34hr train trip to Beijing

My hard sleeper was actually very comfortable! I had the bottom bunk, in an open-ended cabin which sleeps 6. There was only one other guy (Chinese) in the room, so it was nice and quiet. However I was in the middle of organising my stuff when it hit 10.30pm- lights out! Luckily I had a torch. I was woken in the morning, very early, by the train staff opening the curtains up. As I was about to eat some breakfast, a man came over with his little girl. He looked quite amused & interested in the fact that I was on the train, although he spoke no English. I had a little Chinese phrasebook that one of the guys on my last tour had given me, and it came in so handy! For about an hour, we just pointed at different words and phrases- it was so entertaining! He made himself right at home, sitting on my poor bunkmate's bed, and putting his stinky feet up on mine! After trying to explain that I wasn't married (one of the questions in the book) I showed him a photo of Kearrin, and it got the thumbs up! Go Kiz! I got my Vegemite out, and offered the three of them a little taste on some crackers. They seemed to enjoy it, although they weren't keen for seconds! After they went back to their cabin, I relaxed for a few hours- reading, taking photos, listening to music... was really good. Nap time arrived in the early afternoon when the curtains got closed. I was also visited by anothe family, with the young boy asking me a few questions in English- he was getting a real kick out of it. They gave me some sunflower seeds to eat, which was generous I thought. Later in the evening, a lot of the Chinese women changed into their flanelette PJ's! I thought I was going to get a good night's sleep, until 2 new passengers arrived in my cabin, who turned out to be chronic snorers! After being woken up VERY early by a loud conversation between the guard & the snorers, I prepared for my arrival in the nation's capital, Beijing.