It's National Holiday, so we have an entire week off. A group of us have already come and gone to Guilin (桂林) on a 4 day 3 night trip. We got on an airplane at Hongqiao Airport at around 10am and arrived at noon. The first day we went to Elephant Trunk Hill and climbed a steep hill. It was super hot and humid. We then went to another scenic park where we bought oil and watercolor paintings (pretty and cheap. 
) We continued on to a cave area that had a bunch of buddha carvings and a cool rock formation that looks like it's hanging, but only because it was used to test swords. We then ate and went to our hotel. It was a nice hotel and two of us shared a room. After that, we went to downtown Guilin (Guilin is a small city so it wasn't very far or large). We saw the river side lit up, which was very beautitul and a hotel that had a water show (Bellagio-esque) and a waterfall that came down off the side of the building (very cool). Went to the night market in the area (not as cool as Taiwan), drank coconut juice (delicious), and our one white guy in the group was mobbed by little girls who wanted to hug and kiss him (amusing). Went back to the hotel room and knocked out.
The second day, we started out early to get on a ferry that took us down the Li Jiang river to Yangshuo. There's a Chinese saying that goes, "Guilin is the most beautiful under heaven, but Yangshuo is even more beautiful." Kind of doesn't make sense, but I guess I get the point. It was definitely an amazing, albeit long (4 hours) boat ride, all the mountains surrounding the river were picturesque. The boat we were on had a bunch of Portuguese tourists, a few English, us Americans, and, about, 4 Chinese tourists. Nice. We got to Yangshuo, got off the boat, and were plopped in a tourist trap. We walked to the hotel, rented some bikes and took a ride through the countryside. Best bike ride ever. I feel like I saw so much just by taking an alternative way of transportation. Lots of farm land, animals of burden, rock climbers, and just amazing views. We got back and ate dinner before going to see a show. The show was Liu Sanjie, directed by Zhang Yi Mou (director of Heroes and a bunch of other Chinese movies). The production was incredible. It was right on the Li River with mountains in the background and had a few hundred people in the cast. The lighting and everything was done so well, I was just amazed at what people can do. It was a story that featured the many ethnic minorities in the area (Guilin is in Guangxi province, an autonomous region run by the minorities, Zhuang, Yao, Miao and something else). We then took a walk around the city and bought some souveniors. Got back to the hotel and knocked out again.
The third day I'd have to say was the best. I did so many things I've never done before and saw so many things I've never seen before. We road a while through the countryside. Then took a short bamboo raft ride to the area with many waterfalls. We got grass sandals and helmets to climb waterfalls with. We climbed many a-waterfall, just about the funnest thing I've ever done, for real real. I wish I could do it all the time, with my straw sandals (which were so comfortable, I think I'll wear them in Shanghai). After lunch we went to this tacky park/zoo, which was a disneyland knockoff, only because it had extremely weird disney characters all around. We saw a red panda (cutest thing ever) and a bunch of other animals (that don't compare to the panda). We then went to a cave with a bunch of carvings and a windy tunnel. When we walked to the top of the hill, the breeze was wonderful and the view was great (entire city). After dinner, we went ktv-ing with some of our other schoolmates who also came to Guilin and our tourguide (really cool guy, about the same age as us). I sang my heart out and made a complete fool out of myself, but it was lots of fun. Got back super late and KNOCKED OUT.
The last day we started off by going to the Reed Flute Cave (I know lots of caves, but this one was actually a cavern), not unlike the Carlsbad Caverns. Just amazing what the earth does, the rocks were insane and we just had a lot of fun dancing in a cave. We then went to the rice terraces after going through a small rural village, where we ate. In the restaurant that we ate at, the local waitresses (ethnic minorities) gave us rice wine (very tastey) and had us drink with them. This is where we saw first hand, many different minorities. The Yao grow their hair super long, never cutting it, and comb it up in a pile on their heads, very cool. We went up to the rice terraces in a little bus, the driver was bumping techno music and driving extremely fast on the mountain roads (scared the crap out of me). We hiked up the mountain when we got to the village and went through the village on the side of the mountain that grow rice on carved out parts of the mountain. Amazing AMAZING scenary and very eye opening being able to see how ethnic minorities really live. Lots and lots of walking. Also bought a woodcarving and a bunch of little souveniors, including a wooden sword. We barely got back in time for dinner and had to rush to the airport. The airport in these rural areas are very different and no one cared that I had a wooden sword sticking out of my backpack. We were all very sad to leave Guilin. This was definitely one of the best trips I've ever gone on. I saw and experienced so many new things. If anyone every gets the chance, they should definitely visit Guilin, it's just amazing what is on this Earth.
Sorry the post on my amazing trip is so bland, I'm very tired, which is good because that means I used all my energy to play. We're leaving for Huangshan (黃山) later today (Wednesday) and have to go through a 12 hour train ride. It's going to be fun. I love China again. LOVE IT.
The orientation consisted of the principal introducing the school to us and explaining to us how he got to create the school with no government help. We then got a tour of the school which is just one building surrouding a courtyard. All the kids kept looking at us while smiling and waiving, with the occassional, "HALLO!" so cute. Like I said, I wanted to take one. I have the opportunity to teach English on Tuesdays and play with the kids of Fridays. I think I'm going to really enjoy this, and earn a few karma points. Volunteer work where you get to see the result of your contribution is the most satisfying. 
My shoes smell like kimchi. I took a much wanted shower and watched Heroes. And now I'm blogging and snacking on some delicious Saltine crackers. I hesitated in eating these because they're all carbs and it's 1am, but I'm hungry and working. I'm glad I opened them because they were the best Saltine crackers I've had in a long time. 
