Pizza, Puppies and Poker

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As I write this, Martin is downstairs possibly losing our money in a poker game with random guys we met at the hostel. Luckily 100 kuai is only around 15 USD, so he can't lose that much. 😊

Haikou is an interesting place. There really isn't much to do, and we weren't expecting there to be. It was a VERY cheap flight, and a cheap place to stay for a couple of nights...but not necessarily a 'must-see' on your tour of SE Asia. We had talked to enough people about it to be prepared though, so that's good. We probably could have booked just one night here and been satisfied.

After checking in and getting settled at our hostel yesterday (Wednesday), we set out to explore the city around us. We went to a nearby restaurant where Martin tried the local speciality- Hainanese chicken rice. It was served with the skin on and LOTS of blood...mmm. Not so appetizing. I had a vegetable casserole that ended up having bits of seafood (shrimp, etc) in it and sort of made me want to vomit, so we found ourselves getting fries at KFC afterwards. How typically American, I know. We've been to KFC and McDonalds more in China than I think maybe ever in the states. Ridiculous! We're pretty good about eating Chinese food every day (how can we not be in rural Bao'an), but wanted something a little more familiar after that lunch experience.

We walked through some pretty park areas, down a typical China street with a thousand small shops selling anything you could imagine....bought some bubble tea, bought some Chinese pastries, bought pineapple halves on sticks from an old woman with no teeth...and it was delicious!

Our vacation thus far has mostly consisted of eating, walking around, drinking beer, and napping. While that might not be the most exciting way to spend time in China, I'd say it's pretty fantastic for a laidback island vacation!

Last night we enjoyed some beers at a picnic table outside a convenience store after finding our way to the nearby beach and dipping our feet in during sunset. Pretty fantastic, really. Today we slept in, ate banana pancakes & coconut/banana juice made by the hostel (AMAZING), walked around town in an attempt to find a swimming pool we had heard about (unsuccessful), ate a few meals, got a delicious coffee drink, played with a puppy at our hostel, mailed some postcards, video chatted with Jen & then my brother, and ended the evening with some beers in the hostel media room.

Tomorrow we head to Sanya- apparently a bit more of a touristy place. We plan on hitting the beach and sleeping a lot. Sounds fantastic, right? 😊

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Comments

[Mom/MD]

perfect vacation
sounds like an absolutely wonderful vacation...just the kind we all need now and then. So the puppy you played with, is that the same one that became so intimate with Martin upon your arrival? The one in your picture you posted the other day was beautiful! Enjoy the beach and the next few days of relaxation before heading back to ummmm...what is it that you are supposed to be doing over there...oh yeah, teaching! Love you!

[ashley]

Come on!
How can you not love mcdonalds? If I recall, it should be your yearly anniversary restaurant!

[Kandre]

Sound like you guys had fun
From what I have read it seem you guys had a lot of fun. I am looking to go to Hainan in the coming week with some friends and would like the contact info for Sanya Blue Sky International Youth Hostel where you guys stayed. I know I am going there at a time when it is very difficult to get rooms, but I am hoping to have as much fun as you guys did...