Hello from Yangsho, Guangxi, China

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Since we return from Zhongxan (our Oct 24), we were preparing for our "big trip".

On Oct 28, we joined a tour from Hong Kong and visited Guilin, Yangsho, Siu Hing. The tour took us to all kinds of shopping but very few sights. However, the 4 day tour was still enjoyable.

At the end of the tour, we did not return to Hong Kong. We asked the tour bus driver to drop us off at Sanshui, Guangdong, China. Sanshui is now part of Foshan, just west of Guangzhou.

Phyllis' father grew up in Sanshui, but has not returned since he left for Hong Kong in his teens. Phyllis wants to find some roots and through her cousin, found a way to contact the folks in Sanshui. We have published two albums, one of Phyllis' relatives, the other of the Sanshui scenery. The pictures of Phyllis' relatives were sent to only those whom we thought would be interested in the Choy family. The scenery pictures were distributed to all who expressed interest in our travel journal.

After a few days in Sanshui, where we received extreme hospitality, we bought our train tickets to Nanning, GuangXi, and planning to start our "big trip". However, Phyllis' filling in her molar came off. As the tooth had been filled many times, a crown has to be made this time.

We visited a local dentist and had the mold of the crown made. It takes one week for the crown to be made. So, we changed our plans and visited Yangsho, to return to Sansui later to get the crown installed. The cost of the crown is about 1/8 of that in Canada.

We took a sleeper bus from Sanshui to Yangsho, which took 12 hours, but normally an 8 hour trip (for 545 KM). The bus took two meal breaks, one car wash break, one bus repair break, and traffic congestion delay. We arrived in Yangsho at 3 am, but managed to get a room in a guesthouse within 10 minutes. The room costs US$5 per night, with an ensuite shower, but a sinkhole toilet.

Today, we had an enjoyable day. We had breakfast and tried the famous Guilin rice noodle (RMB$2, about US 25cents each). We rented a two-person bicycle (RMB$10) and hired a female guide (RMB$10), who took us for a nice bicycle ride, and then a two-hour quiet bamboo rafting (RMB$150) at the Yulong river ("Meet the Dragon River"). On the river, there were food vendors of corn, fried fish, beer, etc.

After a light dinner at an open food stall, we are here at an internet bar, making this report. It cost RMB$2 per hour.

Yangsho is really beautiful and the people are generally friendly. A lot of westerners visit here and there is a famous "West Street" where they can get pizza, fallafel, coffee and sandwiches. The bars are pretty roudy in the evening.

The weather is beautifu, but rather hot for November. The scenery is spectacular and please await our next photo album. Yangsho offers a lot of opportunities for those interested in walking, bicycling, cave exploring, rafting, and just chilling. We are here on a weekend and things are quieter. On weekends, it gets real busy.

We will return to Sanshui using an overnight sleeper bus in a few days. Phyllis' cousin Ying Foo will empty (and harvest) his fish pond on Nov 12 and it is supposed to be a spectacular sight. On Nov 13, there is a big dragon boat race in Sanshui.

We guess we will really start our "big trip" around Nov 15.

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Comments

[Judy]

Test
Enjoy the pictures and journal!Frank and I had the best time in Yangshuo in year 2000, then I got pregnant and the good days were over since then.

[Y.K. Choy]

The most beautiful place
Guilin's scenery is the most beautiful ( this saying has been carrying on more than thousands of years)one in China but Yangsu is more attractive. Now you two just experienced it, and what do you think? Do you agree with the saying?

[Cecilia Mullikin]

we are touring China thru your eyes, Phyllis and Gary
We enjoy your trip log. Keep them coming.