Man, I am getting lazier. My normal lazy is to pen my last adventure, the
So, 6 weeks ago in Guilin...
Where is That?
Guilin is a popular tourist destination because of its beautiful karst topography. That's why I made it a priority to get there. It's located in Guangxi autonomous region(technically it's not a province), on the west bank of the Li River.
BTW, the pandas are in Sichuan province and the Avatar mountains are in Hunan province. Shanghai and Hong Kong, which I have also visited, are not considered provinces but have special, separate titles. Shanghai is a municipality and Hong Kong is a special administrative region. But I digress, and have confused, even myself.
Guangxi (the area Guilin is located in) is southwest of Fujian province, where I live. It took 2 hours on a plane to get there.
Terraced Rice Fields.
I arrived at the hostel, as I planned, with just enough time to catch the last tour bus to the rice terrace. Ever since seeing pictures of terraced rice fields, I've anticipated seeing them, in person. But when I arrived, I was informed there were not anymore seats on the last bus. It was a mistake of the hostel, but a reality, nonetheless. I began to despair because I was in a bit of a time crunch, but I persisted and regrouped. I proceeded to grab a taxi to the public bus station to set off on the 2-hour journey. I had become somewhat of a pro at this during my past trips.
After I sat on the bus for a few minutes the bus driver asked me, a little exasperated, where the person I was traveling with, was. I told the driver, I was alone and he cracked up. I was confused and a bit embarrassed that he was laughing at me, and then he explained (in slow, simple Chinese) that I had bought 2 tickets. And then I, the pro, was really embarrassed. And a little annoyed because there was no time for me to get my, equivalent to 7 US bucks, back.
I thought I was being wise wearing my bulky, athletic shoes. It felt like a sacrifice because I didn't like how they looked. And aren't most sacrifices the better choice. In this case, my comfortable, breathable shoes were a very bad choice. It was quite cold and I get cold quite easily, especially my fingers and toes. Public buses are, evidently, not heated in this 'autonomous region'. So the comfortable shoes actually made my feet very uncomfortable.
When I arrived, everything was easy. Lots of people come to photograph the fields so they have a ticket counter and viewing platforms and maps. Walking up all the stairs warmed me up a little, too. There was hardly any people there, which is a happy rarity in China.
Mudslide.
I arrived at the hostel, as I planned, with just enough time to catch the last tour bus to the rice terrace. Ever since seeing pictures of terraced rice fields, I've anticipated seeing them, in person. But when I arrived, I was informed there were not anymore seats on the last bus. It was a mistake of the hostel, but a reality, nonetheless. I began to despair because I was in a bit of a time crunch, but I persisted and regrouped. I proceeded to grab a taxi to the public bus station to set off on the 2-hour journey. I had become somewhat of a pro at this during my past trips.
After I sat on the bus for a few minutes the bus driver asked me, a little exasperated, where the person I was traveling with, was. I told the driver, I was alone and he cracked up. I was confused and a bit embarrassed that he was laughing at me, and then he explained (in slow, simple Chinese) that I had bought 2 tickets. And then I, the pro, was really embarrassed. And a little annoyed because there was no time for me to get my, equivalent to 7 US bucks, back.
I thought I was being wise wearing my bulky, athletic shoes. It felt like a sacrifice because I didn't like how they looked. And aren't most sacrifices the better choice. In this case, my comfortable, breathable shoes were a very bad choice. It was quite cold and I get cold quite easily, especially my fingers and toes. Public buses are, evidently, not heated in this 'autonomous region'. So the comfortable shoes actually made my feet very uncomfortable.
When I arrived, everything was easy. Lots of people come to photograph the fields so they have a ticket counter and viewing platforms and maps. Walking up all the stairs warmed me up a little, too. There was hardly any people there, which is a happy rarity in China.
Mudslide.
After a few hours of hiking and admiring the sprawling fields, I hopped on the public bus back to Guilin. Even with buying the extra ticket, I saved money by taking the public bus. The tour bus was probably heated through. We didn't get far when we had to stop. There had been a mudslide and it blocked the only exit out of the rice terrace. Cars and buses alike had to be abandoned on the single lane road. We all got out and creeped up as close as we dared and stared up at the mountain. It was momentarily still, but could 'slide' onto us at any moment. After some phone calls, the driver communicated that another bus would pick us up on the other side. We then proceeded to cautiously walk up to the dangerous area and then run directly under where the disaster had occurred. It was so ridiculous and unsafe that I couldn't help but burst out laughing a couple times.
I bought this handmade wall hanging from a lady at the terrace. 6 weeks later, it is laying there (I just took the photo) though, because I don't know how to hang a wall hanging. Maybe if I was living in Nebraska, I could figure that one out.
Obligatory Li River Cruise.
Everyone who travels to Guilin, takes the Guilin to Yangshuo cruise. It's overpriced and crowded, but the view is beautiful. If I went during warmer weather I would have stood on top the whole time. I met and talked with some other English speaking foreigners. Even though I have been traveling alone a lot, I always find nice people to have small encounters and chat with.
