So after Macau it was another overnight train to Guilin. Guilin is famous for the limestone Karst that dot the countryside. However I was off to a town called Yangshuo which is a bit of a backpacker ghetto and full of domestic tourists. I really can`t believe that even after a months holiday in January thetown was still thronged with Chinese tourists, numbering thousands, so not too much eveidence of a recession here. However some miserable hot and humid and wet weather along with the bustling hoardes did not leave me with any great impressions.
I had booked to do a morning cookery class learning some of the local cuisine which was very informative and tasty :) but the evening before one of the locals who was friends with the the owners of the hostel brought me to a local resturant so I could get some real hands on experience. At first it seemded like a scam but then I realised it was all genuine. Rics` friends had just opened their restaurant 3 months ago and are a couple from Beijing. After a quick tour of the kitchen and restairant which waas located in the outer area of the Town it was time to get to work. Firstly I was given some demonstrations on the art of hand rolling and cutting noodles. After a few times she handed it over to me and I attempted to follow suit. After a few false starts I soon got into rolling and cutting the `Chicken Beard Noodles`; after a while th other chef came out and also shard a few tips. Finally after transforming the bowl of dough ito a 1/2 doz trays of noodles it was time to cook.Firstly I was shown the correct way to cook he noodles, then the other chef brought me into the kitchen to show me how to cook the sauce, then it was time to tuck into a steaming bowl of freshly cut and cooked noodles smothered in a rich soy bean and local pork sauce. Delicous and all this for only 10 yuan or about $2AUD
next day was back on a bus to a town farther away. Although busy with tourists during the day, the evening was quite and peaceful. The newly opened hostel had a great roof top terrace overlooking the Karsts, this location being on the 20 Yuan Note, thus the daytime tourists. My first day I spent wandering around the old streets which gave a much better impression of Old China than Lijang or Yangshuo. The next day I hired a bike and spent a few hours cycling through paddy fields and orange groves stopping at some small villages along the way much to the amusement of the locals.
Another 25 hour pot noodle express brought me to Chengdu in the Sichuan province(where the earthquake was last year) Here I spent the first day in the comapny of the resident Panda`s at the Chengdu research facility, arriving just after feeding time(took the cheaper local transport) left me to enjoy the Pandas just chilling out and playing a bit while everyone else had already left to see the Panda Cubs. The site was great but I had wanted to go on a trek in a Natonal park further away but just don`t have the time, this time.
Next day I was off to see the biggest remaining outdoor seated Buddha in the world. Not as impressive as I expected, but at least it didn`t cost too much, a bit of a hazy day didn`t give the great views expected. However not even having a chance to take out my own camera when I arrived I was mobbed by a school group who queued diligently to have their photograph taken with me. so after 20 minutes (no joke) I was back on my way and had a quick look around the town of Leshan before hopping onthe bus back to Chengdu.
