tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26862769662130000832024-03-08T11:09:52.096-08:00Connie's World Adventure!Hi! I'm Connie and I quit my fancy job in finance to take 15 months and backpack around the world as a solo female.Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-71531323406597739232017-01-17T17:05:00.001-08:002020-12-10T08:57:15.173-08:00The End: Backpacking Around-The-World Wrap UpIT'S THE END. It's been the end for a bit, but it's not official until it's blog-official.<br /><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4wVVpMh4xhcjbidxGFrrbMyNAh0GRBQ9U-bloWUhQI26v-geL_FGr1UbWXAKI3Ugcj8qdk2m3h7t59J0wdSV8pjDY3B9RO09quFPeNl_X0yVLvhIy2uqktuCJfsTjJylZN7V7NF_Qy8/s1600/thumb_IMG_8110_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt4wVVpMh4xhcjbidxGFrrbMyNAh0GRBQ9U-bloWUhQI26v-geL_FGr1UbWXAKI3Ugcj8qdk2m3h7t59J0wdSV8pjDY3B9RO09quFPeNl_X0yVLvhIy2uqktuCJfsTjJylZN7V7NF_Qy8/s640/thumb_IMG_8110_1024.jpg" width="502" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The backpack bestie, who I love but never want to see again.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I've been back home for a bit now (eep!), and it's still been super hard for me to accept and wrap my head around the fact that my trip is over. I guess I have to throw something in here like, "But the adventure is never really over!" It isn't, and I know that. But for all intents & purposes - this specific trip I dreamed about and talked about and stressed about and quit my job for and had anxiety attacks about afterwards - the one I truly never ever thought would ever happen - happened. And that is now over.<br />
<br />
My overall world backpacking trip lasted 15 months, spanned 47 countries and 6 continents, and was single-handedly the most life-changing thing I've ever done in my entire life.<br />
<br />
<br />
It sounds incredibly cliché, writing something like "Hey I quit my job and my life and set out for adventure by taking a big around-the-world backpacking trip and it changed my life and I learned so many things; HERE THEY ARE." But to be honest, that's the exact way I feel. I <i>did</i> learn so much. This trip <i>did</i> change my life. And not just in the way that seeing amazing places and experiencing different cultures and meeting different people and having a million bucket-list adventures 24/7 changes your life because it was cool and now you have great memories, but also in a way that I feel like it fundamentally changed me as a person. It brought this ridiculous sense of not just world-awareness, but also self-awareness: it made me dig into and question the way I think and why, reflect on the crazy differences and similarities of the human experience, and also inspired me to examine the things in life that truly matter to me - all things that happened whether I wanted to think about them or not.<br />
<br />
High-level, it was the most amazing experience of my life, in a way that even the word "amazing" sounds trite and fails to describe even 1/100th of what I want to say. Despite all the tiny hiccups along the way (you know, getting my phone stolen in China by a terrible human being that I hope someday breaks both his legs, the accident in the Philippines, and maybe generally just bleeding money constantly), I would never take a single part of this trip back; ever. I don't regret a single second of the past 15 months.<br />
<br />
Reflecting on my trip, the things that come to me are all the wonderful, awe-inspiring, stunning, unexpected singular moments that happened.<br />
<br />
Places so unimaginable and inspiring that you literally can't even breathe, and you feel a combo of such complete joy and freedom and disbelief and you think to yourself "holy shit, this world is SO EFFING BEAUTIFUL." The unbelievable vastness of the salt flats in Bolivia, where you feel like you're the only ones left in the world and can literally see forever in the flat, blinding white vastness around you. Sitting atop an old bus in Nepal for six hours because a gas crisis has made the buses so scarce that you are forced to climb onto the roofs of the ones you do find, with a death grip on the handlebars below you as wind whips your face and the bus careens around hairpin turns on winding mountain roads. Strolling on a dirt path near a village in Uganda that is so small and remote that it doesn't even exist on a map, surrounded by lush palm trees and rolling green hills and free-roaming cows and villagers who are so excited to see you that they tear a mango off one of their trees to gift you, even though they themselves have almost nothing. More than a handful of times, the beauty and joy and richness of the experience was so overwhelming that I actually shed a tear or two (up until now, I'd thought "crying with joy" was a Hollywood farce. It's not, people).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_7rfARupzdrbAW8ftblrmWpkwCo0Ho5F6zNg2qVBlPktvnBQNfoJSe0EVY-976Vwg_aYhicP4R0qKTLNQoFMdVs4WMBT3qaGCMTvnIwG-ff2V7UdwgVYdApFuPCQSYRpnoToXp_NDXA/s1600/IMG_0055.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO_7rfARupzdrbAW8ftblrmWpkwCo0Ho5F6zNg2qVBlPktvnBQNfoJSe0EVY-976Vwg_aYhicP4R0qKTLNQoFMdVs4WMBT3qaGCMTvnIwG-ff2V7UdwgVYdApFuPCQSYRpnoToXp_NDXA/s640/IMG_0055.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Salt flats of Bolivia, where you can literally see forever. And clearly I used the word 'literally' correctly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPKGvfsiefI0YJ1CCRZMvRpiDE4pkSU0qpQ5yBNP5GvKamDmoGL3otqhH2RBGumnEf8ptp7TQIrSlaKSaUBtCqvrWrYOTVefRZaxo094R28lzQ8GhjvijqkuD9R_R3X9SLWqdB-GjJnA/s1600/IMG_3712.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipPKGvfsiefI0YJ1CCRZMvRpiDE4pkSU0qpQ5yBNP5GvKamDmoGL3otqhH2RBGumnEf8ptp7TQIrSlaKSaUBtCqvrWrYOTVefRZaxo094R28lzQ8GhjvijqkuD9R_R3X9SLWqdB-GjJnA/s640/IMG_3712.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">On top of a sketchy bus in Nepal, five hours in. Do our butts still exist, because we lost feeling in them two hours ago? Nobody knows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO4ThJ-zS_KZ1FJAkOSnGhRa9gRzMuGx3hIt09-3smN8xJxGH_I_rnTHaqG1MZWt6rfi_1638LarsqpPFV8b-XngVrk0BCfxDDjYhzH_Kdp5Aef7ILfIwLMTReuca7uvvVGVtEHdWA7g/s1600/SAM_0958.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuO4ThJ-zS_KZ1FJAkOSnGhRa9gRzMuGx3hIt09-3smN8xJxGH_I_rnTHaqG1MZWt6rfi_1638LarsqpPFV8b-XngVrk0BCfxDDjYhzH_Kdp5Aef7ILfIwLMTReuca7uvvVGVtEHdWA7g/s640/SAM_0958.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Befriending a goat in rural Uganda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I think of the people I've met - both locals and other backpackers from all around the world: people who've had completely different upbringings and life experiences and ways of thinking, yet you somehow, inexplicably just get each other. You bond over things and in ways you can't put into words. You meet a complete stranger from Germany in your hostel lobby, and an hour later, the two of you have hiked a mountain together and are sitting at the top of it gazing out at an unbelievable 360 degree view of the greenest valleys you've ever seen, discussing life and love and your hopes and dreams, and at that moment you feel closer to them than anyone else in your life.<br />
<br />
I think about the three random girls from China I got thrown into a room with in a hostel near Shanghai, who shared literally no similar life experiences with me (or even a common language, really), but insisted we all spend the day together and I got a small slice of insight into local Chinese life - or how my parallel life would have been as a local growing up in China vs. America. We had completely different things to talk about and relate on and bond over (they don't even have access to the same internet we do, for gawd's sake), but the connection of being similarly-aged women who were traveling alone was all we needed.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2D02DuEDdlvkDcIp7VkMOS61l3-JaCIS2V6a6QvDyxEJUVCIPixkFvbSfY0gQ2rXvtl6PKkJSZ_R1snR7y5CI9o2XhBe1EfuvOpb0NOMU3kFNY4vIcIoIgc7AuPj-B8RTeSXI8LNXxg/s1600/IMG_5049.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT2D02DuEDdlvkDcIp7VkMOS61l3-JaCIS2V6a6QvDyxEJUVCIPixkFvbSfY0gQ2rXvtl6PKkJSZ_R1snR7y5CI9o2XhBe1EfuvOpb0NOMU3kFNY4vIcIoIgc7AuPj-B8RTeSXI8LNXxg/s640/IMG_5049.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new Chinese friends, which you can tell bc their skin shades are ~20x lighter than mine. #TerribleAsian</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Sitting on a tiny boat in the Nile River in Egypt with a local guide, Star, who had basically been assigned to be my keeper while I was in Luxor. We had to spend so much time together (see: lack of tourists in Egypt) that we became buddies. He would take me with him to the cafes in between his stops and buy me tea. He taught me Arabic words to pick up girls (heyyyy ladies). He'd noticed that I used the word "fancy" a lot, asked me what it meant, and started to try using it just as frequently as I did (I was marveling over the seat cushions in one of our taxis, and he was like, "it's fancy.....right??"). He consistently tried to convince me to marry him and move to Luxor and when I gently told him it was never going to happen, he jokingly negotiated with me that he'd be allowed to ask only once a day (which he completely abided by). And when I left Luxor, he gifted me a bracelet his mom had made because he'd noticed I was collecting them and didn't have an Egypt one. I loved that. Different worlds and lives, but we were buddies for the couple days I was in Luxor and he was assigned to me.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvd0dXOXYG0EwRpN2O7scBi7Ajg2VlZ0TLkW2LvBfhsUrE17vZLDI8JmsBWfndeAbUyPHF-TZYcVLC3CcBqVqoV24Kydw24QOD9CqdTyXyF09DSyYLRwpy7IRwsP9ZmiX8uru7I-BTC8/s1600/IMG_4556.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVvd0dXOXYG0EwRpN2O7scBi7Ajg2VlZ0TLkW2LvBfhsUrE17vZLDI8JmsBWfndeAbUyPHF-TZYcVLC3CcBqVqoV24Kydw24QOD9CqdTyXyF09DSyYLRwpy7IRwsP9ZmiX8uru7I-BTC8/s640/IMG_4556.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My black Egypt bracelet, courtesy of Star.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The human experience is truly so universal, regardless of where people are from and what they think and how they've been brought up and their individual life experiences. And for me, finding that out and experiencing it for myself was one of the most beautiful, inspiring things ever. That you can bond and relate and interact and connect so closely with such wildly different people that, on the surface, seem like they have not a thing in common with you.<br />
<br />
This post is already a ton more long-winded than I'd intended (and trust me, I could make it 10x more long-winded if you'd let me). But I guess my biggest takeaway is that the world is so much more beautiful and lovely and incredible than you expect, and far, far more than all the news and headlines you hear all the time. It is truly a testament that there was not a single moment in the entire 15 months that I felt unsafe. For the most part, people were beyond amazing and caring and not only helpful when I'd ask, but proactively wanting to be helpful in any way they could, constantly. The stories of the kindness I received from strangers - the crazy coincidences - the amazing people I met - the number of times I worried about something just to have it work out unexpectedly and more beautifully than I could have ever imagined - those are 99.9% of the stories and memories I have from this trip. There are absolutely a lot of things/news/headlines in the world today that are scary and depressing and sad and worrisome - but my personal experiences traveling around the world this year are ones that make me inherently believe in the goodness and beauty of people and humanity and life as a whole. I truly, truly do.<br />
<br />
This trip brought out parts of me that I didn't know existed - it sounds so daunting, the thought of showing up in a country without knowing anybody and without any idea of how it's going to feel. But it worked out, every single time. I can't tell you how many times I worried about something - being alone, finding my way, transport options, getting money, being safe, etc. - but it <i>always</i> worked out. If anything, traveling alone taught me to believe in my own capabilities and judgment more than any other experience I could have had. Things went a million times smoother than I could have ever imagined, and I also ended up meeting all these incredibly delightful people that I never would have met otherwise. It made me believe in myself more than ever. And because of that, I will absolutely hold every second of every moment of this trip in my heart forever.<br />
<br />
<br />
Repost from my Facebook, as an appropriate last sentence (oh god, am I quoting...myself?):<br />
<br />
<b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">The only last thing I need to say is that the world is crammed with more beautiful, unbelievable, unexpected, wondrous, awe-inspiring places, things, experiences, people, & sights than you or I could ever imagine. Get out there. <3 </b>Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-37701514906449350552016-10-05T21:38:00.000-07:002016-10-05T21:39:04.905-07:00Bohol, Philippines: FINAL STOP & I Attempt to Sightsee (Also, TINY MONKEYS)We are finally onto the last blog post! It has definitely been a (very, very, very slow and very, very painful) marathon to finish these last couple of posts (and I usually love writing this blog so very much!), so I have to thank everyone (....anyone...? ....hello?) for their patience! <br />
<br />
On the topic of thanking everyone, thank you for all the incredibly sweet words and support on my last blog post. That was definitely one I did not love writing (and I hemmed and hawed for ages on how to write things in a way that wasn't too "woe is me") - but the amount of people who reached out afterwards was beyond touching. Thanks, guys. Really. You all never cease to touch my heart. Like, get all up in there.<br />
<br />
I stayed in the Philippines for almost two weeks after my accident, before I got the doctor's OK to fly home. The last couple days before my flight, I even tried to get out and about and do a tiny bit of touristing. Like, at 20% levels. With Nurse Jesse monitoring me, of course.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
