Off to do a 3 and a half hour boat cruise on the Li River today, along with several other tourist boats in varying degrees of rust and disintegration! Our boat seemed sound fortunately. Perhaps because there were quite a few non Chinese! Germans, Kiwis, Aussies, and a large group from Argentina.
Weather looked dodgy with some rain and mist but by the time we boarded the rain had gone and the sun peeked out later in the afternoon.
Stunning scenery, nothing like anything we’d seen before. Lovely and peaceful standing on the top deck with the breeze blowing…then bombarded by rapid Chinese announcements blaring over the loudspeaker, other boats honking their horns and belching petrol fumes!
Following the boat ride it was another massive throng of people channeled through a endless arcade of local market stalls selling the same tourist stuff. Then through a couple of local streets again geared to tourists, but selling more traditional local crafts, silver, embroidery, Chinese brushwork.
The driver met us and we began the hellish 2 plus hour drive back to the hotel on a dirt road, as the new highway is under construction. When we say dirt road, have no illusions, it was really a dirt road. Wendy, our guide, said it was a free body massage. Not funny. A free for all with bikes, buses and every kind of vehicle imaginable. Road signs, dividing lines, stop lights or any form of traffic control was non existent. Overtaking on any side seemed to be acceptable, intersections were total chaos. During the journey we saw several fender benders and one fatal accident involving a motor cycle and 2 buses – no sign of an ambulance.
Glad to be back at hotel, excellent buffet again. Still too hot in the room, but never mind, last day in China!
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- Starting off on the Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo
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- Argentinian Travel Show Host
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- Arriving at Yangshuo
Off to do a 3 and a half hour boat cruise on the Li River today, along with several other tourist boats in varying degrees of rust and disintegration! Our boat seemed sound fortunately. Perhaps because there were quite a few non Chinese! Germans, Kiwis, Aussies, and a large group from Argentina.
Weather looked dodgy with some rain and mist but by the time we boarded the rain had gone and the sun peeked out later in the afternoon.
The driver met us and we began the hellish 2 plus hour drive back to the hotel on a dirt road, as the new highway is under construction. When we say dirt road, have no illusions, it was really a dirt road. Wendy, our guide, said it was a free body massage. ot funny. A free for all with bikes, buses and every kind of vehicle imaginable. Road signs, dividing lines, stop lights or any form of traffic control was non existent. Overtaking on any side seemed to be acceptable, intersections were total chaos. During the journey we saw several fender benders and one fatal accident involving a motor cycle and 2 buses – no sign of an ambulance.
Glad to be back at hotel, excellent buffet again. Still too hot in the room, but never mind, last day in China!
