Finally I have made it to a computer for an update
So when I last left it, we had just got to Guilin. So on 10 Feb, we went to Elephant Trunk Hill. It looks like an elephant drinking and it actually did, the Chinese seem to think all hills look like something! A Chinese guy then started talking to us and showed us to Solitary Peak, somewhere we weren't really planning on going but had thought about it he then followed through the entrance and we didn't think he was going to leave us alone, thank god he did! But then when we came back out the hostel later, he was there and invited us for tea, we politely declined... so the hill was nice and steep and it was really hot so not a good combination, treated ourselves to an ice cream when we got to the top. Had a McDonalds for dinner to get away from rice and noodles and then it meant we knew exactly what we were getting, a nice change!
11 Feb
Today we went on the Li River cruise. Awesome scenery, we had 4 hours on the river. Lots of limestone pinnacles which they think look like things which they do not. Although one did look like a snail but that is the only one that I could agree on. Made it to Yangshao, along the river and that was really touristy, lots of cafes and restaurants for westerners. the hostel we stayed in was right along the main road in the town so that was a really good location. Met back up with the tour guide in the afternoon as we decided to do the optional extra tour. Went out to Dragon Village and saw Dragon Bridge, good scenery around but a bit of a fuss over nothing for the bridge! We then got on a bamboo raft and went down a bit more of the river. We then got off the raft and fed some water buffalo, that was cool. Bit unexpected! Was a bit nervous to start with but then they said that they were tame and the farmer was holding onto them by rope anyway, what a relief! Back on the raft and went to see how the locals fished. They used cormorant birds that had their necks ringed so that they didn't swallow their catch. So that was a day of surprises, wasn't expecting all the stuff we did in the afternoon. And it was nice and sunny so that was good : )
12 Feb
Went back to Guilin today and got train tickets for Nanning for 15th. Got a box from the post office and dealt with sending stuff home. No need for the winter woolies anymore where we are headed now! Thank god.
13 Feb
Sent the parcel home, god knows where we will be when it gets delivered home finally?! Went to Reed Flute Cave, that was cool lots of stalagtites and mites all lit up in funky neons to make the most of them. There was one really good bit where the "ceiling" was reflected in the shallow pool below and made it look really deep. Was really hot (30 degrees) so that was pretty much all we did!
14 Feb
Another taking it easy day today as it was hot again. Went to Seven Star Scenic Area. That was cool, some Chinese woman wanted a picture with me which was a bit weird!! Saw some nice little waterfalls and went around the "zoo" wasn't really a zoo, just a lot of birds in cages and some monkeys. There was a petting zoo and some of the kids were picking the rabbits up by there ears, that was a bit awful to see. There was a hill called Camel Hill and to hand it to them it actually looked like one. They are maintaining it that way now as well as there was a net over one side so nothing could fall off!
15 Feb
Arrived in Nanning, after a 4.5 hours train journey (nothing compared to other train journeys we were used to). Got the tickets to Hanoi straight away, 55quid, only to find that the bus would have been 15. Oh well and we had thought about getting a refund and getting the bus but were told that the train was direct and that the bus meant we would have to change at the border, seemed easier just to stick with the train.
16 Feb
Had another day of waiting around for the train. Played around on the wii in the hostel, that was cool to have a bit of normality back again, rocked out to Guitar Hero and got some top scores!! Spent the excess Chinese money in Pizza Hut and then in Wal Mart as the Bank of China would not change it back, probably as we only had 20quids worth!! We thought we were getting to Hanoi at 1 in the morning but then when we got on the train some German couple told us that we would be changing trains at 3, interesting we thought!! They then said they thought we got to Hanoi at 1 in the afternoon. So basically, we had no idea what was going on at all and just thought well we are on the train so that is all that matters.
17 Feb
We got woken up by Chinese Customs and Border control at 12.30 and after over an hour they finally handed back stamped passports. They either thought my passport was fake or that it wasn't me in the picture as they spent ages looking at it and then me, god I was really nervous. It was silly really as we were only trying to leave the country not get in!! So then at 3 we were woken up again and got off the train and went through Vietnam border control at Dong Dang. That was nice and painless, what a relief. Changed trains and then got shown to the new room and then the lady asked us if we wanted to change any money. We thought what the hell. As soon as we said yes, the door was promptly shut and out came dong from her own pocket. Proper dodgey it was but so funny, when we agreed it didn't seem that dodgey!
So we are now in Vietnam. Don't have time to update you all on that, plus I haven't really updated my journal so there would be a ton of stuff that I would miss out!
Enjoying the heat in Vietnam and will update again soon
xx
