Inner Mongolia...the end.

After the desert, we took a bus to a taxi to a bus to the bus station and realized we couldn't make the last night bus to Hohhot. We found out the earliest bus the next morning left at 7:20. It's a two-hour bus, so that would put us there just in time for our 9:54 train. We crossed our fingers at such a close time constraint but were all relieved we could stay in BaoTou one more night instead of going back to dreaded Hohhot.

We got up super early to go to the bus station to ensure we got tickets since the lady couldn't sell them to us the night before. We got our tickets, got on the bus. Yes we're going to make it! Nope. The bus driver waited for at least 20 minutes to fill up every seat in the bus. So much for leaving at 7:20. I was supremely stressed the entire two-hour bus ride just knowing that we would miss our train, or worse in my mind, I would be too slow and cause everyone to miss the train. And if we missed the train that would most certainly mean standing tickets for 26 hours the next day which would be completely miserable.

We arrived at the bus station with only 15 minutes to make it to our train. We ran next door to the train station, through security, up stairs and down stairs, and finally to our train. We just made it. I was so thankful for my sleeper bed!

We were fortunate to be bunking with two very nice ladies who kindly informed us that it was stupid of us to risk the bus, we should have taken a train. Aiya! We made it out of Inner Mongolia alive, and that's what counts.

So here's some excellent Chinglish to end on a bright note:

Papyrus box or a toilet paper holder?














Don't forget to divide your trash into recyclable and organism!














Caution: Risk of pinching head!



















And lastly, this is Peach eating a banana. We thought this was hilarious. Who in the history of the world has ever eaten a banana like this? Peach.