Holiday Inn Hotel Hangzhou

... considered one of the top four gardens in China and is a World Heritage site. The gardens were built over four hundred years ago by a transportation official for his own private use. It took more than ten years to construct. After the official died, his son lost the gardens in a night of gambling. <br><br>The garden was beautiful and worthy of lingering. A young Japanese couple joined our tour group and listened in ...

... bird? No one could explain this to us and from what we could see, no one else seemed to find these questions even the slightest bit relevant. Highly irrational. <br><br>My personal low of the trip was a 5 hour (FIVE HOUR) karaoke session that nearly drained me of the will to live. I can honestly say that I enjoyed myself for the first hour or two - the Stellas and Coronas were cheap, everyone was having a great time together and ...

... it. As I have already mentioned it has been very busy for me - after the national holidays I found myself a little stressed and very busy due to having to provide scholarship application material while I was in China. It was difficult as it had to all be notifised as well but with the help, understanding and patience of my entire family I got it done and sent off intime. <br><br>Some interesting things I found out while I was on my mission: <br ...

... to crash dock it, which panicked the guy we were renting it off. He was screaming at us 'RUDDER RUDDER!' but I thought he was yelling at us to turn the engine off, so told Dave to do that... and, well, we went nose first into the dock.<br><br>We spent over a week in Hangzhou because we were waiting for the Tai'an hostel to send my iPod which I left there (oops!). But I'm glad that it was in Hangzhou that we had to wait. It is definitely my favorite place in China so far ...

... including the Bai and Su Causeways.<br><br>Our next stop was the Six Harmonies Pagoda, first built in 970 AD to placate the tidal bore, a massive wall of water that rushes upstream during high tide. Over 60 metres high, it served as a lighthouse up until the Ming Dynasty.<br><br>Our Guide next takes us to a freshwater pearl shop before dropping us back at the Hotel.

Departed Suzhou at 9am for a 2 and a half hour drive to Hangzhou, we said goodbye to Grace our Local Guide for the past two days but we keep our driver Mr John. On arrival we meet our new Guide Rain and we are taken to the restaurant for lunch, then onto a local market area where we visited some Chinese medicine shops and an art gallery with bronze sculptures.<br>Arrived at the Hotel at 2pm and did nothing much, went walking and later found a Subway so that was dinner.

... br><br>My favorites in Hangzhou have been the pagoda and the perfectly pink lotus flowers that grow admidst the large leaves that collect the sweat dripping from everyone's brow. China is cleaner than I expected and not as polluted as I thought we would have to get used to. The sky is over cast with clouds that at times open up to sun that makes it even hotter than it already is. Not that I am complaining The other choice is the flash floods of rain ...

... was similar enough I was overconfident I could join in and quickly learn it and different enough that I tripped over my feet the entire time. 3. At a large-scale map of Hangzhou artfully engraved in the boardwalk cement, Adam asked a woman where West Lake was. Instead of referring to the map on the ground, she pointed to the actual lake not 10 yards away and looked at him disdainfully. We overslept the following morning though we had intended to get up early to enjoy a boat ...

... at KFC which i've been told is the most popular take-away in China. Everything is pretty similar to everywhere else in the world, except for these little pastry treats 'Moon Pies' I think they were called. My boss told me that they are delicious and she bought 2 boxes. I was unsure but, I trusted her so tried one and it was actually really yummy. From what I can tell it is puff pastry with a sweet egg mixture in ...

... are the tears of the Weaving Maid and Cowherd. Today, star gazers celebrate Qi Qiao Jie by gazing up at the star Vega, east of the Milky Way which represents Zhi Nu, and at the constellation Aquila, on the west side of the Milky Way, where Niu Lang waits for his lover to join him. Beers N Noodles toya.....shane __________________________ The soundtrack to this entry was Sheryl Crow The album was her self titled first release. Everyday is a winding road!