This is the most eventful day of the trip... we went to many attractions, did many fun stuffs, and took many many many photos!
We woke up around 8am... then went to the nearby shop to have GuiLin BeeHoon （桂林米粉）. It's a very interesting dish. They give you a bowl of cooked beehoon and some slices of beef, and then you collect the bowl, go to the nearby counter where you can add in chilli flakes, different kinds of diced vegetables as according to your preference. And then, you complete the dish by pouring a big ladle of soup over it! The 桂林米粉 was piping hot and is perfect for the chilly weather. Hee... for Xiuyue and I, it was especially delicious because it's the first time we taste spicy food since our arrival in Macau. Haha...
We checked out of the hotel and then met with our tour guide, Xiao Qin （小秦）. Then we drove to YangShuo （阳朔）. The ride took us about an hour.
Our 1st stop in 阳朔 was 世外桃源(which loosely translates into "Blossoms Fields that are out of the world", and is a term used by Chinese to refer to PARADISE). The first thing we did was to take a boat ride again. We cruised down the river where we saw many hills and mountains in the background, fisherman and villages that are by the shore of the river... As I looked at all that is before me, I felt serenity and peace enfold me and I was awed at the wonders of nature presented before my eyes as I just praised the Creator of all things for I see some of the wondrous works of His hand. The scenery is really really beautiful.
We cruised through a little cave and then emerged on the other side to find ourselves in the midst of a group of minority group people. They have long hair, both male and female, and are very tanned. The guide informed us that this group lives deep in the mountains and the guys are called Black Prince Charming （黑马王子） and the gals are Black Pearls（黑珍珠）.
After the cruise, we disembarked and I felt as if I had travelled back in time into ancient China. The buildings are so beautifully constructed to look ancient and 整个山庄散发着古色古香的气息. We passed the main entrance and drank a sweet rice wine （过寨酒）as is the custom there. Here, we danced with the Miao tribe（苗族） younsters, well, actually, it wasn't exactly a dance, we were just holding hands and turning rouch and round in circles. Then we participated in catching the embroidered ball（绣球）. It is said that if a child catches it, the child will grow up strong and healthy; if a single catches it, then he/she will find his/her partner soon; if a married person catches it, he/she will enjoy a blissful marriage till end. So Xiuyue, QiaoQiao and I got ready to catch. We missed the first one and guess what? I caught the second one!!! Yeah!!! Haha... and for the rest of the journey, everyone was teasing me about me finding my 阿牛哥 (or rather, my other half) soon!
Then we ventured to another part of the place. And it's 渊明山庄. It's actually a model of the residence of the famous poet, 陶渊明. He is a intelligent man who was made an official in his youth. But he decided to give it all up to retire (at a very young age) to live in the rural areas, plants his own vegetables, manage his little farm and create more poems. It's a quiet and serene place... I wouldn't mind retiring in a place such as this! Ha... Oh, something funny happened here. We were in this room where this guy is able to make a poem out of your name. We simply looked and showed no intention of buying...then he came up to us and started a conversation. And then he said, "The scenery here is nice. Come, take photo!" QiaoQiao, Xiuyue and I thought, "This guy is so nice. He wants to take a photo for the three of us!" Then we saw him stand at a spot, and he waved to us, "Come! IT's a good spot here. Which two of you will be taking the photo with me?" We almost fainted. We had misunderstood his intention! We three had a good laugh after that.
After the visit to 世外桃源, we continued our drive to YanhShuo. When we arrived, our stomaches were really growling. So Xiao Qin directed us to this restaurant, Big Sister Peng （彭大姐）. And he said that the YangShuo specialty, Fish cooked in beer （啤酒鱼）, is well-prepared by the chef there. So, we had another feast! In all honesty, the fish is really so so so good... Hee... QiaoQiao said she would like to learn how to make the dish. Xiuyue and I volunteered to be her guinea pigs. Then, Uncle called for the bill. When the elderly lady came to Uncle with the bill, Uncle actually asked her, "So are you Big Sister Peng?" The lady was taken aback and she said she isn't. Haha... We had a good laugh... Uncle's really cute. Ha...
After lunch, we checked into our hotel（阳朔漓江酒店）and deposited our luggage. Kelly was really enjoying herself running from one room to the other (our 3 rooms were just next to one another).
Then we made our way to yet another boat cruise. This time, we were cruising down Li River （漓江）. It was another cruise that left me marvelling at the might of God, that by His Word all these mountains before my eyes are formed! There was nothing on this cruise except exceedingly marvellous scenary of tall green mountains and deep blue waters. The boat first brought us to this spot where we can view a series of hills...and the very sight before us is also found on the back of the 20yuan dollar note. Wow... Xiuyue and I took many photos and I also purchased the photo that the professional photographer, who was attached to our boat, took for me. Hee... And the rest of the cruise, it was just admiring the nature before our eyes. The reflections of the green hills in the blue waters... the fishermen and their fishing herons... This, it's really beyonds words, 此景此境非笔墨能够形容!
Dinner time! Xiao Qi brought us to a streetside stall for steamboat! And the soup base was Duck and Gingko Nuts（白果老鸭）! Yummy yummy!
Then it was back to hotel, where after resting for a while... we went out again! We went to West Street （西街）where the nightlife's supposed to be really exciting. Haha... We didn't go pubbing. But I did go shopping. I bought a hand-painted t-shirt for Magdelene. And I was so attracted by the hand-painted canvas shoes that I couldn't resist but bought a pair for myself (at only 75RMB)! That was after much consideration because both Xiuyue and I had not much cash on us by now... Xiuyue bought a cute little hand-painted phone pouch too. We walked and walked and finally decided on getting ourselves a foot massage. So, QiaoQiao, Xiuyue and myself stepped into one shop and got ourselves our foot massage! QiaoQiao had the Frangrance Foot Bath, Xiuyue had the Tribal Medicine Foot Bath and I took the Milk Crystals Foot Bath. We were placed in the same room. The shoulder massage was relaxing, the foot bath was soothing and the massage was comforting to our tired legs!
After this, we walked back to the hotel and then... it's past 12mn! Pay day! We went to the ATM and we finally had cash-on-hand! Say bye to budget shopping! Hee...
No comments:
Post a Comment