I needed to change some currency and also put some of it on Wechat so that I can pay for things easily. I’ve had a bank account for years which is linked to my Wechat. It just makes it easier to change currency when in China and also to transfer funds to Wechat. The balance was about $20.

I had $400 Australian to convert. I knew it would take quite a bit of time to do this, because when I lived here and they knew me it could still take up to an hour by the time they check and check the amount to convert. It’s often run through the machine a dozen times. On top of that each note is scrutinised to the “n” th degree, and to make matters worse my ID had to be updated. What a fiasco, oh and then we have the language barrier. I was wishing I’d brought a packed lunch.

I was given number 230, when I got out they were up to 306. It was a long time, I might have to have another shave. Apart from the ID being updated, the simple process which I have done in many countries is just mental here. I have no idea why it’s made so difficult to try and just buy currency.

But after such a drama I had worked up an appetite, so I went to the Lanzhou LaMian restaurant to have lunch and that was delicious…