The 100km to go to Jiayuguan went by quickly and all in the morning session. Checked into a central hotel and was quick to seek out a lunch spot. My first foray was into a slightly empty yet cozy establishment. Was seated and out came the menu with a rather sheepish looking waitress. Not being able to read the chinese menu (no pictures, alas!) I ask if they have any of my favourite dishes. The girl keeps saying something in chinese, which is a type of meat, but which I've never heard before. after more inquisitiveness, she starts to act it out. "Ma" (horse) I shout, reckon I've got this one. "no" she says, but I'm very close. eventually reckon she's meaning 'donkey'. she points to the name of the restaurant, most notably the first 2 characters, as if to say "durr", can't you read. Wish my tutor had taught me those little guys... 
 
Next up, 40m up the road, walk into a standard looking place which seems to have the regular (no weird meat) dishes. settle into writing a text message when I hear the words "Laowai", "Hello", "Come here", "nice to meet you" coming from the rowdy table on the other side of the room, finally after ignoring them while writing the text, give a little wave of recognition. One of them comes to my table whence I get official invitation to join them. These guys had just come from a wedding reception and were well on their way to drunken abandoness. They proceeded to give me enough food to get me comfortable and then moved onto the chinese drinking games as well as any other opportunity to get me to down a shot of Baijiu (58% chinese white wine). This comical affair, as short, yet hectic, as it was, will be a savouring memory of this trip. I must have drunk about 20 - 25 shots of the stuff in this setting and managed to talk my best chinese with the drunkest guys in Gansu province at the time. One kid, a recent graduate of lanzhou's finest university, couldn't hold his glass in his his hand, threw up in the corner of the room (before proceeding to take more shots) and managed to pour everything from food, alcohol, plates and glasses on me, yet still became my best friend within 30min of knowing him.
 
As happens at these sorts of events in China, after about an hour and half everything came to a close; bill was paid and everyone took a slow, unsteady, walk to the door. Many hugs, high 5's (my contribution to the party) later the festivities were closed and everyone parted in separate ways. "what to do now" I wondered, standing in the middle of the street, on a random day in the middle of Gansu province. a little walk later and quick glace at sms's I discover that, courtesy of Dad and Mr Christo Crampton esq., Springboks kicked off against the All Blacks 37 minutes ago. At that second I wonder past an internet cafe. My drunk brain doing the math and putting 2 and 1 together I venture inside to catch the 2nd half (well last 25 min) of a great game - thanks go to www.justin.tv. BOKKE! more wondering around afterwards, taking in the sites, and seeing at least 300 chinese people dancing randomly in a public square I venture home, baijiu wearing off slowly.