July 6 in China

 

 We landed to a misty rain... But no one cared! We met Shirley, our city guide for Guilin...boarded our coach...and headed to brunch! Delicious...which seems to be the same word I always use to describe the food.

From there, we took off for our only activity of the day, except traveling, of course! We drove to the Caves of Guilin. You have to picture this ride...once we turned off the main road, we were on a fairly narrow farm road, winding through fields of crops, with the steep, pointed mountains towering all around. There was fog or clouds hanging in some of them...it was breathtaking!!! Now, in the midst of this beauty, the road had a major pothole about every 4 inches (a huge exaggeration), but it was seriously bumpy and slow. It was a feat if incredible driving whenever we passed another coach! We even clapped once for our driver.

Also on this potholed, narrow road were people on bicycles, little carts that were battery powered, little carts pulled by bicycles, men WALKING THEIR COW!!!, chickens, and a few cars and trucks. These bicyclists and cart drivers were old farmers...don't think high tech bike here! 

 Once in the area, we had to get on carts that held about 10 people and ride it halfway to the cave area...past some very hoveled hovels. (Is that even proper English?). Then we got out of that cart and waited for another one that took us all the way up. I still can't believe we didn't run over some of the 500 chickens hanging out in the road.

 Finally, we got to the caves. Once in, we took a little train to a huge open area where there were all kinds of formations. It was definitely something to see... But there wasn't a LOT to see. After being there about an hour, we headed back.

 Next stop...an early dinner at a hotel (not ours) where a wedding and reception was going on. We had to walk right through the middle of the reception to enter and leave where we were eating! As we were leaving, the bride and groom were standing in front of this beautiful draped area that announced their marriage. I saw a new picture for every new bride.... The bride held a lighter...a Bic lighter...and people would come up with their cigarette for her to light it!!! That's what the professional photographer was taking pictures of!!!

Now we are at the hotel...tomorrow is rafting on the Yulong river and a lot more. Tomorrow afternoon we all meet with our home stay families for a dinner and welcome ceremony...and then go to their homes for the evening and morning.


Google 'Guilin, China'... You can't imagine how beautiful it is!

I'm not sure how wifi will be tomorrow...visiting with our host families will be priority! We'll be back here the next night, so I'll for sure update again then!

~Judy