Suzhou: First Landmines to Dodge (Don't Say We Didn't Warn Ya!)
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Oh my gosh, sisters, I have to vent about my real experience this year (February 18th, 2024)!
Back then, I was still on my internship, and after the Chinese New Year, my boyfriend and I returned to our city of work. After a night of train travel, we were utterly exhausted, so we just found a random guesthouse near the station to stay at.
- The guesthouse was on the top floor; I don't exactly remember which level.
- We stayed awake during the day, watching movies projected from our phones on the wall.
- That evening, around 11 o'clock, we had finished our skincare routine and fell asleep almost immediately.
However, weird things started happening...
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First Shock:
- Right after I fell asleep, I was jabbed awake by my boyfriend's elbow! When I asked him what happened, he said there was nothing. Oh great, now I'm really angry at him, but with how I felt tired, I fell back to sleep right away.
- This time, as I was sleeping, I experienced something similar to being "pressed down" - my mind was fully conscious, but I could no longer control my body.
- Then! I felt someone trying to pull my hand out from under my bed. I struggled with all my strength and shot up with a bolt!
- In a panic, I turned my gaze towards my boyfriend, hugging his arm in fear; at that point, I was even more disturbed by how deeply he slept, without any reaction.
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Level Up to Another Shock:
- Barely five minutes later, I was fast asleep again (Now that I think about it, my heart is huge)
- This time, the shock was even scarier since I again encountered the "bed pressure" phenomenon, where I could barely move.
- Amidst struggling, I saw that the person next to me wasn't my boyfriend anymore, it unexpectedly was a woman!
- How did I know it was a woman? Because girls' shoulders are rounder than men's. It felt like it only happened in women.
- I was shocked awake once more.
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Third Terror & My Boyfriend's Story:
- Just when I was sensing another "bed pressure", my boyfriend suddenly screamed out loud, jumping me out of my slumber!
- Following, the stuff he told me gave me goosebumps... (I will not elaborate his story due to it also being terrifying.)
️ Travel Alert & Precautions for Fellow Travelers! ️Listen up, sisters and foreign friends who might be less familiar with China:
- About Guest Houses:
- The experience left me with quite an unpleasant psychological shadow regarding certain guest houses near stations, especially in Suzhou. Our stay was on the top floor, possibly because of the high location or secluded spots?
- Tips to Avoid Troubles:
- If you find housing similarly, particularly those cheap guest houses, exercise prudence.
- Prioritize booking accommodations via reputable chains or online platforms to look for rooms with plenty of positive reviews - ones that appear credible.
- Trust your gut if you feel uneasy or if you notice something peculiar upon your entry and switch rooms instantly if necessary, or consider a different accommodation altogether! There's nothing more important than safety and comfort.
How incredibly unlucky this entire experience was; even in one's zodiac year (a Chinese belief where some believe they won't have the best luck in the year associated with their birth year), one shouldn't suffer such torment! I hope everyone has a smooth trip during the May Day holiday (a legal holiday in China) and avoids such nightmares. #StayClearOfTrickyInnsInSuzhou #TravelSafety