Yangshuo, Gulin, Guang Xi

Prior to this trip, a colleague told us that they had planned a massage session for all of us in the marketing department. Due to miscommunication (and lack of an intranet/lotus notes) we weren’t informed. My colleagues and some managers were disappointed that we couldn’t go.
Then again, nothing’s stopping me from going on this trip. As you read on; you’d know why…

Yangshuo, Guilin, Guangxi Province
Weather: Sunny with sparse clouds
Date: 14 – 15 July 2007, Saturday & Sunday

I was fighting a really bad headache, cold, and flu throughout the whole week. Didn’t get better on Friday (the day I had to depart for Yangshuo) I had to force myself to see the clinic doctor. Felt like the virus’s slowing sucking all of my energy bit by bit; and it sucks because I hadn’t been eating well.

Sleeper Bus (Po Bu)




Right, this sleeper bus’s nothing like Ive seen before. When you get up the bus, you have to grab a plastic bag, take off your shoes, dump it in and carry it with you on the bus. The bus has 3 rows of sleeper "bunks" with 2 levels. The space to sleep in is just nice enough for my height! For persons taller than 1.63cm; I reckon you have to sleep with your legs slightly blent. On the ride to Yangshuo, I slept in a bunk near the middle of the bus. THAT would be that best space to sleep in. A word of caution; DO NOT EVER TRY SLEEPING AT THE BACK OF BUS, unless you like your sleep to be doused with flips, turns, constant vibrations, water sipping from a broken air-conditioning socket and the freaking heat at the bottom bunks. Yea~ I’ve said enough. My ride back to Shenzhen was UNBEARABLE, but still I survived the China’s Sleeper Bus! Honestly, for a 10 hour ride, I might prefer a seated coach ride.



*That's QX by the way. One of my fellow travelynn-ers.*

Xi Wen Hotel @ Gui Hua Lu (a stone’s throw away from the popular Xi Jie)

Our tour guide Huang Shifu fetched us at the carpark where we alighted. The moment we got off the bus, some of us spotted a Hot Air Balloon! How fun! Huang Shifu told us that it cost 700 Yuan for an hour and you will have to sign an indemnity form. Ha! After walking for 15 mins in the wee hours of the morning, we came to his Hotel. Xi Wen Jiu Dian. Okay, it was more like a hostel with attached toilets. I wasn’t lucky, so Donna & I got a room with a really yucky toilet; where the place you shower is to stand just beside the squat toilet bowl. Hence, if you lose your footing, you might just drop in. Ha! Not fun after all huh. The beds were really comfy compared to my apartment’s. They’ve got hot water, free internet access, air-conditioning and a TV set. Nope; no towels. Xi Wen Hotel is quite a nice place for 120 Yuan per night (SGD 24). I reckon its rather reasonable. However, while my night there, I experienced 3 blackouts within 1-2 hours. I slept through the night without knowing that my air-conditioning was switched off. Kinda sucked but we only stayed there for 1 night. I cant ask for much. Moreover, Huang Shifu’s daughter was EXTREMELY cute. I really loved her.

Gulin Rice Noodles




This bowl of noodles tasted superb! While slurping the smooth succulent noodles, it really felt like Cloud 9! I liked the nuts and the thin pieces of meat they added in the noodles. You can add soup in it if you like but I’d prefer eating it dry. SUPERB NICE! Ha~ We had this for breakfast.

Beer Stewed Fish & Pumpkin Flowers

We had lunch next to our inn one afternoon. One of Guilin's delicacies you have got to try is their Beer Stewed Fish. The whole fish is steamed and the gravy has a slight tinch of beer. You can't taste the beer but it certainly rid the fish of its stinging fishy smell. The fish was fresh and the meat practically melted inside your mouth. Another interesting dish the chef whipped up was Pumpkin Flowers wrapped with tofu and meat. It was such a treat! I couldnt believe you could steam its flowers and prepare something edible with it! Amazing and of course we left happily with our tummy filled to the brim. Tho' it was a simple meal offered by the people in Guilin; it was a full 10 course!

Lime Stone Cave

We sat on this 20 min coach ride to the cave while this really nice lady spoke about the Karst Mountains of Yangshuo. Each of them had a story to tell and she warned that people would usually say its 30% truth and 70% imaginary. Ha!

