So our mainland China tour is coming to an end with our final visiting places in Guilin being an ancient village and a cave. Though before we even leave the hotel we have yet another drama! When putting our luggage out for collection so its taken to the airport (yes very dopey indeed) we managed to lock ourselves out of the room! Doh! Dressed but with no shoes and messy hair we were going to have to face reception to admit our error - but alas, Sarah spotted a lonely house keeping lady wandering the hall and somehow managed to convince her to let us in - she did look a bit suspicious of us but hey, we were in!
So drama over and breakfast eaten - well a little considering how rubbish it is, we were off to the ancient village. And ancient it was - buildings made of wood, people walking in the fields then sorting the crops - we saw string beans drying on a bridge wall! There was a lady selling slippers she had knitted which was good but I didn't think people should sell the same old tat we have seen all over - at least she was making something she made. We saw a kind of medicine man too who had all sorts of bugs in jars with liquid that would cure all sorts of ailments, mmmmm baby rat medicine! There was a very cute little girl posing for pictures the typical Japanese/Chinese way butt then had the cheek to ask for money once they had took the picture - they teach them young here! I'm glad I didn't take one! A completely different way of life to what we know and understand, but good to see.
Our final stop on this tour and in Guilin - which is over 50% green, is reed flute cave. Guilin has so many natural wonders its not surprising they work hard to keep it that way. So my experiences of caves - Castleton, Majorca maybe the odd other one are of damp open spaces underground with the odd stalactite or stalagmite - reed flute cave however was massive with these features everywhere you turn. In the typical Chinese way they all have a story connected to them - some you see, some you don't, some you question, but all amazing. They use coloured lights which compliment the rock perfectly and pictures, just like the other Chinese wonders can't do it justice. It would be perfect for a field trip - albeit expensive! This ranks up there as one of the best sights we've seen and its one I never considered to be so beautiful.
Time came to leave this stunning city and say goodbye to Ho our guide and Tracey who has been with us from day one. How are we going to cope without her and bunny marching us around airports, stations and the busy Chinese streets - we're going to have to navigate Hong Kong all on our own - can we cope??!!
OK so check in - woohoo piece of cake and security - I didn't even get searched - we can definitely do this! We waited in the world's most expensive airport - and waited, OK boarding time has passed, hmm we're clearly delayed but couldn't read the sign to say how long. It wasn't that long, phew we were on our way!
Upon arrival at Hong Kong - bags collected we were greeted by Ben who was taking us to our hotel - we kind of looked like a Chinese Clerk Kent. He offered us the choice of going on a tour tomorrow but alas we were confident we could go it alone! Driving to the hotel the lights were amazing, we passed a massive shipping port - third largest after Singapore then Shanghai and also passed the HK Island skyline. Very exciting. I think I'm going to like it here! Bonus, better still our hotel upgraded us to a room with a balcony and a hot tub - on the 10th floor overlooking the pool and the harbour! We couldn't have asked for more from our final hotel, we did get it however in the shape of a very large free beer! Awesome!
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Drama. Show all posts
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Monday, 16 August 2010
Soft Suzhou
Though we were given time this morning to chillax before leaving for Suzhou it turns out we had a massive drama. After getting up we had to pack to leave and Sarah locked her case only to find out she couldn't open it again! After much yanking and trying a number of different codes we went for brekkie to think of Plan A and B. Plan A was to text her dad to google it, my Plan B was to break in! In my ignorance in suitcases it turns out that Samsonite cases can't be broken into, hmmmm. Time came for our cases to be collected so for now it was left, but no worries, the story continues later!
We left for Shanghai train station for our train to Suzhou. The station was huge and randomly you had to go through security in order to get in! Obviously we stood out like a sore thumb in amongst the locals waiting for the train. Kind of cool really seeing and existing in the real China rather than the tourist China. It reached 12.39 and our train sign turned green, which i can only guess means it was ready for boarding. So off we went, pushing and shoving like everyone else to get to the train and take our seat. It turns out they have only been using the high speed train a month and you can tell, clean and well kept. As we left Shanghai we reached a top speed of 325km/hr whizzing past flats, houses and then farms as we left the city. Half an hour later we arrived in Suzhou, or the Earthy Paradise as it means. Here everything is softer, the place - it's a lot slower and less frantic, the language - even arguments don't sound abrasive and the men, according to our guide Wendy. Bunny was handed over to Wendy for safe keeping during our time here.
We firstly visited The Humble Administration Garden, a large space designed as if you were walking around a painting. Lots of small buildings, traditional in style are mixed amongst ponds covered in lotus flowers. It turns out that women were only allowed in this garden during festivals or special occasions, not really fair. However one man built a garden around his house for him and his wife to enjoy. That's nice. The Couples Retreat Garden was a lot smaller but still had small buildings, ponds and lotus flowers. After a long time walking round the gardens (my legs were killing) we made it back to the hotel.
So as promised earlier the drama of the suitcase continues. Plan A wasn't really working as Sarah had no reply from her dad and Plan B was a way off yet, Tracey got the porters to come and help. So as i emerged from the loo to a room of people speaking Chinese Plan C was unfolding. The porters took the case off to their luggage store and lo and behold they got in! No idea how - i was told they were unbreakable! But hey, drama over and everyone happy.
It had been a tiring day which ended with a delicious meal of very baby shrimp soup, whole fish with some kind of ketchup, some kind of rubbery fish and crunchy veg which the waiter didn't know what it was - turns out it was jellyfish! It was OK, looked like onion chutney. So after a wander it was off to bed for an early start of Tai Chi in the park. Cool.
We left for Shanghai train station for our train to Suzhou. The station was huge and randomly you had to go through security in order to get in! Obviously we stood out like a sore thumb in amongst the locals waiting for the train. Kind of cool really seeing and existing in the real China rather than the tourist China. It reached 12.39 and our train sign turned green, which i can only guess means it was ready for boarding. So off we went, pushing and shoving like everyone else to get to the train and take our seat. It turns out they have only been using the high speed train a month and you can tell, clean and well kept. As we left Shanghai we reached a top speed of 325km/hr whizzing past flats, houses and then farms as we left the city. Half an hour later we arrived in Suzhou, or the Earthy Paradise as it means. Here everything is softer, the place - it's a lot slower and less frantic, the language - even arguments don't sound abrasive and the men, according to our guide Wendy. Bunny was handed over to Wendy for safe keeping during our time here.
We firstly visited The Humble Administration Garden, a large space designed as if you were walking around a painting. Lots of small buildings, traditional in style are mixed amongst ponds covered in lotus flowers. It turns out that women were only allowed in this garden during festivals or special occasions, not really fair. However one man built a garden around his house for him and his wife to enjoy. That's nice. The Couples Retreat Garden was a lot smaller but still had small buildings, ponds and lotus flowers. After a long time walking round the gardens (my legs were killing) we made it back to the hotel.
So as promised earlier the drama of the suitcase continues. Plan A wasn't really working as Sarah had no reply from her dad and Plan B was a way off yet, Tracey got the porters to come and help. So as i emerged from the loo to a room of people speaking Chinese Plan C was unfolding. The porters took the case off to their luggage store and lo and behold they got in! No idea how - i was told they were unbreakable! But hey, drama over and everyone happy.
It had been a tiring day which ended with a delicious meal of very baby shrimp soup, whole fish with some kind of ketchup, some kind of rubbery fish and crunchy veg which the waiter didn't know what it was - turns out it was jellyfish! It was OK, looked like onion chutney. So after a wander it was off to bed for an early start of Tai Chi in the park. Cool.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)