Monday, April 10, 2017
Our tour ended today and the sun is out. We went to Disney Hong Kong. It was not as nice as Shanghai and seemed a lot like LA Disney. Wide walkways and the castle seemed a little dwarfed. We have one more half day in Hong Kong then we fly to Tokyo Japan. Good news. All of China and no pit toilets 😃😃😃😃
Sunday, April 9, 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Dumpling Lunch
Today is another fly day but first off to see one of the Buddhist temples and visit a calligraphy studio. There was an optional trip to see another temple earlier in the morning or sleep in for an extra 30 minutes before packing and having luggage out. The weather is warm and sunny so we consider ourselves very lucky. Our flight today is late in the day and we head to a locale restaurant for lunch
Lunch today is dumplings. 16 different types of dumplings as well as some side dishes and as always soup and 1 glass of beverage. On one of the later posts I will expand about our meals in China. Most likely when we are in Japan. The flight to Guilin was delayed but we were able to see lights around the lake and river. The city capitalized on the lakes and river and actually created canals for tourists to see the city lights from boats nightly.
Guilin is in a mountainous area of China known most for limestone and scenery. The Lijiang River is located in a gorge and is known as the little Grand Canyon because of the high hills on each side of the river. The locals have created legends about many of the peaks. This area also has tea plantations that can be visited.
Our plan for the day is to spend the morning on the boat looking at the hills, the a massage ($25) if interested for either foot reflexology or full body and then a trip to the tea plantation after dinner there is a boat ride to see the lights on the lakes. Dan and I skipped the tea and night lights. We had an early dinner (we were able to locate a pizza to share) and walked along the lakes to see the lights. This is our only night to do anything in Guilin as tomorrow we have a train ride into Hong Kong the final stop
Well Dan managed a fall after his massage seems he fell off the edge of the walkway after his massage. No injuries only a bruised ego. Our evening walk was enjoyable. Wehave a couple that we enjoy doing things with on the tour and found a restaurant not too far from the hotel and as we got to the place 2 Chinese girls asked to take pictures with us. Seems pictures with Americans is the thing.
Lunch today is dumplings. 16 different types of dumplings as well as some side dishes and as always soup and 1 glass of beverage. On one of the later posts I will expand about our meals in China. Most likely when we are in Japan. The flight to Guilin was delayed but we were able to see lights around the lake and river. The city capitalized on the lakes and river and actually created canals for tourists to see the city lights from boats nightly.
Guilin is in a mountainous area of China known most for limestone and scenery. The Lijiang River is located in a gorge and is known as the little Grand Canyon because of the high hills on each side of the river. The locals have created legends about many of the peaks. This area also has tea plantations that can be visited.
Our plan for the day is to spend the morning on the boat looking at the hills, the a massage ($25) if interested for either foot reflexology or full body and then a trip to the tea plantation after dinner there is a boat ride to see the lights on the lakes. Dan and I skipped the tea and night lights. We had an early dinner (we were able to locate a pizza to share) and walked along the lakes to see the lights. This is our only night to do anything in Guilin as tomorrow we have a train ride into Hong Kong the final stop
Well Dan managed a fall after his massage seems he fell off the edge of the walkway after his massage. No injuries only a bruised ego. Our evening walk was enjoyable. Wehave a couple that we enjoy doing things with on the tour and found a restaurant not too far from the hotel and as we got to the place 2 Chinese girls asked to take pictures with us. Seems pictures with Americans is the thing.
Terra Cotta Warriors and a noodle lunch
We are off to see the Warriors in the rain. It is amazing that they were able to piece together these life sized soldiers from rubble. It is still a work in progress but the government has constructed 4 separate buildings and work by the archeologists continues. The grounds surrounding the area is like most of China that we have been shown; beautifully landscaped with flowering trees and shrubs. Roadsides and highways are landscaped in a similar fashion. There are gardeners to tend all these areas. After lunch we had noodle lunch with hand made noodles in a broth with scallions and other vegetables
After lunch it's off to a lacquerware manufacturer. It is an interesting and time consuming process. The upside nothing caught our eye so my charge card is safe for a few more days. Dan did spend the visit talking to one of the other tour members about woodworking. Seems as though he has an enormous shop including computerized equipment
The final stop for the day was a small community school. The tour company supports the school with donations and part of each tour booked. We visited a 6th grade classroom and interacted with the children during their 10 minute recess. Each student must pay tuition and teachers salaries are $800 a month and many months they are not paid the entire salary only 60%. The children only have to go to school until 9th grade and if the family can't afford tuition the children don't go at all
China's social structure requires people to remain in the area they were born in otherwise there is no healthcare and children can't go to school because they are not registered if the family moves. More later when I can explain as it is hard to do that while typing.
