Yangshuo

The things I have to resort to, to earn a few extra pennies!

Some people were carried on this sudan chairs 800m up to view the rice terraces known as Eight Moon Stars and Dragons Back Rice Terraces.The view from top of this 1000 years old rice terraces was jaw droppingly beautiful.This area with wooden houses and minority communities are Unesco World Heritage Site.

These women are not allowed to cut their hair, except on two special occasions; when they turn 16 and when they get married.

These minority people were heavily persecuted under Maos regime and barely survived-they live in 4 small villages high in mountain farming rice on terraces using unique techeniques to irrigate land -one village called Ping An is known as longest hair village in the world(guinness book of records)

Woman from a minority group

Traditional chinese wooden homes in the countryside

Some of these houses are over 1000 years old made of wood.

Beer Bottles (Dipak claims no knowledge!)

Although Dipak found his mate Ranjit behind this green mountain, he was barely able to speak let alone stand up!. He murmered something like KIDDHAAAAA!!!! asked ME what am I doing here and which way to ounslow!!!

Rice Paddies in Longshen -Dipak felt at home being a farmers son!!!

Longshen is 3 hours bus ride from Yangshuo.

These rice terraces offer different looks depending on weather season and irrigation eg when they are watered they look like glass terraces! Some travellers say the beauty of the terraces covered in snow or in October when the fields are stunnigley golden are the best views.

Rice Paddies in Longsheng

You can see bit of glass effect as they are watered.

Countryside with limestone peaks in the distance

Yangshuo countryside .

This is a legendary backpacker hang-out just 65km from Guilin,its laid back base from which one can explore other samll villages nearby and visually it surpasses Guilin.One can soak up strong local flavour on the cheap.Peddaling on bikes through rice fields amid the splendid green-topped limestone peaks for a day or two is for many travellers is their top China experience-and I think it was our best bit of real China experience.

Cycling through the countryside

Spent whole day travelling through Yangshuo countryside on bike-had picture postcard views at every turn-passing through villages of gone by days-a real China at last!!!!

We stayed 4 days in Yangshuo as house guests with Chinese family(known as home stay)-our hosts Mr Wei and his family were just amazing and his sister in law was our guide in Yangshuo.We learnt about Chinese family and their way of life,also PnV learnt some Chinese cooking and painting-the house was right below mountain.

Enjoying the countryside

Taking a break from cycling and enjoying the rest.

Yangshuo countryside

Awsome countryside dotted with supernaturally lovely topography gracing as many as 16 lazy clear rivers that passes through here-these bizarre limestones upthrusts shapes-shifting in dancing mists and haze-this beauty here and in Guilin has been celebrated for generations by famous painters and poets.Farmers and families going about their daily routines around these amazing views we will always remember about China.

Entrance to the Water Caves, containing a mud bath and 3 water pools for swimming

Entrance to one massive water cave with rivers,waterfalls,mud pools and natural swimming pools-its a huge water cave deep beneath the mountain-lights went out 4 times in 3 hours we were in there-and boy it WAS SCARY in the dark!!!

PnV had mud bath with slides and all-I took some pictures but she wont let me put it on the blog!!!

More views from the top of Moon Hill, a climb of over 800 steps

Admiring views from the top of Moon Hill

Views from Moon Hill-note my sweat soaked shirt after climbing over 800 steep steps in 35 degree humid condition but the views it gave from top was worth every drop.

Moon Hill in the distance

Bamboo Rafting

Li river majesticlly serene as it winds its way through some mind blowing lush green limestone topography-two hours rafting -met Chinese/American couple from New York as we were rafting along side each other and emails exchanged as one does on this travel!

Bamboo Rafting on the Li River

VnD literally soaks up the views!

Selling veg at the marketplace

Went to local market with our host Mr wei-they sell everything here from live dogs,snakes,bats,rabbits and fresh fruits and vegetables to go with it ofcourse!!!