YANGSHUO TO HANGZOU 21st November

We were flying in the evening from Yangshuo so after loading the luggage in a rented minibus we drove 3 hours pass Guilin city to visit the terraced rice fields, Longji Titian Terraced Rice Fields).
The road felt like driving in Asturias, North Spain and the driver seemed to believe he was Fernando Alonso so Radama and Cass had to shout at him a couple of times asking him to slow down.
We were dissapointed when we got there as we were expecting more; it has to be said that is was not the right season to go. Once we started climbing we changed our minds and I have to say that i was delighted and to me Yansguo was the most enjoyable place to visit.

CHINA , SU GENTE Y SUS COSAS....

HANGZOU

From Shanghai we went to Hangzou for the last 2 days of our Chinese adventure.
It took us 2 hours from Shanghai. We had to take a very early train so we were pretty tired all throughout the day. I guess after so many days traveling our energies and excitement had slowed down.
We stayed in a lovely hotel outlooking the lake.
The day after we hired some bikes to cycle through the West lake which is huge and almost impossible to walk in 1day which was all the time we had for it.
We ended up posing like chinese do....well, sort of!!! Chinese women LOVE posing!!!!!! We had a laugh looking at some of them!

PINGYAO TO XIAN, Travelling in style part 2

As we had enjoyed the luxurious trip the night before, we decided to try again this time on our way to Xian, 12 hours again on a train that reminded us of a World War 2 Film.

We could only get hard sleeper tickets which means that we have to share the wagon with 50 other people smoking, spitting and eating non stop; at least we were lucky enough to be the 4 of us together with 2 other people on the 3rd level above us.

The night was a nightmare. It was freezing so we had to sleep not only with clothes on but coats too. In the middle of the night a lad, aka ARCADITAS, got ill and sick so kept everyone awake. We felt sorry for her but we could have killed her.

Tye train was 2 hours late so instead of 11 hours of agony it was nearly 13 and Xian was next...

PINGYAO, 15th Nov 07, Travelling in style part 1

We left Beijing towards Pingyao thinking we were taking the equivalent to the Oriental Express as we had booked SOFT SLEEPER...oh well, reality kicks!!! enjoy the views of our exclusive restaurant, loo and queen size beds with minibar!!!! Highly recommended.

After 12 hours we arrived in Pingyao..as you can guess our suite did not have ensuite bathroom so after contemplating the bathroom view we decided to go wild and stink if needed.

Pingyao...Late in the evening we left this beautiful place only to embark in a new train adventure not so luxurious this time...we found out with nervous laughter that our tickets were for HARD SLEEPER...could we survive??? To be continued

Pingyao it is quite a hot tourist attraction even though it is no longer economically prosperous. It boasts the famous Pingyao Old City which was included in the United Nations World Cultural Heritage in 1997. From the top of the grand City Wall, you have a bird's-eye view of the Old City, a complete city built almost a thousand years ago. In the Ancient Ming and Qing Street, you can experience the town's former glory while exploring the rows of residences and shops all constructed in the original architectural style. In the central area of Shanxi Province lies an ancient county typical of rural counties in North China--simple and steeped in ancient tradition. What's different is that this county is linked firmly to a certain prosperous time in Chinese history. It played quite an important role in the economic development of Shanxi during the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

Pingyao was not endowed with charming natural scenery but with a group of accomplished businessmen. Pingyao was the birthplace of the Jin Businessmen, who were one of the two famous Chinese business groups during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. Owing to this, the first Chinese exchange shop was opened in Pingyao. Then, for the next hundred years, Pingyao was home to almost all of the large exchange shops in China. To a certain degree, Pingyao was to China during the eighteenth century what Wall Street is to the US, which not only helped promote the economic development of Shanxi, but also left us with a magnificent old city and a series of grand residences.

Day 4 Beijing, 14th November

Summer Palace

Lama Temple (and it wasn't cold....)

Day 3, BEIJING, 13th Nov 2007

We had a busy day running around cold Beijing.We got up pretty early as the agenda was ambitious.Our first stop was the Forbidden City where we spent almost 3 hours admiring the imponent beauty of its buildings.

From there we walked in Tianmen Square and unfortunately we could not see Mao frozen as it was closed...from there we took and to get to the Temple of Heaven. Beijing is huge, 15million population so the distances are enormous.

LIJIANG 16th Nov 07

We landed in Lijiang from Kunming Airport where we stayed overnight which was the best night sleep in the entire trip. It helped it was the first shower, running water, decent toilet and a bed for 2.5 days!!!! yes, we didn't change clothes in 2.5 days so what?it was too cold anyway!
On December 3rd, 1997, the Old Town of Lijiang was put in the list of the World's Relics by the World Cultural Heritage Commission of the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization). The charming Old Town is now a famous tourist attraction for its traditional ethnic culture and customs, inimitable buildings and the wonderful natural views.

The Old Town of Lijiang, a well-preserved old city of ethnic minorities with brilliant culture, is a central town of the Lijiang Autonomous County of the Naxi Ethnic Minority in Yunnan Province embraced by the tree-covered Lion Mountain in the west, Elephant and Golden Row Mountains in the north, vast fertile fields in the southeast and crystal clear water running through. The Old Town which occupies an area of three point eight square kilometers (912 acres) was firstly built in the late Song Dynasty and the early Yuan Dynasty and has a history of more than 800 years. The Lijiang Old Town is built along the lie of mountains and the flow of rivers, providing a very precious sample of the research on the old-time architecture. The unique geographical location, historical background and multiracial inhabitants make the town the most special one.