After lunch it's off to a lacquerware manufacturer. It is an interesting and time consuming process. The upside nothing caught our eye so my charge card is safe for a few more days. Dan did spend the visit talking to one of the other tour members about woodworking. Seems as though he has an enormous shop including computerized equipment
The final stop for the day was a small community school. The tour company supports the school with donations and part of each tour booked. We visited a 6th grade classroom and interacted with the children during their 10 minute recess. Each student must pay tuition and teachers salaries are $800 a month and many months they are not paid the entire salary only 60%. The children only have to go to school until 9th grade and if the family can't afford tuition the children don't go at all
China's social structure requires people to remain in the area they were born in otherwise there is no healthcare and children can't go to school because they are not registered if the family moves. More later when I can explain as it is hard to do that while typing.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Arrival in Chongping Busy day ahead
We disembark at 8am and take a bus to see the Flying Tiger museum and General Stillwells home and headquarters. I found this museum fascinating. There was so much history that I forgot. One particular fact was the Chinese citizens participation in saving downed American pilots. According to the documents 95% of pilots that were downed were brought to safety by the Chinese citizens
Next stop the Chongping Zoo. This has the largest panda population in China at this zoo. We did. It have time to walk around but we're able to see the baby pandas that are only out 1 hour a day. I have some great video of the pandas that I can bore you with when we are home
From the zoo to the airport, which is a zoo in itself. We fly to Xi'an. This is the town that uncovered the Terra Cotta Warriors in 1976. Xi'an is surrounded with a city wall that has been rebuilt like many of China's palaces and temples. We are able to walk on the wall and climb the 3 flights of steps to get to the top of the wall
Time to mention a few things about flying with a group. There are definitely pluses. Your luggage is picked up outside of your room about 1 hour prior to leaving for the airport. The person checking in all the bags also gets all the boarding passes. It is getting harder and harder to stay under the 44 pounds with all the new accumulated treasures. We have already sent 2 boxes home which means the treasures cost more than we thought. The down side of group travel is, we are a group and handing out boarding passes and passports is a pain. We usually get to the airport and through security 10 minutes before boarding so no long waits. On all of our flights in China, even the 1 hour ones, they feed you a meal. Yes it does fit the description of airplane food so ediblity is questionable
On arrival all the bags are taken off the baggage carousel at the destination and automatically transferred to the hotel and delivered to the room. Additionally on this trip there was no charge for people who were overweight on the baggage. It was just worked out with the airline. It is nice to have someone work out all the details it is just the group movement that makes me a little crazy.
Next stop the Chongping Zoo. This has the largest panda population in China at this zoo. We did. It have time to walk around but we're able to see the baby pandas that are only out 1 hour a day. I have some great video of the pandas that I can bore you with when we are home
From the zoo to the airport, which is a zoo in itself. We fly to Xi'an. This is the town that uncovered the Terra Cotta Warriors in 1976. Xi'an is surrounded with a city wall that has been rebuilt like many of China's palaces and temples. We are able to walk on the wall and climb the 3 flights of steps to get to the top of the wall
Time to mention a few things about flying with a group. There are definitely pluses. Your luggage is picked up outside of your room about 1 hour prior to leaving for the airport. The person checking in all the bags also gets all the boarding passes. It is getting harder and harder to stay under the 44 pounds with all the new accumulated treasures. We have already sent 2 boxes home which means the treasures cost more than we thought. The down side of group travel is, we are a group and handing out boarding passes and passports is a pain. We usually get to the airport and through security 10 minutes before boarding so no long waits. On all of our flights in China, even the 1 hour ones, they feed you a meal. Yes it does fit the description of airplane food so ediblity is questionable
On arrival all the bags are taken off the baggage carousel at the destination and automatically transferred to the hotel and delivered to the room. Additionally on this trip there was no charge for people who were overweight on the baggage. It was just worked out with the airline. It is nice to have someone work out all the details it is just the group movement that makes me a little crazy.
Time to move again
Today we have an early morning flight to Yichang. This is a major docking area for small ships going up and down the Yangtze River and it is near the 3 gorges dam project. We will be on the ship for 4 nights. The ship is not scheduled to leave the dock until 24 hours or so after we board. This ship holds about 150 to 200 people. Entertainment is limited and provided by the housekeeping and dining room staff. Meals on the ship were some of the best we have had since it was a buffet not a fixed menu. There were also several recognizable courses that were along the western type of palette. There was also shopping on the ship and like all of China every price is negotiable. Before we went to the ship we stopped in the fast food market of before dinner or afternoon cocktail supplies
Our days on the ship were comprised of outings each day and one day we left the ship and walked into town. Unfortunately no one told us what time to be back and we almost missed the boat quite literally. We did find several treasures we couldn't live without.
We saw the dam and the view from several angles did a hike up into one of the canyons. Dan decided that he would see the "ships doctor" and see if acupuncture would help his hip pain and sinus drainage. What has helped the most has been rain. He breathes better after it has rained the highlight of the trip was getting laundry done. We have a small balcony which was great for drying the hand washing but it was nice to get the jeans washed.
We have had good weather the past 4 days and we are hopeful that the umbrellas can stay in the suitcase until we are home.
Our days on the ship were comprised of outings each day and one day we left the ship and walked into town. Unfortunately no one told us what time to be back and we almost missed the boat quite literally. We did find several treasures we couldn't live without.
We saw the dam and the view from several angles did a hike up into one of the canyons. Dan decided that he would see the "ships doctor" and see if acupuncture would help his hip pain and sinus drainage. What has helped the most has been rain. He breathes better after it has rained the highlight of the trip was getting laundry done. We have a small balcony which was great for drying the hand washing but it was nice to get the jeans washed.
We have had good weather the past 4 days and we are hopeful that the umbrellas can stay in the suitcase until we are home.
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