Guilin D1 - 13/6/18
To reiterate from my previous post, I was awaken to clear the checkpoint at Vietnam border. Having slept only 1-2 hours, I simply followed instructions, cleared immigration with all my baggage and then got on the train again, repeating the procedure at the border immigration China side 1 hour later.
I got off at Nanning at 10a.m and could not explore the city much as my baggage was with me.
Had lunch at railway fastfood Deco and ordered a chicken tonkatsu rice dish, which did not taste as good as beef rice shown in the picture. I only needed something to keep my stomach filled.
Coincidentally, I saw Gongcha here near the railway station too. Being not a fan of bubble tea, unfortunately, I didn't try.
Considering that I am a jiak kentang, hence it was a major accomplishment that I was able to exchange my online form for train tickets, order a meal, courier my controlled item (Swiss Army knife) to Guilin, get my directions around the railway station. Now, security on the public inter-city and intra-city trains in China are rather strict. I didn't realise I could not bring my penknife onboard the baggage and subsequently have to courier it as a check-in controlled item with a small fee of 10yuan, what a bummer.
Little did I know that flammables such as anti-perspirants/deodorizers were also not allowed. There goes my dove anti-perspirant which was very handy in keeping my BO off in thetropical heat.
After entering the railway station, it was a wait among mountains of people waiting to get onto the train as well.
And as they say, when in Rome, do as the romans do. So here I am, being more on the kiasu side to board the train as well! But as long as I do not open my mouth, I am one among many.
I got on the bullet High Speed Rail from Nanning and reached Guilin in 2hours, at 1630hrs. This is the train which brought me on this 2 hour trip and travelled around 195-200km/hr.
Took some pictures of the scenery along the train travel to Guilin. Those toothy peaks are what anyone who has visited Guilin will automatically associate with this beautiful place.