day 229: 张掖 (zhangye) = 0km

Of course my postal scam got immediately busted:

…

I got criticized, and I didn’t hesitate to criticize back.

They said I should go to the 文化局 (Department of Cultural Affairs) to get a permit. I told them they were a bunch of hicks from the countryside, and then I went on to say some other mean things. I just couldn’t help it.

We argued for a while, and the whole thing felt like we were riding into a dead-end street together.

Then the right words suddenly dawned on me: “wait a minute - what if I brought my notebook and showed you what’s on the DVDs?” (June 7th 2008)

You won’t believe it: finally, after three hours…

…my dear dear photographs were on their way home!

Then, with the happiness and the relief, came the regretful feelings for all the mean things that I had said to these poor people.

I told them that I was sincerely sorry.

And I meant it.

…

Then I went and had another look at the caboose:

Hm, progress…

So what was I going to do with the rest of this day?

I had heard of an almost legendary place called 马蹄寺 (mati temple), but that was supposed to be a 2-hour ride by bus, and there was no way I was going to get there today.

So I went to another park, one that was very close to the city:

I walked around and sat by the river until the day had grown old:

Then I returned to my hotel room, took off my shirt and sat down in the evening heat to write up yesterday’s article.

…it was 22:25 when the police came knocking on my door:

“Passport, visa, routine check!”

No hello, no smile, no nothing.

I stood there in my shorts, looking into flashlights, then I got out my documents and handed them over.

This time I somehow miraculously maintained a very courteous manner: “Gentlemen, it is ten thirty at night, and I just don’t think you are being very polite!”

They didn’t even answer.

Soundtrack: Deftones - “7 Words”

—total: 2879,6km