GuiLin is a very picturesque town. We arrived by plane at about 7pm and made our way to our hostel via bus and taxi - very interesting! We had been told to expect NO English in China but thought people were exaggerating. But there is NO English in China! Menus, Signs, Tour Guides (although promised to be in English) are all in Chinese. But how awful does that sound we ARE in China after all, how ignorant are we! We've picked up the important words though: Hello - Knee how; Thank You - XieXie and NO! Boo Boo Boo Boo Boo!!
GuiLin has been amazing! So much so bec bought a book full of just pictures! The chick was asking for 100Yuan, Bec got it for 40Yuan.... turns out we're getting good at this negotiating price business. We have spent the past few days really exploring the city and surrounding areas. The first day we travelled out to Longfield to see another minoriy group known as the Long haired women. They keep all their hair, even the parts they comb out and all their haircuts, they then spin it into a long plait like style and twirl it into a bun on top of their head. The villages are also amazing where they live. Words do not describe so heres a picture:
The 'steps' are actually rice and corn crops staggered and create the effect of miles and miles of stairs. Its pretty impressive! We ended the day with a fantastic performace of acrobatics and ballet - even Jarratt enjoyed it!
The following day we explored the city and surrounding areas. Including the Solitary peak, Reed Flute Cave, Yao Mao Mountain and organised a cruise down the Li River for the following day. The Li River was a bit of a let down. It was great scenery but the cruise was poor. The only real highlight was that Jarratt managed to get two photos that he'd been chasing for a couple of weeks. One of a water buffalo (even though the ones bec took were MUCH better - haha), and the other of a fishing man and his birds! The cruise ended in Yangshu which is really just one big market surrounded by pretty mountains. We spend about two hours wandering around, drinking a coffee shake and watch a pretty impressive trademan balance on tippy toes as he removed tiles from a slanty roof without a harness. Another thing to go on our list of 'stuff that would NEVER happen in Australia!'. We then headed back to GuiLin.
Today we're spending the day doing absolutely nothing!!!! And Bec is loving it!!!! Tomorrow we head off to Chongqing to commence our 4star cruise down the Yangtzi River (3 gorge dam). Unfortunately we're fast running out of time and as a result Bec has to give up on her Pandas! She is heart broken!! Well till next time kids!
Take Care of yourselves! Love Us.
4 comments:
Hey guys...all is well in the land of BrisVegas but I am missing you terribly! Looks like in the next couple of weeks we will finally have that second bedroom closed off so our visitors can have some privacy.
Really looking forward to our next round of visitors....I have really been missing the family lately so it will be great to see everyone again.
Im not sure if I told you but we booked our trip to Tassie for late November.
Job is going really well and the people are fantastic. We have a "family day" next month....they are very big on the social scene.
Anyway, better run...there is work to be done.
Take care, love you!
I never imagined Jarratt as gorgeous given his nose that he tried to cut off. I should have let the ski patrol sow him up.The people may be correct about his travelling companion however.
It must be a great experence and one you both will treasure for ever. The locals will be spared your singing if they can't understand you, you will have to learn a song from the "long march" not very popular at the V.
Bill W
Bec, I hope you at least fought a little bit for the pandas!
I am devo'd for you! haha!
The only Chinese I know, sounds like "wo eye knee" spelt like this "wo ai ni".
Use it it works just ask Gary!!!!
Means I love you.
See what you learn on Contiki.
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