Blog du Wren

Democracy Works!

No, I don't mean the mid-term elections back there in the U.S. (whose hubbub I'm so glad I've mostly missed out on). I mean the BdW poll and its results. Thanks to some great investigative work by you, dear readers, I've just had 3 great days to wind down my time in China.

I've spent my time in Yangshuo which is just outside of Guilin. It is the "independent travelers" area, while Guilin caters more to the package tourist. The touristy atmosphere has been a pleasant change from the big city hustle and bustle I've experienced so far. Menus in English, other travelers, and activities out the wazoo are all assets Yangshuo's got going for it.

First and foremost, upon arrival, I immediately climbed Green Lotus Peak to get the area's only geocache. In the evening, I enjoyed more steamed dumplings at the hectic night market. (I had to pass on the dog, frog, eel meat this time around.) On the second day, I rented a bicycle and toured the local countryside. Riding through rice fields on a path 2 feet wide where there is no one around but the water buffalo and farmers stooped to hand reap the harvest will forever stay in my memory. I couldn't have asked for a better counterpart to the cities I've mostly seen so far. After a bamboo ferry ride across the river, the bike trip finished with a trip to Moon Hill.

The Li River is one of the things that can't be missed, so I didn't. Yesterday I took a trip that puttered up and down the river where we pretty much just gazed out at the scenery. Quite pleasant (oh, ignore that dude in the front with goofy looking birds on his shoulders and just bask in the scenery).

Friday November 10 2006

File under: China, travel

Toggle Comments (7)

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on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 02:43 am UTC sweet julie said:
are those actual fishing cormorants?!?!?! wow! i am envious! love the scenery- what are those 'hills' made out of? so unique! love to see your smiling, peacefull, beautiful wrenny face!
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on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 04:42 am UTC bbree said:
I second that! The envy part. The scenery is surreal. Hey Wren -- I know I've been silent til now, but have been following your travels pretty regularly. thanks for the vicarious adventure.
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on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 06:26 am UTC Trista said:
So, by now maybe you've realized the back of the 20 spot is your current neighborhood. I've been spendin' those orange backs thinkin' of you.
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on Fri 10th Nov, 2006 06:30 am UTC trista said:
p.s. Is there a "swimming with the shags" tour available there on the Li River?
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on Sat 11th Nov, 2006 07:42 pm UTC Mom said:
Whoa, you shaved! Or is this some fancy time lapse photography that shows you as the man you were when you left for this trip? Did the Princess Cruise ship require a clean shave?
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on Sun 12th Nov, 2006 02:32 am UTC Saxtor said:
They weren't convinced he was actually a princess unless he shaved...
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on Mon 13th Nov, 2006 05:42 pm PST Daniel said:
I haven't been to this part of the country, there is an old saying goes like this "Guilin's scenery tops the world, Yangshuo is even better than Guilin". So, you know how much the local in Yangshuo proud of their scenic world. I have never been there before, but all these picturesque setting and Li River were told when I was a child.
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