As mentioned before, I had, until this point, spent most of my time in bed in Cebu City. But a short(ish) ferry ride away from Cebu, to the Southwest, is the island of Bohol. Bohol is beautiful and tropical (standard in the Philippines), and has some gorg, mention-worthy sights of its own - including beautiful beaches, the Chocolate Hills, and tiny Tarsier monkeys. DID SOMEONE SAY TINY MONKEYS. Injured or un-injured, I'm there. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9v9ma6HKAWr43RcLzVATcfEt8iR17BB_dFBYIYHa-6ixhyXkUbY1Iix-JtYceSDXzwwxj5D6TEi1eyylagPpKG6ltOR2hvVOtZ0zGh3MQNPuheMlMzJJAh8t3IRY5kip_mSeefsjXEg/s1600/14467060_10153742488976697_1362260454_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii9v9ma6HKAWr43RcLzVATcfEt8iR17BB_dFBYIYHa-6ixhyXkUbY1Iix-JtYceSDXzwwxj5D6TEi1eyylagPpKG6ltOR2hvVOtZ0zGh3MQNPuheMlMzJJAh8t3IRY5kip_mSeefsjXEg/s640/14467060_10153742488976697_1362260454_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chocolate Hills!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtGgOiG2XHBeEbHtQIiltmu7Q33goI6h05EJVpa2TiDMxm0Acb4rT_mpHwvQOm710bG3S6ewQ0FBkCCKFPT9GyrofIyD-IPwadb1qgZrOVB_akK_Uig8Nz2sbOjoYwK2lf3T3GAVjYss/s1600/14456854_10153742489041697_1586817401_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxtGgOiG2XHBeEbHtQIiltmu7Q33goI6h05EJVpa2TiDMxm0Acb4rT_mpHwvQOm710bG3S6ewQ0FBkCCKFPT9GyrofIyD-IPwadb1qgZrOVB_akK_Uig8Nz2sbOjoYwK2lf3T3GAVjYss/s640/14456854_10153742489041697_1586817401_o.jpg" width="350" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A tiny tarsier!!! Ugh, I have such a thing for mini animals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Two days before I was to head home, I was finally feeling like I might be OK enough to venture further than the mall. Jesse and his patience took great care of me and made sure that this mini-trip to Bohol for a couple nights was very low-key and slow-paced. From Cebu City, a (very slow-moving) ferry runs hourly for the ~2.5 hour cruise to the capital of Bohol, Tagbilaran City. Jesse had been to Cebu/Bohol/the same area last year on vacation, so he was super familiar with what to do and where to go and where to stay, so it was super reassuring and very low-stress.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Oh man, that 2.5 hour ferry ride from Cebu City involved a taxi ride to the port and a 2-hour wait when our ferry was delayed.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUoEYXsZBv_4UpLbYeXO0nGPDdBqyOsWQssKXMMjiN2eBCxP3veLKi-hCPul7TM8JB-oyfUH1Vli1e7MS0I9kHgFmUHD8dFTR0suMr1Khk61m8en0hfePeY-TaDCom7WqY1ud2_uVBEw/s1600/thumb_IMG_8003_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkUoEYXsZBv_4UpLbYeXO0nGPDdBqyOsWQssKXMMjiN2eBCxP3veLKi-hCPul7TM8JB-oyfUH1Vli1e7MS0I9kHgFmUHD8dFTR0suMr1Khk61m8en0hfePeY-TaDCom7WqY1ud2_uVBEw/s640/thumb_IMG_8003_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was not doing too well in the heat, but I was doing better than I look in this photo, I swear. I told Jesse I was going to pose like this the entire weekend because movement was not. fun. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaD21AFpGH5ODmZecSrxBXkPol5YGcZYw37AzyO6i5biMbBQannmWScpppevdkGknNFJrxcqseens5bMmvqVEpA8EKS6bqcja4vT4tMybT4sLukLvBs98HZUESr62rsYlmAXaVScnB4s/s1600/thumb_IMG_8005_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaD21AFpGH5ODmZecSrxBXkPol5YGcZYw37AzyO6i5biMbBQannmWScpppevdkGknNFJrxcqseens5bMmvqVEpA8EKS6bqcja4vT4tMybT4sLukLvBs98HZUESr62rsYlmAXaVScnB4s/s640/thumb_IMG_8005_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the ferry! They only had first-class seats left, which means we were in the A/C - no complaints here!<br />
P.S. Also clearly staying true to my plan.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rsWET2u96dNpSFlR-eGhoGWUQkKFagmSsAGYefEYquHsfolq6HTOAgfJn2uIHpNAN7f7fAqy9vrr2uDjS6XWfvOZkR-yn1DeuMgSUAYVH4rUUyPQOfB6w4WWMcGBLbcLm9pXZGoNKro/s1600/thumb_IMG_8018_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rsWET2u96dNpSFlR-eGhoGWUQkKFagmSsAGYefEYquHsfolq6HTOAgfJn2uIHpNAN7f7fAqy9vrr2uDjS6XWfvOZkR-yn1DeuMgSUAYVH4rUUyPQOfB6w4WWMcGBLbcLm9pXZGoNKro/s640/thumb_IMG_8018_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But our ferry delay meant we got to arrive in Bohol right at sunset. UGH STILL LOVE SUNSETS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVYk-B1GLkmCmaoxcvotigcif45LOXj9-pQJ-S2vPQZvzZE9b8nav1egswQ8ij-X0ooJ1alNK6U6pua_vMcQgln2UU83-0IvKya1Vvs-nUlBxnQSmPOjrIOgpnA9MbcqFxO2T34LLQBE/s1600/thumb_IMG_8012_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvVYk-B1GLkmCmaoxcvotigcif45LOXj9-pQJ-S2vPQZvzZE9b8nav1egswQ8ij-X0ooJ1alNK6U6pua_vMcQgln2UU83-0IvKya1Vvs-nUlBxnQSmPOjrIOgpnA9MbcqFxO2T34LLQBE/s640/thumb_IMG_8012_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We took a nice air-conditioned (I was very focused on A/C at this point in my life, in case you haven't noticed) car about an hour south to the resort-y/beachy area of Panglao Island. But this would be the normal mode of transport - kind of like a tuk-tuk but with a side carriage! Favorite.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcUPCp7nYKzFX_-rt9MEZxIxleSMV_KRreIutBXJx_d5RMgqMBWIzPNWDqX4cIm3A0-FGUL-Ot3n1mm-WYwDTh4nAhtsm6h5I04zPNQgHynd51d9OiVPiIEcQwlf_QWxeWFC51zTgkMo/s1600/thumb_IMG_8019_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTcUPCp7nYKzFX_-rt9MEZxIxleSMV_KRreIutBXJx_d5RMgqMBWIzPNWDqX4cIm3A0-FGUL-Ot3n1mm-WYwDTh4nAhtsm6h5I04zPNQgHynd51d9OiVPiIEcQwlf_QWxeWFC51zTgkMo/s640/thumb_IMG_8019_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got to Panglao Island and went to a restaurant where you can choose your own fresh seafood.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0nc1TUf4NJh1Htw32nFrhKjUd9EJl6Ueroxe_Sp9zotXzTffoiqz0CMSKON6NkMoqBryamCKHz5t0G3yvcRaXgAifcwOiFEo-DkhxXoJ1i_ZDx7Lk46wLGtie0vxT0OJNJO55omn4qQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_8023_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF0nc1TUf4NJh1Htw32nFrhKjUd9EJl6Ueroxe_Sp9zotXzTffoiqz0CMSKON6NkMoqBryamCKHz5t0G3yvcRaXgAifcwOiFEo-DkhxXoJ1i_ZDx7Lk46wLGtie0vxT0OJNJO55omn4qQ/s640/thumb_IMG_8023_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So many parts of the Philippines have tons and tons of Korean stores/businesses/tourists (the entire mall in Cebu City was basically filled with Korean tourists - Jess says they come here because it's so cheap and they can learn English #Jessefacts). And now it becomes clear to me why sometimes the locals greeted me in Korean...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5rWDLp1V0vnYm01KlKfuT_EU6T2fhcD98pt9j0aksl9yFquj30aXJ1ovwuHxsUXyhJTyozmXrFN1zx-mkJnyR2AGPSb-wYclgnsoS6W8Uu5g4w36GseeNUxoXdHeSdagCuAvgGdlzSY/s1600/thumb_IMG_8022_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5rWDLp1V0vnYm01KlKfuT_EU6T2fhcD98pt9j0aksl9yFquj30aXJ1ovwuHxsUXyhJTyozmXrFN1zx-mkJnyR2AGPSb-wYclgnsoS6W8Uu5g4w36GseeNUxoXdHeSdagCuAvgGdlzSY/s640/thumb_IMG_8022_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we walked down the beach at night, which is chock-full of outdoor cafes, restaurants, and bars. And people selling delicious mango juices.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day, we planned to rent a vehicle and drive out to see the TINY TARSIER MONKEYS (I actually think maybe they're just called 'tarsiers', now that I think about it...) and a sight called the Chocolate Hills (some kind of geological formation that looks like rolling hills of chocolate....amazing).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7vZNuH_FJPP4dSMDOZMaBTVDv6JNbwOLQ7fkRv7rf6J7VI4LkGCENaMCGqzWLY3tgmeonAYz9mNE2tfRWpEcmTPVc-dMO7_VXVzIfzjPqAYnXciEBqrQ_IufbSoKMiqNriZHXlVJaH8/s1600/thumb_IMG_8030_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii7vZNuH_FJPP4dSMDOZMaBTVDv6JNbwOLQ7fkRv7rf6J7VI4LkGCENaMCGqzWLY3tgmeonAYz9mNE2tfRWpEcmTPVc-dMO7_VXVzIfzjPqAYnXciEBqrQ_IufbSoKMiqNriZHXlVJaH8/s640/thumb_IMG_8030_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Unfortunately (or fortunately), the only cost-effective vehicle was this motorbike. Which, in case you're wondering, I did NOT do well on. Every bump on the road felt like someone was taking a mallet to my head. Poor Jess had to cruise along at the slowest, slowest speeds the entire way, in an effort to be careful and avoid me throwing a fit at every bump. Needless to say, the trip took forever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHXY619LQJaKiGeN-lTZvwEfXwxjTZMCC14mKF2Pp9O_06Ta53mZAoa7PHP4nFOf2pT5q1a2_9TLGHmtwxFDtjOps8uieyHAH6jDVqdV-M_ChbVJbmlk0fknnUi44LijOB_P3b0P43a4/s1600/thumb_IMG_8027_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHXY619LQJaKiGeN-lTZvwEfXwxjTZMCC14mKF2Pp9O_06Ta53mZAoa7PHP4nFOf2pT5q1a2_9TLGHmtwxFDtjOps8uieyHAH6jDVqdV-M_ChbVJbmlk0fknnUi44LijOB_P3b0P43a4/s640/thumb_IMG_8027_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whaaaaaat, a roadside coconut stand?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXrOs0oWAxLxJbm8iMZYOsVvGP6nN0AxEMevfhIT9mrnUVCfuP1qzoVReonvV_bxxk1Iymzfow2lbIYtuMbImrccZ6Z8_8sagj0y9KSzheDQksEEB_aoF-C2YveymO6KJi8ZPDK3rNK8/s1600/thumb_IMG_8029_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXrOs0oWAxLxJbm8iMZYOsVvGP6nN0AxEMevfhIT9mrnUVCfuP1qzoVReonvV_bxxk1Iymzfow2lbIYtuMbImrccZ6Z8_8sagj0y9KSzheDQksEEB_aoF-C2YveymO6KJi8ZPDK3rNK8/s640/thumb_IMG_8029_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....which I possibly made us stop at for a fresh coconut</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjpV_Xtuv0UkwKjGDYVvTvFVIriGvJs6CoQg7e2cNs5uwTMDIvooHjYOz4c8b0qDJZPNPVVFWpQuV_Tc9P5g8DOhYCF0ESVtKYxL_7GWeSDcEfxe80qUG0-htt508zd24wgUGeYaIJZM/s1600/thumb_IMG_8053_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnjpV_Xtuv0UkwKjGDYVvTvFVIriGvJs6CoQg7e2cNs5uwTMDIvooHjYOz4c8b0qDJZPNPVVFWpQuV_Tc9P5g8DOhYCF0ESVtKYxL_7GWeSDcEfxe80qUG0-htt508zd24wgUGeYaIJZM/s640/thumb_IMG_8053_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">For the most part, the roads were super small, smooth, not too-bumpy, and relatively empty. Hallelujah.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkeUVWwbxRQe-NZJLNVuSQbVYLW3I4jBBAwgGhHm7ZvNEbL9t_TScA-xFUX98x7KKf18UPGM1DVPsS1Db58NyKuC_BlI5WbnaoEc8Tqg1Vj57rKZgNUYf7-X02rfi8UDIea42gg7COys/s1600/thumb_IMG_8049_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIkeUVWwbxRQe-NZJLNVuSQbVYLW3I4jBBAwgGhHm7ZvNEbL9t_TScA-xFUX98x7KKf18UPGM1DVPsS1Db58NyKuC_BlI5WbnaoEc8Tqg1Vj57rKZgNUYf7-X02rfi8UDIea42gg7COys/s640/thumb_IMG_8049_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then we arrived at the Tarsier sanctuary!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The tarsier sanctuary involved a lady leading us into a section of the forest with tons of tiny little tarsiers perching in the trees, and she would gently show us the location of each one. 1.) TARSIERS ARE TINY. TINY. With HUGE eyes. Is there a cuter combo?? I think not; 2.) They're also incredibly delicate - you can't yell or get near them or scare them or make noise at all really, because apparently they're very talented at dying of fright. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVmyawiAJhggefWQ7D5PHiBKB0PnzPKDaYG1ZrN7TyeISaeYJjAF2SnTYNeG4_ps6PKJmMakaP0UZ5o8YUQkUkMlAcVb7puEtKXGC15IvRpG5fUkYV58qCI-HkbOT2QgDgq9MYAxiysI/s1600/thumb_IMG_8033_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrVmyawiAJhggefWQ7D5PHiBKB0PnzPKDaYG1ZrN7TyeISaeYJjAF2SnTYNeG4_ps6PKJmMakaP0UZ5o8YUQkUkMlAcVb7puEtKXGC15IvRpG5fUkYV58qCI-HkbOT2QgDgq9MYAxiysI/s640/thumb_IMG_8033_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first tarsier sighting!! Does anyone else see how it's artistically gazing through the palm leaves?!?!? SUCH A PENSIVE TARSIER.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsEhtjCR24_25TqSIWxh6bn3oi9EExFeSIPz70DY4hdMz3S0drQOz9xu0CtsxvH6gVqCEYslsz9Qgbiw9sOKCmUYi7FQ2nY-4sgVJAjhKv5CDI489oy6h6aqb3LjldhJ6NAnv-ByoX3w/s1600/thumb_IMG_8039_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsEhtjCR24_25TqSIWxh6bn3oi9EExFeSIPz70DY4hdMz3S0drQOz9xu0CtsxvH6gVqCEYslsz9Qgbiw9sOKCmUYi7FQ2nY-4sgVJAjhKv5CDI489oy6h6aqb3LjldhJ6NAnv-ByoX3w/s640/thumb_IMG_8039_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm dying. Look at this tarsier's humungo eyes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gUb965ge4hJbWLVr_uCVsWhVsnXqpYbhwgRyHubID1Jfjm_gKWRfJtZnT_6MzjruKpSIYWSS6ZW_0iNveB3iCkdBxTQctpGR8XFYexLf-cvHk3V3ZIlNMayM1e38SRw9JV9mmoz9BQc/s1600/thumb_IMG_8043_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gUb965ge4hJbWLVr_uCVsWhVsnXqpYbhwgRyHubID1Jfjm_gKWRfJtZnT_6MzjruKpSIYWSS6ZW_0iNveB3iCkdBxTQctpGR8XFYexLf-cvHk3V3ZIlNMayM1e38SRw9JV9mmoz9BQc/s640/thumb_IMG_8043_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't. Even.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>After the tarsier sanctuary and the ridic tiny tarsiers, we continued on our journey to the Chocolate Hills! The Choco Hills were formed way, way back in the day as karst (there's that word again!!! Thanks, China!) or limestone deposits. The deposits created thousands of these giant bumpy hills - which are green in the wet season, but turn brown in the dry season. Hence the name "Chocolate Hills." They're a really gorgeous sight - just tons of giant brown mountains extending in all directions and rising out of a blanket of green.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB4SljsGF0yli2ZEeNNIGPS4zcyupTORg-w1nkpalGMa4hX2OfKrYpra_bhKXso-NWv22k28ap_ajkpMvnqvh1dC_VRhyphenhyphenjV0bU-WdWdhqSOyjD3VrTJqaYIVWi8sMwJrbZcv2ubpR-b0/s1600/thumb_IMG_8055_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIB4SljsGF0yli2ZEeNNIGPS4zcyupTORg-w1nkpalGMa4hX2OfKrYpra_bhKXso-NWv22k28ap_ajkpMvnqvh1dC_VRhyphenhyphenjV0bU-WdWdhqSOyjD3VrTJqaYIVWi8sMwJrbZcv2ubpR-b0/s640/thumb_IMG_8055_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the views the entire way were these amazingly gorgeous rice paddies and palm trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1rOccQopfoOkFRNelRj_dg2zQuP3ZgVd-Bhosha8CI32NeAgwr-wdMiaaHjKy6HdMMpbdBlGIWpTjQsD1WLdu6yRmru7ncHKnhXfu1SDuvuTz3T6Zroa_CQime2aa2pRKSKvFFXW1oc/s1600/thumb_IMG_8056_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB1rOccQopfoOkFRNelRj_dg2zQuP3ZgVd-Bhosha8CI32NeAgwr-wdMiaaHjKy6HdMMpbdBlGIWpTjQsD1WLdu6yRmru7ncHKnhXfu1SDuvuTz3T6Zroa_CQime2aa2pRKSKvFFXW1oc/s640/thumb_IMG_8056_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse drove (like a tortoise), and I took photos from the back of the bike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dCiKKRZmewCZLAcA9jqu20Kty2ZP9e-XUHYegruWYdQwz3d4GdyEcqwLEYOIYQkC0wtxuKvn00ObBrP9FzvPy-w7bSxQ_iQl8kuViT4MhFfHLwUAPjtmpMfSL-ICqy1Did-mZU24p6U/s1600/thumb_IMG_8063_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dCiKKRZmewCZLAcA9jqu20Kty2ZP9e-XUHYegruWYdQwz3d4GdyEcqwLEYOIYQkC0wtxuKvn00ObBrP9FzvPy-w7bSxQ_iQl8kuViT4MhFfHLwUAPjtmpMfSL-ICqy1Did-mZU24p6U/s640/thumb_IMG_8063_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loooove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>A couple hours later, we got to the Chocolate Hills! You can hike to the top of this viewpoint to look over the landscape, although I will mention that they are doing tons of construction everywhere. But still very pretty.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hy99PfhemRObrsPNZ8Ul9uU99ry5ltO2jKZzyAvyqvD038sJHFoULpSUhol7aH9X8sp37XOUEq9RCvGbE8YgfND6eTjOGfrEtAD41cfN8z9XRXtqh6RA8oaoRVQKSAbTOeGJNt0qPDY/s1600/thumb_IMG_8079_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Hy99PfhemRObrsPNZ8Ul9uU99ry5ltO2jKZzyAvyqvD038sJHFoULpSUhol7aH9X8sp37XOUEq9RCvGbE8YgfND6eTjOGfrEtAD41cfN8z9XRXtqh6RA8oaoRVQKSAbTOeGJNt0qPDY/s640/thumb_IMG_8079_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Chocolate Hills!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX3RCEgofSI5lt2qSWeoKYVussrL_UMiAb1BjAWL1EHJBxAQVYUPXB5k2eThKcXjYQq7hIhtYl1ZjepIokFuU85fbM2QvJnOV0eOQzQcDu1fuhNH4nfniXVXePjpeD9uy1ueDuf0U83Y/s1600/thumb_IMG_8080_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX3RCEgofSI5lt2qSWeoKYVussrL_UMiAb1BjAWL1EHJBxAQVYUPXB5k2eThKcXjYQq7hIhtYl1ZjepIokFuU85fbM2QvJnOV0eOQzQcDu1fuhNH4nfniXVXePjpeD9uy1ueDuf0U83Y/s640/thumb_IMG_8080_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, these things are everywhere, 360 degrees around</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PZ5Jr8iscOnlHLtT6XANtHKht4_-h05CSnF6xcRNwT6zvKd5ZK7Et0zyTAKDCG8OHKarxdD9CdC6Fk0BdN3PvkyB75G5nz3ra3mTv8PY6Qj_Vdh4fY8ILYe1mTp_4Nm8UdvvdTMBuVM/s1600/thumb_IMG_8087_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2PZ5Jr8iscOnlHLtT6XANtHKht4_-h05CSnF6xcRNwT6zvKd5ZK7Et0zyTAKDCG8OHKarxdD9CdC6Fk0BdN3PvkyB75G5nz3ra3mTv8PY6Qj_Vdh4fY8ILYe1mTp_4Nm8UdvvdTMBuVM/s640/thumb_IMG_8087_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look, alive and well!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgZamM9h9gtdkdP8yqz9U4M87JEzAdjS4A_oNQAstHVcF6viHGxrGioxbvY8WeT8Ab72GlXHGFQ60uvIKr7ZHR4KPQAAdczfgn_39UI8CPSATdtHLINC8C_Zue1w0M-vMU0_ELr03Ixg/s1600/thumb_IMG_8093_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgZamM9h9gtdkdP8yqz9U4M87JEzAdjS4A_oNQAstHVcF6viHGxrGioxbvY8WeT8Ab72GlXHGFQ60uvIKr7ZHR4KPQAAdczfgn_39UI8CPSATdtHLINC8C_Zue1w0M-vMU0_ELr03Ixg/s640/thumb_IMG_8093_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving back to Panglao during dusk. I have to say, the return trip was pure misery for me. But made slightly better by the gorgeous views.