I've spent 4 days in Guizhou in southwestern China, for the October 1 holidays when China celebrates it's birthday as a nation. It's been a learning experience and so far a pleasant one. I don't have access to wifi except now at the airport, where I'm on my way to Sichuan. I've learned a lot of things, such as that you may be ticketed for a bus ride to a far away destination at a certain time. That time reflects the next time a ticket is available, which could be hours away. But if there is a seat in an earlier bus, you can leave earlier. The converse doesn't work too well. If you buy a ticket early in the day to secure a seat but show up past the time in the ticket, it causes an incident. But the friendly bus station staff can resolve it. Well at least that was my experience.
The hotel I booked in Anshun, an hour away from the famous Huanguoshu Falls, was really far from the bus station with the bus to the Falls. The taxi driver advised me to cancel the reservation and stay in the hotel across from the long distance bus station. That turned out to be a great idea. The room in the hotel was super comfortable. I did yoga two mornings in a row to relieve pain in my lower back. The first day of sightseeing I headed to the Falls. I was determined to not join an organized bus tour. Once at the entrance to the park I was not sure how to proceed. I called my frien in Shanghai who visited here before and also asked the park staff. I started with the Tianxing Bridge park portion first. This was a good idea because most tours avoid this part and you can enjoy strolling in a forest among waterfalls mostly by yourself. Then it was time for the big falls. Those are quite beautiful and impressive. But being a national holiday the number of people was inmense. So I was pushed and rubbed shoulders a lot. The one time I wanted to take out my big camera, which I had not taken out because it was raining, a group of people kept pushing me aside because they wanted that everyone in their group be photographed alone without people in their surroundings. I only needed one minute for my photo but needed to wait fifteen for the group to finish their individual memento photos.
The next day I was scheduled to see Longgong caves. They are very large and impressive and also cheesy in how they are presented with light and music. I had visited similar caves in Yangshuonin the next province. My other choice was to go see an ancient stone village called TunBao. I decided to see the ancient village. I love photographing old villages. I could not visit both places the same day. I thought the old village has too much impingement of modern structures around it. It was not like other villages I have seen where development has not crowded the old buildings. My photos look like the old is smooched with the contemporary.
Last night and this morning I walked the parks of Guiyang. There was dancing and tai chi in the park. I danced a little, by myself since the old ladies did not want to dance with me. No matter. I will go to the park in Shanghai on my return, where I'm a familiar face. I stumbled into a mall with all the expensive boutiques looking for a Starbucks. It was opening time and every employee, dressed to the hilt was at the door of their boutique greeting me. It was eerie.
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