The Dream of Guilin

A few people have asked me why I thought of including Guilin in our itinerary for this trip.

For as long as I can remember, the uniquely shaped mountains of this area represented China to me. I loved how they appeared in photos, chinese artwork and documentaries and dreamed of one day seeing them for myself. So, when they opportunity arose to have MaRui lead us here, I was thrilled. And today, the decades of dreaming of this part of the world took actual shape before my eyes.

Having arrived in the dark last night, I eagerly threw open the hotel drapes this morning and stared at the misty outline of those amazing mountains rising in the distance. Yahoo!

First though, how wonderful to meet up with our friends - the Beijing component of our group - at breakfast in the hotel. Lots of chatter between kids and adults alike as we caught each other up on our adventures. Then we headed out for our morning activities.

A walk around the small lake beside our hotel...the following two lovely photos taken by Kim...

Then on to see the Elephant Trunk Hill...

Legend has it that the Emperor and his favourite elephant lived in the heavens and one time were passing by Guilin. The elephant became ill and the emperor left him there. A good-hearted couple took care of the elephant and nursed him back to health. Grateful to them, he helped them farm and plow their fields. When the emperor learned the elephant had recovered, he demanded he return. The elephant did not want to leave Guilin and the couple and so refused. So the emperor then had him killed with a sword. (Picture a sad face here.) This natural formation shows the elephant still standing forever frozen in the waters of Guilin.

Lots of photos were taken of our girls enjoying the statues and gardens of Elephant Trunk Hill...

Then it was on to Piled Silk Hill...a gorgeous park created around one of the smaller mountains...we walked through and explored the lower gardens and caves...

...and then climbed hundreds of steps to the top of the mountain. Mom and dad remained in the lower gardens for this climb but Leo was transported to the very top in grand style!

When we arrived (slightly panting, I have to admit)... wow. wow. wow. What a view.

(Thanks to Damian Steel for this panoramic shot.)

We took the opportunity to take two groups shots here at the top of the world...one of all our amazing kids/teenagers...

...and one of the entire group (except mom and dad - we'll take one that includes them at the next grand photo opportunity!)...

After a great morning, we headed back to a delicious chinese meal at the hotel and then set back out to walk through the Reed Flute Caves (so called because of the reeds that grow outside the caves and that with a few notches from a knife make amazing whistle flutes). The caves are large, multi-level caverns that have been lit throughout in many colours.

The highlight is the largest of the caverns which includes a large subterranean pool, reflecting the lit ceiling above.

(Another super Damian Steel photo.)

And the day was still not over...tonight we went to see fishermen using the age-old technique of sending cormorant birds to dive for fish and bring them back to their boats of bamboo. The children enjoyed this evening activity by lantern light, and laughed to see one of the birds steal back a fish from the basket when the fisherman's back was turned. My night-time shots of this adventure did not turn out, but here are a couple of pics of the bamboo fisherman rafts in the daytime.

(Courtesy, Damian Steel!)

Thanks to everyone for following along and sorry that internet here is slowing things down somewhat. Tomorrow we are off on a full day Li River cruise through "my" mountains and then we head straight to the airport to fly to Chengdu. Because of this, perhaps no post until the following day.

Till then - good night!