WOW!

That's it: I crossed the border. I've been in mainland China for the past 3
days and I'm totally blown away. It's a different planet. I don't know where
to start. IT ROCKS!!! Guangzhou is the 3rd biggest Chinese city and it's not
supposed to be exciting but man, it's just amazing. I can't wait to get to
go inland... I'm kinda stuck right now 'cuz it's Mayday and it's a huge
thing here; it's a one-week national holiday: everybody travel to go home so
it's apparently impossible to catch any train, bus or plane. I'll take off
on the 2nd or 3rd I when it slowns down a bit. Nothing worked when I got
here: couldn't find any ATM or payphone in the train station. When I finally
found an ATM somewhere else, it didn't work. Same for the payphone: not
coin-operated and my phonecard wouldn't work... Aaaarrrgh! I was saved by
those random people on the street who have a couple of phones on a table for
you to use. I called my friend Ivana who dictated him her address; he wrote
it in on a piece of paper (remember it's chinese characters...) When I
showed it to taxi cabs later, none of the 10 drivers I asked in a row would
take me! Double aaarrrgh!! Luckily, some dude in uniform was nearby and told
me to get a cab. I explained the situation and he smiled; he got me in a cab
in no time. Sweet. But wait, it's not over; the driver is trying to tell me
something (in chinese of course) while he's driving like a maniac. He wanted
to drop me at some intersection. No way! After a million gestures, I
understood that it was a one way street and that it was gonna be a big loop
to get there... Anyway, he resumed his insane driving, asked for directions,
and stopped me in front of Ivana's apartment complex. Phew! Got in the
complex, ask the security guy who gestured to the left and back (I think)
and I proceeded to a building (miraculously, among the chinese character on
my piece of paper there's a number 25 (I assumed it was the apt #). Bingo!
The only thing is that I was in the wrong building... A dude who spoke
english (Allelujah!) redirected me. 2 minutes later, I was safe, sound and
pooped in Carlos and Ivana's apartment. It's so good to see them again.
They're awesome. We hung out for a couple of days before they flew to
Vietnam. I went all over the place, exploring Guangzhou, getting lost and
going to some very dodgy places but it's just amazing. It's hard to
describe, there's stuff going on everywhere, it's overwhelming. I love it!