24th August: Panda, Panda!!

Got up at the crack of dawn and got on a rickshaw out to the Panda sanctuary. It was absolutely brilliant! We made it in time to see the baby panda’s being fed, and at this stage they were fighting and running around. (They sleep for most of the day!) It was like watching a comedy show with all the young pandas punching each other and falling off of trees!
Then came one of Fi’s highlight of the trip…..

It’s a red lesser panda and she got to hold it. The smile lasted for at least three days. ‘It was just soooooo cuddley!’ She wanted to take one home but was firmly reminded that these are endangered species and wouldn’t adapt well to being in a field in Wexford with a herd of cattle.

After the panda sanctuary we went to a park which advertised what looked like a ghost house. Myself and Rich went in…. It was one of the most bizarre moments of my life. It was actually terrifying because there were no things jumping out at you, or nothing making sudden noises. You just walk along a real bomb shelter tunnel not knowing what to expect. There is nothing in the tunnel! So strange, but also terrifying. I don’t exactly know why?????

We headed to the airport and were held up for 4 hours with a massive thunderstorm. We passed the time by playing drinking games and were pretty tipsy getting on the plane. It was only an hour flight but when we landed Rich was fast asleep. We tried to wake him but he just kept cuddling up to his pillow against the window. The Chinese had no idea what was going on. They thought he was sick, or unconscious.

In the end, the captain had to come back and see what the fuss was about. Eventually he awoke, to the captain and 5 stewardesses speaking to him in Chinese. He simply looked at them, turned around, and went back to sleep. I’ve never laughed so much in my life. I wish I had my camera on me.

When we eventually got to the terminal (shed), our bags were waiting for us in a pool of beer. Our cans had all burst! We got in a taxi and headed to our hostel which was impossible to find. The tiny streets were deserted and it was pitch black. After an hour of wandering we somehow came across it. Bed!