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day was my last one in the Philippines before the end of my entire journey, so we spent the final morning at Panglao Beach. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tucLeFWu_i7mV3EtLKvQouW-ehnJR5FRk9IDvS-NXQgzKm5eTwVnysC2XTsETRbP7FG9iBvvJiqb0zjpUQ1fvCXm4m7mS1kQtDjNkG2JLfFUX35bVy__ypK53uksMSihvY6mIUDyi1g/s1600/14438759_10153742488926697_1509784391_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-tucLeFWu_i7mV3EtLKvQouW-ehnJR5FRk9IDvS-NXQgzKm5eTwVnysC2XTsETRbP7FG9iBvvJiqb0zjpUQ1fvCXm4m7mS1kQtDjNkG2JLfFUX35bVy__ypK53uksMSihvY6mIUDyi1g/s640/14438759_10153742488926697_1509784391_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panglao Beach was beautiful! Talented me forgot my (multiple) swimsuits back in Cebu City, so I had to purchase a shiny yellow monstrosity on the beach that basically made me look like I wrestled in the WWE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IU9aWJ7XSLcXdznyUkogX74DVNDnVKd6JcmhnP47gCA9LHm5rYYXJAIPQqufS9KdRao-9HEJGOyouco6epd89666UOKf6FKyvXBdlcyZ64O2r25wts7TAE6LdCYT1ju8921wE_kGJzM/s1600/14446542_10153742488481697_1535687723_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9IU9aWJ7XSLcXdznyUkogX74DVNDnVKd6JcmhnP47gCA9LHm5rYYXJAIPQqufS9KdRao-9HEJGOyouco6epd89666UOKf6FKyvXBdlcyZ64O2r25wts7TAE6LdCYT1ju8921wE_kGJzM/s640/14446542_10153742488481697_1535687723_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse's floating in the water - which was super, super warm. Like tepid bath water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykd6flXfJ_HYe2dwnwhFDnJvfx2QYqclr6pPHSMFLCjpqOlk1sF9A3OZgmKlYJUm3mEJhqrnA_N1Cj8ZeTt7QimN_Bcwz5XrF9mlcNid-H5peFm2FCRbEaQmnWR5PyxLRWlRhKANnFwE/s1600/14455698_10153742559216697_1171653238_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhykd6flXfJ_HYe2dwnwhFDnJvfx2QYqclr6pPHSMFLCjpqOlk1sF9A3OZgmKlYJUm3mEJhqrnA_N1Cj8ZeTt7QimN_Bcwz5XrF9mlcNid-H5peFm2FCRbEaQmnWR5PyxLRWlRhKANnFwE/s640/14455698_10153742559216697_1171653238_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I basically laid under a palm tree all morning</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>And before I knew it, we were on the ferry back to Cebu City - where I had a flight to Manila that evening (and then a flight to Guam, and then a flight to Hawaii, and then a flight to Denver - but digressing).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplmVCq-HmsJLQScFyCkEGnGOv-tcUbV5hJ4h07iKUjA-udS8f-BX_45oIi-OVs39GNlCFNry77CFW_a6atM2l3CTt5OWRmygV94MOg_o47WVMCvDpHJKa2lX41ahMlDK_4qfYrdZv-tU/s1600/thumb_IMG_8101_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplmVCq-HmsJLQScFyCkEGnGOv-tcUbV5hJ4h07iKUjA-udS8f-BX_45oIi-OVs39GNlCFNry77CFW_a6atM2l3CTt5OWRmygV94MOg_o47WVMCvDpHJKa2lX41ahMlDK_4qfYrdZv-tU/s640/thumb_IMG_8101_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And in the spirit of full disclosure, the status of my head bruise 10 days post-fall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnyiuvVNdxDcMxpXu6z6_jScIb4YifgIhHvumlGEX8w2bzqYV3SY6p1uIpCy8DshlkD-obx_AZMdvjgRZxZGETYXBazvs1oVqsEFcPrf6Xz192Xy5yKs8uDPc_5Y4-6qDmE0Kvr5ngXk/s1600/thumb_IMG_8098_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnyiuvVNdxDcMxpXu6z6_jScIb4YifgIhHvumlGEX8w2bzqYV3SY6p1uIpCy8DshlkD-obx_AZMdvjgRZxZGETYXBazvs1oVqsEFcPrf6Xz192Xy5yKs8uDPc_5Y4-6qDmE0Kvr5ngXk/s640/thumb_IMG_8098_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">One final chaotic repacking of the bag. This is the #1 thing I will not miss. I ended up donating 90% of my clothes and leaving them in the Philippines, because after 15 months of the same clothes - I was OK never seeing that clothing ever again, for the rest of my life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Standing at the airport in Cebu City, none of it felt real: it didn't feel like this was the culmination of 15 months of an incredibly epic journey. It didn't feel like I was headed home, or that my world trip was over, or that this was going to be my final moment in another country before my feet hit U.S. soil. I was probably more focused on the long journey home and getting through it all, mostly because I was still in recovery mode - and being able to go back and recuperate in a consistent bed, in a comfortable, familiar place sounded really, really nice. Jesse escorted me to the airport (mostly to be the greatest person ever and carry my backpack through security for me), and it was so weird saying bye to him for the (4th? 5th?) time too. None of it felt real.</li>
<li>Now that I'm home (and have been for a bit), it still hasn't really hit me that it's all over. Everything while I was traveling was so day-to-day, and that's what I've been living since being back- living day-to-day, and enjoying all these random familiar, yet weirdly unfamiliar, moments (reverse culture-shock is definitely a thing). I may as well be traveling in a new country, what with all the things that have surprised and delighted me since I've been back.</li>
<li>I'm sure I'll get around to writing a "final final" wrap-up post sometime soon - because there's literally (and this is one of those instances where I literally mean 'literally') a million things/thoughts/moments/conclusions/wonderings I want to say, and reminisce about, and communicate, and ponder over, and throw out there. Even thinking about what I want to say gets me all choked up, for serious. Until then though, here is the final blog post about my travel adventures - it makes me a little sad that it wasn't a "I skydived out of a plane & then landed on a wild tiger and raced it into the rainforest while fireworks exploded in the background" kind of grand finale, but it's almost perfect how imperfect it is. Because isn't that what traveling is all about? =)</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">(Final) Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Cock fighting is a huge sport in the Philippines. Everywhere you go, there are tons and tons of roosters EVERYwhere, without any hens anywhere. Because there is such an overabundance of roosters, the roosters are especially competitive and aggressive, so you literally will hear them crowing at ALL HOURS OF THE DAY. EVERYwhere. You do not take naps in the Philippines.</li>
<li>MALLS. Filipino malls are INSANE. The cities themselves look rough, with cobbled-together buildings and sketchy workmanship and dirt paths - but the minute you step into a mall (they're everywhere!), it's like BAM. The entire thing changes. They love their malls here (and all the Asian tourists who come here do too!), and the malls are usually huge and beautiful and gleaming and pretty and overwhelmingly amazing. Crammed to the brim with shoppers and restaurants and stores and services. On. crack.</li>
<li>Tarsiers' eyes are the largest comparative to their size out of any mammal in the world (their eyeballs are the same size as their brain! Imagine if we all had brain-sized eyeballs!). They're so huge that they can't rotate them fully, so they're able to rotate their necks a full 180 degrees in either direction, like an owl. ADORABLE.</li>
<li>Everyone in the Philippines is always trying to rip you off. Always. Wages are so low here, that everyone tries to make an extra buck off you wherever, and whenever, they can. Keep in mind though, that it's literally just that - an extra buck. So even if someone is conning you so badly that you are being robbed high and dry, it's usually such a small amount (to our Western standards) that it's not even a huge deal. </li>
<li>Flights between the Philippine islands are SUPER, super cheap. You can get from most major cities one-way for about $15-30, which is amazing. One of the most popular local airlines, Cebu Air, has the most inventory of island-to-island flights - but they are ALWAYS delayed. And I seriously mean always - I have not seen or heard of a single Cebu Air flight that hasn't been delayed by an hour or two or three, at least. And I not only flew them a lot (heyyy $30 flights are practically free!), but met tons of other people flying them. See proof below:</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03Cg9_-JqiA8mnXdUwCYZ9TES5NBnUQStSW0DRNqiMdfA-5NiyUmLL1IRsFQkUKk83YFY532eX1jNamJ7_Y5BT6AOlaiwxzPJosH1uxKiRkivH7CiY0YNUuw2vEbkBGjXDxdTRGBi0LY/s1600/thumb_IMG_8103_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj03Cg9_-JqiA8mnXdUwCYZ9TES5NBnUQStSW0DRNqiMdfA-5NiyUmLL1IRsFQkUKk83YFY532eX1jNamJ7_Y5BT6AOlaiwxzPJosH1uxKiRkivH7CiY0YNUuw2vEbkBGjXDxdTRGBi0LY/s640/thumb_IMG_8103_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A photo I took of the departure board at Cebu City's airport. Note the STD (scheduled departure time) vs. the ETD (estimated departure time) for EVERY flight. EVERY SINGLE ONE before the current time had been delayed. Insanity. Build in a lot of buffer time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
This is not good-bye - I refuse to end my blog with a photo of a delayed departure board. I'm sure I'll be writing some wrap-up posts soon, so I'll see you guys then. But until then, thank you so much for all your faithful (and not-so-faithful) reading of my adventures. XO!</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-41405327363052074022016-09-07T21:51:00.002-07:002016-09-07T21:54:12.181-07:00Cebu, Philippines: Swimming with WHALE SHARKSLAST STOPPPPP.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
We are moving onto the last stop of my world adventure. Who knew that we'd ever reach this point?? I'm not even sure that I did...</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My last country ended up being the Philippines, and not for any kind of deep, insightful reason. Searching for one-way flights home in the middle of summer does not bring up many affordable options, and it turns out that Manila -> Denver is one of the most affordable legs you'll find. Never mind the fact that I had previously chosen the Philippines as my future honeymoon spot (why pay $3000/night for a private cabana on the beach in Tahiti when you could get one for $100/night in the Philippines, which is equally stunning?!) - I'll just have to change up those plans, because duhhhh, the flights home are the most affordable from there right now! I'll worry about the needing-someone-to-marry part later too.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Joining me on the last leg of my trip was my friend Janie - she's one of my bffs from when I lived in Austin, and had reached out to me to see where'd I be since she recently left her job as well. And before I knew it, we had plans to meet up in the Philippines!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
The Philippines! I have no idea why these islands are so often overlooked as a paradise-y spot, because this country is made up of over 7,000 islands! And it is <i>stunning</i>. STUNNING. I would say the only downfall is that the bigger cities (at least the ones we saw) are pretty ugly and sprawl-y and have terrible traffic and congestion. But seriously, step outside of the city, and it's like pure jungle tropical beauty. There are so, so many incredible islands and places to visit in the Philippines, and because there are so many islands, it is super easy to go off-the-beaten-path and find your own personal paradise. There are no shortage of private beaches, or crystal-clear turquoise waters. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28rVWoDuYRJiCOYVAV1_9DxZtNrhPW08q8FbI04oKUYyvizJx6GEXFcOkiMPIN87igZ2bl4RUmlO-Xy8gkZO140oSB2LKugQUZNwo9ZAJZgre0pCHBJSZmd5X4NwXcacBZ4c4y1gGh6I/s1600/IMG_7966.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28rVWoDuYRJiCOYVAV1_9DxZtNrhPW08q8FbI04oKUYyvizJx6GEXFcOkiMPIN87igZ2bl4RUmlO-Xy8gkZO140oSB2LKugQUZNwo9ZAJZgre0pCHBJSZmd5X4NwXcacBZ4c4y1gGh6I/s640/IMG_7966.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning sunrise from Boljoon in Cebu</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KJTA-ZwGGfo1ptrZjYd6H_nmcF0KXt04WMxuSNxTpiZebevj_1ojnL-0BgLMYbEXKD0nYHCYmcc5dAL6TYjnVWULA60FKioRwToSErI16-7sWi3Rf3FmojGLl5O4SaeJ9oCFNJCZd6s/s1600/IMG_7934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KJTA-ZwGGfo1ptrZjYd6H_nmcF0KXt04WMxuSNxTpiZebevj_1ojnL-0BgLMYbEXKD0nYHCYmcc5dAL6TYjnVWULA60FKioRwToSErI16-7sWi3Rf3FmojGLl5O4SaeJ9oCFNJCZd6s/s640/IMG_7934.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And Jurassic Park-like jungles!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Also, it doesn't hurt that it is dirt cheap here. Most nights, we paid about $20 for a private room for two. And the local airline, Cebu Pacific, has incredibly cheap flights in between most of the major islands - so you can on-the-fly decide to go somewhere and fly there for ~$30. It's amazing.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Arrived into Manila from Sydney and stayed there overnight to meet up with Janie, who got in about 5 hours later than I did. All I have to say is that Manila has the most atrocious traffic of all time - seriously, it will take you like, an hour to go 5 miles. </li>
<li>Reunited with Janie, then we flew out together the next morning to the island of Cebu! I had chosen Cebu (which is not as tourist-y as the more well-known islands of Palawan or Boracay) because Jesse had been there, and you can swim with whale sharks here! WHALE SHARKS.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrpNHIC1g4A48E8tok6Ce-lkLBFIbwMJAtjCsthf6ly7w7q4Boo45cCXa_jyy9InuJotgDhHfl5U4rS4Qwm0pWznHCQQhQ4X-ZjC19CMlT_nJLC_RfO3D4RWToju4pYmFtGnJ6a5yOZQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_7866_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrpNHIC1g4A48E8tok6Ce-lkLBFIbwMJAtjCsthf6ly7w7q4Boo45cCXa_jyy9InuJotgDhHfl5U4rS4Qwm0pWznHCQQhQ4X-ZjC19CMlT_nJLC_RfO3D4RWToju4pYmFtGnJ6a5yOZQ/s640/thumb_IMG_7866_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We flew into Cebu City, then had to take a 3.5 hour bus south to the tiny village of Boljoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwpTRmi-ymE75z6LpV6FHiZS-qjVKQUSy8E4FsXpNinwaukBQt4IK42lkLBLuejCDI1FnVSZ4z7usYLTNH_0jLib0unSzX5b_RPIvRGSvPsMDucPu6QilhWPzw2HZvPEriC75EpNC8D8/s1600/thumb_IMG_7868_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYwpTRmi-ymE75z6LpV6FHiZS-qjVKQUSy8E4FsXpNinwaukBQt4IK42lkLBLuejCDI1FnVSZ4z7usYLTNH_0jLib0unSzX5b_RPIvRGSvPsMDucPu6QilhWPzw2HZvPEriC75EpNC8D8/s640/thumb_IMG_7868_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a full day of travel, but at least an epic sunset to look at out the bus window</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We arrived at our hostel in Boljoon, Noordzee Hostel, in the evening. We spent the next day exploring some of the nearby waterfalls and sights of Bojoon (spoiler alert: there aren't a lot - the village is seriously SO TINY - yet so charming and picturesque!).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHjWS_nfGD-NK9yzZrWQIbnNltcfcTAVL2k4_ed8cOLxoGmYaXfCNP-N91tVhnI9jD11sJbHRlpOI6mmgpd2gkkKU69AyC8Om0s_hRCwQB3CK-vru7jp2iR8XQ0stq8olDD87-beo7Ws0/s640/IMG_7995.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our fave parts?? Riding a moto taxi to a nearby set of waterfalls, called Dayhag Falls. We may have selfie'd the entire way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OPY5-sxcdLcgmpF5aQtxUoMeFfz2l1Uz-q-QTqBknP-quzb3jWGiig3Tl_fEuLUcltXqyD0VD2j1r_ArvsZrFmrivnc7Jb1ByOBE0iGcDQ0CZn6aVOL2pP6YZRfTSlXRm11-DtHfkcc/s1600/IMG_7878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2OPY5-sxcdLcgmpF5aQtxUoMeFfz2l1Uz-q-QTqBknP-quzb3jWGiig3Tl_fEuLUcltXqyD0VD2j1r_ArvsZrFmrivnc7Jb1ByOBE0iGcDQ0CZn6aVOL2pP6YZRfTSlXRm11-DtHfkcc/s640/IMG_7878.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the tiny village roads we passed through</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZWONlLL7zm_4caeVkQzc93H6fuz9NTuUSDUeIUKxPvFHr8qTfqaHO82axuNehac6diIKcqfzc_hRkbolQtLmSLT0v4RNxQw-NnIHhZNtBxuMLf3p1PXmA2PITox7goW6ALej0DKP_9Q/s1600/IMG_7882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZWONlLL7zm_4caeVkQzc93H6fuz9NTuUSDUeIUKxPvFHr8qTfqaHO82axuNehac6diIKcqfzc_hRkbolQtLmSLT0v4RNxQw-NnIHhZNtBxuMLf3p1PXmA2PITox7goW6ALej0DKP_9Q/s640/IMG_7882.