River cruise was great, beautiful limestone (karst) piled up mountains, misty river, water buffaloes, cormorants (for fishing), some simple (old fashioned) houses etc. Plus, a whole line of boats in a line taking tourists down the river. Buffet lunch. Men in simple wooden boats approached our big boat head on, then grabbed on the side with a big meat hook contraption, and tried to sell products, mostly ‘jade’. Its 4 1/2 hours down, 7 hrs back. They go downriver full of tourists (2/3 Chinese, 1/3 from many other places) and go back empty -- long working day for the captains. We personally get shepherded around in a minivan, with AC. AC is key. Driver plus English-speaking guide with a degree in English Tourism (ie Chinese tourism for English-speaking visitors). Her university also had degrees in hotel management etc. Whenever we are done at a museum or whatever (eg get off boat), she calls ahead and the driver meets us at the exit. We feel a bit like emperors, but boy is it nice. When we go out alone the traffic is difficult for us. Have to stick like glue to someone who looks like a low risk-taker (e.g. are not texting). Culturally/geographically, GuiLin city is very modern -- neon, cars, many motorbikes and scooters. Not so many bicycles since 2-5 years ago. It’s a very small city, I think she said 700K*. No skyscrapers (>7 stories) are allowed due to the city relying on tourism -- they don't want to block the beautiful views of the limestone mountains all around. There are 4 interconnecting lakes in the city with walkways around and artificial lights in many colors (lots of greens) lighting up the trees (banyan, osthmanus (sp??), a lot of recently built bridges in varied architectural plans (e.g., Crystal bridge, golden gate bridge, various dynasty style bridges, Greek style) -- all built in recent years, with a master planner, with tourism in mind. The tourists seem to be from all over – not easy to tell by looking where a person is from. Its not over-run by Americans only. (We met a couple from Columbia yesterday on the boat who asked us if we had tried to have a baby “the other way” – the question was so out of the blue and in Spanish that they repeated it in English and Dave got it. Made me laugh. People ask the oddest questions!) On a related subject our guide explained that the pandas (we saw 3 this am in a zoo) don’t know how to make babies or how to look after them, so they have to show them DVDs, to help them know how to ‘make the sex’. We all thought that was pretty funny. Can this possibly work? These DVDs were not on display for the tourists however. *Guide was shocked to hear Canada has <35 million people ("That's 2 Shanghais!"). She knew it was 2nd largest in size and the capital, and she wants to go to Vancouver. Along the boat trip and minivan trip back to Guilin, we could see more rural and regular life. Rice growing, also grapes (for eating), lotus leaves, Chinese cabbage (I think bok choy), etc. From the car only, garages fixing motorbikes with welding machines, and a couch and tv with grandparents/young children in same room. Laundry hanging on balconies of big apartment blocks. Little children without helmets being transported in laps on motorbikes and scooters. Many 2 story houses are shells on second floor (unpainted concrete, no windows). Our guide said the family has enough money to decorate the first floor for now, but when their son gets married or they get more money they will add windows etc to 2nd floor. Not all houses do have windows though. Related to windows, Mimi had bad mosquito bites on her legs that are healing. Of course this will sound like a silly proud parent, but we are kind of amazed at what she can do. Used a 2 word sentence yesterday. Can take lids off and on water bottles (more impressive since she only has one hand) -- she does have a bit of a wrist though on the other hand, and uses that a lot, holds things against her chest etc. She has quite impressive strategies to get stuff done with the one full hand plus arm/wrist. She can eat with various utensils (not 2 chopsticks yet, though she did successfully spear dumplings and pick them up). Learning stairs (up). etc. Helps to get dressed (eg lifts foot to put on pants or shoe). Likes to thumb through books with real paper in them (still not impressed with the board book; so sorry to have misunderestimated her). Well, its all normal stuff but it is a great relief to see her so healthy and happy.... its great she was in foster care. She was clearly well taken care of and in a home with real affection and playfulness, based on how she interacts. Jenn | |||||||||||||||||
