In Gulang yu

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Well here we are in China on Gulang Yu Island and its been raining since we got here! How did we get here?? Well we got the flight that left late and instead of arriving at 8.30p.m we got in after 9.30 and then could only change US$50 at the airport and it was Saturday night so we knew the banks would be closed on Sunday. We could not phone the guest house as we did not have the number -what i thought was the number was the area postal code. Well the taxi took us to town no sweat till we got near the Ferry and then all the roads were shut (we found out later due to the big marathon they have every year) so he dropped us and without a word of English we had to make our way through the dark streets to the ferry. Everyone was helpful and we did make it to the ferry at about 11pm. we arrived on the island and boy was it quiet not very many souls about and we did not know where to go. We went into a hotel and luckily through a lot of gesturing they realised where we wanted to go (we had the street address) and a kind young lady helped us up and i mean up the hill and up steps to the very top of the mountain. the guest house was of course closed but we banged on the door and woke the French propietor up. I thought you were not coming anymore was his only words to us and why did we not phone him??? but he had our room anyway. The place itself was beautifully decorated but the hot water he told us we need to only let a little water out then it will be hot. That did not go down well with Terry I can tell you. So we had our first night and it rained all night. In the morning there was a great breakfast our first western meal since leaving home and although it was great - porridge, strawberries and mangoes, scrambled eggs, pancakes, amsterdammetjies and tea and toast i did miss my morning bowl of noodle soup or some other local delicacy. We walked right around the island and it took us about 2 and a half hours saw most of the sights from the outside as we had only a little money. they were crammed full of chinese visitors anyway and we just enjoyed the architecture of the place and the feel. Our digital camera came in good use when we needed to go to the loo we took a picture of the sign when we saw one and then we could just show the people the pic. that was terrys great idea. We took the ferry into town and wandered around the crowed streets. Lots of merchandise for sale the shops were humming, the pavements clean and i have not had anyone spitting yet. They even have 2 types of dustbins one for recycling and the other one for "other"
The markets were amazing and the amount of fresh fish, shellfish, frogs and stuff to weird and wonderful to name kept us amused for hours. The ferry is only a 6 minute ride and its free to the island and 3yuan to go come back so its quick organised and cheap. we got back really tired and then had to find someone to take us home it was dark and did i mention raining??? and we did not know where to go as we had not been back all day. It cost us to find and escourt but well worth it.

Today we moved into the youth hostel where its much cheaper and very friendly and we bought train tickets to Hangzhou tomorrow 24 hour train trip and only 2 hours from Shanghai. We hear its great there. So we are going out for provisions for the train and then I suppose to bed as its an early start to get the 9.30 train in the morning but I am sure its going to be fun!!!!

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Comments

[Roy & Elinor]

Having Fun??
Sounds like you are a million miles away instead of just half a world! Hope the rain stops and the food is good... enjoy