Donghengsheng Hotel Wujiang

Despite the heat, we were all charged up for a 20 km trip to the local must-see tourist destination, Moon Mountain and the Water Caves. With our perky Chinese guide, Sophie to show us the way, we pedalled our rentals (at 10 RMB per day - about $1.50) through scenic valleys, across ...

... were paying, and would have to pay more to use it. Fortunately, when Larry turned up later, he was quite happy to give us the control for the air-con. The fan would not have been adequate in this weather. The free internet is just outside our door, but no one seems to know how to start it up except Larry. Before Larry appeared, Thomas put the ************ us to buy three days of touring for Y900 each. He showed us receipts to prove other people had paid these prices and a book ...

... really cool. Basically Liar's Poker with dice which is fun. Next day we both went out again on the bike ride and this time it was again cloudy and cold but it didn't rain so we took in the sights. The countryside is very nice and under sunnier conditions I think it would be unbelievable. The last day I just strolled around town which is also pretty cool although definitely touristy. Next I head west to Kunming in Yunnan province which is supposed to be much warmer.

After having spent the last few days in front of the computer I felt like it was time to get off my butt and go for a bike ride. I strategically left an hour after every other tourist (just about everyone that comes here goes for one) so I could have some peace and quiet on the trip. But it did not take the ...

... sellers, which to no big surprise were very persistant! Fake Dior bags, Mao merchandise, t-shirts, you know the deal. Needed to use some bulldozer elbows and slalom-like tactics to get even 5 metres. Finally we got to our hotel, the Explorer, which was great (and merrily cheap). Another sure info from the bible (ie. lonely planet)! And after the tourist crowds had left, the town completely changed its atmosphere to a very relaxed one.. The were some ...

... Continuing the story, we eventually went to his friend's tea store. The man is a professional tea-master with a 5 year study on the subject. The local tea ceremony was highly interesting with a strict etiquette where you for instance take very small portions at a time and have to drink the tea boiling hot. After some few litres of some of the best tea around, we left happily with our tongues burned and bletter blowing!

... all the way as asian drivers are absolutely crazy. i didn't end up going too deep into the caves as they were pretty small (Vinnie had to crawl through some of the caves, there's pictures of him in one.) There was another guy caving as well so him and vinnie did the harder caves and also went for a dip in the mudbaths. I have a picture of these 2 covered in mud, its hilarous.

... The scenery is STUNNING and is reputedly the most beautiful in China and amongst some of the best in the world. The Li river winds its way through the peaks and pinacles. Flanked by lush banks edged with thick green vegitation and large clumps of bamboo backed by farmland. We passed water buffalo wallowing in the waters and cattle grazing along the banks. All the time we were towered over by the everpresent limestone giants which cast huge 'shark fin' shadows across the surrounding ...

... Laurie said that often their English is appalling. At the end of the session the kids could come and ask us questions, but as they had only had English lessons for a month or two, it was limited to the older girls gigglingly coming up to us and doing the hellohowareyou-whatisyourname-Imfinetha nks-goodbye routine. Still, we all had a blast, some of the kids visibly enjoying speaking a funny language and actually being understood (I have the same feeling trying to ...

... scenery and we had the top to ourselves aswell, I think most people go earlier in the day so it was just our little paradise for a brief moment in time! Unfortunately, when we got back down we had a half hour bike ride back to town so that finished us off, our bums were killing all night!! Friday was a complete disaster though! We felt guilty for not booking any tours with our hotel manager so we did a deal with him for white water rafting on Friday and then ...