Get Down, Get Out

Hello to all.
This piece on Dalian, although posted on June 20th 2005, was written and e-mailed to a select few with nothing better to read on September 1st 2004. Please read on.
***
Hello to all
You may resume your envy. We’re in Dalian today. That’s in a little peninsula in the northeast of China. We finally get to go to the beach and from what I’ve read, it’s a good one. We’re staying at the Friendly Hotel on Friendship St., off Friendship Square. But do not be deceived by the name- Friendship Square is actually A CIRCLE. Luckily the other part of the name is very true, as Ger and I found out last night.
We got lost trying to find our hotel. Our taxi driver, although polite and helpful couldn’t seem to find it. Using Friendship Square /Circle as a reference point I worked out that he’d got us close enough to finish the journey on foot. It was a cool evening with none of Hong Kong’s stifling humidity and besides, we didn’t come to China to see the place from the back seat of a taxi. Although we could have. They’re as cheap as chips and you only have to indicate you want a taxi and one will pull up beside you. So eager are some drivers to get a tourist’s fare that they interpret the slightest gesture as “I need a Taxi now”. For this reason waving to a friend, stopping to cross the road, stopping at all, slowing down, thinking about slowing down or looking at a taxi while walking through the city will result in a near pile up. To their credit though, drivers are prompt to continue on if you indicate you don’t need a lift. It’s an unobtrusive form of eagerness that characterizes a lot of Chinese people at work. I wish it was compulsory for market traders everywhere.
Having reached the spot marked in the guide book we found only a hairdressers shop. Two separate people offered to stop what they were doing and take us by the hand to the Friendly Hotel (thankfully the name was printed in both languages in our book). Neither of them spoke English, but could understand us via the universal language of “I’m an idiot and this bag is heavy”. the first man took us to within sight of the hotel entrance and pointed at it repeatedly saying the name. But I, convinced the kindly old man was mistaken (and the taxi driver who dropped us at that exact spot earlier), sided with the guide book and, when he went away, snuck down a side street to resume the search. Upon reaching the same hairdressers by an alternate route we decided to get help from somebody else or get a hair cut.
The sound of scissors and blow dryers ringing in our ears, Ger and I donned our heavy heavy bags and once more sought the honest help of the good people of Dalian. The second man we found walked us all the way back to the hotel (embarrassingly, right past the first man we found) – right to the door. It was time to give in. Whatever hotel this was we were tired and not up for a third attempt. We thanked the man profusely and entered. On check in I noted the phone number on the business card. It proved this was the Friendship Hotel. The friendlies had all been right, we were exhausted. It turns out the place had moved a few streets away since our book went to print.
C’est la vie as they say in China.
A shower, a meal and a beer later and we found ourselves in Bob’s Bar. A three-piece cover band came on and jammed out classics such as Hey Joe, Can You Feel the Love Tonight (Lion King Soundtrack) and that annoying one by Knickleback. We were joined by the manager and then by the band who chatted to us about music and our journey up to that point. They all had friends studying or working in Ireland and hoped to make it over some day themselves. Dalian is a seriously friendly place.
Up the road from here is Dandong – it’s right on the border with North Korea. The two countries were once joined by a bridge over the Yalu River. Today half a bridge remains. It serves as a look out point where tourists go to ‘look’ at Korea. In honor of the war of 1950-53 there is the ‘museum to commemorate US aggression’. With these attractions, I’m sure Dandong is a veritable laugh riot, but it’s straight to Shenyang for us tomorrow. No dilly-dallying.
Take care of yourselves, each other and anyone else who happens by (especially if his bag looks heavy).
Tip- don’t get your hair cut without a translator.
Fred.

This is Friendship Square/Circle. Note the Eager Taxi.
***
Those of you who read it originally may notice a few changes. This was done to make it a bit more readable, add in a few details not considered at the time but mainly because I’m the one who wrote it and can do whatever I like. As this blog grows I will add in older post cards from time to time as well as write new ones. The older ones will include notes like this one to explain when they were first written so as not to confuse any first time readers. Anyone who has a problem with this should go 3 sentences back and refer to the last portion. It’ll all come out in the wash as we say on the internet and by the time I’m finished you’ll have the complete picture – hopefully.
Fred.