Not Approved by LP

Guizhou is obviously not China’s richest province, besides bad roads and internet speeds the electricity supply also in need of help. But there are consolations in under development which is what for the moment makes it such a lovely place. Today went strolling around the hills and rice terraces and some lovely little Dong villages. The people all friendly , colourful and for the moment haven’t been spoilt by overgenerous tourist dishing money out, no one asked for money for photos etc, a nice change.

But development is happening fast, lots of construction going on, an art in itself given they don’t use any machinery or scaffolding and put up these 3/4 story buildings in one go. And the village of Tang An, a cultural Dong museum seemed to have succumbed to fire and now in the process of being rebuilt. But a lovely day out and lots to see of interest including various traditional skills like weaving, milling etc and not for the benefit of tourists – never saw any outside the odd one in Zhaoxing itself.

Tomorrow go to Conjiang.

Not everywhere has good internet speeds, 2 hours to do nothing, ouch. But then given that my breakfast order was forgotton, I then missed the bus, left my jacket on the bus to here maybe today was never going to be lucky. Going by the dinner menu, it could be worse, I could be a dog !!.

Anyway, left Chenyang Bridge for Sanjiang and then a 5 hour bus to here , Zhaoxing. Having got used to the general high standards of Chinese roads this proved to be a big exception. Not much more than a bumpy dirt road which recent bad weather had taken its toll but at least open. The scenery nothing special but some great little Dong villages and like Chenang Bridge, some lovely bridges and waterwheels so a very worthwhile trip.

Zhaoxing itself a great little village with about 800 houses. The Dong people very colourful and a nice atmosphere and the dogs are in the safety of the kitchen. Tomorrow expect to spend the day wandering around the local villages, just hope the weather keeps up.

Left Yangshou early for the trip to Guilin and then Sanjiang. Sanjiang hot and dusty and no reason to stay longer than the hour it took to get away which for some reason seemed more complicated than it should have been as people only wanted to get me on private taxis.

But then it was only the short hop to Chenyang Bride and what a great little spot it is. With the sun shining some great little walks around the villages and some wonderfully friendly people happily posing for photos so got some lovely pics. The scenery itself fairly dull as misty/smokey and again too early and dry for much colour. But more than made up for by the people and villages and colourful costumes. And all very peaceful and even better, as always in China the way out places seem to have good internet connections.

Would like to stay longer but probably make a move whilst the weather remains good.

Had a relaxing day in Yangshou.  Bumped into a couple of English students from before who had yet to restart classes after Tet.  So next morning we decided to go to Longsheng and the rice terraces.  Wasn’t a promising start as heavy rain but took the bus to Guilin anyway and then Longsheng.  As we got of the bus there another bus was just leaving and the driver invited us on with pictures of the wonderful scenery and the mention in LP as the place to go to get away from the crowds, I think the name was Zhuhai.  So we jumped on and took the locals bus with the chickens and colourful people of the local tribal people.

We eventually got to the place, basically a few native buildings up against the side of the rice terraces with basic accommodation and dodgy food.  Pleasant enough and some colourful people but very cold and the scenery nothing like the pics.  This area was the last place I had on my “to visit” places in China.  At a different time of year wonderful rice terraces but at the moment no colour and after the cold winter very dull, hard to get a photo.

Next morning took an early bus out back to Guilin.  Had  a very good day there, weather changed, blue skies and a lovely meal of the local fish in the evening.  Unfortunately spent the night up with a bad stomach so came back here next morning.

Today went to Fuli and did some walking around, enjoying the lovely weather.  If the weather holds out will head back towards the mountain region tomorrow, I thing the place called Cheyning bridge,  just past Sanjiang – all the place names of the top of my head and wrong spellings. After that will head acoss the towns and villages, depending on weather and conditions, and hopefully end up in Kumming in 10 days time.

Due to not being able to access blog site and bad internet speeds have got behind with the blogs but am still alive.