Unfortunately, it was too cold and windy to stay up top on the large boat for more than 20 minutes at a time. So I had to go back to my, warm (apparently, they do heat tour boats) seat, on the inside of a long booth, next to a windowless wall. Every time I did this, I had to have 4 people get out to let me in. I was sitting with 9 non-English speaking, Chinese tourists. Awkward. They served us a... meal. I was not impressed. But I liked the wrapper enough to take a photo.
Typically people take a photo while holding up the 20 yuan (Chinese mula) bill, on this cruise.
I wanted to do that, too. The part that looks the most like the picture on the bill, was when we were seated to eat. They announced, even in English, that if you want to take a picture with the bill to go up now. But I would have had to ask 4 people who were eating to get up so I could go out, so I decided to skip it.
This photo I took after the cruise, is more similar.
The cruise was also the way to get to my next hostel location.
Yangshuo.
Yangshuo is breathtaking with those mountains!
For the Birds.
The next bit is taken almost entirely from my Facebook post on the matter.
After getting settled in the hostel, I wandered around the smaller, picturesque town.
I was strolling on the bank of the river when this dejected, but also kind, looking guy hopefully looks at me. He was a curious sight. He sat on a chair, next to a stick with birds perched on the ends and a sign that said 3 Yuan.
I bought this handmade wall hanging from a lady at the terrace. 6 weeks later, it is laying there (I just took the photo) though, because I don't know how to hang a wall hanging. Maybe if I was living in Nebraska, I could figure that one out.
Obligatory Li River Cruise.
Everyone who travels to Guilin, takes the Guilin to Yangshuo cruise. It's overpriced and crowded, but the view is beautiful. If I went during warmer weather I would have stood on top the whole time. I met and talked with some other English speaking foreigners. Even though I have been traveling alone a lot, I always find nice people to have small encounters and chat with.
Unfortunately, it was too cold and windy to stay up top on the large boat for more than 20 minutes at a time. So I had to go back to my, warm (apparently, they do heat tour boats) seat, on the inside of a long booth, next to a windowless wall. Every time I did this, I had to have 4 people get out to let me in. I was sitting with 9 non-English speaking, Chinese tourists. Awkward. They served us a... meal. I was not impressed. But I liked the wrapper enough to take a photo.
Typically people take a photo while holding up the 20 yuan (Chinese mula) bill, on this cruise.
I wanted to do that, too. The part that looks the most like the picture on the bill, was when we were seated to eat. They announced, even in English, that if you want to take a picture with the bill to go up now. But I would have had to ask 4 people who were eating to get up so I could go out, so I decided to skip it.
This photo I took after the cruise, is more similar.
The cruise was also the way to get to my next hostel location.
Yangshuo.
Yangshuo is breathtaking with those mountains!
For the Birds.
The next bit is taken almost entirely from my Facebook post on the matter.
After getting settled in the hostel, I wandered around the smaller, picturesque town.
I was strolling on the bank of the river when this dejected, but also kind, looking guy hopefully looks at me. He was a curious sight. He sat on a chair, next to a stick with birds perched on the ends and a sign that said 3 Yuan.
Hmm... "3 Yuan?", I ask a Chinese man standing nearby, wondering what trick this guy and these birds could do.
He looks at the same sign, and nods his agreement, "3 Yuan.".
I reach for my wallet and pay the guy the money. (3 Yuan is equal to 43 American cents). Now the 15 or so people nearby take a step or two closer. Maybe they knew what I'd paid for, but I had no idea. I take a few steps back to see what cool trick I had just paid for. I was then beckoned closer. I had paid to get my picture taken with some birds. Anti-climatic, but okay. I asked the nodding guy to take my picture, he accepted and then wanted a picture, too- with him and me in it.
And then... this whole thing then explodes into utter chaos. The group size somehow doubled and everyone wanted just one more picture with the foreigner.
"Foreigner one more",
"one more",
"Thank you, foreigner, thank you."
This was definitely a highlight of my trip. There was lots of smiles and laughter.
Here is the kind guy whose eyes and birds got my attention.
The guy who confirmed my price question and started the photo frenzy.
Unfortunately, in the excitement I forgot to turn so the karst landscape, that frames the Li river, could also frame my photo.
And I don't think anyone else paid the bird guy for their photo!
Important Local Tradition
I didn't even know it at the time, but those cormorant birds are part of an important local tradition.
"Cormorant fishing is a traditional fishing method in which fishermen use trained cormorants to fish in rivers. To control the birds, the fishermen tie a snare near the base of the bird's throat. This prevents the birds from swallowing larger fish, which are held in their throat, but the birds can swallow smaller fish. When a cormorant has caught a fish in its throat, the fisherman brings the bird back to the boat and has the bird spit the fish up. Though cormorant fishing once was a successful industry, its primary use today is to serve the tourism industry." - From Wikipedia
Countryside Biking?
A popular thing to do in Yangshuo is bike in the countryside. I never left a paved road and I had to maneuver through a lot of traffic at first, but I guess you could call that countryside. It was stunning.
I didn't see the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics, but I guess it was impressive, because the same producer, produced this show. The outdoor show, showcases local culture using dance, songs and drama. The actors are mainly locals and the show was completely done on the Li river, in front of the karst mountains.
Guilin lived up to and exceeded my expectation.
There are so many beautiful places in this world. I hope they never stop surprising me.
