Huashan Mountains

We met Puma at 7.45am and went by car to Huashan Mountains, about a 2 hour drive.  Three tickets were needed, 1st for a bus ride of 40 minutes in a shuttle bus to a Cable Car, 2nd to go into the park, and the 3rd for the Cable car. There were many many steps to get from where the bus dropped us off to the Cable Car entrance.  Then even more steps to get to where we boarded the Cable Car.  The Cable Car is absolutely amazing and stunning. It travels 4 kms in a W Shape up vertical rock faces and over humungous ravines, and through a tunnel.  We reached the top at 12pm and had our snacks then started walking. Well formed tracks high in the mountains.  Lovely forest and, surprisingly, several varieties of lovely little birds. At the East Peak I waited while the others climbed up the very steep uneven steps to the next lookout.  Then we continued to the North Peak. People have placed red ribbons and padlocks in vast numbers on the trees and barriers.  These signify "love forever". Puma then tried to take us to the West Peak but we rebelled after climbing endless steps and not getting close. Turned round and walked down all those steps, then up another lot which were better spread out but still an awful lot of them.  Impressive views from the lookouts out over mountain peaks and valleys.  Really a very lovely area. Eventually got back to the Cable Car and down the mountain by bus back to the car.  By then it was 3.30pm so we had a very late lunch in a restaurant where we were the only patrons.  The toilet was appalling and the handle came off in my hand but the food wasn't too bad.  Back to Xian about 6.15pm after a very worthwhile side trip to an area few people see.  The Cable Car was only recently opened and the road up to it is another engineering marvel.  We were met by Frank who said we could have dessert in the hotel restaurant in lieu of dinner.

Bill in  the Cable Car

 

Going up sheer rock faces

 

Heading for the tunnel

 

Birdlife

 

Red ribbons and padlocks signifying love forever

 

Jenny, Bill, Judy, and John safely down from an energetic day on the mountains

Such a fuss when we wanted ice cream with our order!  Had a short stroll to the supermarket then a shower and bed.

To Mt Huashan 24.9.13

The four of us were ready at 6.30 am to be taken to the very fast train to Xian.  We were left at the door of the station and found our way to the correct waiting room, then boarded the train without incident.  All very efficient.  The train was spacious, comfortable, with excellent  seating and views through the windows. Ladies came along at regular intervals with food and for rubbish collection. Toilets good and western.  The train reached speeds of 300 kmph.  We passed through many areas of corn growing.  Also passed many huge cities with enormous numbers of high rise apartment buildings, all seemingly identical.  Quite an eye opening train ride over 6 hours. 
We were met in Xian by our guide "Puma".  Seems a nice guy.  The hotel didn't have our rooms ready so we went walking to see the Bell and Drum Towers. Found our way through underpasses.  Xian appeals to us all. 8 million people here. It is much more attractive than Beijing. At the Drum Tower we were fortunate to coincide with a demonstration of drum playing. Very loud.  Spectacular costumes. 
We went to a pancake restaurant for dinner for dinner with Puma.  Like Peking Duck pancakes with egg and pork and potato dishes to wrap in the pancakes.  Fairly ordinary food.   

Line up of drums outside the Tower

 

Drums in variety

 

A beautifully decorated drum

 

 

 

Beijing and the Great Wall 22.9.13

Bill is most unwell this morning so will spend the day in bed while I go to see the Great Wall. An early start, 7.15 am for  the 2hrs 20 min drive to the Mutianyu section of the Great Wall but the early start was worth it because very few people were there.  There was a freezing cold wind and it was spotting with rain.  A very grey day and not much good for photos. We took the cable car up the steep hill to the wall and began walking along it. Quite hard work, lots of steep up and downs and many many steps.  Heather Lamb lent me a plastic poncho as I didn't have a warm enough coat with me.  Thank you Heather.  You made my day much more pleasant than it would have been otherwise.  We inspected the Ming Dynasty guard towers  and enjoyed the views over the surrounding mountains.  The Great Wall is one of the 7 wonders of the world and was commenced 2000 years ago. It was built as a defence to keep out invaders and covers several thousand kilometres.  We had a late but lovely lunch in a restaurant at the base of the wall.  On the way down I purchased a new walking stick, sprung etc, for about $10.  Back to the hotel about 4.15pm and found Bill feeling much better. We went out for a stroll and marveled at the sweet and shoe shops.