I should say I’m not really a fan of was stalagmite or a.k.a. limestone. There were some structures within the cave which caught my breath. Took lots of pictures so I’d let them speak for themselves. This tourist spot won some AAAA award; I guess the quadruple As meant that its NOT-TO-BE-MISSED attraction. But I beg to differ. Perhaps I just don’t appreciate such nature. I can only say Nature is amazing. For every 100 years, they will only increase 2cm in height. Remarkable huh!

The temperature within the cave is about a really cool temperature of 18~20 degrees. While strolling inside; the trickling of water down the stalagmite was really enticing. I wondered how Mother Nature molded such a magnificent structure within a mountain. It was totally unbelievable.

Li Jiang

We went drifting along Li Jiang on this 4-seater sheltered bamboo raft. When in Yangshuo, one HAS to go drifting along the "Jiangs" and "Hes" a.k.a. rivers. The peaceful river waters and the greenery indeed revitalizes one’s soul and mind. Totally relaxing. Left my feet in the cool waters and leaned back to enjoy the amazing Karst Mountains. I heard that these trade of drifting is slowly fading because the town commercializing all water drifting into these huge ferry boats which can carry about a hundred odd people. Then again why is it that this little town is sooo modernised? what happened to nature?

Yu Long He
A little different from Li Jiang, this rift was a 2 seater and our boatman was sooo cool! He chatted with QX and I most of the time and we got to learn that those Ang Mos loved Yang Shou and even rented some of their houses to stay in. Now I really wonder who really are the "xiang ba laos" or "xiang xia ren" (country bumbkins)! The long river had 4 separate short falls; each fall became more and more excited. Along the river, I managed to take 2 pretty shots and had my photo taken with a Monkey! =D

Cycling


Well, SY was nice enough to ride with me; him sitting at the front. Without much burden, I took on the role as the photographer and took a lot of photos! I can say he’s a great cyclist coz the journey we had to cross had cars, trucks and motorcycles passing by us here and there. It’s crazy; just crazy to cross. I wonder how he does it. I just close my eyes and let him to all the navigation while I only had to rotate my legs. PHEW!

West Street


Drifters
A western café selling really cheap americanised food. From breakfast to dinner. Amazing.

Mei You Café

Interesting style of promotion of the café as they tell you all the "Mei yous" of the café. Eg: Mei you bad food, Mei you bad service etc… I tried the spaggetti and its was yucky. Not sure about the others. And I found the place a little dirty (coz I was seated next to a drain! Gosh!!!! Yuck! It had a certain funny smell as well. Twasn’t a good place to eat in my opinion. The only good thing is that they have a live band in there and it is not recommended to sit just in front of the stage unless you have "super" invincible ears!

Bars
Man, West street boasts a wide array of BARS at night! We didn’t go to any bars that night. (coz I was sick) But the music and the people breathes life into you! Amazing huh! Just try it =)

Other Shops
I liked it that some shops paint art on shirts. They adapted them from my favourite cartoonist Jimmy! I bought 3 shirts which cost like SDG$6 each! =x I might sound like a bird now. They also sell lots of barang barang from musical instruments, jewellery to the famous Ginger Malt Candy; which I fancied alot.

Karst Mountians

Yangshuo, Guilin is THEE place to see many many many many mountains in one single place. So the locals gave most of the odd looking yet nature mountain heads a story behind it. Their 20 Yuan currency note is the picture of the karst mountains there! Simply breathe taking and I think it’s a sight of a life time. You wonder how Mother Nature did all this is one day? *shrugs* but its for REAL!

guangzhou

16th – 17th June 2007
[Weather: Clear and Sunny]

Shenzhen Train Station

Our driver left us behind the train station and we had to walk from the back of the building to the front. To find where the departures of trains, search for electronic stations which dispenses train tickets. It’s rather easy to purchase tickets as it has a heat sensing screen.

First, you choose which station you wish to alight. Second, select the time of departure and the number of tickets you wish to purchase. Third, slip in the money for the tickets and out comes the electronic paper tickets! The ticket works like an EZ link card in Singapore. You have to tap the ticket at the barricades and tap when you get out. The only difference is only that the ticket can only be used once. Well, I saw some people topping up their paper tickets at this machine. However, those are for locals and as I was in a hurry, I wasn’t able to check it out. The vicinity is rather new, clean and spacious. There are sufficient signages hence I don’t think one is able to be lost there; unless you don’t read Chinese.

