At first I wasn't interested to go to China, I still had bad memories about their... ehem public toilet... First time I went to China was about 10 years ago. I enjoyed my trip, love the scenery, love the foods, love their art&crafts. I almost love everything about them until 1 moment when I had to go to the restroom. It really shocked me. The partition was made from thin layer of plywood. Instead of door there was a linen that had been nailed to the plywood. There were 4 nails, 2 on the each left and right upper corner and 2 at the bottom. And the linen was very short, kids or short people could see your precious thing when you squat. And it was windy, my linen wouldn't attached very well, what the... I had to asked my mum to hold it in place. And the smell oooooouuuwwww I better not talk about that (-_________-)
Beside of that, China is a great country. I always love their show performance, dancing or circus or any mixed of those two, AMAZING!!! Not fond of the singing though since I don't understand the language. Also love the painting and crafting or other arty things. Love their souvenirs stuff. Most of them are very nice and cheap! Hahahaha
This time, it was 8 days trip by bus around south of China. Started from Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Hezhou, Guilin, Yangshuo, Wuzhou, and back to Guangzhou.
First Day, 21 June 2010
Arrived at Guangzhou airport went straight to Zhaoqing, took about 3 hours by bus. When arrived at Zhaoqing it was too late to visit any place hahaha so just we rest at the hotel after 5 hours on plane. FYI, the public toilet didn't change much, the smell were still the same, no water nor tissue, but the plywood partition had been change into porcelain and of course, still no doors hahahaha well, not all public toilet like that but most of them are :D
Second Day, 22 June 2010
Zhaoqing to Hezhou, a very looooong journey by bus, it took almost 6 hours, goodness... We visited Shibashui Waterfall and Linfeng Square. Nothing special, it's only ordinary waterfall and ordinary square. The hotel looked more interesting to me hahaha
big rock at the entrance of shibashui waterfall
the entrance of shibashui waterfall
the hotel lobby
what seem to be some old time governor chair
Ah ya, to make things more exciting, funny story of the day, the electricity went off in the middle of dinner time for nearly 90 minutes hahahaha
So far, the trip was OK but my mood was ruined not by anything related from China but from the people inside the group. Smelly public toilet or long journey by bus nothing compared a bunch of grumpy old people. They always complained about everything. I think I never heard 1 single good thing or anything beside complaining from their mouths. BAH!
Third Day, 23 June 2010
Hezhou to Guilin. Guilin was famous for its scenic spots. First stop was Elephant Trunk Hill and Fubo Hill. Then went to some medicine factory. After that watched Dream of Lijiang, some chinese acrobatic and ballet performance before went to the hotel.
stone wall of elephant history
funny road sign inside the elephant trunk hill
big elephant shaped rock
cormorant birds for rent
traditional costumes for rent
funky oma posed with rented costume in front of elephant trunk hill
inside the fubo hill cave
dried flying gecko at some medicine factory
blind old man playing erhu for a penny
The hotel... The hotel was magnificent!!! One magnificent museum hotel. Big red gate, red pillars, gold ornaments, wood crafting furnitures, old chinese painting... Lo~ooooooooooooo~ve it!!!
the hotel lobby
the hotel lobby ceiling
details on one of the wood crafting furniture
nicely cut deep fried fish with sweet and sour sauce
Forth Day, 24 June 2010
Got up early so I can take a walk around the hotel. It still amazes me ;p
view from the hotel restaurant
what seem to be old time royal chair at the hotel lobby
another wood crafting furniture
Today, we went to see Panda at Seven Star Park, super cute!!! Kyaaaaa!!! Also the little red panda, cuteness overload!!! Aaaa~aaaaaa~aaaaa!!! I'm so happy to see them. I spent almost 30 minutes just watching them. Didn't care if it was drizzle or buy any of the panda souvenir coz the real one sooooo much better. Funny story of the day, I saw a Panda scratching his butt against his wooden house hahahaha.
yum yum yum
what are you looking for little things?
After that went visit some tea and silk factory before traveling around the 4 Lakes in downtown area to enjoy the night view.
dried tea leaves tower
silk lady workers
the beautiful sun and moon tower by the lake
Fifth Day, 25 June 2010
Last day at the museum hotel, quick, shoot as many pictures as I can hahaha
hi there, can you see me?
the hotel front door guardian
the big red door door knob
Still got time to go around the hotel before leaving to Yangshuo. Met a group of people doing taichi. Funny story of the day, they were facing me backward when I took the 1st picture. Had to walk around the park so I can see their faces but then, they also turned around. Again, facing me backward hahaha waited for 5 mins then gave up and back to the hotel.
Yangshuo is a nice small town. The air's so clean and refreshing. Many older women sold plums and peaches along the way. Cheap and very juicy. After had lunch, we went to visit the Crown Cave. The view was amazing... Love the lightning effect on the limestones. From the cave, the journey went on to the famous Li River.
1 plate for 3 yuan
exhanting...
magical fairy forest...
limestone parade along the li river
small path through the villagers houses to go back to the bus
From Li River we went on to the hotel. On the way, all you can see is green; green leaves, green trees, green fields, very soothing. Later at night, finally got the real time to shopping at the West Street Night Market hahaha shop shop shop till you drop.
view from inside the bus
nice and clean west street night market
Sixth Day, 26 June 2010
Got some time to walk around the hotel before leaving to Wuzhou.
local wet market near the hotel
a very serious little girl doing her homework at some local noodle shop
"look grandpa, i'm taller now"
funny baby boy with his baldy grandpa
a very loaded souvenir bicycle vendor
Stopped by at some place to enjoy the view of Yangshuo River by bamboo boat. Our local Yangshuo River tour guide sang along they way to some other bamboo boat. 3 funny old men showed up and they did some little performance.
they always bounced their shoulder every time they had stupid fake laugh
notice the sleeping lady shaped limestone mountain behind the boat rower?
fisherman with his cormorant birds
crunchy water chestnut to much while enjoying the view
our lovely restaurant for today's lunch time
Wuzhou main spot was the Temple of Dragon's Mother. It was raining and we just had 20 minutes to explore since they were about to close.
the temple front gate guardian
the wishing tree
can you see the golden dragon's mother statue?
the little turtles in the wishing pond were dancing because of the pouring rain
daydreaming mr stone dragon
street alley at wuzhou
view from window hotel
night view of old buildings
Seventh Day, 27 June 2010
Another looooooong trip to Guangzhou. There, we went to enjoy the boat tour at Star Lake and Yuexiu Park, the park of 5 rams statue, the symbol of Guangzhou city. It was drizzled and foggy hix not much to see. After that went to the famous Shangxiajiu shopping street. I forgot to stop and took some picture, concentrate too much on shopping thing hahahahaha.
elderly people having breakfast at the hotel restaurant after their taichi session
a very huge lock to secure a motorcycle hahaha
"is it straight yet?"
Eighth Day, 28 June 2010
Woooooaaaaah, it's already 8 days!!! Time sure flew so fast, my... Overall, I really enjoy China. Maybe someday I can go visit some other city and other scenic spots. And maybe, when that time arrive, the public toilets can be more civilized hahahaha
8 days full course meals
1 course meal had mostly 8 to 10 dishes and those 2 stupid babbling old men and 1 baboon madame still complaining. Not only food, they also complained about the tour schedule, the scenic spots, this, that, everything! They also loved to talk to each other with loud voices while the tour guide tried to explained today's plans. Not forget to ask what's today's plan after the tour guide finished her speech. Geezzz what an ungrateful ignorant creatures!
