We spent about 10 days in China, moving from Guangzhou to Guilin to Yangshuo. It wasn't as good a trip as we had in Shanghai-Hangzhou-Nanjing-Suzhou...guess we are not so used to the puffing chimneys and hygiene standards...but nonetheless, there were several very enjoyable moments!

GUANGZHOU

We first arrived at Guangzhou and were rather disappointed with the shopping. Despite I read that GZ is a shopping paradise, there were simply really really absolutely NOTHING decent! There were however, streets for undies, streets for shoes, streets for gifts...etc and we did enjoy shopping for the basic staples...thermals, socks...etc And that's just about it!

GUILIN

Guilin was a little more fun. We first visited a cave...Mum did well climbing up. And Meredith of course had no problem!


The guide recommended a rather expensive restaurant where we had our first meal in Guilin and tried local dishes, and decided it would only be a first and last. It was tasty but that's about it.

When we left the restaurant...check out what else we saw they were serving...

These 'Zhu Shu' they say feed on bamboo...

And anyone for these '7-colours' birds?


Before we arrived at 'Longji', the guide took us to the famous Guilin Mifen, which is what the locals eat for breakfast everyday, 7 days a week, and never ever got tired of...

He took us to a local-off-the tourist-trap eatery at some corner...and the mifen were selling at local price...only RMB2.50!

This was what we saw first:


The free-flow-help-yourself soup to the mifen... and the chopsticks boiled in a pot...

And then we studied carefully how the other ingredients were being prepared...


Are you sure we would still be alive after eating this???

We passed by this guy preparing the mifen...

And saw the most inviting part of the mifen....chilli, peanuts and salted vegetables...


After confirming there were disposable chopsticks, we ordered our first and most unforgettable Guilin mifen...


It was absolutely marvellous...

But I also believe it was here that got us all ill, one by one...

Anyway, that was breakfast.

We got up to Longji after about a 2 and a half hours' drive. We had lunch before anything else. The guide took us to this family-owned place where everything was prepared fresh...

Because it was so high up, the ingredients were fresh from the farmers!
The fish was alive just minutes before
The tofu were homemade
The vegetables were fresh from the ground
The chicken was slaughtered just for the soup...and Mum said its a female one because of this:


Definitely a yummy lunch!... and then we were off to the rest of the climb!


Meredith decided to join the local tribe...and worked on the farm a bit...


Ever wondered how construction materials were delivered so high up?

Skilled workers without the machinery...

The local tribe Zhuang...The ladies do not ever cut their hair...and they don't turn grey before they turn 70. They say its the way they wash their hair...

The homemade tofu...

LI RIVER CRUISE

Wasn't as spectacular as I had imagined. But I guess we were there at the wrong season. It's winter and all misty and foggy.

We were supposed to imagine what the hills looked like along the way... this one supposed to look like what the officials wear on their head...

And I thought this one looked like a fox resting...


There were beautiful scenery at some point...



YANGSHUO

This is the place we stayed at Yangshuo. Very peaceful... dining by the river and hill...

We went to watch the Zhang Yi Mo-directed Impression Liu San Jie, thinking it would be one of a kind, with natural hill and river as the set.

It was spectacular, with impressive display of co-ordination and lighting effects...but not the love story we were hoping to watch...

These men were standing on rafts and messing with the red cloth in the river...must be freezing for them

Check out the hill/ rocks and full moon-all real...for us!

Like I said, we all fell ill. Reegan was the first to see the doctor...we thought that was the safest thing to do. And then Mum...

The lady in moroon was there sitting right next to Mum throughout the consultation. No she was no relative nor friend nor any remote associate. We were at first puzzled but figured that must be their amazing queuing system...(She was actually the next patient with zero knowledge of comfort zone and privacy!)


The way the Chinese can't live without puffing...even in the hospital...as a cashier, even a doctor!
I can't imagine if I have to deliver in such a hospital...


Back at Guilin before we head back to GZ to take a flight back to Sin, we had a wonderful bamboo raft right to the Xiang Bi Shan (Elephant's Trunk).


The commarants...in captivity...

See the elephant's trunk?

We were happy to be back....to decent fashion and civilization...but definitely had fond memories of the trip!

Giving up the P-plate

It was a somewhat emotional last day of school...everyone thought we've had a great year together. The learning, the fun, the friendship...

The morning started with the usual morning activities...and Reegan joined in as if he was part of the class

Then as part of the conspiracy, we presented the gift to Miss P. It was a photo book of the year's events and childrens' autographs....it was very meaningful.

And its true...like they were saying, its hard to find such a group. The kids are really sweet, parents are so thoughtful, considerate...was lucky to be in such a group!

When the gift was presented, it was rather overwhelming...some teary parents and Miss P herself gave a little speech.

At the end of the day, Meredith's class was the only one that came out with each a balloon, with love from Miss P. They are so lucky! But while everyone was busy bidding farewell and having some last conversations for the year... Meredith was busy sulking!.....all because she did not get the colour she wanted....sigh....


Well, next year she will be on to Year 1, with a very friendly teacher as I know of as far...and am sure will be another great year!

The Guilty Smile

This is the look whenever he is guilty...Here, he was trying to take more tissue when he didn't need it...He comes real close to you sometimes with this guilty smile and calls out 'Mummy, Mummy'...


He has made several progressions since...

Using the cup
Feeding himself
Recognizing colours
Widening his vocabulary
Putting on his shoes
Saying 'Yes' when previously everything was 'No' even though he meant a 'yes'


Next step...toilet training!

Now that Daddy has finished pruning, trimming, cutting, fertilizing the garden...

Know what the kids been up to these days? Watering the garden...

It's funny to see Reegan with the oversized watering can. We have yet to find a cute little kids size watering can, and when we do, they'll gonna have much more fun!


Yes, watering the grass is important!