Guangzhou Station, China (16 Oct 2009)

My journey began at Guangzhou (China) train station. I hadn't been this station for a long while. Although exterior was newly cladded with aluminum panels, the station was still crowded with people carrying different sizes of big bags going different directions. Last time I took long distance train was years ago. Things have changed. It's air conditioned, cleaner, equipped with LED display (but display 'welcome on board' only).... Oh! I didn't see people lining up right next to the water heater with their personal customized water glass container, instead people are taking turns charging their china made mobile phones. One thing at least didn't change, other than train crews' attitude, was the unique boiled water taste. It's hard to forget how it tastes like once you have one. I missed the operable window so I could buy food directly from food vendors through the window. After a greeting from train "DJ" saying welcome on board my dear comrade, train was departing slowly and began it's 58 hours journey to Lhasa, Tibet. This was a good place to start my journey.