Cable Car up to the Great Wall

 

View of the mountains the Great Wall crosses

 

View of the Great Wall and some of the many steps

 

Steps to the roof of a guard house

 

Interior of a guard house.                                                        Had hot chips at MacDonalds.  Bought some bananas and canned peaches for dinner.  Bill still weak.

 

To Beijing and join the Silk Road Tour Group

21.9.2013
Sadly, no eggs for breakfast today! Back to congee and toast.  Kevin collected us at 10 to 9 and took us to the airport.  We waited around for ages but eventually took off for Beijing.  A straight forward flight and we got from Terminal 2 to T3 without difficulty and met "Frank" our guide for the next few weeks. It took ages to get booked into the hotel which is very smart.  Kingsize bed etc.  Met the other members of the group who seem pretty good.  Range in age from late 40s to us so we would be the oldest together with our Melbourne friends, Judy and John.  Had the welcome dinner and all gave a short talk on why they were on the tour.  WiFi here so Vibered the kids, but no Google and so no GMail and no Facebook and no blogging.  Frank seems to be a really nice guy and I am sure will be a good guide.

22.9.2013
An 8.30am start for the walk to Tianamen Square and the Forbidden City. Tianamen Square is a huge area and there were lots of people and police.  Large but not really attractive.Big, big buildings.  The Forbidden City  also is large open areas with large buildings  (pavilions) some of which have  nice decorations and roofs. We finished in a so called garden with more pavilions, lots of rocks, and some trees but no flowers to speak of.

Tianamen Square

 

A view of a bamboo roof and decorations

 

A dragon sculpture in the Forbidden Palace

 

The Marble Boat in the Summer Palace Lake

 

A view of the decorated ceiling in the covered walkway

  Grabbed a bite to eat before being bussed to the Summer Palace which is really a big lake with lots of paths around it.  Also the "largest corridor" in Beijing which is a very long covered walkway beside the lake.  It has an amazing decorated ceiling.  We also saw the Marble Boat, which is quite spectacular. A huge model of a 2 storied boat all done in white marble.  Bus back to the hotel, a rest, then a Peking Duck dinner.  The Peking Duck was not up to Melbourne standards so that was a disappointing.  Also barely enough food for the group. 
Bill is not feeling well!

More Shanghai

20/9/13

Today we are free to do as we please.  Eggs for breakfast.  Yahoo!!  I supervised the girl cooking them so they weren't over cooked . Set out about 9.30am and wandered along Nanjim East street which is the main street.   Many very expensive goods in the beautiful shops.  Very cosmopolitan.  Had a coffee at Starbucks and eventually went down into the underground and caught a train to go to the French Concession for lunch. The train system is logical, fast , clean, and easy to use.  But we came up onto street level again through the wrong exit and had trouble finding the French Quarter but a lovely young lady very kindly insisted on taking us there. Found the Fountain restaurant and had an excellent lunch, 3 courses for 150 yuan each (About $A 27).  A small fresh tomato soup, an aussie sirloin steak beautifully cooked and so tasty, and a lovely crème caramel.  Wandered along observing everything and caught a train back to the hotel.  After a rest we braved the horrendous crowds again and fought our way down to the Bund.  Sat there for an hour or so watching the mass of people then fought our way back.  Not my favourite experience.  Eventually found ourselves back at Starbucks and had an orange juice and a muffin for dinner.  We also had chips and and an icecream at a KFC on the way back to the hotel.  Exhausted and hot!  The sheer numbers of people on the streets is hard to comprehend and the noise is deafening. Still, Shanghai is an amazing city , appearing to be very rich and modern but still with life going on in the back streets.

Shanghai Photos

French Restaurant where we had a delicious French cuisine lunch

View of the French Concession

The tea ceremony

The "Bund"  crowds looking across the river at "Shanghai Manhattan".