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we arrived at Dayhag Falls! Which consists of 5 sets of waterfalls you can visit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrzXC3VtyQjyK3yTFDpbnLIrDGNKMxsK8WZY3zzU7AvRnU169vTDLq9kM1dhpKKh17i9EEeI_fy4NlVrxmKVogC94g04BWRdm_bOS2aWQk8rZxnN7JcPsGKusrfMGvA_t4jyoHiD_h8k/s1600/IMG_7994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKrzXC3VtyQjyK3yTFDpbnLIrDGNKMxsK8WZY3zzU7AvRnU169vTDLq9kM1dhpKKh17i9EEeI_fy4NlVrxmKVogC94g04BWRdm_bOS2aWQk8rZxnN7JcPsGKusrfMGvA_t4jyoHiD_h8k/s640/IMG_7994.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As Janie and I were descending to some of the falls, there was a group of local guys hanging out together at the falls - these two guys from the group immediately saw us, came over to meet us and introduce themselves, and then asked if they could hang out with us and show us around. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfykCjSEb2aTCmd_LKu1x0oP-Rz3zmBXGy54I4IUVRIRSIRhtwaoY_Tzd7c5L3yNFuIqCMEx4_LD88VJVkMb0CeJ7rzq_cECuyohJFfEAKx1JqkHr2JVUSQvw0IoPhlzmbGcjc3tohns/s1600/IMG_7930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfykCjSEb2aTCmd_LKu1x0oP-Rz3zmBXGy54I4IUVRIRSIRhtwaoY_Tzd7c5L3yNFuIqCMEx4_LD88VJVkMb0CeJ7rzq_cECuyohJFfEAKx1JqkHr2JVUSQvw0IoPhlzmbGcjc3tohns/s640/IMG_7930.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">They also took it upon themselves to leave us a selfie on our camera. This is Vincent and Thirdy, they are 20 years old, and they tried real hard to spit some game later (even after finding out how old we were. Bless their 20-year old hearts. They were actually incredibly nice)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Gn79c_lgsco5-3JjDkp6tdEHYubPtsxPm0ltTmxojiBQPlGq8bfeT4iHNJ7qw3ojo6jmaNuPq3VcDkpHj2OzC4SlXZUXctEEedggefq-XygeOhbic_yo0LGY2r01Spz4zM3v6691qc/s1600/IMG_7889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0Gn79c_lgsco5-3JjDkp6tdEHYubPtsxPm0ltTmxojiBQPlGq8bfeT4iHNJ7qw3ojo6jmaNuPq3VcDkpHj2OzC4SlXZUXctEEedggefq-XygeOhbic_yo0LGY2r01Spz4zM3v6691qc/s640/IMG_7889.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the waterfalls had a rope that you could scale up or down, which the boys led us to</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53PgDKMABIFUcvHvBErHnBbHNpw9M1OOmuRwajk_NbgdjYM__dCTBaISIi0yCxJoL9KHkc_MqE9KAPpWIwXoUTbfnB6YMyNNklHF46RjMAEletxf3TeZo5qLpTD2piOSYabbKCNbRqsU/s1600/IMG_7891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53PgDKMABIFUcvHvBErHnBbHNpw9M1OOmuRwajk_NbgdjYM__dCTBaISIi0yCxJoL9KHkc_MqE9KAPpWIwXoUTbfnB6YMyNNklHF46RjMAEletxf3TeZo5qLpTD2piOSYabbKCNbRqsU/s640/IMG_7891.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thirdy is scaling down the waterfall on a rope, and I am dubious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I4yjpL7SQilTEvoUrujw7aTFy_cF6-WwZsXQYqWnvtshcOOFf4vVMYyXkCeKC6EQnQMrDsaD5SuYT-LUhQKLQahe6MhnkN5hpH_hqc5C4pES5cTMhAlfXTkaANR28z9ASd97k-cpxmE/s1600/IMG_7906.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-I4yjpL7SQilTEvoUrujw7aTFy_cF6-WwZsXQYqWnvtshcOOFf4vVMYyXkCeKC6EQnQMrDsaD5SuYT-LUhQKLQahe6MhnkN5hpH_hqc5C4pES5cTMhAlfXTkaANR28z9ASd97k-cpxmE/s640/IMG_7906.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I finally scaled both down and up (note to self: time to work out the arms)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmurtUuv01iDO1D7PBykuVDCfJ06ihe3KROm1fVg13YR_JYVWvsarg5v8NCGzIYp2ViyPZrCh1tKziI7eXdHABxU2IM7BNgfKU4YOqp5dbVP7LQmyZE107LCRXyIoAx8Zhl6nTrfQMt4/s1600/IMG_7918.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPmurtUuv01iDO1D7PBykuVDCfJ06ihe3KROm1fVg13YR_JYVWvsarg5v8NCGzIYp2ViyPZrCh1tKziI7eXdHABxU2IM7BNgfKU4YOqp5dbVP7LQmyZE107LCRXyIoAx8Zhl6nTrfQMt4/s640/IMG_7918.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">As did Janie! And the guys stationed themselves to make sure we were safe the whole time #hesgotgame</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bVpDgueVu3h8Jp3-Dg8homn7FlfO9GUpTETHaEGpIqf4ht5YwmzCqWHH2gSmFvONsBrnV4IllBhNYCEiwCAFI3DxGfIurHrE-flet-Zj9wPJpK9c51WcBpef-_8EcgThVoFnMs3bvkk/s1600/thumb_IMG_7942_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9bVpDgueVu3h8Jp3-Dg8homn7FlfO9GUpTETHaEGpIqf4ht5YwmzCqWHH2gSmFvONsBrnV4IllBhNYCEiwCAFI3DxGfIurHrE-flet-Zj9wPJpK9c51WcBpef-_8EcgThVoFnMs3bvkk/s640/thumb_IMG_7942_1024.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm gonna go ahead and say that I have zero idea how many photos of us the guys have on their phone #mustbeamillion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1lkoMmDO45F9oGugrRrUyPmJ_JNyNsNgm0sZIgk_IHaz8R3Hltht7-rPSFpaRPNShuUbCnHvi2jJVFCMCcknlmeizSSudHRqTyJKAPifCoNw-HCXki46VNWwEFMPlgdMvQ_6q8NTVsc/s1600/IMG_7993.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1lkoMmDO45F9oGugrRrUyPmJ_JNyNsNgm0sZIgk_IHaz8R3Hltht7-rPSFpaRPNShuUbCnHvi2jJVFCMCcknlmeizSSudHRqTyJKAPifCoNw-HCXki46VNWwEFMPlgdMvQ_6q8NTVsc/s640/IMG_7993.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one of the five waterfalls and its tiny adorable pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oq_NkSZ3-Iojg59_1Eri0Ly3XLnkWmYqrlZjv300WOxkqv7ZUqGP-3_2kw3WRp09RXCoA5V7TahiWJxmT_jkLvJ6c04M5JokR2dhxHWSx1SMinYZ9tebNwyKuwf4Yg3JCiO0oRbrEFA/s1600/IMG_7941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6oq_NkSZ3-Iojg59_1Eri0Ly3XLnkWmYqrlZjv300WOxkqv7ZUqGP-3_2kw3WRp09RXCoA5V7TahiWJxmT_jkLvJ6c04M5JokR2dhxHWSx1SMinYZ9tebNwyKuwf4Yg3JCiO0oRbrEFA/s640/IMG_7941.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Post-waterfalls, we moto'd back to Boljoon and took a walk through the village. Lunch options found: none. Chickens found: a billion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgeDMCbeF-U-1Wizfgs15MdnQkqb-QVR4T-YWo_I2jeQv6IpwWAR-BwG3ZGl2kT6Sjb4p24tqqBUnUggT1LKgZzUFiXVeBT_NhBhDbz1jyyGxQvQZBY5uHH61ld3YzpT2-WC4fsaLmZc/s1600/IMG_7937.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgeDMCbeF-U-1Wizfgs15MdnQkqb-QVR4T-YWo_I2jeQv6IpwWAR-BwG3ZGl2kT6Sjb4p24tqqBUnUggT1LKgZzUFiXVeBT_NhBhDbz1jyyGxQvQZBY5uHH61ld3YzpT2-WC4fsaLmZc/s640/IMG_7937.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did find a cafe that only had dessert, however, so I ordered the traditional Filipino dessert called <i>halo-halo</i>! <i>Halo-halo</i> can be made tons of ways, but usually consists of shaved ice (nom - approve), condensed milk (approve), fruit, jellies, tubers (what is a tuber), sago, nuts, etc. It usually comes in an array of shockingly vibrant colors. Mine, of course, had ice cream. Diabetes, y'all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>As the food options in Boljoon were, let's say, limited, we headed back to our hostel for lunch and to hang out - since our hostel was awesome and right on the beach (funnily enough, it was another Jesse recommendation to stay there!). </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4H97pqN09eB_upjiI9XjL8oUM9DqNQgi7jwKpO5kzizuLnVMZg4qBqiXPEdkDgW_aceNWWNDm_AhcYzmbKJE3lA__xqklFLaniXaB9PEVPZJ-wa3_6qRz6trnANl4Rn-df6XcSn7I2Ng/s1600/IMG_7946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4H97pqN09eB_upjiI9XjL8oUM9DqNQgi7jwKpO5kzizuLnVMZg4qBqiXPEdkDgW_aceNWWNDm_AhcYzmbKJE3lA__xqklFLaniXaB9PEVPZJ-wa3_6qRz6trnANl4Rn-df6XcSn7I2Ng/s640/IMG_7946.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking our hostel's outdoor space - perfect</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdb_6W9mYwQXtcT-45UCBSseE8D-PRjksJP7S29iHdXNhMBygomQiEtL6CmNsJUoOPXEftIKuFnl_EaFUG18x8wT7znAqn3xsv7NiTFuF76Tw_zniX4DrpLw164vUaPJSDd_qs6qhgtA/s1600/IMG_7943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtdb_6W9mYwQXtcT-45UCBSseE8D-PRjksJP7S29iHdXNhMBygomQiEtL6CmNsJUoOPXEftIKuFnl_EaFUG18x8wT7znAqn3xsv7NiTFuF76Tw_zniX4DrpLw164vUaPJSDd_qs6qhgtA/s640/IMG_7943.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View from the hostel's 3rd floor open-air café</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGeiPzxehJntTCF1M9iv2VJSS7oPRZrYeUHhygAIMfAW4Kn6vAmcCKA-W2u_1uahT2q7tp9h1G5YopznCXPmM4caGl6nRc-5O_WsI-M8DAztKPTbJx9Ezu5xuWYQ8C0UAE-gIxV6O1hI/s640/IMG_7951.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Best part of the hostel was arguably the stray dogs - as one of them had three baby puppies that were always hanging around. AND THEY WERE THE CUTEST. AND COVERED IN FLEAS. BUT STILL THE CUTEST.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4FHf2Nvxo4EtNYK3ZATdv9a95Wgx6-FMDTOzkt2SxwCJVJFzJO5PU5DECsh6nJ3OVLoPacj7MpQ0w4xIv6QnWH2r3PAmJtK80H0YnHzCWAHi8aQTqjaBwIc-drRBSLK13jlTI5SBq3o/s1600/IMG_7955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB4FHf2Nvxo4EtNYK3ZATdv9a95Wgx6-FMDTOzkt2SxwCJVJFzJO5PU5DECsh6nJ3OVLoPacj7MpQ0w4xIv6QnWH2r3PAmJtK80H0YnHzCWAHi8aQTqjaBwIc-drRBSLK13jlTI5SBq3o/s640/IMG_7955.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here comes the mama dog, whom we always saved our leftovers for. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXm3AEKiZRgpYgZ2W2eQoVr-Bko7lLsriVlHPFvtzfilY5YsRjP9o3bd06WsFOpKt4eXs1a1a6J-fX5uVKBvFN7gML1Y3ha4tQsg730vZd9y4V6edbpiyNl_nTYjCRBSyVDoBgqLbXus/s1600/IMG_7960.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJXm3AEKiZRgpYgZ2W2eQoVr-Bko7lLsriVlHPFvtzfilY5YsRjP9o3bd06WsFOpKt4eXs1a1a6J-fX5uVKBvFN7gML1Y3ha4tQsg730vZd9y4V6edbpiyNl_nTYjCRBSyVDoBgqLbXus/s640/IMG_7960.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We spent the afternoon wading in the ocean waters, then moving to the pool, then THREE BABY PUPPIES.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPL3Kx49JIIAf079IwRmZEKMDk8JvE1d-gqQyGullfYAb2EuPwyNA0k3I4JXKlFSDa7ZCi-dNvjJBaDwBfaeR0ez_dnJIpO2ymk1CUl67Jbpkopw-sUgbTtG9kaiUa3chiaUpELrnW4w/s1600/IMG_7962.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPL3Kx49JIIAf079IwRmZEKMDk8JvE1d-gqQyGullfYAb2EuPwyNA0k3I4JXKlFSDa7ZCi-dNvjJBaDwBfaeR0ez_dnJIpO2ymk1CUl67Jbpkopw-sUgbTtG9kaiUa3chiaUpELrnW4w/s640/IMG_7962.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moon view <3 (I want to live on the beach now)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Next morning, Janie and I (and a German guy from our hostel, Jerome) got up super early (at the crack of dawn, really) to GO SWIMMING WITH WHALE SHARKS. The whale sharks are in a town called Oslob, Cebu - which was about 30-min by bus from our hostel. You can really go anytime before noon, but (spoiler alert) the whale sharks are fed, which is why they all gather in this one spot - so it's better to go earlier when the sharks are hungrier. This does not sound like a smart idea as I'm typing it out. But trust me, it is a good idea. The craziest thing is that there's no real bus timetable - you just go outside to the road and wait until you see a bus and flag it down. And hope it goes where you're headed.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSG8Xpcx5mPHibLoqKmIb0NooE5GWEpA5Thwdq2L7WbHAXqzbeCfxeCbBRw0Vjt2TB43JOvwzqNCNNfX1PQxvZ8WeicY2P-F_VHW3jcWL0TKmGie554DjRhMKT9Xo8D4gmv0t9WRzN_HE/s640/IMG_7965.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrises are so rare for me to see - like white elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSG8Xpcx5mPHibLoqKmIb0NooE5GWEpA5Thwdq2L7WbHAXqzbeCfxeCbBRw0Vjt2TB43JOvwzqNCNNfX1PQxvZ8WeicY2P-F_VHW3jcWL0TKmGie554DjRhMKT9Xo8D4gmv0t9WRzN_HE/s1600/IMG_7965.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuuc_iLSG9-9Go1hflMGdXN0uKPmHNzHH6gk3ZIlwtJJkixqR_YlSWh57SBcGvk0wdvYUDvvvmC2hyphenhyphenIpNDKoZnr-es2Xrm1Ogbgy4c5YoxekuncVKHmNgxXFIDDLTnkHmEWiGrfK4m58/s1600/IMG_7975.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsuuc_iLSG9-9Go1hflMGdXN0uKPmHNzHH6gk3ZIlwtJJkixqR_YlSWh57SBcGvk0wdvYUDvvvmC2hyphenhyphenIpNDKoZnr-es2Xrm1Ogbgy4c5YoxekuncVKHmNgxXFIDDLTnkHmEWiGrfK4m58/s640/IMG_7975.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jerome, Janie and I arrived in Oslob and got put onto tiny boats to paddle out to the whale sharks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc5d-FaIr2TghtsIkm-9urLlfYZb82FuERJXqHo9FOLWNdHmzVSxTRls3a22AOuo6zyUSDTQkSrjY0FON1559aQvDIZyzTUJLGhibHBpK0hU1fwSvXRfRtGLDNP0-sky-N6caLhC1KbI/s1600/IMG_7980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc5d-FaIr2TghtsIkm-9urLlfYZb82FuERJXqHo9FOLWNdHmzVSxTRls3a22AOuo6zyUSDTQkSrjY0FON1559aQvDIZyzTUJLGhibHBpK0hU1fwSvXRfRtGLDNP0-sky-N6caLhC1KbI/s640/IMG_7980.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then you're instructed to dive on in for 30-min with the whale sharks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtvetd9JkeRIzODCdu7YDIZsHW9DZCZrKwO4MTanz0oSE_ZQNPmWUokGXD0yLV6c9jhd6OP6_EwGzOHv-8jnV0lYk-znRTJoGEklvY8bza2k1qu_moLMzdgOKL6cyHv1ZN1_oBcYNPpc/s1600/IMG_7978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtvetd9JkeRIzODCdu7YDIZsHW9DZCZrKwO4MTanz0oSE_ZQNPmWUokGXD0yLV6c9jhd6OP6_EwGzOHv-8jnV0lYk-znRTJoGEklvY8bza2k1qu_moLMzdgOKL6cyHv1ZN1_oBcYNPpc/s640/IMG_7978.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AND THERE ARE THE WHALE SHARKS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3jqWE64vfpPJHFEG4hTYPUrdn-JgZLTNMaeOROnUKDx4XD-L3zdMS6q6JSkFfiVgrCT-L7r9KcvWTgiGR8J9ZdrwS-ltbHdRhSomrieyFhFkRFoilhNDbr-4x4mG9YQJzl1q5oqNLZA/s1600/IMG_7979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis3jqWE64vfpPJHFEG4hTYPUrdn-JgZLTNMaeOROnUKDx4XD-L3zdMS6q6JSkFfiVgrCT-L7r9KcvWTgiGR8J9ZdrwS-ltbHdRhSomrieyFhFkRFoilhNDbr-4x4mG9YQJzl1q5oqNLZA/s640/IMG_7979.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IT WAS ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS EVER. Photos don't do them justice, but the whale sharks are GIGANTOR (um, hence the name "whale sharks" maybe...) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2YhyphenhyphenVRDL3yuXWcBPchDdL9FtcUN5Uj1nmyS9jsxOMxY1yH7A263bQZZcHAMqQmmLjs_n5Ve3_nA0T9Q6gZKfpcHdVz_uc5z3K-twLI7Gkb5wrnm3qCB4mE5SdBVX7yg7GI0mESbNuSU/s1600/IMG_7988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2YhyphenhyphenVRDL3yuXWcBPchDdL9FtcUN5Uj1nmyS9jsxOMxY1yH7A263bQZZcHAMqQmmLjs_n5Ve3_nA0T9Q6gZKfpcHdVz_uc5z3K-twLI7Gkb5wrnm3qCB4mE5SdBVX7yg7GI0mESbNuSU/s640/IMG_7988.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">And it seems scary but it wasn't AT ALL because the sharks are so concerned with following the boats that are feeding them that they totally ignore you. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7fWZZcokR4IB7nZl9NvnzRpAvJSbsTzGEMtQKCyDInhkT4wNhCpgJYmpgtNh-ASOmX0TiK06KJrgcgxhJGOyF3R03x2qCyZGR3LAKyGi_EI3TS_wMSQ6K27nyA9-v6pBmTIRyBT4J0c/s1600/IMG_7996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX7fWZZcokR4IB7nZl9NvnzRpAvJSbsTzGEMtQKCyDInhkT4wNhCpgJYmpgtNh-ASOmX0TiK06KJrgcgxhJGOyF3R03x2qCyZGR3LAKyGi_EI3TS_wMSQ6K27nyA9-v6pBmTIRyBT4J0c/s640/IMG_7996.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plus they have TOTALLY ADORABLE round-shaped mouths, which somehow just makes them seem totally harmless. Unclear if this is justified or not. This is Janie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurKeVBcK-jqY1r_v5fCUx-XTXalKjGO2Wt8fJm7o1ezcb4PVjKIXUo4-CrhXVASzX4gNREjZFT7BYZYmhaarXZy1aL5W2rWisszFmGb3UVL_OwqDENLQYVL2dVzqUwjPxo04bLj3wXHE/s1600/IMG_7986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhurKeVBcK-jqY1r_v5fCUx-XTXalKjGO2Wt8fJm7o1ezcb4PVjKIXUo4-CrhXVASzX4gNREjZFT7BYZYmhaarXZy1aL5W2rWisszFmGb3UVL_OwqDENLQYVL2dVzqUwjPxo04bLj3wXHE/s640/IMG_7986.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are so many of them everywhere (free food is apparently a draw for all species) - seriously, SO CUTE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Fu77i65Ebq5RquU6OqntIMG8Z17CU-DaOiahHN3ziQ_2k3iT2eMWk-RR1vF92cd9CP3cPKoupGLSkhzwMWUDd4nm9bX9ZDpdzR2CM83_6Opi7HPnHsfZWmYLDOZsIAIQYSmxz3Nahkg/s1600/IMG_8113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Fu77i65Ebq5RquU6OqntIMG8Z17CU-DaOiahHN3ziQ_2k3iT2eMWk-RR1vF92cd9CP3cPKoupGLSkhzwMWUDd4nm9bX9ZDpdzR2CM83_6Opi7HPnHsfZWmYLDOZsIAIQYSmxz3Nahkg/s640/IMG_8113.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite photo - look how huge (AND ADORBS) this whale shark is!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>It was seriously one of the coolest things in the world - the size and scale of the sharks are completely unbelievable. Even getting to swim next to them, you're just completely and totally in awe. And seriously, I have no idea why, they really seem more like whales than sharks, so it's totally not a thing to have them so close to you. I'm not sure the mass feeding of them is so ethical, but hey, when in the Philippines.. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Moment of the Day:</span><br />
