Backpack to Guangxi 广西, 陽朔

Guangxi, Yangshuo 陽朔

A place like Chinese painting.

Taking night train travel from Guangzhou to Guilin, when I reached Guilin province, it was early the next day morning while the sky was still dark. I didn't know where to go, where to get the hostel, while thinking where to go in my mind… there were few men shouting “Yangshuo”, they were shouting for who want to go there, Yangshuo is another town of Guangxi province. It was my first time in Guangxi, I've no idea how it was look like, since I've no idea where to go, I've decided to go Yangshuo, I've approached one of the man who was shouting and he has lead me to one of the bus.

I've no idea where the bus was taking us or whose were in the bus (it was full) but I was bravely on board the bus without thinking too much. It was about 45 minutes to 1 hour journey to reach Yangshuo town. When I've reached there it was about 7am, I was feeling so cold and hungry.

It was still early in the morning, I've no idea where to go, which direction to walk, no one to ask around, from a distance away, I saw a road stall, someone was there selling noodles, I was walking towards the noodle stall, had my breakfast. Although, I had my hot noodle soup for breakfast but it was really cold on my first day arrived in Yangshuo.

After had my breakfast, I've asked for the direction, walked towards the direction to look for place to stay. Due to I've lighted at the wrong place, I've to walked very far to reached the town area. After long walked, I've quickly checked into a cheap hotel (40 Yen per night) for my first two nights.

The moment I've check into the hotel, I've explore around the town, at the same time look out for youth hostel. Yangshuo have a lot of cheap hotels, they are very clean and comfortable. After staying for two nights in the hotel, I've move on to the youth hostel.

I like Yangshuo very much, Yangshuo is like what you see on a Chinese painting itself, while walking around the town, you are like walking around viewing all the Chinese artist painting the picture, is beautiful in every angle you look at it.

I was not only explore the town area, I’d even explore out the villages area, where you can see the local people busy planting their vegetables and how the poor people lives.

In Yangshuo, not many local speaks English; most of them speak their local dialect or Chinese. The younger are picking up their English, when the students see foreigner (e.g. people from U.S.A, Europe, etc.), they were trying to approach them and try to practice their English language. My roommate (male), he would stay out all night outside, talking to those students and had fun with them while those students learning their English.

The world is very big but yet not too big (ha..ha..) Do you know what I'm talking about?

Let me tell you what happen, I meet my friend who came from the same country as me (V friend) in Yangshuo, can you believe it? Both of us have different timing traveling out to another country and different timing reached Yangshuo and we end up meeting each other there without making any arrangement. “What a small world” we always said (ha..ha….). We spend few days together in Yangshuo and then we depart our own separated way to another province.

I really like Yangshuo, I was there about a weeks and I've make friend with the youth hostel boss, she was grateful to had me staying in her hostel, as I've help her to interpreted for her from English to Chinese a few times.

I felt good when I can help others, while I was traveling as a tourist.

On my third day in Yangshuo, I've encounter one incident, on my way walking back to my youth hostel, I saw a big group of people crown around outside a bicycle rental shop, I didn't border by the crown and walk pass them, until one lady was shouted out “who knows how to speak English?”, I knew something had happen with the foreigner and I've make a “U” turn back and trying to find out what happen and try to help them.

One couple (not too sure they are from USA or Europe) were renting their bicycle from the shop but on their way the bicycle chain break down and they had to catch a taxi to bring back the bicycle, they spent money on taxi fare to bring the bicycle back, they were unhappy about the breakdown. They returned the bicycle and asked for money back.

The shop owner was not very happy to see the returned bicycle condition and wanting them to pay for it or else they have to repair the bicycle before they can leave the place.

Both parties have their own right and both parties cannot understand each other, they speaks their own language (The couple speaks English and the shop owner speaks Chinese). I happen to passed by at the right time, I can understood both parties mindset and I've approach both parties in a different ways and gave them my advise for not asking each other for money back, finally they had understood each other and have agreed not to ask for money back, the shop owner allow them to leave, the couple was glad that the matter does not goes worse.

In deed, I've good time in Yangshuo, I enjoy those time when I was helping the poor to wash their reddish at the river, experience how the local live in a poor village. The old lady at her age of 80s, she was still working so hard, I've my hat off, respect her and help her.

I've good time, I did have one bad encounter with the pick pocket but he didn't manage to steal my money from me as I've caught him red handed while I felt someone was touching my pocket while I was about ordering my dinner. So be careful, when you travel, if someone standing next to you so close, be very alert.

Well, my story don't stop here, there are too many to share about my experience in Yangshuo but I guess is better for you to find out on your own and experience it, then you will know what I'm talking about here.

If you are interested to hear more of my story, you can explore and read on my story on other trip. (Click on next page for other province….)

Sorry, if there is any spelling mistake or grammar I've made, please forgive me. I'm not good in my English, still trying to improve it. I find that writing a journal can help me to practice my writing. Agree with me? Thanks for taking time to read my story.