Welcome to Red China

Out of all the countries we have or will be visiting, only China held any real anxieties. The border crossing day started innocently enough. We shared a mini-bus with an American guy and a few Vietnamese down the mountain from Sapa to Lao Cai and the Vietnam-China border. We crossed the Vietnamese side without any difficulties, but the American had overstayed his visa so was in heated negotiations with the immigration official when we started walking towards China. The Chinese border crossing was also fairly uneventful, except when the immigration lady started inspecting my Machu Pichu passport stamps. Technically speaking, any stamps or markings not made by a country immigration official voids a passport, turning my pride and joy into a bunch of pieces of paper. Luckily, things panned out and we both entered China in good health. By this time the American had managed to pay some kind of fine on the Vietnamese side and was in the process of entering China as well. We thought we would be good sports and hang around for him so we could all get the bus from the border to the capital Kunming. The bus was leaving at 8:00pm, which was giving us just over an hour until departure. While we were sitting waiting patiently I suddenly had a bolt from the blue and realised that there was a time change between Vietnam and China, effectively giving us 5min to make the bus. In a panic we fled the border and the American in search of the bus station, luckily finding it just in time. Good thing to, as the border town looked decidely seedy. The American never made it and we haven't run into him since.
Now, the bus trip from Hekou to Kunming was unique as well. China has these sleeper buses, which is basically 3 long rows of bunk beds, designed for people 5'5" of less. Not the most comfortable surroundings for me. However, the real kicker on Chinese buses is the smoking. No matter the time, men, women, and children were lighting up, well maybe not children. Needless to say, not the most pleasant thing you want on a long night bus trip.
Arrival into Kunming has alleviated many fears, China is not all communist military swagger. It is very modern, people seem friendly, the streets are clean, and to Leighannes utter joy they have McDonalds. We are definitely looking forward to the next 5 weeks.