Literally the second I touched down in the Philippines, I felt it: that feeling that every single person there is trying to rip you off. I get it: the country is incredibly poor (seriously, everything is so cheap you wouldn't even believe. I think that hostel we stayed at on the beach was $5/night), and it's another one of those places that people have to hustle to get by in life. <br />
<br />
Leaving the airport, there were several different lines for taxis - there are "regular taxis," "official taxis," and a bunch of other ones I've now forgotten. The "official taxis" are apparently government-approved and monitored - while they always use the meter and the cabbies won't try to rob you blind, they are usually 3-4x the cost of a "regular taxi." I had done my research, and I opted to take a "regular taxi" - yes, the cabbies will try to rip you off, but it's not like they try to kill you or anything. And the regular cabs are so much cheaper! And ok fine, I have a weird passion for grittier/more local experiences. And saving money. And arguing.<br />
<br />
Getting into the cab, I was prepared. I told the cabbie my destination, and he goes "Ok, 300 pesos." I replied with, "No, I want to use the meter." "Ok," he goes, "but if you use the meter, you have to add 50 pesos onto the final price for gas." "No," I said, "I want to pay exactly what's on the meter and that's it." "Ok," he goes. <br />
<br />
AND THAT WAS IT. No arguing, no fighting back, no disagreeing, no nothing - it was THAT easy. I was shocked. It was like we were having a totally normal conversation. Well that was simple. I loved the Philippines instantly.<br />
<br />
(On a side note, I found out later that Janie had a much harder time negotiating her price - so I probably just got lucky. But still. Amazing.)</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0Oslob, Cebu, Philippines9.5630395 123.415926300000029.3124815 123.09320280000003 9.8135975 123.73864980000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-43594027645442613872016-09-03T00:11:00.000-07:002016-09-13T17:23:14.876-07:00Sydney, Australia: 10 Different Angles of the Opera HouseSo I realize the blog has been M.I.A. for about two weeks - which I apologize for. Some not-so-great issues threw a wrench in my blogging abilities, which I will explain further in the next couple posts. But I am committed to finishing it. So for now - the end of Australia.<br />
<br />
<br />
After saying good-bye to Jess and his fam, I took a flight to Sydney for a couple days of exploring by my lonesome. Is it sad that the first thing that came to mind when people asked me what I wanted to see in Sydney was, "P. Sherman, 42 Wallaby Way!" Apparently my entire knowledge of the world has been shaped by Disney movies.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Sydney - that big famous Australian city. It's obviously one of the largest cities, it's the capital of New South Wales, and has the well-known sights of the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, and the Sydney Harbour.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWaeHenHZL3albPUqwUlIBONnxM30oiiyhAXRx3p8tvxx0UGl_mnw3F6w7d08tFm0EBSmJvIZW-n0l3We1iT0rWiGEZ6N7l6IdWAR9A07-ABJqbUdG73pkxxCoxBQ70yE90x92FFst6s/s1600/IMG_19700101_114702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWaeHenHZL3albPUqwUlIBONnxM30oiiyhAXRx3p8tvxx0UGl_mnw3F6w7d08tFm0EBSmJvIZW-n0l3We1iT0rWiGEZ6N7l6IdWAR9A07-ABJqbUdG73pkxxCoxBQ70yE90x92FFst6s/s640/IMG_19700101_114702.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Opera House!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
And just to clear any confusion up, it is <i>not </i>eternal summer here. Sydney at night was the coldest I've ever been ever - which makes sense, given that it's way South of Brisbane.<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Arrived in Sydney, checked into my hostel - and met up with a travel friend of mine, Sarah! Sarah is from NYC originally, also left her job to travel, and we had met in Colombia a couple times - in Salento, Medellin, and Cartagena. And after a couple months, she had ended up in Sydney doing the working-vacation thing - and ended up at the hostel down the street from me!</li>
<li>Sarah, her hostel friend Matt, and I headed down to the famous Bondi Beach the next day. Yes, it is the middle of winter in Sydney, but I wanted to see it! There is also a really picturesque walk you can do from Bondi to Coogee Beach, which I also wanted to do.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul></ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHc5cG-ye1CAk1IVA1eFiNCsyHTjgE8fyf9NvmcxkFJVwMCTgOku4LhDpB_fOLJ7FwT02QSTGMkZZXN09VaZxMN2wZrOlQuTcWtBJd5rnIxBBuaJjRkGtgBgbI_tNfg-sAqspkxEcflM/s1600/IMG_20160814_134747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibHc5cG-ye1CAk1IVA1eFiNCsyHTjgE8fyf9NvmcxkFJVwMCTgOku4LhDpB_fOLJ7FwT02QSTGMkZZXN09VaZxMN2wZrOlQuTcWtBJd5rnIxBBuaJjRkGtgBgbI_tNfg-sAqspkxEcflM/s640/IMG_20160814_134747.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And here is Bondi Beach! Which is apparently famous because of a TV show I've never seen. Also, it was SUPER packed the day we went because it happened to be the day of a famous race called City2Surf - and Bondi Beach was the finishing point. The beach is not usually this packed in the winter.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-Z8udWqj9STl4j16Ycx9GvsY0Q_Nhq_LkQy5zkyclyReIK8b6_VDmtXpS46h1AFBMhkYjzaCOd6QcL8tKag8wALclSpprf-w_3pc8SHoeaX9Ys7rYI1fSk4CDf6LAejleL56jiEElYA/s1600/IMG_20160814_145619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-Z8udWqj9STl4j16Ycx9GvsY0Q_Nhq_LkQy5zkyclyReIK8b6_VDmtXpS46h1AFBMhkYjzaCOd6QcL8tKag8wALclSpprf-w_3pc8SHoeaX9Ys7rYI1fSk4CDf6LAejleL56jiEElYA/s640/IMG_20160814_145619.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I love the ocean</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyzM7ULzumTJcaoiFZ1z9mEw8wNQmI2ETAsMU2zwHI4N3LukjSJXFZswmurMJw2knXJOeG4D9Inp2GYA9Z9hHfP8nasMCJPpRnrqH14Mci_skFj8znDGlKnS_wk_FIAifABTCTQf_IZA/s1600/IMG_20160814_145702.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyyzM7ULzumTJcaoiFZ1z9mEw8wNQmI2ETAsMU2zwHI4N3LukjSJXFZswmurMJw2knXJOeG4D9Inp2GYA9Z9hHfP8nasMCJPpRnrqH14Mci_skFj8znDGlKnS_wk_FIAifABTCTQf_IZA/s640/IMG_20160814_145702.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sarah and I! We sat on the sand and sunbathed (in winter jackets) and chatted for a couple hours</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4uiHjrDle0EagBHSZlZ68741ADPlHFhc0BeiIzSoiGLANA1AJUbH4Vc3TKAOTQbz2b6o2CP2tYqc31QTlnEZkB-dhM8yzjcAvssEY8H2u427MrLEMEMfUh_WUQgNWzfU_saWnAbTdfU/s1600/IMG_20160814_151020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin4uiHjrDle0EagBHSZlZ68741ADPlHFhc0BeiIzSoiGLANA1AJUbH4Vc3TKAOTQbz2b6o2CP2tYqc31QTlnEZkB-dhM8yzjcAvssEY8H2u427MrLEMEMfUh_WUQgNWzfU_saWnAbTdfU/s640/IMG_20160814_151020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then we started the walk from Bondi to Coogee Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq06IHojdqJlXcZPC42Mz24gFAJiFp-Uz1hPZv-NLsI5PWOFRdfEUZ7bb6_y5y5PwEmOJq9CCAc_YyxYbnTocWQ0xQKG7ZYXDjXflFHXr6rw7-hX9sok40bhnxDzsq9g-MIysqeMimqU/s1600/IMG_20160814_151320.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpq06IHojdqJlXcZPC42Mz24gFAJiFp-Uz1hPZv-NLsI5PWOFRdfEUZ7bb6_y5y5PwEmOJq9CCAc_YyxYbnTocWQ0xQKG7ZYXDjXflFHXr6rw7-hX9sok40bhnxDzsq9g-MIysqeMimqU/s640/IMG_20160814_151320.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">There's a fancy swimming club/restaurant on the way out. How pretty is this pool?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjh6SURGHFBPSSiSra7So2SwkXN1a5McGMnbkZSlH9VXCqjxlDVI9A0jZT-uskVEJoaROtQp9zOrZZ-SLHFRF6NJtD7GlJsZjLKGQBhzdGlekSKTqCjT-g5Px2CdpnCEPdbtXcdlvZT0/s1600/IMG_20160814_152325.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRjh6SURGHFBPSSiSra7So2SwkXN1a5McGMnbkZSlH9VXCqjxlDVI9A0jZT-uskVEJoaROtQp9zOrZZ-SLHFRF6NJtD7GlJsZjLKGQBhzdGlekSKTqCjT-g5Px2CdpnCEPdbtXcdlvZT0/s640/IMG_20160814_152325.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Part of the oceanside walk - the walk itself is supposed to be around 7km, but I'm going to say that's a lie - it felt more like 20km. But it was beautiful (and exercise!), so no complaints here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVJ-JMsp_Wi7yn7th30TfWMLkpmU92XubiOMdyPrpXe3b2qj1v5Utnk8NTOiNTA8egSjcyLExo3p0-98t4hKEDwYvO8Y3uqUFEa5HI4aJmtGPlfBFqND7ib1eY6Au70xP1TkHBq-SWxY/s1600/IMG_20160814_153343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVJ-JMsp_Wi7yn7th30TfWMLkpmU92XubiOMdyPrpXe3b2qj1v5Utnk8NTOiNTA8egSjcyLExo3p0-98t4hKEDwYvO8Y3uqUFEa5HI4aJmtGPlfBFqND7ib1eY6Au70xP1TkHBq-SWxY/s640/IMG_20160814_153343.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The walkway extends alongside the ocean the whole way! Though apparently a big storm this past summer destroyed parts of the walk, so there were a lot of detours for repairs and such.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqxfOIbJWFg4L8r-J-dajemG4uOCtqJ44dDy9nKUR_8f02_JsuOU7m84o5fosW-TDMduTTjkw3V4erdOTNuMOd6194IcVYzSE3iuCYyT4JS-MK7IVHdX5Vs5H1pEKpTLLtoOXPIssmxk/s1600/IMG_20160814_153803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqxfOIbJWFg4L8r-J-dajemG4uOCtqJ44dDy9nKUR_8f02_JsuOU7m84o5fosW-TDMduTTjkw3V4erdOTNuMOd6194IcVYzSE3iuCYyT4JS-MK7IVHdX5Vs5H1pEKpTLLtoOXPIssmxk/s640/IMG_20160814_153803.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sarah, me and Matt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zVArB6M1biZO2jL7N-HhYMXmy8IWtVfFcfw_j1h-410xUgjrefx8gSCAi0HWODAUJMvqJEtQF7l4v-715VFk8Wxo8FTGdEUBbu__2WqilpL9g2n7yphF9oIF4fXG4gc5sq9Cgy2mOOE/s1600/IMG_20160814_154311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zVArB6M1biZO2jL7N-HhYMXmy8IWtVfFcfw_j1h-410xUgjrefx8gSCAi0HWODAUJMvqJEtQF7l4v-715VFk8Wxo8FTGdEUBbu__2WqilpL9g2n7yphF9oIF4fXG4gc5sq9Cgy2mOOE/s640/IMG_20160814_154311.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Also, the walk passes by several other beaches - which is A TEASE when all you want to do is reach Coogee Beach and you come upon a beach and think "omg maybe that's it!" and THEN YOU FIND OUT IT'S NOT.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93pfD-gBK-CFonUE-PT3WZOR7mgs2qR79Of-KYFhjubNQleIiIjIG4Hi4xIjhtd6c7F4xHMgCJgcNOR5rLxd2rB87Dv46vZzCx7s3GMMRJa8s3LDSlHxHsJiegigMaSGhzC632Hpwkdo/s1600/IMG_20160814_154347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg93pfD-gBK-CFonUE-PT3WZOR7mgs2qR79Of-KYFhjubNQleIiIjIG4Hi4xIjhtd6c7F4xHMgCJgcNOR5rLxd2rB87Dv46vZzCx7s3GMMRJa8s3LDSlHxHsJiegigMaSGhzC632Hpwkdo/s640/IMG_20160814_154347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This beach had a lot of surfers. Australia has a lot of surfers.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5egQ-OS5P5E3WxUGviiOhzYLAssaKhmCZ179w5F0ZQlrNu3Dj7wy9V5lVZX6Ebwo7Xve58RXviQ4xHbo44JrHUYTUE5XzLgmZfBCiMEKnBjb4d4XUQwHMSzMGiP9HtC8fnsxvP0Thad4/s1600/IMG_20160814_161944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5egQ-OS5P5E3WxUGviiOhzYLAssaKhmCZ179w5F0ZQlrNu3Dj7wy9V5lVZX6Ebwo7Xve58RXviQ4xHbo44JrHUYTUE5XzLgmZfBCiMEKnBjb4d4XUQwHMSzMGiP9HtC8fnsxvP0Thad4/s640/IMG_20160814_161944.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We walked by a fancy cemetery. Some of these tombs were super, super, super old</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH9IsFs28FAHwBkE4xk9CHzUvQRhcG8eSasNjjiD_dcxEHCHZk_GZxT-qJh105816EwKgVYmkN77wIoPcXgEvhvH1axt5trQgSMfrao8AVfAXjM_O90eLjavDYwkJzbowOWgtQv6wGrw/s1600/IMG_20160814_165628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBH9IsFs28FAHwBkE4xk9CHzUvQRhcG8eSasNjjiD_dcxEHCHZk_GZxT-qJh105816EwKgVYmkN77wIoPcXgEvhvH1axt5trQgSMfrao8AVfAXjM_O90eLjavDYwkJzbowOWgtQv6wGrw/s640/IMG_20160814_165628.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Here is another fake beach that is not Coogee Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnmsttqI50eld3dD7CNJ5Rjmy5qBixFCCDzEGRuMfRrHQTM1KTSMON0hLMi2Gr_o0DMhQuyw9u656O_iAS4uXszumZMQKFbJOOWIscLU0EPPy4_lozMBZdJUKha9hkAFr24HKb1wehlw/s1600/IMG_20160814_170730.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtnmsttqI50eld3dD7CNJ5Rjmy5qBixFCCDzEGRuMfRrHQTM1KTSMON0hLMi2Gr_o0DMhQuyw9u656O_iAS4uXszumZMQKFbJOOWIscLU0EPPy4_lozMBZdJUKha9hkAFr24HKb1wehlw/s640/IMG_20160814_170730.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then the sun started to set so we stopped and watched for a bit (I am now starting to realize why this walk may have taken us so long.....)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaMknjd62lOVT731mPfyIEbb2UuXoBCEvDFHb6a-PBov5IsFZ4oV7cMtJvymLOVQErbxv17W4ysB0A8kz-kT0j7UA2711uSB3oYRMxMaoXENtJoEstBCAZstYOtte3grC2DCsRHQN2Lw/s1600/IMG_20160814_171013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaMknjd62lOVT731mPfyIEbb2UuXoBCEvDFHb6a-PBov5IsFZ4oV7cMtJvymLOVQErbxv17W4ysB0A8kz-kT0j7UA2711uSB3oYRMxMaoXENtJoEstBCAZstYOtte3grC2DCsRHQN2Lw/s640/IMG_20160814_171013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">That cloud looks like a big box!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonm1L5JEsgvovbPkV_zjfDEELwJ9GzOkOrNw0IfGP9Ui1qXBrKbaA-0HMCsdSgsxPWa9_3_OBY0z3O3s7RBCJMQ4RqqEEq1ThU73EmzyA9vKpJLL9K6zODTDMpZ6HMfXTR6lQ39emb0g/s1600/IMG_20160814_171446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjonm1L5JEsgvovbPkV_zjfDEELwJ9GzOkOrNw0IfGP9Ui1qXBrKbaA-0HMCsdSgsxPWa9_3_OBY0z3O3s7RBCJMQ4RqqEEq1ThU73EmzyA9vKpJLL9K6zODTDMpZ6HMfXTR6lQ39emb0g/s640/IMG_20160814_171446.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This man was very dedicated to taking a cool photo - he hauled himself over the safety fence, then lowered himself onto the cliff's edge for a photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK83cQigxfjib1MBO2R_XzKlOVrAZwnvAahKgA1wZ7KkVCHpHTfDcEgANHBvOvj5D3aebJymalaC0wMsnuRNpFu54U_lqWMs-vVC6qZnGgNOtbEkFuHJ50NiOULhtupNu-GPZPqP2Mok/s1600/IMG_20160814_172121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaK83cQigxfjib1MBO2R_XzKlOVrAZwnvAahKgA1wZ7KkVCHpHTfDcEgANHBvOvj5D3aebJymalaC0wMsnuRNpFu54U_lqWMs-vVC6qZnGgNOtbEkFuHJ50NiOULhtupNu-GPZPqP2Mok/s640/IMG_20160814_172121.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">It's sunset! And we still have not made it to our destination.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72TFwOWZGcyZNTcOmTEWDWHWYnSu6qDyqxULkk0_UAqXl65VfrM6dUIMbVxOxZHO9MqXCFfuiKGusXq3DxLDGHSBMBmo-1jDgKP_drmzPUkUfwrd9R_I3YAReP0eB6CvylZZhh50NQ-g/s1600/IMG_20160814_172545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh72TFwOWZGcyZNTcOmTEWDWHWYnSu6qDyqxULkk0_UAqXl65VfrM6dUIMbVxOxZHO9MqXCFfuiKGusXq3DxLDGHSBMBmo-1jDgKP_drmzPUkUfwrd9R_I3YAReP0eB6CvylZZhh50NQ-g/s640/IMG_20160814_172545.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">AND HERE IT IS. COOGEE BEACH, EVERYONE. It was a miracle we made it before it got completely dark. We hung around the area for dinner, then headed back home afterwards (which is apparently located in the red-light district of Sydney. Congrats, us)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day, Sarah was kind enough to accompany me while I continued playing tourist, even though she's already been in Sydney for several months already. Of course, all I wanted to do was walk around downtown and see the Opera House. