Holiday vacation

We just got back yesterday from a great vacation to Southern China's beautiful mountains and rivers. I can't decide where to start since it seems like we were gone for a decade instead of 10 days, so I'll organize the stories and pictures by mode of transpiration. I think this will work. Bear with me here.

Train: 24.5 hours
We boarded a train in Ningbo and didn't get off until the next day. We thought a long train ride would be fun. For the most part, we were right. It was interesting and comfortable and Milan had a blast and we saw some beautiful countryside. We had a 4-bed compartment to ourselves for most of the day until the train filled up around dinner time. The two men who occupied the top bunks were nice and serious about getting some sleep (instead of sitting in the hall smoking all night), so we did alright.

Inside our compartment, and grateful to be out of the cold train station

Taking a walk through the train

Bicycle: 6 hours
The area where we stayed, outside of Yangshuo, Guangxi Province, is perfect bike riding territory. The guest house provided bikes for rental and we set off into the countryside, through the villages, among the mountains. We lucked out with some great weather for the first 3 or 4 days before the cold rain hit.

On the path between villages

Biking on the back roads

Yulong Qiao, Dragon Bridge, on the Yulong River

Hiking: 6 hours
We did a beautiful hike along the Li River with Milan alternately walking and carried in the backpack. When we got tired and were no longer having fun, we hopped on a boat the rest of the way down the river. We couldn't have made it without the "Elfin" cookies (energy-packed vegan oatmeal raisin chocolate chip cookies that Tim made before we left home).

Waiting for a tractor to cross

Crossing a bridge

Us and the Li River

Amazing beautiful scenery

Milan shed many, many, many tears a few days later on the way to this hike up Moon Hill when there were no more Elfin cookies. Somehow we climbed all 800 steps and made it to the top for some wonderful views. After two days of rain, we were very grateful to have one more day of sunshine to get outside.

Moon Hill

Moon Hill, at the top

View from the top

Boat/raft: ~30 minutes
With all the rivers in the area we were bound to ride one eventually. "Bamboo! Bamboo!" was chanted by the local river guides every time we stepped foot in the vicinity of a river, an invitation to ride one of the thousands of bamboo rafts used to ferry tourists, goods, fishermen, and even bicycles across the rivers.

Taking the bikes across the river

Tim tries his hand at driving the raft

Relaxing on a raft

Tourist boats on the Yulong river. This place must be packed in high season!

Rock Climbing: 2 hours
Tim had a great day climbing at one of the world-class rock climbing sights around Yangshuo on Christmas Day. He was in heaven. A local climbing company provided the guides, equipment, ropes, belayer, and a lead climber to set up the routes. Milan and I played in the dirt a took pictures.

Ready to climb

Starting one of the 5.9 climbs

Tim at the top of a 26 meter (85 foot) climb (he is the red spot, about halfway up the rock)

Airplane: 2 hours
After learning that the train to come back home leaves the Guilin train station at 2:00 am, we opted to fly home, via Shanghai.

Super high speed elevator: 90 seconds
We had a half day in Shanghai before we came home, so we got to go up into one of the super tall buildings on the Pudong side. The elevator to the 88th floor in the Jin Mao Building travels at 9 meters per second, and the views of the city were great.

The Pearl Tower and looking at the Bund

Our cheesy tourist photo with a fake backdrop

Okay so that about sums it up! There will be many more pictures on Flickr.

Happy New Year, everyone!