CHINA ROUND ONE

It's true, I thought I was going to go on a hot air balloon ride over the famous "Dr. Seuss Mountains." I wasn't lying about that part. But once we arrived in Yangshuo and they told us that some Dutch men had died a few months back in a hot air balloon, we crossed that off our lists. So now I will fill you in on the adventures we did go on during this Guilin trip (bytheway we never even went to Guilin which was an hour away the whole time)


The view from our Hostel

We stayed in a really nice hostel at the end of a creepy alley. It's called Monkey Jane's and we did meet Monkey Jane herself, a chinese girl in her late 20's who has a British English accent because she hangs out with a few guys from England who moved in there.
We arrived late Friday night after riding in a sleeper bus to get there. We slept in the next morning and that afternoon went out and rented scooters. Two people on each, so Andrea and I shared. It was actually a good thing that there were two of us because we needed the extra weight to steer. Half the group went to a mountain called Moon Hill, and the rest of us decided to just see what was around. (I think we had the better adventure) We got lost once, but also found a cave, traveled through some farmland, and just had a blast. One great part about China is you don't need any permission forms, we paid our money and were off on a adventure on scooters. -We all decided this was our favorite part of the trip.
Then the next day we woke up early and went on a bamboo boat ride around the river. We met a fisherman and got pictures with him. I'm not sure what it is called when they fish with birds but that's what he does. They catch the fish for him and he takes it out of their beaks. At the end of our tour there was a small little town and alot of water buffalo.



When we got back we got ready and went to the Water Cave. This is the famous mud caves. They first put you in these boats that go under this overhanging into this mountain. It felt alot like the Pirates ride in Disney Land. After you get off the boat they take you on a tour- alot like Timp cave except that they let you touch everything and you even climb up this one part. Then they wind you back down to the mud pit. It was freezing cold because we were inside of a cave that has never seen the sun, but it was still so fun.... except the part that there was a naked man in the mud pit. Yes, just what we were hoping for.... NOT!
So we hurried and got pictures in the mud and washed off to go to the hot pockets. They were about as warm as a bath tub, but it felt good after being in the cold mud. Man was our day fun.
Then on Monday we went shopping in all the little stores and I bought my dragon. His name is Seuss, after the doctor himself. He is red and is good luck (at least that's what the lady said...) So all in all it was a great trip, the only thing I would change is to get rid of the fog.
And by the way EVERYONE in China smokes. The bus ride home was one spent covering my mouth because the guy in front of me had one lit up the whole time. YUCK!
Though, if you ever come to China make sure you visit Yangshou- it was wonderful!