Purple hills
Sometime in November, sometime ago - Yangshuo
I think there was more than a little reluctance in our leaving Kong. The place, as Hels mentioned, is so easy on every level, that the lazy man in me was inclined to stay for the winter.
No fear though, a few hours back in China and we're on a night bus to Yangshuo. The night bus, as you are probably aware, has half reclined beds which are more than comfortable if you are about 10 years old and small for your age. I found the experience a little like when you see some child-sized chairs and think it would be funny to sit in one, until you get your ass stuck in it. Anyway, thoroughly uncomfortable, guess-work required to get off at the right stop and only one person got their wallet stolen. Sweat on!
Fortunately, YS is a most relaxing and interesting place to unwind for a few days (says man on a 6 month holiday). We checked into a fancy hotel and lowered our ambition to 'doing sweet FA'. Unfortunately we failed in this and almost became 'busy' by cycling through rice paddies, cruising down the river and climbing hills.
The little town was once a travellers' haunt but now is also frequented by middle aged tour groups who seem determined to lose all self
respect by doing congas in the street whilst singing Old Lang Syne. I would have done my bit, but I didn't have fragmentation grenade to hand.
The area is famous for its karst hills - limestone formations that look more than a little familiar if you've ever played the original
DOOM PC game. If you haven't played it, go out and get a copy now, check out the moonscape and then you'll know what I mean. Or look at the photos (weak option). Close up, during the daytime, the hills are thoroughly uninspiring, but given a little distance, a river perhaps and a setting sun and we are talking 'kodak moment'.
I think there was more than a little reluctance in our leaving Kong. The place, as Hels mentioned, is so easy on every level, that the lazy man in me was inclined to stay for the winter.
No fear though, a few hours back in China and we're on a night bus to Yangshuo. The night bus, as you are probably aware, has half reclined beds which are more than comfortable if you are about 10 years old and small for your age. I found the experience a little like when you see some child-sized chairs and think it would be funny to sit in one, until you get your ass stuck in it. Anyway, thoroughly uncomfortable, guess-work required to get off at the right stop and only one person got their wallet stolen. Sweat on!
Fortunately, YS is a most relaxing and interesting place to unwind for a few days (says man on a 6 month holiday). We checked into a fancy hotel and lowered our ambition to 'doing sweet FA'. Unfortunately we failed in this and almost became 'busy' by cycling through rice paddies, cruising down the river and climbing hills.
The little town was once a travellers' haunt but now is also frequented by middle aged tour groups who seem determined to lose all self
respect by doing congas in the street whilst singing Old Lang Syne. I would have done my bit, but I didn't have fragmentation grenade to hand.
The area is famous for its karst hills - limestone formations that look more than a little familiar if you've ever played the original
DOOM PC game. If you haven't played it, go out and get a copy now, check out the moonscape and then you'll know what I mean. Or look at the photos (weak option). Close up, during the daytime, the hills are thoroughly uninspiring, but given a little distance, a river perhaps and a setting sun and we are talking 'kodak moment'.
Labels: China
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