Crowds everywhere for the Autumn Moon Holiday

19.9.2013
Today we met our guide, Kevin, at 9 am after our first "Asian" breakfast.  I stuck with "congee", which is a rice stew like concoction made palatable for me by the addition of sugar.  Also some watermelon and their strange yellow sweet bread as toast.  Some pretend orange juice (yuk) finished things off.  Keeps body and soul together but that is about all.  Kevin whisked us along the streets at a great rate. We did so much today it is hard to remember everything.  A rather hot day and a long walk through the busy thronging streets until we reached the museum.  It is the mid Autumn Moon holiday here and everyone seems to be out enjoying the break.  We waited in line for an hour before going through the security check and being given another hour to explore the museum.  A beautiful well done museum with rooms devoted to jade items and furniture as well as many other rooms.  We were delighted to discover that there was an exhibition of French Impressionists showing Renoir, Degas, etc.etc. A beautiful display but we didn't have a great deal of time left to savour it.  Collapsed into the café and had an icecream before rejoining Kevin.  Took numerous taxis (which are all Volkswagons to Bill's interest) and walked many kilometres.  Saw the Old Town, the French Concession, the famous "Yu Garden" (you haven't been to Shanghai if you don't visit it says Kevin), the Bund etc.  Kevin took us to a fabulous old restaurant for a dumpling lunch. Later we also went to a tea house for the tea ceremony and sampled many different types of tea.  Fascinating and a welcome cool sit down.  We also saw the building and the room where Mao etc sat to plan the birth of the Chinese Communist party.  Kevin is a most informative and knowledgeable guide. Plied us with endless facts on the history of Shanghai, its various areas and buildings. Back to the hotel for a much needed rest and a shower before meeting Kevin for dinner.  A short walk to an excellent restaurant on the 18th floor of a 5 star hotel.  Many dishes, lemon chicken, prawns with peas, cabbage and lettuce salad, (delicious and different), bok choy, tomato soup, fried rice, and strange purple squares of something (but tasty) followed by watermelon and cantaloupe.  An excellent meal.  A long and fascinating day chock full of new experiences.

18.9.13 To Shanghai

Jenny picked us up at 9 am and we drove back to Guilin airport.  We used a new tollway that was an excellent road but, surprisingly, had almost no other cars on it. After the usual queueing and passport showing we boarded 1/2 an hour late.  Arrived Shanghai at 3pm and were met by Kevin, our guide here.  Kevin is a well informed and very voluble guide.  1 1/2 hours in awful traffic to the Nanjim Hotel which is just off the main boulevard, very well located.  Surprisingly, no WiFi here.  Kevin picked us up at 6pm and took us by taxi to a restaurant.  Beautiful food.  Chinese cabbage (delicious!), a chicken dish (delicious) and a beef dish.  Afterwards we took another taxi to the harbor where with zillions of others took a cruise up the river to see the city lights.  Impressive city.  The Chinese seem to love coloured lights. 

17.9.13 Caves

Guide Jenny collected us at 10 am with a car and we drove to a cave system outside Yangshuo.  We had a tour through the "Gold Water" cave which has been illuminated with spectacular coloured lights highlighting the stunning formations.  Very pretty but not something that would be done in cave systems here. After lunch we had a free afternoon so went walking through areas we hadn''t already visited.  Saw some fascinating shops including a "fish kissing" shop where you can have your feet nibbled by small fish.  Cards and gambling are popular here and we saw many groups playing in a park we walked through and also in buildings open to the street.  An amusing incident occurred  when a water seller tried very hard to give us the wrong change and all bystanders laughed heartily when we insisted on the correct amount. Yangshuo is a picturesque vibrant town with hordes of bicycles, tandems, tridems (is that a word) electric and pedal, electric and petrol motor scooters carrying many people and huge loads. In the evening the streets are thronged with people, well dressed, strolling and eating.  Colourful stalls and restaurants everywhere.  There is no industry here so the air is clean.  The people live in small apartments in town.  The countryside is very fertile and grows many things so is intensively cultivated with rice, lotus, fruit trees, osmanthus, pomelos and much else.

 

 

Lighting in the Gold Water Cave

Evening 16.9.13

Portion of the crowd

Actors standing on rafts in the water

This evening we went to a Chinese Opera on the shores of a lovely lake with a backdrop of limestone peaks .  We didn't understand a word but the effects of the lighting on the water and the peaks in the background and the clever sets rising and sinking out of the water made it an interesting experience.  A friendly English speaking Chinese couple helped us find our seats as we battled through the huge throngs of people.  Just nuts and a biscuit for dinner as it was late and we were too tired to go out.