Guilin China, May 12

Day 2 in Guilin dawned chilly, misty, and overcast. Parts of the day it poured. By the afternoon it was nice again.

We took a three hour cruise of the Li River. Because of the amount of rain they've had, the river was higher than usual, and muddier. Normally it is very clear and beautiful. The surroundings were certainly beautiful with or without rain.

We ate lunch in the town of Yangshuo and did a little shopping. There were tons of little shops, with a lot of knock-offs available. Knock-offs are not created equal. You really have to look and make sure you're getting the best one available. Then bargaining time sets in. Usually I leave the negotiating to Ray, but this time I got a couple of very sweet deals all on my own. Like the rain poncho I got for mom for 5 yuan. (about 75 cents).

After the shopping we went to an art gallery, then a pearl museum, and finally the silk factory. The silk factory wasn't on our list originally but a friend of mine asked me to pick up a silk comforter for her daughter's wedding gift if we got to a silk factory. We went, planning on running in, grabbing the comforter, and leaving. Well, all of us ended up buying a comforter, and most of us got a silk cover to go with it. I think it was the fastest shopping/decision making during the whole trip. I bet we weren't there more than 45 minutes total. 

May 12 in a nutshell:

• Li River Cruise
• Lunch and shopping in Yanshuo
• Art gallery, Pearl museum/market, silk factory
• Dinner
• Hotel  - pack to be ready to leave the next morning

Li River Cruise - Mom and Dad. This scenery is typical of the entire cruise.

Audry and John

Paul and Orva

Mom and Dad

Snake wine. No lie.
Yes that is a real (although now dead) snake in the bottle.
Yes they drink it. It's a delicacy.
For them maybe.

John, Dad, Audry. The small blue bus in the background was our transportation in Guilin.

Dad, Mom, John, Audry, Ray, Diane, Paul, Orva, Ann, Charles

One of many in China.

It was interesting to recognize company colors and logos even when the name was written in Chinese.

Orva and Paul in the town of Yangshuo

Our guide, Yvonne, on the left, Mom on the right. I bought a bag exactly like the one Mom's holding. I love it.

Dad and Mom shopping in Yangshuo

A woman working in the rice fields

The silk factory.

All of us pulling on the silk in a demonstration on how they make the comforters.