) but still couldn’t find any meal option so I turned and walked back to the railway station, stopping to buy some buns at a small shop.
I stood in the ticketing building (there was no seat) for almost two hours and even witnessed a scuffle when some police burst in holding a man struggling to get away. They brought him into the police office at the station but later released the man sans shoes. I stood gaping then some local man came over to read over my book before starting a conversation. That was it, I decided to make my way to the main building then. I lingered before enquiring some officers if I could already enter the station. A handphone was consulted for translation and yes, I could already enter, so I had my passport scanned and entered. There were a few waiting rooms depending on your destinations and after asking at the information counter (I think), I located the waiting room where I was supposed to be. There are washrooms at all waiting rooms and hot water dispenser too. How convenient is that? In fact, quite a few people were enjoying their ramen meal.
I followed the others and queued up just before 23:00. There were machines to scan IDs and for me, I went to the side to have my passport scanned. We then had to go down stairs to get to the train with our bags and all. I asked a train conductor but he responded with barks and I just blinked at him. I continued on and finally managed to locate the right carriage. When I booked my berth, the site showed that I managed to get the last first class (soft sleeper) berth available so I was surprised to find a couple in my cabin and the fourth berth vacant. The couple nodded at me and I made myself at home: stored my bag under the berth, took out my travel pillow, located my eye mask, spread the quilt and stretched out. I opened my eyes once to find the couple seated together and the next thing I knew was when someone opened the cabin to empty the trash. Alhamdulillah, I could hardly sleep on trains or planes and I managed to do so. The couple had left during the night and I was alone.
I walked more than 17, 800 steps or 12.2 km today.
To be continued
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