It's about time I wrote something here

Hallo from Lanzhou, capital of Gansu province, pretty much the middle of China. When I say "hallo" i mean it, I've been walking around town for a while, and it's one of those towns that when they see foreigners they either: 1. scream "HALLO" 2. shout and point "lao wai!" [foreigner] 3. just talk about me and giggle that I am there. This gets old fast. Makes me miss the not caring who you are in Beijing. But, this town is the jumping off point for seeing many cultural relics, and as it is the May 1 holiday, its time to get out of the city [which is infested with tourists anyway] and travel. I am meeting my friends tonight in this town, we will first venture south of here, then north to Dunhuang, [a short overnight train and then 5 hour busride from here], then back to Lanzhou to fly back to Beijing in one week. Took the train here, still feel like I am moving. It wasn't too bad, for a 20 hour ride, lots of sleeping, reading, listening to the man [of course] right next to me snore. The train is clean and passengers get to listen to train radio, which is blaring until 10 pm and then starts up again at 7 am! It's times like these that I swear by earplugs.
Looking out the window on the way here, noticed [once again] that every inch of this country is used, even the tops of mountains are terraced and cultivated. A number of countryside towns have satelite dishes in their courtyards, propped up by bricks. The only moment of color in these towns is the doors- colorful tiles, bright red sings with fortune-brining characters surround the door frame. Beijing is worlds away from here.
The cell phone necktie. For super convenient access, why not have your fancy schmancy cell phone dangling from your neck? The necktie comes complete with an ear piece, for hands free talking, and you can match it to all your outfits.
Right now I am in a swealtering internet cafe, I would guess it is about 85 degrees in here, but somehow they have mini glass bottle cokes, you know I love me some cokes, so I'm getting to my emails while waiting for my friends to arrive.
Ok, that's about the extent of creativity that I can mustur. I have a new email address, hotmail really does suck, should you want to write me please address it to:
maokelan18@gmail.com
peace