Floating Snack Shops Too

There were also floating fast food rafts. You could buy beer, soda, fried fish and water-pipe guns. We got our guides some fried fish and beer but we figured we were too old to have water gun fights – it got so hot later we were sorry we didn’t get them. I wish I had worn my bathing suit. The water looked very clean, cool and inviting.

Side Note: Travel Plans Changed

It has taken me a long time to adjust to traveling in China. It’s the polar opposite when comparing it to travel planning in the US – you save more money the closer to the date you book your flight ticket. Round Trip is not cheaper than one way. The way there by plane might be cheaper than the way back or vice-versa. People accept reservations on cell phones, just text your name and date to them. You cannot buy a train ticket more than 10 days in advance (unless you use a travel agent). CTrip (the most popular internet/travel agency) takes only domestic credit cards. (And a large majority of most Chinese do not have a credit card) They hand deliver the tickets to you and you pay cash. Soft seat or soft bed on the train really does not mean soft seat/bed – it is just a little more leg room and less people.

Back to the main subject....We were planning to go to Qingdao but they have had an algae bloom in the last couple of weeks.
(read about it here http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/olympics/2008-07/03/content_6817647.htm )

So it was good that we are traveling Chinese style and hadn’t made any reservations. New plans were made last night for our Monday departure. We are now going to Fujian Province south of Zhejiang. We are spending a couple of days each in Xiamen, Quanzhou and Yongling. The hotel in Yongling is really a earthen roundhouse known as a tulou. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fujian_Tulou Staying in one of these places will be quite an adventure.

I will be back in the ZUFE apartment for a few days then will leave for Changsha (Cynthia’s hometown for another week of traveling – no plans as to what we are going to see- just relax and enjoy what comes.) I will return to ZUFE the 25th to pack again for my most anticipated trip – HOME - for a whole month on July 28th.

Side Note – The picture above was taken by Kris while on our raft tour. Great huh...

Computer Setup On a Raft

After being here for a year I have become jaded to some of the strange things I see here but seeing a desktop computer, printer, and laminator floating on a bamboo raft in the middle of a YuLong River shocked me. China is a country full of contrasts such as a modern computer on pole-powered raft.

Rafting on YuLong River

Some of the best scenery was on the raft ride. If you ever make it to Yangshuo make sure you do the raft ride the pictures alone are worth it. For a private van for half the day, raft rides and a tour of Silver Cave it only cost about 30 dollars per person.

Li River

4 hour cruise from Guilin up river to Yangshuo. You are provided with a lunch and plenty of deck area to take pictures. The scenery is indescribable. It is so much more than a frame in a camera can collect. I just hope that when I get senile I can still remember some of the beautiful hills and lush greenery. You just have to be there….

Bitter Melon

Only in China would people eat something that tastes so bad because it is supposed to be good for you. Think of eating a vegetable made of Alum. Bitter Melon is supposed to cool you off especially for women. I have to admit that the taste did give me the chills but it didn’t last longer than the taste. We had a little gathering and ended up having a Bitter Melon eating contest between Jake and Penny. I think Jake cheated cause he had his wife, Shelly, finish off his last 2 pieces – I am not sure that was included in the marriage vows.

Split Pants

Many pre - potty trained children in China do not wear diapers, They have split pants and just squat when they need to do their business. One American heard a mother whistling to help her daughter relax and pee in the bathroom. Sounds like a little Pavlov training there. Anyway it is common to see children walking around with their little bottoms and equipment hanging out. I mention this because the monkey pictured above also has split pants.