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2rIyjADEwroDDJsweNKkuCBFstLEf1zCGjMEkVcs8zFLXyzlUDRQbr25Xj63-ewU0KlfexFQhGzoTvEnmNSrh985mVBowNyNI-E_JQSWh8UCXGHl8v4n8oxPpXRMTL6QGqlZtpArjzk/s1600/14044905_10103491833679201_2015788273_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY2rIyjADEwroDDJsweNKkuCBFstLEf1zCGjMEkVcs8zFLXyzlUDRQbr25Xj63-ewU0KlfexFQhGzoTvEnmNSrh985mVBowNyNI-E_JQSWh8UCXGHl8v4n8oxPpXRMTL6QGqlZtpArjzk/s640/14044905_10103491833679201_2015788273_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Ta-daaaaaa! There it is! We walked through the Botanical Gardens to get this view, and it was so so so pretty. There were people running throughout the park, and tons of families, and the sun was shining and it was amazing. Though I do have to ask myself, as always, WHY DON'T THESE PEOPLE WORK. I don't know why everyone else seems to have figured out life's secret.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYbtT2wi2ciL1mU-PSPzu24YJK0vddgALcrJYlVOOjQtC1YYaPAEJcUJjhyphenhyphenxn6Dmoe73HJUqUdci5J0JqkQbfRI3bd0U5HDYGrl21Peyt5jXkQhbFhZBFAJvNBXCPSOHgUUtwijdo5Ls/s1600/IMG_20160815_122921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWYbtT2wi2ciL1mU-PSPzu24YJK0vddgALcrJYlVOOjQtC1YYaPAEJcUJjhyphenhyphenxn6Dmoe73HJUqUdci5J0JqkQbfRI3bd0U5HDYGrl21Peyt5jXkQhbFhZBFAJvNBXCPSOHgUUtwijdo5Ls/s640/IMG_20160815_122921.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Downtown Sydney next to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG01uRCDl1cxQad6-vi9e493pyGeMEJyUjxjOJl7uknMEPyT3R3hpoOnTxB9K3q2DkxXZY7wXiltR-mC2mTQWsqgO0k1jGQ64sMo3DSTAYCkf5rw8WuG-kGC6pp3aMm2m8wAIeHTz2SzQ/s1600/14060235_10103491833539481_1819335607_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG01uRCDl1cxQad6-vi9e493pyGeMEJyUjxjOJl7uknMEPyT3R3hpoOnTxB9K3q2DkxXZY7wXiltR-mC2mTQWsqgO0k1jGQ64sMo3DSTAYCkf5rw8WuG-kGC6pp3aMm2m8wAIeHTz2SzQ/s640/14060235_10103491833539481_1819335607_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Best (transplanted) city host ever!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzmRkFATn2rvi6ede5zvTeC2sX6qwhkh72bojxjMFIzWfpnvI1AqKp3yHmvl-HayNKO2ydM0rOu04tK6rLJnMcmkcZjJ_qp5U4cp_PJSeqhEevSDSV3Lwe7naY0x5yj8M2hQc51d1rWE/s1600/IMG_19700101_102704.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtzmRkFATn2rvi6ede5zvTeC2sX6qwhkh72bojxjMFIzWfpnvI1AqKp3yHmvl-HayNKO2ydM0rOu04tK6rLJnMcmkcZjJ_qp5U4cp_PJSeqhEevSDSV3Lwe7naY0x5yj8M2hQc51d1rWE/s640/IMG_19700101_102704.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then we walked along the harbor to the Opera House. There's adorbs little cafes (all with insane prices, of course) all long the waterfront.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmyUuqMwyQKBd73ys9HQvhu1BTMJpN3fXNw7JNN9mza7nQ7IUukj7bLtM6-7jxdOop60shKxMDsytX_7rfbsxeWANe8yF6GvX3MZIpjofoRE-0QFvp-cpGoQxOQEq1_suzUxV_0P5cSY/s1600/IMG_19700101_103348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMmyUuqMwyQKBd73ys9HQvhu1BTMJpN3fXNw7JNN9mza7nQ7IUukj7bLtM6-7jxdOop60shKxMDsytX_7rfbsxeWANe8yF6GvX3MZIpjofoRE-0QFvp-cpGoQxOQEq1_suzUxV_0P5cSY/s640/IMG_19700101_103348.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And here we are! It looks super weird and 70's up close.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienTDLtNm1bhwXDq-Fl90vSXAjX4ACCr4kh72cq139O7QA6EEKjG1zt7jCJspsQ-NywFFVva3afNplgMXs-nabaqc6_2Y9Fdx8XDXE49BMk9yG5H97lDNqNOY-2lFqmF-Aux2nEQcUsVo/s1600/IMG_19700101_103405.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienTDLtNm1bhwXDq-Fl90vSXAjX4ACCr4kh72cq139O7QA6EEKjG1zt7jCJspsQ-NywFFVva3afNplgMXs-nabaqc6_2Y9Fdx8XDXE49BMk9yG5H97lDNqNOY-2lFqmF-Aux2nEQcUsVo/s640/IMG_19700101_103405.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-ndIwNpcFBsAvnj67LUu83htOSG7UpwiO5VJg6m771nHhGYQt1CLR0h5qtG8LKHH0FWHCl5mQQIa30XlZd3fPjOn4U66rDZAPRjOwvkOYnNOMw1UC3Dcym17WdR23L4K1LevadxlRbQ/s1600/IMG_19700101_103518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-ndIwNpcFBsAvnj67LUu83htOSG7UpwiO5VJg6m771nHhGYQt1CLR0h5qtG8LKHH0FWHCl5mQQIa30XlZd3fPjOn4U66rDZAPRjOwvkOYnNOMw1UC3Dcym17WdR23L4K1LevadxlRbQ/s640/IMG_19700101_103518.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Mainly because of this super retro tile the entire building is covered with.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VEU0ex1zwn1OB4ncDpUDlrv8xpRbkQNsZihVa23pIlB9veeIvFQs5BCZl78RGxenRKWZf97bCiPJGpQZARTgNWc4k5wDzISQbt-kBpjW6IIPRItYb0WKSfuXggqMRU33gLDgEUznLTQ/s1600/IMG_19700101_104621.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VEU0ex1zwn1OB4ncDpUDlrv8xpRbkQNsZihVa23pIlB9veeIvFQs5BCZl78RGxenRKWZf97bCiPJGpQZARTgNWc4k5wDzISQbt-kBpjW6IIPRItYb0WKSfuXggqMRU33gLDgEUznLTQ/s640/IMG_19700101_104621.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The cafes along the water had tons of SUPER aggressive seagulls just waiting to steal food. These things were seriously out of control. They hopped onto plates while people were still eating and such. (IT REALLY IS JUST LIKE FINDING NEMO)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18ghjkE3Pctsj4S_YVG0oAtFPYb6kbP0cvGd1PgAWqCWPqmNQMYF4O6Oa7C6NTMnGWp_SeTBh4ebZQYbyvu5YUPvCzXB1UF8lZU47NdtPBvc-9XNbzPwnkRctqWfPcArw49WIIWcFah0/s1600/IMG_19700101_104906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi18ghjkE3Pctsj4S_YVG0oAtFPYb6kbP0cvGd1PgAWqCWPqmNQMYF4O6Oa7C6NTMnGWp_SeTBh4ebZQYbyvu5YUPvCzXB1UF8lZU47NdtPBvc-9XNbzPwnkRctqWfPcArw49WIIWcFah0/s640/IMG_19700101_104906.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pretty cafes. Would come here every lunchtime if I worked downtown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfJjItiLZB25EK3_1u5x-qP2jstKIJrtrxPT0qUFzfC1kEat6EBgWh4-AVi5Au6oTJfxMrdrt7nYAu8hKEV7LBvGUNiOTlIbPL4TL9xaF7WW3jJPlwhGX_CRp63gLKxBsMIicncXUFeo/s1600/IMG_19700101_115341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRfJjItiLZB25EK3_1u5x-qP2jstKIJrtrxPT0qUFzfC1kEat6EBgWh4-AVi5Au6oTJfxMrdrt7nYAu8hKEV7LBvGUNiOTlIbPL4TL9xaF7WW3jJPlwhGX_CRp63gLKxBsMIicncXUFeo/s640/IMG_19700101_115341.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then we hit up the Modern Art Museum, where they had this weird outdoor installation that looked like an igloo. And inside was this lady with a head thing on making shapes in the sand. Modern art is so weird. But I love it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqn5HgCfHMY0Gj5AJXgy0H2Wr-c9Zh0ZCSfpjt5-Y4iqgn0eyrbbF09JMDaKGw8UfRdcA14bKNNz4y1JM68l1aXVLuyZONbhdfzwPqtzUHRszpLOSlnrOEPj_1VEmI-VxSFQXSdHpFbs/s1600/IMG_19700101_130453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHqn5HgCfHMY0Gj5AJXgy0H2Wr-c9Zh0ZCSfpjt5-Y4iqgn0eyrbbF09JMDaKGw8UfRdcA14bKNNz4y1JM68l1aXVLuyZONbhdfzwPqtzUHRszpLOSlnrOEPj_1VEmI-VxSFQXSdHpFbs/s640/IMG_19700101_130453.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I seriously, seriously love modern art museums. Especially when they're free</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i8R0qGfj0eZoicyaoOcB9WPsx0uufTaIG2qJ2wIUbw4pPk7Hu5aGH-c7J4g-pmjv8JAkSfP8M07AUNaSg3oJHzZ6xwd_EPwzdqE5HVbC2aafx90gLX0sZWcdHVXduOUQAeAGCb-OfBY/s1600/IMG_19700101_130450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3i8R0qGfj0eZoicyaoOcB9WPsx0uufTaIG2qJ2wIUbw4pPk7Hu5aGH-c7J4g-pmjv8JAkSfP8M07AUNaSg3oJHzZ6xwd_EPwzdqE5HVbC2aafx90gLX0sZWcdHVXduOUQAeAGCb-OfBY/s640/IMG_19700101_130450.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I loved this painting. The Korean artist fused a bunch of old-school Korean paintings with modern day insignias and brands - like, all the people dancing have Barbie heads or Lady Gaga heads and such.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLsJbOlV8_VDxkbGKcpJ8kRLzEwoQ4RYqakGm_u_RJ2d5XqPDIQxVMSiU329q1_6Jlwni9EYvEehZZn0jptvZajFDK5iIv_YOeOUuozUpsVAsGqvHivPe__8E7xVI08VsRKZEl0h6XuU/s1600/IMG_19700101_130732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNLsJbOlV8_VDxkbGKcpJ8kRLzEwoQ4RYqakGm_u_RJ2d5XqPDIQxVMSiU329q1_6Jlwni9EYvEehZZn0jptvZajFDK5iIv_YOeOUuozUpsVAsGqvHivPe__8E7xVI08VsRKZEl0h6XuU/s640/IMG_19700101_130732.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This was some kind of bubble with the artist's fat and cells inside it, and it would grind it all together like a blender every so often. Ew. Ew. Art is weird.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV69LUg-aWA0t3TXw0WoUmMFPi6znryGA_mOUbE0NWP40JiAp2wGidNkvkoX0OsuBX2rWnIjynfgy09zKqNEE4gHrcr3AXwZawZySHGa2R1SwMpaVw7mxo7kHHFh5XieDymLBsbIwwUA/s1600/IMG_19700101_130836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOV69LUg-aWA0t3TXw0WoUmMFPi6znryGA_mOUbE0NWP40JiAp2wGidNkvkoX0OsuBX2rWnIjynfgy09zKqNEE4gHrcr3AXwZawZySHGa2R1SwMpaVw7mxo7kHHFh5XieDymLBsbIwwUA/s640/IMG_19700101_130836.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Neon books! The titles would change every couple minutes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF1NZoGkBNvajJ9bSQRKjm4AB0EM83IIECYhC1KopCmyEHwaVXVU-RF2xJlCNBFCm-dtszpOrd85UsusX4ZiaPiq41unVsocxyrfisfulvl7j3eA-7kvsGfw_Y2biqaPai0Z4BRig50o/s1600/IMG_19700101_131845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUF1NZoGkBNvajJ9bSQRKjm4AB0EM83IIECYhC1KopCmyEHwaVXVU-RF2xJlCNBFCm-dtszpOrd85UsusX4ZiaPiq41unVsocxyrfisfulvl7j3eA-7kvsGfw_Y2biqaPai0Z4BRig50o/s640/IMG_19700101_131845.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View of the other side of the Opera House from the rooftop cafe in the Modern Art Museum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5UqxGSYV_0bAYFJh6kYY9CFBkHfB-V_jgzF3jxryIFx2X6VbSCSeCz2dRO5Jd4xMk7HDBmP92xmRf7f3Ysp1PI4uFQrm63NAmQyUmtB_BMvx890gM93-FAQFuAnpxo_evSsnoXIySQI/s1600/IMG_19700101_115956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw5UqxGSYV_0bAYFJh6kYY9CFBkHfB-V_jgzF3jxryIFx2X6VbSCSeCz2dRO5Jd4xMk7HDBmP92xmRf7f3Ysp1PI4uFQrm63NAmQyUmtB_BMvx890gM93-FAQFuAnpxo_evSsnoXIySQI/s640/IMG_19700101_115956.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We then headed to a historic neighborhood called The Rocks, which is one of the oldest parts of the city (from the late 1700's) and has a bunch of cute boutiques and cafes and such</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53uoZEk8GjQW9TXl30Uq9-rNa-rWqUDGLu_XvzH5CfGKGjcSAQTmPd_w0f2GK7nTr8Gx_NW70vsE_zsRQlhx2JZ5umO6mezr97tMSpY-F04qB77UgA8345dB-zxZ3FGUsCFuyTrRhyQM/s1600/IMG_19700101_125142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53uoZEk8GjQW9TXl30Uq9-rNa-rWqUDGLu_XvzH5CfGKGjcSAQTmPd_w0f2GK7nTr8Gx_NW70vsE_zsRQlhx2JZ5umO6mezr97tMSpY-F04qB77UgA8345dB-zxZ3FGUsCFuyTrRhyQM/s640/IMG_19700101_125142.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">It's called The Rocks because there are still lots of rocks/ruins of the former neighborhood here (it was a pretty poor/rough working class neighborhood), which were demolished over time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb77dcBOgDn1qRgfSjUxqRbDVmiIknsexbGcj9inCWT-AgKcmdzAKUPnz1SSjM6QDh391oVcQYkUpM4nqh1UGVImGfA3EodhuOBIuOr16RrDG7vc8xt9dkv-8KQTlNP1E1ow9OZl996Ok/s1600/IMG_20160815_182657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb77dcBOgDn1qRgfSjUxqRbDVmiIknsexbGcj9inCWT-AgKcmdzAKUPnz1SSjM6QDh391oVcQYkUpM4nqh1UGVImGfA3EodhuOBIuOr16RrDG7vc8xt9dkv-8KQTlNP1E1ow9OZl996Ok/s640/IMG_20160815_182657.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Opera House at night! Really I'm just trying to see how many photos of the Opera House I can cram into this blog post.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL60koCclFgF_W_EhaT_skCg_ugAT-CS_X65zrvFJUteZM7Pnf85fA5jk_fMg6Q_nAn1b7OWc-F0QU_cvPCyTNE6ot0LvoXI8Ztvwq9eALPw9jWMRCnmQjuIeqL_URLDzFgyPRwiWLRzQ/s1600/IMG_20160815_233042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL60koCclFgF_W_EhaT_skCg_ugAT-CS_X65zrvFJUteZM7Pnf85fA5jk_fMg6Q_nAn1b7OWc-F0QU_cvPCyTNE6ot0LvoXI8Ztvwq9eALPw9jWMRCnmQjuIeqL_URLDzFgyPRwiWLRzQ/s640/IMG_20160815_233042.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sarah and I ended the night with dinner near our hostels, and then we went to karaoke night with a bunch of her hostel friends. This is a terrible photo of nothing, but we closed my last night in Sydney belting out a Taylor Swift song on stage. Obviously. Appropriate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Bye, Sydney! Bye, Australia! I'm really glad I got a chance to visit, especially because I kind of never expected to. It really reminded me of being at home, what with the Western conveniences and way of life and feel and culture and how things operated. It really is just like the USA, except they throw some weird made-up words into their lingo. I am officially dubbing Australia "the poor man's America." Just kidding. This is why they love us.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Sydney's metro system has double-decker trains! Like the Long Island Railroad! My fave activity is to make that decision whether to go up or down upon entering the train.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDj6mg_1vz-7VK2jjsu9x9D_Sn0C9JXafankHSNawxst9HZ7c0YMf_AHdtvessGfBdBzIFC3uYc_0YxhP2Fb7jac3LAqQ0lsqy-g9AmCKd3BAZ0Pg6jhyphenhyphen93Ey658MPpCegrZzMZT9EAU/s1600/IMG_20160815_183205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDj6mg_1vz-7VK2jjsu9x9D_Sn0C9JXafankHSNawxst9HZ7c0YMf_AHdtvessGfBdBzIFC3uYc_0YxhP2Fb7jac3LAqQ0lsqy-g9AmCKd3BAZ0Pg6jhyphenhyphen93Ey658MPpCegrZzMZT9EAU/s640/IMG_20160815_183205.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Enthralling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Australians love these kinds of cars. They're everywhere. They're apparently called Utes. They're hideous. I don't know why these exist:</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNad7QMj8BmLjRQZJ1Tp6Od09V2LuCIkpWkSzTIp_RNKAnLfQeYfjrkg8RHytlIxvJbTMon-03Mh6557lN4ou5R0tj3HOhY36_qoSZeLcM46XF2wu5vK0zqOVX8HFCmwFwnAVfSXD9z3I/s1600/2006_Holden_VZ_Ute_Thunder_S_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNad7QMj8BmLjRQZJ1Tp6Od09V2LuCIkpWkSzTIp_RNKAnLfQeYfjrkg8RHytlIxvJbTMon-03Mh6557lN4ou5R0tj3HOhY36_qoSZeLcM46XF2wu5vK0zqOVX8HFCmwFwnAVfSXD9z3I/s640/2006_Holden_VZ_Ute_Thunder_S_01.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WHY ARE YOU MISSING A BACK? WHY ARE YOU TRYING TO PRETEND TO BE A PICKUP TRUCK? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0Sydney NSW, Australia-33.8688197 151.20929550000005-34.7128017 149.91840200000004 -33.024837700000006 152.50018900000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-50603483810371479082016-08-18T04:00:00.003-07:002016-09-13T17:23:31.493-07:00Sunshine Coast, Australia: The Great Australian (Mini) Road Trip!From Brisbane, we started our great Australian road trip! Ok, it wasn't that crazy - more like a mini road trip. Jess and I rented a car for a week and cruised up North through what is referred to as the Sunshine Coast, in QLD (that stands for Queensland!). It's a pretty popular drive with tourists, just because there are tons of little towns and scenic sights and nature and ocean that you pass by on the way. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Our mini-road trip involved Caloundra, Noosa, the Glass House Mountains - then we diverted off the coastal drive on the way back and headed more inland to the tiny town of Tenterfield, to pay a visit to Jesse's dad.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Drove the ~2 hour (with lots of stops!) route from Brisbane, up to the coastal city of Caloundra.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJernAyWhIeqStSN8mFOo_Rg0KP0YgosaPQV129u1fVImNkVbARGXWYP5iDXHvBlFLF12Mg1YbhKby7KI7XL7VVJc6xs5mAeQF-B6EbhU4jgyVtiwT31Sf-wv88AhgeWvIV3TzbNy96GI/s1600/IMG_20160807_111350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJernAyWhIeqStSN8mFOo_Rg0KP0YgosaPQV129u1fVImNkVbARGXWYP5iDXHvBlFLF12Mg1YbhKby7KI7XL7VVJc6xs5mAeQF-B6EbhU4jgyVtiwT31Sf-wv88AhgeWvIV3TzbNy96GI/s640/IMG_20160807_111350.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We may have overloaded on strawberries for the road trip, as there were tons of farm stands selling boxes of them. Also, peppers = capsicums!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-HceQefCEzZYOn494VYUaCiVHbW19PX7ibYpvpOcFNwy3EabUoI9wYp9Zi2Imuv2SeLQld4JvC_hDt2uTeFZswg0PtzkMVW_VQT3oHYIymnOV8A8gNK-YFvmup0sR2ss-vXK0ZpJHUg/s1600/IMG_20160807_135302.