Yangshuo: Li River Cruise

I boarded a mini bus for a trip upstream to then catch a boat ride. On the bus I met two young Chinese tourists with the same plan for the day. So they served as my tour guides and I got the Chinese price.

We took a boat like this. The boat is made of pvc pipes, and upgrade over the bamboo boats I suppose.

Stunning karst mountains. This is a famous view on the 20 yuan bank note.

Me!

My new friends and I.

Mao claimed to see 13 horses on these rock faces. I see three.

Except for the red lanterns, this village was the antithesis of Yangshuo, not touristy at all.

Most families have a Mao portrait watching over them.

Beijing opera masks.

This man was doing some beautiful paintings.

Yangshuo: New Friends and Old Caves

It is important to look the part.

My Chinese friends and I. Their English was better than my Chinese.

I joined their college class on a trip to the water caves.

Boats took us in the cave, then we hiked for 20 minutes over, around, and through streams and rock formations to a waterfall. There were even hot springs to relax in at the end.

No picture of a Chinese is complete without the peace sign.

Yangshuo: Bicycling along the Yulong River

Bicycling through the countryside I passed many peasants. They are slow but steady.

The Li River surrounded by karst limestone peaks.

Rice paddies.

One of many rivers.

Tourists hire guides to float them down the river on these bamboo rafts.

I hired this man to ferry my bicycle and I across the river

Here we go.

It was beautiful but the subtropical climate made for hot and humid days.

A depressing village

Hong Kong

Bamboo is so strong its used for scaffolding.


The world's longest escalator.


View from IM Pei's Bank of China, an awful building.



Taking the tram to Victoria Peak


View into the smog from the top.





View of Hong Kong from across the harbor in Kowloon.

MacLehose Trail, Hong Kong

Today I traded the urban jungle for real jungle.


Ocean.


One of the tiny villages on the trail.


Jungle!


I didn't see the sun once in Hong Kong.


Another village






I hope not.


A reservoir, water level apparently way down

Macao

Taking the wooden double decker tram to the ferry terminal in Hong Kong.

Departing the ferry terminal.

St Dominic's Church

Paul in front of the ruins of St Paul's.




The front facade is all that remains.


View from on the many forts. That casino should be shot with a cannon.


A few of my close friends.


Crazy man in the main town square.


Where's Waldo?


Back to Hong Kong.