Messed around in the morning and Julie and I walked to the local supermarket for supplies for the 19 hour overnight train journey to Xi'an. Caught taxis to the train station and we were all on by 1415. We are all in separate cabins this time as the local agent who booked the tickets decided that we would all prefer to be on bottom or middle bunks rather than the very high top bunks. I was in a cabin on a bottom bunk without the others - a nice Chinese girl in the other bottom bunk and over time 4 men in the upper bunks.Once the girl and I established that I couldnt speak Chinese and she couldnt speak English we did a lot of smiling at each other particularly when the men started invading our bottom bunks but we held our ground. The rule is that you do allow others to sit on the bottom bunk but they need to leave you room as well for your stuff.

Anyway it was a long trip. I was the object of much staring and speculation at dinner time when I got my pot noodles out like everyone else as to how I mixed it all up and then ate it. Spent the evening chatting and reading and then lights out at 2200. Didnt sleep particularly well - rather I dozed all night and again my morning routine was the subject of much staring. Due to arrive in Xi'an at 0915 and would have been on time but the train stopped just outside the station for a full hour before proceeding another 500m so we could all get off. A long walk with the bags to get to the bus and then another walk with the bags from the bus to the hotel.