The Old Town is the only old city built without a city wall and there is an interesting story telling the reason. Lijiang had been under the reign of the hereditary Mu family for more than 500 years. If the Chinese character 'Mu' (represents the governor of Lijiang) is put into a frame (represents the city wall), you have the character 'Kun' which means 'siege' or 'predicament'. This would mean that the governing Mu family and their descendants would always be trapped like a rat in a hole. Because of this symbolism, Old Town Lijiang was never given a city wall.

As a result of the combination of the multinational culture and the progress of Naxi ethnic minority, the buildings in the town incorporate the best parts of the architectural traits of Han, Bai, and Tibet into a unique Naxi style. The layout of the town is free-style and flexible, the houses are close and diverse, and the lanes are narrow and meandering. Naxi people pay much attention to the decoration, the commodious and applied houses are mostly timber and tile structure compound with a garden, each has engraved vivid figures of people and animals on doors and windows, beautiful flowers and trees in the garden.Living in such a beautiful and comfortable environment is a real pleasant thing.

The old Town of Lijiang is a city depends on water for existence and water is just like its blood. Black Dragon Pool (Heilongtan) is the main water source of the town and subdivides into many streams which can reach every family and every street in the town. Due to the reticular aqueducts, willow trees grow everywhere and there are almost 350 varied and inimitable bridges in the little town, some of which were built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The usage of the water created by the local people is very scientific. They build three mouths every well from the upriver to the downriver. The water in the first mouth is for edibility, the second one is for cleaning of the vegetables and fruits, and the last one is used to wash the clothes. The water not only meets the need of the dweller, but also gives the town a beauty of gentle. The town reputed as the 'Oriental Venice' and 'Suzhou in Highland', but it is much, much more than this. Once you have visited Old Town Lijiang, it will capture your heart for the rest of your life.

Hong Kong in December

1st of December already and I am still here. Tomorrow I am flying back to London. It feels weird leaving Radama and this country. I think I could live here.

Last night , Friday night we went to the Mandarin Oriental with Jonathan and Fernando, Radama's great friends. We had a fab time. Champagne and canapes were delicious and after so many days without alcohol it made us feel good. From there we headed to the Armani Bar, Four Season's Blue Bar and ended in Isola Bar. Very cool indeed.

from paris, again

dear all, I’m back to paris.

the rest of the chinucas are still in hong kong enjoying their last days in china

as you all know we couldn’t update our blog from china

it is not only the blog, chinese authorities block the access to many other pages, wikipedia and the like

to be completely accurate:
even if all postings since oct 16th appear with my name I didn't write any of them
the one on the 16th is from my brother (thanks c) I asked him to access the blog from europe and inform you that we couldn't write
he also found a way around the blockage and we were able, from the 19th on, to post but only under my name.
all those postings are from carpioma (also know as maricarpi or 1001 photos)

in summary, only the postings in orange are really from cass

SHANGHAI Day 1

Yesterday we did not have time to update the blog. By the time we came back to the hotel I was too tired and we just wanted to go sttraight to bed.

We are now on our way to visit the city. Our schedule today is the French Concessions, Pudong (the shanghai City), some shopping and a drink with Radama's friends somewhere cool.

Yesterday we went to visit YUYUAN GARDENS, famed for their tranquilising harmonies of light and shade and rock and water. Chinese crowds shattered the equilibrium, peaceful sights and sedative effect of the picturesque pocket.

The garden were founded by the Pan family, rich Ming dynasty officials. The gardens took 18 years (1559-77) only to be ransacked during both the Opium War and the Taiping Rebellion. Today the restored gardens are a fine example of Ming garden design.

From there we walked through the Old Town, suburbs and headed to admire the BUND, stunning location by the riverside enjoying PUDONG (equivalent to Canary Wharf in London) on one side and the western buildings (Peace Hotel, HSBC building etc) on the other side.

It got really cold so we headed back to the hotel in the French Concessions to have some dinner and to get warm.

Shanghai has nothing to do with Beijing but the contrasts. It feels like being in Hong Kong, New York or London but I have to say that the views are breathtaking.

From Shanghai with love

HI FROM SHANGHAI!!!

We arrived in Shangai very late last night from GUILIN.
We were exhausted so this morning we are taking it easy. I'll tell you all about yesterday because it was a day to remember. The way these guys drive is the real adventure in this country. I thought we would never make it to the hotel from the airport...Radama and I shared the same nutter taxi driver and believe me when i tell you I thought I'd never see my mum again!

We are off to explore Shangai now. You are all sleeping in Europe so I'll have time later on to update you.

Carpioma with love from SHANGAI

Hi again, we headed to Putong, the Shanghai's City and we went to the Jin Mao Tower, the highest one so far, 340metres (they are building a new one almost besides which will be the tallest) and the lift only takes 40 seconds to get to the 88th floor!!!! The views from there are stunning





















Once there and after posting a postcard Radama and I had a "chat" with the F... Golden Pig...see the pic attached...well, FYI, in the Chinese Year, this one is the Golden one which happens every 60 years and it is supposed to be fantastic specially for those which Chinese Horoscope is the Pig, so some of us. So far the year for some of us it is been the worst so we decided to have a little chat with him...and perhaps he'll change it....there is still hope until February when it ends!!