On The Train

To my pleasant surprise, the seats were clean and spacious. There’s a bunk overhead to leave your bulky hand carry luggies. The 50min train ride was really comfortable because I fell asleep. The seats are numbered hence you need not rush in as they open the doors 10mins before the stipulated departure time. However, the trains leave exactly on time. If you are late, you are late; buy another ticket and get on the next train. The toilets are clean yes but a little stinko. If you mind stenches like such, I reckon you get those perfumed tissue and cover your mouth and nose as you do your “business”. Don’t bother bring food in coz they sell food stuff on a pushcart. It’s affordable and edible too. Cold and hot water dispensers are available should like a drink or have cup of instant noodles. Smoking isn’t allowed on the trains. (thank god) Oh, there will be this lady who will walk past with cups and a flask of hot tea in her hand. Be sure to call her as she walks past you to get a free hot cup of tea. Hee~ Anyways, the trip there cost me 80 yuan.

Guangzhou Dong Train Station

Different from the station in Shenzhen. A little messy with people walking in all directions as you hear people speaking in Chinese over your shoulders. Signages are big so not to worry. I’d advise you use the train’s toilet before alighting as its cleaner than the ones at the station. Guangzhou Dong Station is supposedly less messy and complicated than Guangzhou Station so I guess we’re quite blessed and not mugged by some unknown Chinese. Just beware of your surroundings. If you do not speak Cantonese or Chinese, best advice is to keep your gap shut unless necessary. You wouldn’t know who’s eyeing your belongings hence its better not to invite unnecessary attention to yourself. Just turn left and head out to the roads where you’d find a cab to take you wherever you want.

Cabs/Taxis & Buses

We traveled on highways hence the meter kept jumping and jumping! The cabs are rather similar to Shenzhen’s the only difference is that they charge you an additional 1 Yuan for fuel fee. Buses are generally the same compared to Shenzhen. All the drivers on the roads are extremely skilled when driving around bends and speeding which seems effortlessly safe.

Beijing Lu

The place calls out to all shopping freaks! Selling all sort including fakes, apparels, bags, shoes etc… there’s a lot more stuff then I can list. Ever seen how the olden days’ roads look like? Back in those Ming and Song Dynasties? Yup, they actually preserved some parts the olden roads along Beijing Lu and its incredibly interesting to me! Oh! Do try the fruit flavoured ice-cream which cost only 1 Yuan!

7 Days Inn [ http://www.7daysinn.cn/inn.asp?id=8 ]

I was elated to find a cheap hotel like motel. One room per night cost us only 187 Yuan! Tho’ sparsely decorated with furnishing, it’s quite pleasing to find a really comfortable bed, bathroom and TV. We even got an extra pillow for each room! The receptionists at the lobby were friendly as most importantly they spoke English! That’s a bonus! You don’t need to lug your showering items or towel there because it’s been provided for! Also available were toothbrushes, comb, hair dryer for common use and electric flask.

Travelynns

There’s a bus stop [省邮校 ] right outside the hotel. Take Bus 819 to Ti Yu Zhong Xin where you get to the place where you find food and shopping.You’d pass by a building on the right which says SUNING, a U-turn, a tall tower which looks like an inverted U, and along a small road with trees at the side. Alight and get to 体育西站 [MTR] and using the underpass, get to Exit D2 to a shopping mall called正佳广场. There is a really good Shuang Pi Nai shop; 雯信 within 宏Jun广场 which is adjacent to 正佳广场. Shang Xia Jiu (Up down 9) is also near the MTR however, we have to walk a distance.

Shang Xia Jiu (Up down 9)

A shopping area which is more a little complicated then Beijing Lu. Pedestrians walk alongside vehicles and on a dusty road. Shops lined in a untidy order, people shuttling in and out and crossing at their own will. It’s a mess of cars and people. We saw a GEMs mall selling all sorts of beadies, pearls and wad-nots for jewellery. I guess it’s the retail place for GEMs after all. What a great find! Always remember to start at 1/3 of the opening/quoted price . Haggle aggressively (like the Chinese; it may seem uncouth at first…. When in Rome, do what the Romans do!) and you’d be able to bag loads of savings and return home with a smile. I know coz I was grinning from ear to ear. Hee~