DFR Travels: This day tops it all...

Tuesday, April 23. Cloudy, light rain.

We were in the lobby with our bags packed and ready by 8:15. We checked out easily and were on our way by 8:30.

Our mission on our last day in Mainland China was to get to the mountainous region of Longshen to see the terraced rice gardens and see the ethnic Dong and Yao people. The drive took about two hours through the countryside, which was pleasant. The light rain eased as we got further out of Guilin.

We arrived at our destination and then began a rather involved and convoluted route to the first village. We drove a few kilometres then left the car and walked a bit. That was followed by an electric golf-cart ride for around five minutes, all upward, on a narrow concrete track. Next we were on foot and soon arrived in a village of no note, but interesting.

We then began what turned out to be a mini-Kilimanjaro hike, ever up, our legs were aching but of course there was no stopping or turning back. This section took a little more than an hour. We arrived at what I will call the top, took some pictures and then commenced our walk to the second village another 1/2 hour walk through amazing scenery, spectacular, not so much the landscape as the buildings. It was like a time-warp: I imagine that this is similar to Tibet as the women were dressed in their traditional costume. Not for us, this is just the way they dress, even the servers in the restaurant we had lunch at.

All too soon it was time to come down, this time via another path, through another ethnic group known for the long black hair of the women. From the age of eight to eighteen, they do not cut their hair. On their eighteenth birthday they cut their hair to about a meter long. They never cut their hair again as long as they live. They do their hair style dependent upon if they are single, married or have children. They also incorporate their previously cut hair into their hair-do. The end result is that our lady had her hair done up so that it looks like a big black hat. One last thing, they wash their hair in plain water and fermented rice wine. [???]

We got down the mountain by hitching onto a Chinese tour that had extra seats. The driver was an ex Japanese Kamakazi pilot we figured. The scariest ride of our entire trip!

We were at the airport about two hours before taking off for Hong Kong and the one hour flight, we arrived early. Hong Kong, from mainland China is considered an International Flight for reasons that I do not fully understand.

Our trip to China is basically over, Hong Kong is just a big waiting room for the flight home as far as we concerned. We have two nights here.

Upon arrival in HK we were off and through customs and immigration swiftly then out to where a gent had our name on a card, swiftly to a big black Mercedes that whisked us into our hotel in half and hour. We were warmly greeted and told that we had been upgraded to an Harbour View suite on the 18th floor. Needless to say it is a fantastic way to end our trip.

We had a bite to eat, a shower and to bed. As I said yesterday, long day.

I do not fully understand the VIP treatment we seem to get, but, heck, who's to argue.