David's Big Adventure in China

I had a great time showing my parents the highlights of China over a very busy 12 days. We met in Beijing where we saw/did the following in 4 days:
1. Had Beijing roast duck at the most famous roast duck restaurant.
2. Went to the Forbidden City (aka Imperial Palace or Palace Museum)
3. Went to Tiananmen Square.
4. Went to Lama Temple (biggest Tibetan Buddhist temple in Beijing).
5. Climbed the Great Wall, visited Ming Tombs and drove past the Bird’s Nest and Water Cube.
6. Went to the Summer Palace.
7. Went to the zoo and saw the Pandas.

We then had a sleeper cabin on an overnight train to Xi’an where we went to see the Terracotta Warriors and the old city walls. Amazing, be sure to check out the pictures! Then we flew to my home in Nanning to visit Emperor David’s palace for a couple days and took in some of the local sites. Included in our Nanning stay was a Chinese foot massage and a Traditional Chinese banquet in a private room (only thing missing was officials getting drunk…lol). We boarded a train for a 6 hour ride to Guilin where we spent one night before heading on to Yangshuo via a 4 hour river cruise. Yangshuo is famous for its limestone mountains scenery and river show. We spent 2 nights there and enjoyed the famous show using local villager performers that was produced by the same guy that did the Beijing Olympics opening ceremony (Zhang Yi Mo). We also enjoyed a demonstration of using Cormorant birds to fish. The birds go under water and catch the fish with their mouths but can’t fully swallow them because of a string tied around their neck. Then the fisherman lifts the birds back onto the raft and forces the birds to spit out the fish. Mom spent some time shopping and haggled like a pro.

We then took a bus back to Guilin for one last night before Mom and Dad’s early flight the next day. They’re safely back at home now resting from their whirlwind trip of China. My translator Audrey went with us the first week to Beijing and Xi’an (she shared a room with Mom and I bunked with Dad) and my girlfriend went with us to Guilin/Yangshuo.

Yes, I have a girlfriend now. Last October I decided to try having a girlfriend here in China and that relationship lasted until February. Then in March, a lady that I had expressed interest in 1 and ½ years ago finally agreed to start seeing me as perhaps more than a friend and is now my girlfriend. Her English name is Bonnie and she is an Associate Professor of English at the university here where I taught for two years. I met her in the cafeteria there one day and we became good friends taking many evening walks together. For a long time she said she didn’t want a foreigner boyfriend or husband but it seems my charms have convinced her to give me a chance and I’m happy for that. Until next time……..