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Published: January 3rd 2010
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Sorry for not yet posting the Christmas blog but we jetted off for our New Year's break early on Monday morning and had not had time to add our pics. This blog comes to you from our very cosy guest house in Yangshuo on our other laptop but we promise to add our Christmas pics next week when we are home. For now, I want to update you on the fantastic time we are having here....we have done so much it seems only right!
We decided a while ago we would try to travel for at least part of this holiday, and then we chatted with our friends Linda and Sam, and we all agreed we would love to travel together. Their daughter, Sarah, is the same age as Sophie, and they are BFF's with the necklace to show it, and their son, Sebastian, is the same age as William and they are both as crazy about Kung Fu and anything that moves as each other! A perfect match then for our travels, but unfortunately it turned out that many of the places we wanted to travel to were very expensive. Although this holiday is not a Chinese holiday, travelling
within China via air is expensive. We also only had a week to travel in as we had decided to spend Christmas at home (more on that another time!) so we ended up here in Yangshuo. Yangshuo is a smallish town which is very much geared for tourism and we have been very impressed. Many people speak English, there are many Western restaurants around and we haven't been too bugged by the shopkeepers. It lies about 80km from Guilin, a 2 and a half hour flight from Shanghai. We flew with Shanghai Airlines and were very happy, the service was good and the staff spoke English also.
One of the reasons we chose Yangshuo was the many recommendations we had had from people we work with who have been here previously. And they also recommended our guest house to us, the Giggling Tree, which is run by a Dutch couple with a young child, and so it is family friendly. We have 2 family rooms which are perfect, we have ensuite hot water and an aircon which heats our room so well that we don't really need the 2 duvets which we have on our beds, just in case!
Although it is slightly warmer than the freezing Shanghai we departed from early on Monday morning, it is still chilly, and we are in the mountains here also. The Giggling Tree is full of foreigners, many who have come on recommendations...some who are just visiting China, others like us who live here and are just touring. We have been very impressed by our stay here already...the staff are very welcoming and so helpful in assisting us to plan our activities. The Dutch couple who are managing the place while the owners are away have so far arranged for us to take a bamboo raft along the river, a trip to a Water Cave and also a boat trip along the Li River where we saw the backdrop for the picture on the 20 Yuan note.
We arrived here on Monday lunchtime to glorious sunshine, so much so that we sat outside and had our lunch before deciding to make the most of the weather and take a trip in a bamboo raft along the Yulong river to see the infamous mountains. The view in the taxi from the airport had been scenic enough for us city dwellers, we enjoyed
breathing the fresh air the moment we exited the airport! Well, the bamboo rafting was loads of fun, if a little chilly after a while! Us mums took the children in a boat each while the Dads shared together. A good idea as it was the dads who ended up with wet bums, we were dry! The raft was pushed along by a man with a pole and every now and then we either had to get out while the boat was wedged along a stone wall or we all just went over it and we had to keep our feet up so as not to get wet as the front of the raft was completely submerged for a few seconds. The photos will help to explain! Needless to say we had a great time, very relaxing just floating along the river with the beautiful scenery in the sunshine!
Yesterday, the weather was not so good, so we headed into Yangshuo town for a wander around before being taken to the Water cave. The roads around here are not great (a slight understatement!) and the road to the cave from the main road was just unbelievable! We were bouncing
around in this mini truck thing with potholes along a dirt track from 3.5km! No seatbelts, the chairs were actually moving, and the boys were on the mums' laps! I cannot tell you how un-health and safety conscious China is...but we had such fun!!! Anyway, we eventually got to the cave where we got in a wooden boat and drifted along into the mouth of the cave, ducking our heads as we went until we got to the inside and were able to get out and walk. And walk we did....for about 2 hours!! It was so beautiful and just amazing, but it got very hot indeed and a bit slippery at points. In the warmer weather, you can jump in the mud bath and then into the hot springs but it was a bit chilly for that at this time of year. We would certainly like to come back in the spring or summer and try it!
Today, the sky was not so overcast so we decided we had to take the opportunity to get out and do the must-see Li River cruise to see the 20Yuan not backdrop. We had been suggested not to actually stay in
Guilin although you have to fly there, but to travel the little further to stay n Yangshuo. However, this boat trip takes you quite near to Guilin and has to be done. We decided not to take the bamboo rafts this time as it was still quite cold, but we hired a kind of barge for the same price with an open top and open windows. This was a great decision and we all really loved it. We had such a lovely time just taking in the breathtaking scenery again...pictures explain it as much as possible! The boat goes from Yangdi to Xingping and when we arrived in Xingping, we stopped for a much needed hot chocolate at a cool Rice Paddy Cafe! The town was so quaint...clearly in the process of being developed but very traditional Chinese also. Ian has allsorts of ideas for businesses here....ideas afloating! Anyway, we headed back eventually and all met up again for dinner.
The Giggling Tree being in the middle of nowhere means that it is much easier to stay here for dinner in the evenings, and the food is great. A mix of Western and Asian food on the menu and
the kitchen is open from 7.30am-10pm daily. We are able to order so that the kids eat and don't end up wasting food.
All in all, we are having a ball! Total relaxation and mountain air...lots of rest and taking in the views around us. We are in great company and we even managed a touch of holiday homework this morning! More to follow soon...we are looking forward to the next few days, including New Year's Eve and then we return home on Saturday morning.
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