Made it to Xiamen via China’s impressive bullet train. It is an equal if not better than the train system in Europe. For how chaotic this country is, how laws can be bend, how people can usually do as they please, it’s impressive every time the trains will arrive and leave on time.

For the 8 hrs+ journey from Shanghai to Xiamen, $50 is a really great value. I made it onto the train with just minutes to spare,  without much to eat. End up having to buy expensive train meals. Well, at least there is food this time, was worried of Romania train deprivation experience.

Was really worried I miss the last train to Xiamen today. As this is the 1st part of the journey to Taiwan. For some unknown reason, I have choose to avoid flying. Maybe not know if, or how I can make it there will keep the jaunt interesting. It’s like taking a chance, and hope for the best.

Although I have made it to Xiamen, the next part of the trip to Taiwan isn’t without certainty. The next transit will be taking ferry from Xiamen to Keelung in Taiwan, a city just north east of Taipei. As much online research I can do, all I know at the moment is this weekly ferry might not leave without enough passengers. It requires the passengers to buy the ticket on the day of departure, and if and only if there are enough passengers, the ferry will sail. If not, wait for next week ferry. Will see how it goes,  as I am trying to meet up some friends in Taipei this weekend.

To add to the adventure, I’m running low on cash.  Not enough to buy the ferry ticket, and have tried 5 different ATM machines. Let’s hope thing works out tomorrow.

Something interesting about Xiamen. This is the only city that I have been to,  where they have a massive express bus network on skybridge. Seen plenty of trains and metro, bus is definitely the 1st