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5-HceQefCEzZYOn494VYUaCiVHbW19PX7ibYpvpOcFNwy3EabUoI9wYp9Zi2Imuv2SeLQld4JvC_hDt2uTeFZswg0PtzkMVW_VQT3oHYIymnOV8A8gNK-YFvmup0sR2ss-vXK0ZpJHUg/s640/IMG_20160807_135302.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are in Caloundra! On the boardwalk</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1kKRwDZ3UYLHnyYbJ6_c6KPWjZ3KBNLexpz4XOELBATwLL_xCvX935iNerxj8LXFalZmwVpcpDYy_q9uRsKx5t_Jz6ynrHG2FAtLzAw5rO6S5Lui_cD2rXH33_Lpvw1WKx4j0cnq-cE/s1600/mmexport1470829907225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO1kKRwDZ3UYLHnyYbJ6_c6KPWjZ3KBNLexpz4XOELBATwLL_xCvX935iNerxj8LXFalZmwVpcpDYy_q9uRsKx5t_Jz6ynrHG2FAtLzAw5rO6S5Lui_cD2rXH33_Lpvw1WKx4j0cnq-cE/s640/mmexport1470829907225.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And here is part of the shore! If only it wasn't winter....this fleece has seen more action these past two weeks than it has on the entire trip combined.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbqJ2aq4X7FeaUosSfzysfFlOXAAFVnzO_-4dkQVKqpreN4RHejU8zRvGo9zUi8REHw3r4rNQCX5hscDyWnT-VCciWoSAwvlgph7VWx-shZpzoPyAPk4Fg9eFmqB5xHlnz7zRUaVCFcU/s1600/IMG_20160807_143311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxbqJ2aq4X7FeaUosSfzysfFlOXAAFVnzO_-4dkQVKqpreN4RHejU8zRvGo9zUi8REHw3r4rNQCX5hscDyWnT-VCciWoSAwvlgph7VWx-shZpzoPyAPk4Fg9eFmqB5xHlnz7zRUaVCFcU/s640/IMG_20160807_143311.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we found a perfectly-located picnic bench to watch the sunset from</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kO9YUM1SUPTCKUtKcLjS2JEa4SHB7KUWCmZEGsqez3h0RY3BJZjpJq7UmZzbROlfm-LeOze5eVnomyhrtErH5n8N6v7gkCunxJA4isVrKa6JYeb2Mpk8CT-4UGVfjQwTefiwZYf8zto/s1600/IMG_20160807_145230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2kO9YUM1SUPTCKUtKcLjS2JEa4SHB7KUWCmZEGsqez3h0RY3BJZjpJq7UmZzbROlfm-LeOze5eVnomyhrtErH5n8N6v7gkCunxJA4isVrKa6JYeb2Mpk8CT-4UGVfjQwTefiwZYf8zto/s640/IMG_20160807_145230.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What better way to watch the sunset than with trays of fish & chips?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKDNHQZ0ZupDKMlRQ_VbmMvRXvKXsVsCmaq7QfhNbdeWVWE46BKomQmBZT9jjKXKioPz_0A4AiFPWIthRG48eNnG8Rv40Hu6SFfKBjSlC9wr02bp6Dl-9TT-aIfH4ssvZ1UdSIFTofl0/s1600/IMG_20160807_151338-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKKDNHQZ0ZupDKMlRQ_VbmMvRXvKXsVsCmaq7QfhNbdeWVWE46BKomQmBZT9jjKXKioPz_0A4AiFPWIthRG48eNnG8Rv40Hu6SFfKBjSlC9wr02bp6Dl-9TT-aIfH4ssvZ1UdSIFTofl0/s640/IMG_20160807_151338-01.jpeg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the sun set, there was pink sky for a bit <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next morning, we made the hour-long drive from Caloundra to the popular beachside town of Noosa. Noosa reminded me a bit of Miami - lots of old people, lots of fancy buildings, gorgeous buildings, pretty boutiques, beautiful calm beach, outdoor cafes, and white furniture. White furniture everywhere. It's apparently a pretty big vacation spot, especially since all the hotels were exorbitant prices (we ended up staying in Caloundra).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VbRaaz392vi9gw7vIBChfAChoIsUgrssd35SY9aexfuF5nF4f8KlQBpqhBe4syjB6P8Mc_qgN9IiiurHCsoswV59rjD7Ma-eErlR692U9DMzjGHKm0NraSc-JIsM_mgam1q494LGafg/s1600/IMG_20160808_130655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VbRaaz392vi9gw7vIBChfAChoIsUgrssd35SY9aexfuF5nF4f8KlQBpqhBe4syjB6P8Mc_qgN9IiiurHCsoswV59rjD7Ma-eErlR692U9DMzjGHKm0NraSc-JIsM_mgam1q494LGafg/s640/IMG_20160808_130655.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tell me our delicious brunch doesn't look like it could be set in Miami</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UUQuglwwmcbyaELY-p4leKDzDpPXYwGJomFzpZgVrSaqz01r188FXMN5DrVEe0zNBTjG2bD67y1CaTdnLHWGnR7na_kstOfN3XcF0iIfzVePyBfklIDp1V9gHM7A_AJ-bTg9h9BGPCg/s1600/IMG_20160808_152530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3UUQuglwwmcbyaELY-p4leKDzDpPXYwGJomFzpZgVrSaqz01r188FXMN5DrVEe0zNBTjG2bD67y1CaTdnLHWGnR7na_kstOfN3XcF0iIfzVePyBfklIDp1V9gHM7A_AJ-bTg9h9BGPCg/s640/IMG_20160808_152530.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach in Noosa Heads. It was actually semi-warm enough for us to lay out in swimsuits under the sun. But not get in the water. No. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc3tESqRO1BU1OKryVMPS19R21FTngitZh6bR1r-9aErA1jKbutAB-ZCOE-KP-Y8K_fXa8pJj-b_YODRN9jQLFh7dx0u_VE4swNYU85wNaa91GW1oQIfU0508QPdQH9vlUTmApWT7-zs/s1600/IMG_20160808_170414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGc3tESqRO1BU1OKryVMPS19R21FTngitZh6bR1r-9aErA1jKbutAB-ZCOE-KP-Y8K_fXa8pJj-b_YODRN9jQLFh7dx0u_VE4swNYU85wNaa91GW1oQIfU0508QPdQH9vlUTmApWT7-zs/s640/IMG_20160808_170414.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noosa not only has beaches and boutiques, but also some nearby nature walks and national parks you can wander. We went to one of them to watch the sunset (I LOVE SUNSETS)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67fdsQFu9O5S5YnFXzsnC4g-U2Oz971kSd3h0gPgEEnH8udYbRvvGhkjXjtLJ08lewm5X-5yIlQXLm_XjchisfJmVuKKNzadtazHsgtHZFPDQZpwgBVFip_hRt1xzg5kRDdWRYqgvecY/s1600/IMG_20160808_170729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj67fdsQFu9O5S5YnFXzsnC4g-U2Oz971kSd3h0gPgEEnH8udYbRvvGhkjXjtLJ08lewm5X-5yIlQXLm_XjchisfJmVuKKNzadtazHsgtHZFPDQZpwgBVFip_hRt1xzg5kRDdWRYqgvecY/s640/IMG_20160808_170729.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This sunset over the water was beyond pretty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6Gbz8PGtLbABbUHGlDjs7DkQNLKb2KjZea2C720i0iG4wZF0ni4rBz2R7eH3cuoXbCnei-7Y_lZF5SMh5leydIMA8ot118CcCY4qrVPHCLjnxbD4A_i9SDtL0isfAIzlR_kPU79AYA4/s1600/IMG_20160808_171301.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC6Gbz8PGtLbABbUHGlDjs7DkQNLKb2KjZea2C720i0iG4wZF0ni4rBz2R7eH3cuoXbCnei-7Y_lZF5SMh5leydIMA8ot118CcCY4qrVPHCLjnxbD4A_i9SDtL0isfAIzlR_kPU79AYA4/s640/IMG_20160808_171301.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Do you know how hard it is for me to cull sunset pictures?! Each photo is just slightly, yet so importantly, different</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDNMty3Eb2sfv1nARoGbfLRh7BjAbk67psMTPllZ5rSqsWz92nrZzw2q9GlElDCTcFuWxndEzkNHbDfZbZfPR4xdOzIrqcpDXIj-P8Nm-xel6d2S-XV-3ZKT90nyO372CIiL5uM_t6Uo/s1600/IMG_20160808_171654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDNMty3Eb2sfv1nARoGbfLRh7BjAbk67psMTPllZ5rSqsWz92nrZzw2q9GlElDCTcFuWxndEzkNHbDfZbZfPR4xdOzIrqcpDXIj-P8Nm-xel6d2S-XV-3ZKT90nyO372CIiL5uM_t6Uo/s640/IMG_20160808_171654.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great sunset lighting. So I turned Beauty Mode up to a 10 on my camera, and this is the product. I call this the bug-eyed/anime combo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymB8I_ccsTipbEWAabYSlxLCXKPsGhLzrupxj08to5IM-7rDTZeioM2M6vF33y8t4XY53p5GHKN7WzA1lDB_Cr7gaSuMGDQTRg6a6ICrzXtj9yRkHyIYa6lGs2VqfOYOKr47-Klvd9oQ/s1600/IMG_20160808_171400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhymB8I_ccsTipbEWAabYSlxLCXKPsGhLzrupxj08to5IM-7rDTZeioM2M6vF33y8t4XY53p5GHKN7WzA1lDB_Cr7gaSuMGDQTRg6a6ICrzXtj9yRkHyIYa6lGs2VqfOYOKr47-Klvd9oQ/s640/IMG_20160808_171400.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sigghhhhh one last shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw2CM4Nq7ywRguyad8I6TLWZcGdcC45WRy0GIB6TdGv9R3accsvzYF0JaNwehC-i33Oahncm5kG0VO-AABnDLWIOn0BsEr5Scs_Iyd8A-ZmBRnvmWRMGr7eBKMCBRvn0ZzFIqRbllMIw/s1600/IMG_20160808_174850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbw2CM4Nq7ywRguyad8I6TLWZcGdcC45WRy0GIB6TdGv9R3accsvzYF0JaNwehC-i33Oahncm5kG0VO-AABnDLWIOn0BsEr5Scs_Iyd8A-ZmBRnvmWRMGr7eBKMCBRvn0ZzFIqRbllMIw/s640/IMG_20160808_174850.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we headed to dinner, but on the way, stopped by the beach to admire the last dregs of the sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eLgII_VaPNDMCAgvs80zs8U6rNYUhHBKHYBuFiYYha67seuOsBBD2VFxY22lx8V6tGwxXaJjB1Gb73tkGI-AkBwlY-7yVgOr42E4dP2Mm0vVBlhAWNSolZM5PTWa1vLNqu-DtPqm6kI/s1600/mmexport1470829920196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0eLgII_VaPNDMCAgvs80zs8U6rNYUhHBKHYBuFiYYha67seuOsBBD2VFxY22lx8V6tGwxXaJjB1Gb73tkGI-AkBwlY-7yVgOr42E4dP2Mm0vVBlhAWNSolZM5PTWa1vLNqu-DtPqm6kI/s640/mmexport1470829920196.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Taylor approved.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmlyOyPVoumSTvdqxdHrN_idvu0nIlVfAUyYrvx76X4t_mc48ZQ9wzgK0D0t5RUolKqJgEh-QbA8pLiATsygu3U7ypLiqrntKLSgpyy-4F8cCONIc8b73L0wO9Om_GywmBRTo5CfhsT8/s1600/IMG_20160808_180811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmlyOyPVoumSTvdqxdHrN_idvu0nIlVfAUyYrvx76X4t_mc48ZQ9wzgK0D0t5RUolKqJgEh-QbA8pLiATsygu3U7ypLiqrntKLSgpyy-4F8cCONIc8b73L0wO9Om_GywmBRTo5CfhsT8/s640/IMG_20160808_180811.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beers we had with dinner. They seem to like theming their beer with animals?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtef5WaStny5fsYqoMzDusd9SkOskvISS9yc7J8w9QUUgQhfs48yjrrA0VJKVqWHi_0XaMjK5oudFXPQu-yoFY0wIM5p4Bl0NJQDnvnmAEV2vi2tqsk_zO9dgKYbhKIVGcwb0rdR-xkks/s1600/mmexport1470829944538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtef5WaStny5fsYqoMzDusd9SkOskvISS9yc7J8w9QUUgQhfs48yjrrA0VJKVqWHi_0XaMjK5oudFXPQu-yoFY0wIM5p4Bl0NJQDnvnmAEV2vi2tqsk_zO9dgKYbhKIVGcwb0rdR-xkks/s640/mmexport1470829944538.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Next morning, we had a delicious open-air, ocean-view brunch in Caloundra at the most delicious coffee/breakfast joint in town; the Coffee Cat on Kings Beach.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE1utPgrQKenVWDw6ur4NRncCP9ej_JSalFO4cbIpER4mZbsL3H7Zl7mxFIldn8KuPNgkr6F3pjaIaTiTxjOm4GIOFp-vsStS4Juwxly4uS_W8twdJp8h4QSgJvBneBe2tXZ5lzPH-5s/s1600/IMG_20160809_105709.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhE1utPgrQKenVWDw6ur4NRncCP9ej_JSalFO4cbIpER4mZbsL3H7Zl7mxFIldn8KuPNgkr6F3pjaIaTiTxjOm4GIOFp-vsStS4Juwxly4uS_W8twdJp8h4QSgJvBneBe2tXZ5lzPH-5s/s640/IMG_20160809_105709.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In addition to sunsets, I'm obsessed with photographing brunch food. Dear brunch - you have no idea how much I have missed you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzGVXWJPWhVlYx86Hd_NEF6NChGXtJZk5Lkg4JtnEeEwfVRw0ZFfa9JZCsP25kbKlOwwfftYh6ZVRCJitg2WJFaNDhdbRu9zHboNjAa4vliNsNqlkDJJVVDqfncsTSglr0R6GmECdfxc/s1600/IMG_20160809_113118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwzGVXWJPWhVlYx86Hd_NEF6NChGXtJZk5Lkg4JtnEeEwfVRw0ZFfa9JZCsP25kbKlOwwfftYh6ZVRCJitg2WJFaNDhdbRu9zHboNjAa4vliNsNqlkDJJVVDqfncsTSglr0R6GmECdfxc/s640/IMG_20160809_113118.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a little stroll on Kings Beach post-brunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>From Caloundra, we wound our way back South to the famous Glass House Mountains! The Glass House Mountains are a group of 11 mountains that seem to randomly pop out of the flat coastline along the Sunshine Coast. And the mountains have weird shapes. And you can hike them - any of them, take your pick.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkIJg35optVxHYB9lWwv-7h8GZDlPDp4BDidakrSiEl83oZqgL5qhUXsJfVZMXkdtVElXjsqcpW5mygDnMHa8uAkqy9KNfHkS0nyrDOk2DV-9FmuzwG1d-7y5pn92f5t3VHYSIIWkcy0/s1600/IMG_20160809_125117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYkIJg35optVxHYB9lWwv-7h8GZDlPDp4BDidakrSiEl83oZqgL5qhUXsJfVZMXkdtVElXjsqcpW5mygDnMHa8uAkqy9KNfHkS0nyrDOk2DV-9FmuzwG1d-7y5pn92f5t3VHYSIIWkcy0/s640/IMG_20160809_125117.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the Glass House Mountains (with a tiny third one in the background!), don't ask me which ones, I don't have a clue</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-QyWUzAonBl3SJx0Rd74wyDb_acKdGci-NbVxU3Afs9SHaUnJkChiwZgkvjJb3YHqZb3OMGdkDc7fLrY2qucoKdN6bWofVD8Hv14gxdoIz0-RFyFtMRLyEo_CmJ0BXbjNgAyhYQkfGQ/s1600/IMG_20160809_125143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-QyWUzAonBl3SJx0Rd74wyDb_acKdGci-NbVxU3Afs9SHaUnJkChiwZgkvjJb3YHqZb3OMGdkDc7fLrY2qucoKdN6bWofVD8Hv14gxdoIz0-RFyFtMRLyEo_CmJ0BXbjNgAyhYQkfGQ/s640/IMG_20160809_125143.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pano from the entrance of a bunch of the mountains. See how they just seem to pop out out of nowhere??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqyvCa6ujFTSzTE3hZX_19X-0lxN3edDL7Cmk7dQhdwWwYyELteIa0GQ6a2lAkHjScxEslBKEzrY-JfBTU3VZ07S3kvgnPyRU_I9M3Rzq_tBtUzz38paCmZaIOSSKzjRyVUd3QrFHuig/s1600/IMG_20160809_125207.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqyvCa6ujFTSzTE3hZX_19X-0lxN3edDL7Cmk7dQhdwWwYyELteIa0GQ6a2lAkHjScxEslBKEzrY-JfBTU3VZ07S3kvgnPyRU_I9M3Rzq_tBtUzz38paCmZaIOSSKzjRyVUd3QrFHuig/s640/IMG_20160809_125207.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of them have weird shapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxWlyzq6QZEgyIwvqaYwfA9ocyCUvG5QxQcEiSFnjO44_qheCI66c_vobTsMMAALEzAxqf2uvdGcznPljMi0FwrLcgAJCF5xef0p2SzZpPJ71Wt95KOheeCPkIIXIJIcZKYpjoQszeoQ/s1600/mmexport1470829926627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicxWlyzq6QZEgyIwvqaYwfA9ocyCUvG5QxQcEiSFnjO44_qheCI66c_vobTsMMAALEzAxqf2uvdGcznPljMi0FwrLcgAJCF5xef0p2SzZpPJ71Wt95KOheeCPkIIXIJIcZKYpjoQszeoQ/s640/mmexport1470829926627.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We chose Mt. Ngungun to hike (not reallllly by choice, we got a little lost), which only took about an hour.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLK7ASkIocaoY3lTYqF-0gAi3SWZtyG0qs6kYxlQpb-FbPVf8vSvqm0tLjcjjcc5thAWFM-Gxw1zL9b4CLKU8ysRQQao8paPDjx2NXk5YcUrHKYzO7SFxurDogBwFbYrWuxxWwL0SQg0/s1600/mmexport1470829933538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLK7ASkIocaoY3lTYqF-0gAi3SWZtyG0qs6kYxlQpb-FbPVf8vSvqm0tLjcjjcc5thAWFM-Gxw1zL9b4CLKU8ysRQQao8paPDjx2NXk5YcUrHKYzO7SFxurDogBwFbYrWuxxWwL0SQg0/s640/mmexport1470829933538.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We made it to the top! Which had STUNNING 360 degree views of the landscape, and a beautiful view of all the other mountains that we didn't climb</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-VxxlDdTKkDa8Vt0TUEhR9Y6uE6VF2YmK3VT5Qc7G7EMEzQN7Aclzd9sfSt02L4lP1LTNWPrkS3nHWXyImcA96-1fMe5mWzTZN1K7JVUilPliaeGVOxLH5fC7Esa7tbSn4pfb6Ps-6g/s1600/mmexport1470829965999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV-VxxlDdTKkDa8Vt0TUEhR9Y6uE6VF2YmK3VT5Qc7G7EMEzQN7Aclzd9sfSt02L4lP1LTNWPrkS3nHWXyImcA96-1fMe5mWzTZN1K7JVUilPliaeGVOxLH5fC7Esa7tbSn4pfb6Ps-6g/s640/mmexport1470829965999.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">There are two of the Glass House Mountains in the back (I like the weirdo smokestack-shaped one!)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVQu5BWzfXIyzbQGdWNGyA7v8Hm_h7tNpF7fK9mcFyzKATqonyuXJlX1_7Zu0JzlevEcKMSDeHZhfDRlp1V7PYrcDWuSUbJm8fSMqOPeLqMIyTHo_dcekYfYwSKXnTyIf84iN4aSWCx4/s1600/IMG_20160809_143734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwVQu5BWzfXIyzbQGdWNGyA7v8Hm_h7tNpF7fK9mcFyzKATqonyuXJlX1_7Zu0JzlevEcKMSDeHZhfDRlp1V7PYrcDWuSUbJm8fSMqOPeLqMIyTHo_dcekYfYwSKXnTyIf84iN4aSWCx4/s640/IMG_20160809_143734.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two of the tiny mound-like Glass House Mountains (they do all have proper names, I swear - I just can't recall them)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv4MsJvmBecDbAplSEnGoM0_dNUFIvCKEC9HqBpVLdhxpXzTJjaAr7cT6MnhPhdA2_h39YheerbR2VSb5hPyB3AD0VKaN0g37Hg3xONDwBAF0ScjQXuxGHNhORAP2JB3Isdy0rEb-1kk/s1600/IMG_20160809_143831.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsv4MsJvmBecDbAplSEnGoM0_dNUFIvCKEC9HqBpVLdhxpXzTJjaAr7cT6MnhPhdA2_h39YheerbR2VSb5hPyB3AD0VKaN0g37Hg3xONDwBAF0ScjQXuxGHNhORAP2JB3Isdy0rEb-1kk/s640/IMG_20160809_143831.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another one. All such different shapes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGM97P6IPq8pQKPR_Cc8Nnv_F175HSdRljZbKtntbPQ-K7W-fv3KYQVX0ccBdEiy60DwMzbHOToXnDfGqbx0KjEWQwFYy5-6Et7arBDsbQ3QpZ2BXFOsfnH2i37CLIPDuQq8UYVhNH_8/s1600/mmexport1470829951011.