Published on Oct, 2024
So part of our our wonderful China trip involved a trip to Guilin for a cruise down the River Li and as I am a splelunker, the flute caves. Our awesome guide Samantha took over from the lovely Lola in Xi"an, and picked us up and took us to an absolutely incredible hotel. It was gorgeous, like drop dead gorgeous. We had a chandelier, a chaise longe, balcony, the mattresses and bedding were like clouds, bathroom incredible, and I say all that that as a person in a cast with a newly broken leg! It was like being a film star in a film set. Breakfast was amazing, especially for me as a vegan. The food was incredible. Took a tiny bit of explaining and a chat with the chef, but then once we all understood each other, there were more wonderful things to eat than you could imagine. Vegetables and tofu cooked in sumptuous ways. All for way, way less than a night than any travel lodge in the Uk.
So then we got picked up in the morning and off to the boat cruise. Like I am from New Zealand. Takes a lot to impress me with scenery obviously, right? But this was astounding. And we cruised the shores with bathing water buffalo, if I had not had this cast, I would have jumped in and swum with them. Water buffalo have exceptionally beautiful nostrils. I know this as a vet. There were cruising birds of prey, eagles, cranes, huge butterflies. Enormous fish leapt in the river. I thought they were dolphins, but they were gone by the time I got my binoculars out. Local people from the villages tootled around in sadly plastic versions of traditional bamboo boats, but navigated big currents and river challenges with huge boats and only a bamboo pole, that me as a kayaker with a kevlar paddle would have really worried about. They have and will always adapt. Water people. And you would think there would be lots of people. There very few people we saw were tending water buffalo, although the water buffalo were so off doing their own thing, people fishing in traditional boats( drawing a veil over that as a vegan!) I saw horses swimming in the river, all alone, no bodily constraints, just paddling for pleasure with each other. Those amazing spectacular limestone mountains looked untouchable but our guide told us that there are climbing clubs there. I so want to join one of those clubs and climb one of those incredible spires to heaven. Back at home, Samantha told me to watch The Painted Veil, 3rd time watching it! Thank you Samantha.:-) it was mostly filmed in the River Li years ago, and it's still untouched. This is such a beautiful untouched, remote, easily accessible and accessible in a relatively eco friendly way, beautiful part of China accessible even with a broken leg!
