2016 Travels
Guilin, China


October 21st to 27th, 2016

Our time in Guilin was really fun. We loved just being on the streets because there was always something interesting to see. We ventured out to some nature areas and found delicious food and friendly people everywhere we went.

Below: The Sun and Moon Pagodas at night.

Guilin, China

Below: About 650 years ago some of the mountains were terraced to make rice paddies. The rice terraces are quite extensive and make for interesting scenery.

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Below: Near Guilin is an ancient village inhabited by indigenous Red Yao people. One of their cultural traditions is that women are only allowed to cut their hair once in their life; on their eighteenth birthday. The women gave a musical performance then unfurled their hair ... some down to the ground!

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Below: We took a cruise down the Li River to the city of Yangshuo ... so beautiful.

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Below: Water buffalo swimming in the Lijiang river.

Guilin, China

Below: Bill had the opportunity to ride on a water buffalo so he seized the moment.

Guilin, China

Below: The Wal-Mart in Guilin looks familiar on the outside; not so much inside. In the grocery section you can buy live turtles, crabs, frogs and unidentifiable snake-like creatures. There are plenty of fresh octopus, squid and chicken feet, and in the deli you can grab a cooked duck with his head on ... all at everyday low prices.

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Below: Apparently, if you have twenty live ducks and chickens, and you need to get them to the other side of town, and all you have is a moped ... you have to get creative!

Guilin, China

Below: We ate at a restaurant that serves fresh food. You know the food is fresh because they keep the live animals out on the sidewalk in cages and buckets. Ducks, chickens, fish, crabs, clams, snails ... and a cute, furry mammal that we could not identify. With the help of the waitress and Google, we determined it was a large Hoary Bamboo Rat (Rhizomys pruinosus) and is delicious with high nutritional value. Feeling adventurous, we used body language to communicate to the waitress that we would like to eat the rat for dinner. She netted the rat from his cage and walked it back to the kitchen. Fifteen minutes later she appeared with a hot wok filled with chopped bamboo rat, fresh vegetables, flowers, garlic and secret sauce, served with fried rice. Bill thought it was yummy but Jamie had a psychological barrier to eating a rodent for dinner (although she did eat some). This was, by far, the most exotic dining experience we've ever had.

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Below: One thing we were not expecting was our popularity. Throughout China, people frequently came up to us on the street and asked (in Chinese, body language and smiles) if they could take our picture ... with them in it. One man put his baby in Jamie's arms for a photo!

Our time in China was very exciting and very memorable. We were reminded that regardless of race, color, religion or political affiliation, a bright smile is universal and there are kind-hearted people all over the world.

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China

Guilin, China