Boring can be beautiful

Boring can be beautiful, we did not know that. . The road from Urumqi to Lanzhou in West-China runs in a straight line through the desert. Sometimes the deserted landscape is broken by a dusty little town or a tollgate with a petrolstation. Boring you would say after driving hour after hour and seeing completely nothing. But as it is completely different from what we have in Holland (one of the densely populated countries in the world) we love it. The straight road gives us the possibilities to dream away instead of focussing on the tarmac. A nice change and michel even comes up with the idea of placing a brick on the gaspedal and a rope to the steeringwheel and let the countyside pass by.

As we are approaching the end of the trip we also dream about the future. What will it bring¡­ what kind of job (in television maybe??) We exchange thoughts and within no-time we realise we have plenty ideas! Maybe we should update our curriculum tonight!

We turn off the main road and head south towards Dunhuang. This road is less okay and has some treacherous bumps in it. A few times we have to cash some huge bumps and feel like good old shaky stevens. But then we hear a loud crack. We are afraid that it¡¯s the steering stabilizer again but a quick inspection reveal nothing. We continue bumping around at 50 k an hour and reach Dunhuang safely. When we get out of the car we feel like two mc¡¯donald milkshakes.

Finding a cheap place to stay in China is always a pain in the ¡­.. . (even with a Chinese speaking guide) Finding a relatively cheap and clean hotel that allows foreigners is not always that easy. When we find one on the main street that looks nice, Elles starts the negotiation. After quite a discount we can choose between two rooms. The cheap one without heating on the second floor or the more expensive one on the first floor. We¡¯ll take the cheap one as we have good sleeping bags, Elles decides. But then the trouble starts. When she asks if she can see the room the receptionist explains those rooms are not in use anymore. But why did you offer that one to me? The girl replies with a straight face she has only expensive rooms, ignoring Elles her question completely. Can we take the more expensive room without heating? Meiyou, wich means no? What about the cheap rooms, can we use them anyway? Again, Meiyou. I guess we are finished here¡­ and Elles gives up.

But michel decided to give it a last try and turns to the lady. Okay.. no more Chinese philosophies¡­.can we use the cheap rooms, he asks with a smile? No, is the answer again. What about the expensive rooms.. can we get them for a lower price if we don¡¯t use the heating? If he hears no again he gives up as well and thanks the lady for her offer. But when we leave the girl calls us back. Do you like the expensive room without heating for a low price? We can¡¯t believe what she just said. Euuhh well yes please.. we want that. (didn¡¯t we just ask for this????) We can¡¯t get the logic of it anymore. Tired we unpack the car and crash on the expensive for cheap room