After Haiphong returned to CatBa.  The weather pretty awful, the freak weather from China also hit Vietnam.  Given this and the Tet holidays continuing into a second week it was all very quiet on the island.  However took up an invite of one of the staff from the hotel to go and visit her family for Tet.  It involved a small boat, basically a motorised basket which they use for a taxi, thru’ the stunning scenery of the area.  After about an hour probably,  reached the other end where we got on motorbikes which took us to her village in the national park.  Some wonderful scenery and a great little village.  They put on a grand feast for us with a still wriggling huge fish, delightful stuff, the people incrdibly nice and after another boat trip around the karst peaks arrived back in CatBa town cold but an excellent day out.

Eventually left CatBa, took a boat to Haiphong and then after being given the type of run around the Vietnamese specialise in, got a bus to Langson near the Chinese border.  Actually ended up past there at a small place called Dong Dung or something at the border,  I think the bus driver thought I wanted to cross the border that evening so took me all the way – my Vietnamese on par with my Chinese !.  A nice place anyway for overnight with friendly people who seemed surprised to see a foreigner, I guess most people take the direct train or bus from Hanoi.

Next morning in heavy rain crossed the border, took a taxi to the next town and then a bus to Nanning.  Bus station there total chaos, even gave up trying to get to the toilet, then had to struggle across the city to another bus station.  Eventually got a bus which went via Guilin and onward from here.  No problem bar they forgot about me and we were out of Yangshou before they remembered.  So after a long day and late at night had to make my own way back but eventually made it into a hotel.

Now in Haiphong for Tet. Largely a case of people going around and round on motorbikes paying social calls to families and friends which I seem to have participated in my fair share. But all good fun and Haiphong doesn’t lack in pretty girls so no complaints. Also put in a couple of visits to nightclubs which certainly a lot more upmarket than most things in Vietnam and obviously where the monied youth hang out.

Before here did some socail visits to the countryside in Cat ba, always good to get into the villages as scenery so wonderful. Cat ba itself was deserted but I here 3000 Chinese arrived so should be busy when I get back there tonight.

Tomorrow Tet and new year but here all quiet as people finishing the spring cleaning and heading back to their families in the villages and Haiphong. The hotel now down to me and the owner but the girls sweet and before leaving stocked the place up and prepared food so we shouldn’t starve !.

From tomorrow for the Vietanamese it is largely a case of visiting relatives/friends, eating lots and getting very drunk. I gather tomorrow have to go to the village and Haiphong on Friday for visits but hopefully not too painful.

Back in Cat Ba, Vietnam. Not sure why as cold and as wet as England probably is – actually not that bad but to look at the way the locals are dressed and behaving we might as well be in sub arctic conditions. Like China, the unusual cold spell certainly affecting the locals and I saw they are even closing the schools as temperatures drop below 10 degrees – thats plus 10 not minus !!. So all very quiet and the place taking on a closed feel as people head back to Haiphong and their own villages for Tet. Just how I like it.

Left the sunshine of Thailand for the cold damp weather of north Vietnam !. Flight over easy enough bar the 4.30 start. Quick stop in Hanoi to arrange a Chinese visa and now in Haiphong. Don’t have any info on the place but quite a sizeable city and port and some decent pavement bars and cafes which would be quite nice if it wasn’t mid winter and most people probably tucked up in bed.

Tomorrow get the boat over to Cat Ba for a bit of peace and quiet after the noise and vibrancy of Pattaya. At least in Vietnam the pretty girls are the genuine item, not the copies that Pattaya seems to be producing in ever large numbers, admittedly very good copies and often better looking than the originals.

Have survived another week in Pattaya and more importantly now have a new Vietnamese visa so can spend another month idling in Catba. Will be the week long Tet holidays so should be very quiet as everyone goes back to their families. However I gather I have to join some of these family/ friend gatherings so will be busy enough saying my greetings and practising my non existant Vietnamese.

Pattaya as always. With its thousands of bars and club it will never be a peaceful place no matter how hard the government tries to push it as a family resort. And these days becoming very popular with the Russian, CIS crowd and even more Indians seem to be showing up, obviously where the money is these days. But its good fun even just to watch, very colourful and with more money the place becoming possibly a better place. However serious crime seems to constantly drag it down, I saw the result of one disagreement in the main tourist street one night last week in which 2 Estonian men witnessed the other side of the land of smiles, their bodies were being hastily removed from the pool of blood, not a pleasant site.

So tomorrow will be of to the airport for Vietnam all being well.