What happened between Shenzhen and Kathmandu Part 1.

My last meal on the night of June 4th consisted of "corn soup" that had an obscene amount of cubed ham in a questionable broth and a spaghetti dish that my mind refuses to remember anything about.
It was my meager attempt at a "last Western feast".
I was in China, what the hell was I thinking.
Just because I'm in an airport and just because the restaurant has some English name does not mean diddy squat.
My long day of travel and hopping borders with bags heavier than myself had robbed me of my self-proclaimed seasoned traveler badge.

Or maybe it was what happened earlier when I was going through security.
I had gotten slightly nervous as the line got shorter, suddenly unsure of the rules China had for carrying on liquid. As I proceeded to put my bag through the machine the officer glanced at my Japanese passport and asked "Do you have umbrella?"

My mind, full of 3ounce bottles and ziplock bags, froze with confusion.

"...Umbrella?"

The next thing I know, the officer is pointing at me and yelling "KASA!! KASA!!" Japanese for "umbrella".

CALM DOWN DUDE I HAVE NO UMBRELLA ON ME AND EVEN IF I DID I WOULDN'T HAVE ATTACKED YOU ALTHOUGH NOW YOU HAVE PRETTY MUCH GIVEN ME A REASON TO

As I boarded my plane, I found myself glancing around and checking if anyone had an umbrella on them.

+++++++++++

The flight to Chengdu was a little over an hour and rather uneventful. I was sleepy and sweaty.
The airport was dark and unwelcoming to the last flight of the day. My fellow passengers and I scurried across the deserted lounges in silence, eager to put an end to the day.
At baggage claim I eyed a "Welcome visitors" sort of counter, fully aware of the fact that this lame airport was closing for the night and not letting me stay to catch my 7:30 flight.
I approach the 3 ladies. "Do you speak English?"

I find out quickly that their smiles were for Chinese speakers only.

They giggle and look away, communicating with their eyes to each other.
They're trying to figure out who has to deal with me.
Finally, one of them is chosen and I just say "Airport hotel".

She pushes my luggage cart for me and all I can do is put my full faith in her.
It's almost midnight in Chengdu.
I am hauled into a van and all I know is that it says something on it in Chinese that probably means pick up and welcome.
There is another girl and a man aboard. My standard for emotional comfort has dropped drastically and their presence is enough for my tired body. The van roars into the dark night, that darkness that's somehow always present around airports.
No one wants to live close to airplanes taking off and landing.

We pull up to one of the gaudily lit up hotels in the vicinity. Only the front desk has a light and the rest of the lobby is dark.
I find out instantly that "airport hotel" does not translate into "we speak English".
Again, I am the strange Asian that has no Chinese skills.
And now, I am also the crazy girl who is trying to pay with a credit card in a ratty ass hotel.

"No no. No card."

In my mind, I curse at the airport lady who had confidently told me that card would be accepted.
I'm 50 yuan short on cash.

Again, people are congregating trying to figure out what to do with the weird freak of nature.
A guy is nominated to take me to an ATM in his car.
He speaks no English and after a few attempts, he is convinced that I really don't speak a word of Chinese. He looks up at the ceiling and laughs in amusement.
The first ATM rejects me, saying that it is out of order. I get nervous, wondering if it's my card.
We have to go and find another one.
The next one, to my huge sigh of relief, churns out some yuan. I have no shame saying that I have never been so happy to see Mao's face.
I share my excitement with my driver and he takes it as some sort of sign to kiss me.
The bastard got nowhere near and I cursed at him.
Anything could have happened on the way back to the hotel, even though we were about 2 minutes away. I wasn't afraid, but I was prepared to roll out of the car in a flash.

That night I just sit up on my bed and snooze for 2 hours.