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGM97P6IPq8pQKPR_Cc8Nnv_F175HSdRljZbKtntbPQ-K7W-fv3KYQVX0ccBdEiy60DwMzbHOToXnDfGqbx0KjEWQwFYy5-6Et7arBDsbQ3QpZ2BXFOsfnH2i37CLIPDuQq8UYVhNH_8/s640/mmexport1470829951011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwakdweKk8fXmPGuR2Pskp0_Dzq9vMOcBBe6dfuwQJPcPQ6KMZAt80x8A_bAXeRTvhuaexKhlFPDojtWmjOBYlZGkuRd2PkIY4xiJQbYJdptAuLGS_HdvHYbclOevV3gGdSZTGiWMuvNk/s1600/IMG_20160809_145801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwakdweKk8fXmPGuR2Pskp0_Dzq9vMOcBBe6dfuwQJPcPQ6KMZAt80x8A_bAXeRTvhuaexKhlFPDojtWmjOBYlZGkuRd2PkIY4xiJQbYJdptAuLGS_HdvHYbclOevV3gGdSZTGiWMuvNk/s640/IMG_20160809_145801.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mountain in the back is the tallest one of them all, called Mt. Beerwah.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>From the Glass House Mountains, we drove on back to Brisbane and stayed one last night with Jess' sister and her family.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd_Ad3oTmuRygfeOl4HR-WHqL38vi0wxTtqjJw4-wzN9MI13TtGneV6RQdDWc80cFmDz2Zj0R3YK0kJ0Z2Q_XhqNXF3oBGYSmENpKL7HNiXZdg2vu7fcQbOPBz1Evq8aLEdDrYEucqc4/s1600/IMG_20160810_135008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAd_Ad3oTmuRygfeOl4HR-WHqL38vi0wxTtqjJw4-wzN9MI13TtGneV6RQdDWc80cFmDz2Zj0R3YK0kJ0Z2Q_XhqNXF3oBGYSmENpKL7HNiXZdg2vu7fcQbOPBz1Evq8aLEdDrYEucqc4/s640/IMG_20160810_135008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlook of the city of Brisbane from Mt. Coot-tha</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T-4tfWjXEzHw9-iTfiMyuPVU6HfoN_K1cBVHanlCKkZZhVjhLNsKhW6x4XjlrzaHxScvXpQVRN-INbQ5ESRvNgNZGaFGAPwugaaHo6-5K7vkS4G827iJvt6-lvOzGn3uFQYZMOFqvbk/s1600/IMG_20160809_173253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0T-4tfWjXEzHw9-iTfiMyuPVU6HfoN_K1cBVHanlCKkZZhVjhLNsKhW6x4XjlrzaHxScvXpQVRN-INbQ5ESRvNgNZGaFGAPwugaaHo6-5K7vkS4G827iJvt6-lvOzGn3uFQYZMOFqvbk/s640/IMG_20160809_173253.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Gorgeous clouds from the liquor store parking lot<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9piGVmO2Rqb7spMnvt6YE2SYqYfib2lG3K4OYqQVzCfOowLI4s_fShsdYRrLOeUw7i0aDAzqeCQeQDf1pNQ9TPlaSKouJ0QlA4XroKqhzvwpNBjiDX9xDf0rfe2g1QdRP_NfkMJHXDU/s1600/mmexport1470830012098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP9piGVmO2Rqb7spMnvt6YE2SYqYfib2lG3K4OYqQVzCfOowLI4s_fShsdYRrLOeUw7i0aDAzqeCQeQDf1pNQ9TPlaSKouJ0QlA4XroKqhzvwpNBjiDX9xDf0rfe2g1QdRP_NfkMJHXDU/s640/mmexport1470830012098.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Looking the other way; gorgeous sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Road trip, Day 4 - we set out from Brisbane to head more inland: about 3-4 hours away to Jesse's dad's place in the town of Tenterfield. 3 things about Tenterfield: 1.) It was FREEZING (seriously, like a legit winter feel rather than the 62 degree/I-need-a-light-windbreaker weather I had been complaining about on the coast), 2.) WILD KANGAROOS. EVERYWHERE, and 3.) it's tiny, with a population of around 3,000 people.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMOoZFhJiVzU8ldrRPEDV7ikLAGC9EwKh-GufSx-ItaygJFL4Ulg7v7bQhqBSvYMNkCMpeVdMllu3AfDhoMXY9pTkjzRIJAoztwj8u9bRRZ-ayvEWZfmFnX7vuzYyrmSPCE-xF71fkE0/s1600/IMG_20160810_152111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMOoZFhJiVzU8ldrRPEDV7ikLAGC9EwKh-GufSx-ItaygJFL4Ulg7v7bQhqBSvYMNkCMpeVdMllu3AfDhoMXY9pTkjzRIJAoztwj8u9bRRZ-ayvEWZfmFnX7vuzYyrmSPCE-xF71fkE0/s640/IMG_20160810_152111.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the open road! Australia's landscapes seriously look just like South Africa's. It was total déjà vu sometimes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgDVyuJJ_IlVaei3x0p_mplYbWNci_dIHZnBShNfzl0-7f1cDDVGwLUP2poW-kcNwZyqFG7D9uKuVnfvvT-omIH42VCnVk81oRjx7Jcmn28iz0kZZFjjLZ6PYgwl7jDbRjhOQjKHuBrs/s1600/IMG_20160810_163603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMgDVyuJJ_IlVaei3x0p_mplYbWNci_dIHZnBShNfzl0-7f1cDDVGwLUP2poW-kcNwZyqFG7D9uKuVnfvvT-omIH42VCnVk81oRjx7Jcmn28iz0kZZFjjLZ6PYgwl7jDbRjhOQjKHuBrs/s640/IMG_20160810_163603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This road may look ordinary, but it was littered with dead kangaroo roadkill. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGKnMfg4fQ0V1S6SrhNeyvrMgBMPItq1B0oxjA9MGIOckXxG-BsSMKeYh9K-cp45gAhHM3ZYWdkX7NkmT8Rx2rEClDi-0_nKot6GNk3HcbaMVUYXTliGzz3KIMY0Pyo8z6lOWBZGy_cA/s1600/mmexport1470830127150.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGKnMfg4fQ0V1S6SrhNeyvrMgBMPItq1B0oxjA9MGIOckXxG-BsSMKeYh9K-cp45gAhHM3ZYWdkX7NkmT8Rx2rEClDi-0_nKot6GNk3HcbaMVUYXTliGzz3KIMY0Pyo8z6lOWBZGy_cA/s640/mmexport1470830127150.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The skies in Australia! So magical EVERY NIGHT</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We arrived in Tenterfield in time for dinner with Jess' dad and his girlfriend, Sue. And winter. Winter was at dinner. </li>
<li>The area around Tenterfield is chock full of wineries and vineyards - not a hugely popular thing to do in winter, but we went on a mini-tour to do some wine tastings and winery-visiting the next day with Jesse's dad.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNek1QdJUmgkft_zER_KmCGjAbGxOavZwoCfAdU-9O4hBM44QhW-S7La_xRV4Ah2tM2Q_RvXz8m_kUgrFU8mvJr-51DNJhtYNT7lsbVDW8O4P84PEfAoAyE4aWBas0nht7J5McAi_2rYs/s1600/mmexport1471137067573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNek1QdJUmgkft_zER_KmCGjAbGxOavZwoCfAdU-9O4hBM44QhW-S7La_xRV4Ah2tM2Q_RvXz8m_kUgrFU8mvJr-51DNJhtYNT7lsbVDW8O4P84PEfAoAyE4aWBas0nht7J5McAi_2rYs/s640/mmexport1471137067573.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But first, an adorable morning coffee/scone/cake at a local tea house. Internet, this is Jesse's dad, Bob.<br />
(Please note the scarf got pulled out. Things are serious.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
'<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLeUFO3K1wO9F_cYni9PEUrtFm8An2R-QVq7e96bB2ILhgMrtsH0kGoF1pWKge4jKKhzKovhlb2gr_kp2Z5a2Mk9NzyqL-HJ5wci1I8J9raG3yBr2P6OYuKmWJmb2x0A-erbPVcbpTFk/s1600/IMG_20160811_152910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLeUFO3K1wO9F_cYni9PEUrtFm8An2R-QVq7e96bB2ILhgMrtsH0kGoF1pWKge4jKKhzKovhlb2gr_kp2Z5a2Mk9NzyqL-HJ5wci1I8J9raG3yBr2P6OYuKmWJmb2x0A-erbPVcbpTFk/s640/IMG_20160811_152910.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way out to the wineries, I had my first wild kangaroo spotting of the day! Here's a bunch of them in a field, staring at the car (since we may have pulled to a stop and let me out of the car to snap them)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAumWjinoNLaNEnNJlEzsbMsrR_SbgFtyK-ziWEtoscaGledHfkLj5qS83rFhcI8HlXwfU5uqscDX2le4o-1gSiqlT8YeeonXLT9hNaGO9W73j61zTbpDqF_zMgqybmCY3pEMQhwvPMy4/s1600/mmexport1471137088607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAumWjinoNLaNEnNJlEzsbMsrR_SbgFtyK-ziWEtoscaGledHfkLj5qS83rFhcI8HlXwfU5uqscDX2le4o-1gSiqlT8YeeonXLT9hNaGO9W73j61zTbpDqF_zMgqybmCY3pEMQhwvPMy4/s640/mmexport1471137088607.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is about as close as you can get to them</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0_hwzc3XfAsXCEUytrPfMzn9HBWZOwlgWgsBGDtzt_WNxYGuOffELWRey9Dnylswvj7gvMq0WDgLuNscpRHkJFGPp8DS_Fnl8pa3K-g3LIurV4lMU3rHDiFrHiK6q6MElktAt_AcbHg/s1600/IMG_20160811_153036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0_hwzc3XfAsXCEUytrPfMzn9HBWZOwlgWgsBGDtzt_WNxYGuOffELWRey9Dnylswvj7gvMq0WDgLuNscpRHkJFGPp8DS_Fnl8pa3K-g3LIurV4lMU3rHDiFrHiK6q6MElktAt_AcbHg/s640/IMG_20160811_153036.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And they started to hop away the closer I got.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktzHbOZk5OQnoRLebSRigPZq8dBSysXmNZo9OcWRdm0pNkuPGoUcBy42OxI_Tu3Mwe5Dh2DBMjfQpFyAU0IV0YAEyF43n-6iHeopLA2jKSt07jQY2sIZjA4ZYe9sA71GJGiQVgW4SIVk/s1600/mmexport1471137174963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhktzHbOZk5OQnoRLebSRigPZq8dBSysXmNZo9OcWRdm0pNkuPGoUcBy42OxI_Tu3Mwe5Dh2DBMjfQpFyAU0IV0YAEyF43n-6iHeopLA2jKSt07jQY2sIZjA4ZYe9sA71GJGiQVgW4SIVk/s640/mmexport1471137174963.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But onto the wine! We hit up three wineries (Kurrajong Downs, Balladean, and Jester Hill).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Road Trip, Day 5: we got breakfast in town and then walked around Tenterfield's main street. Which is tiny and picturesque and sweet.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pl-cBc3hyphenhyphensDJCVH9-gr1yt-9oUgySrVUZlfJn1bd8912JXxAS4qYrw0zJNsnCcNxHW5jvFougVor8zG3NdTOGrhH_8PmqCZviDgVoZ-bhKtCRWap4yJ1DGmiek_7bGfYaFZDEYUgfx4/s1600/mmexport1471137283236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pl-cBc3hyphenhyphensDJCVH9-gr1yt-9oUgySrVUZlfJn1bd8912JXxAS4qYrw0zJNsnCcNxHW5jvFougVor8zG3NdTOGrhH_8PmqCZviDgVoZ-bhKtCRWap4yJ1DGmiek_7bGfYaFZDEYUgfx4/s640/mmexport1471137283236.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Like stepping back into the early 1900's!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcH33w5kkiubW4fZAAAeZSDjG8xFasd9_ZNV0T0vHKmF7XF3LYwEvJAkuKfCHOSh0ZrzZ7FGFb1KO9d_kpWNtiuDHlP9uEBRs-FFbzbPW9td_3XnVPDvf1bJ9LeahY9ZxST46V60KHFHs/s1600/mmexport1471137397833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcH33w5kkiubW4fZAAAeZSDjG8xFasd9_ZNV0T0vHKmF7XF3LYwEvJAkuKfCHOSh0ZrzZ7FGFb1KO9d_kpWNtiuDHlP9uEBRs-FFbzbPW9td_3XnVPDvf1bJ9LeahY9ZxST46V60KHFHs/s640/mmexport1471137397833.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I love how old buildings have the year they were established on the top of the buildings. And of course in this tiny town, there is a place for Chinese meals.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We then said good-bye to Jesse's dad and winter, and drove back to his mom's house in Goonengerry - I was leaving the next day for a flight to Sydney, so that was the best place to leave from. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0s9eM0AqUV7qgvos0nBZaXPQammcSCjRBwG5JFWIxTi03HrlPaDKM4G0g6SOG4ZdGPjP2FoKXDF6zKnF-KBwdZheX80P2rey4GetXZIsKoaCfoIVmrzDmfV8tzdhzuXi_i2ypvB3K58/s1600/mmexport1471185333547.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg0s9eM0AqUV7qgvos0nBZaXPQammcSCjRBwG5JFWIxTi03HrlPaDKM4G0g6SOG4ZdGPjP2FoKXDF6zKnF-KBwdZheX80P2rey4GetXZIsKoaCfoIVmrzDmfV8tzdhzuXi_i2ypvB3K58/s640/mmexport1471185333547.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">One last time feeding the neighbor's horses!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-N6dCNKgBqaLsT2xnOSOmCgRr8Cs8XGXru02eahyJrUTg8pl0syizuvHVVsJt-VvyNj9LHCvyPWxqlLl2r4sTF9SQPlIUlgZ09fC8BXeUj6eZfN2eJot_-6HvxVEI5aKWITWpq7dP6E/s1600/IMG_20160812_182726.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-N6dCNKgBqaLsT2xnOSOmCgRr8Cs8XGXru02eahyJrUTg8pl0syizuvHVVsJt-VvyNj9LHCvyPWxqlLl2r4sTF9SQPlIUlgZ09fC8BXeUj6eZfN2eJot_-6HvxVEI5aKWITWpq7dP6E/s640/IMG_20160812_182726.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I was headed to Sydney....and Jesse's headed to Vietnam, apparently (I can't keep track of all the rando countries he decides to move to on a whim either) - so his mom threw him an early b-day celebration. His birthday is in December, btw - but he won't be home for it, so she wanted to celebrate while there was someone else around. It was so cute!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgejOrJIucn2FEdqYg1wu8TUZVQWOjxqb3CJVefqAU430B3IjBSjsgMnIlD5fahwFiyB842cwuBt5E85Ch432ryKwAnHfyLtyxK16iCnq8LPgDxqqfKATik34OVU565OppnC6KaeOK-N4/s1600/mmexport1471185226908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgejOrJIucn2FEdqYg1wu8TUZVQWOjxqb3CJVefqAU430B3IjBSjsgMnIlD5fahwFiyB842cwuBt5E85Ch432ryKwAnHfyLtyxK16iCnq8LPgDxqqfKATik34OVU565OppnC6KaeOK-N4/s640/mmexport1471185226908.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One last brunch at a trendy Japanese cafe in Mullumbimby with Jess and his mom. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Thanks, Jess, for truly being the greatest Australian tour guide ever - and to your wonderful, wonderful fam for being the greatest hosts ever! All the delicious home-cooked meals were epic, and it was one of my favorite things ever to get to actually feel like part of the fam, vs. staying in hostels and eating out all the time and lining up my days with sightseeing plans. It was beyond appreciated, I had the best time (despite complaining about how the temperature was almost hypothermic) and you're truly the greatest!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Meal of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6eaj201zk5NkU8UBpTNy0nWrlLLIGyScgDD7zc2FWD99bEBpypT4F0g__Lg6uyOA1ov_Oy2enMoOnrBUKY9xixS7lhZeJYM1Q6myIVLe7Laegu-4TLJcYoI2piP0c9aT41cqTHmxMvQ/s1600/mmexport1470829947561.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ6eaj201zk5NkU8UBpTNy0nWrlLLIGyScgDD7zc2FWD99bEBpypT4F0g__Lg6uyOA1ov_Oy2enMoOnrBUKY9xixS7lhZeJYM1Q6myIVLe7Laegu-4TLJcYoI2piP0c9aT41cqTHmxMvQ/s640/mmexport1470829947561.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three words: free unlimited sprinkles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span><br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>McDonald's in Oz is shortened to "Macca's." Which ok, fine, I get the lingo. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m5GTBfvkyDWLtJY9HGT-I-hqJ8LKI5wXI6I9VKzmFHVa49jKstSFJnm4t67JAcjMYf0ABKcMl78wWRoKvMHINKGORLLU1802LEODWHVK-3juLy2v39JxEG8s4-Ez7-QT_oVq0yxm9-U/s1600/Screenshot_2016-08-12-13-49-35.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2m5GTBfvkyDWLtJY9HGT-I-hqJ8LKI5wXI6I9VKzmFHVa49jKstSFJnm4t67JAcjMYf0ABKcMl78wWRoKvMHINKGORLLU1802LEODWHVK-3juLy2v39JxEG8s4-Ez7-QT_oVq0yxm9-U/s640/Screenshot_2016-08-12-13-49-35.png" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But "Macca's Free Wi-Fry" is pretty much the most GENIUS WiFi name every invented!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>I was explaining to Jess the premise of Outback Steakhouse - you know, the Australian steak chain! Just kidding. I know it's an American company that has bastardized a restaurant to be Australian. Jess was like "yeah I've heard of it but it's definitely not Australian." </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwCXfwKmeGmEQmAEiMgHRpkO9YeiplwpxBFtJUABpfEvxIz31Ye16OG_8FtUouCfvWO1DgL8HC1Hy8XyQSZmcHcqgjYDnchi-l67NqcDvyoqlJvrgZ6g37sB64JEUG-CmEz4SGk9TjUs/s1600/mmexport1470829972011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwCXfwKmeGmEQmAEiMgHRpkO9YeiplwpxBFtJUABpfEvxIz31Ye16OG_8FtUouCfvWO1DgL8HC1Hy8XyQSZmcHcqgjYDnchi-l67NqcDvyoqlJvrgZ6g37sB64JEUG-CmEz4SGk9TjUs/s640/mmexport1470829972011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So imagine my delight when OH MY GOD is that Outback?!?! In Australia!?!? It IS a legit Australian chain, I knew it! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Last of all your fun Aussie fast food fun facts, Burger King here is called Hungry Jack's. I've heard reasons for this ranging from the name Burger King not testing well with Australian audiences (uhh why not, it involves royalty), to the fact that the name Burger King was already licensed to someone else first. </li>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU_Rwy6B-nhNRK49Y8QUqZ-zO9rODqivC1PuSj3fg1hDMRBJ2ozTiS-7F3MRy8iiNrcubeB5YMSDYROVG5be9mb259ZY1BHU-2m0yT5JHAm_mAcqsR2faRbG1LUbSUyLkhtatkeZ3nqw/s1600/mmexport1470829974719.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwU_Rwy6B-nhNRK49Y8QUqZ-zO9rODqivC1PuSj3fg1hDMRBJ2ozTiS-7F3MRy8iiNrcubeB5YMSDYROVG5be9mb259ZY1BHU-2m0yT5JHAm_mAcqsR2faRbG1LUbSUyLkhtatkeZ3nqw/s640/mmexport1470829974719.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is a great photo, I know. Feel free to save.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>A proper Aussie response to "thank you" is "that's ok" or "it's ok." I found this very strange at first. Of course it's ok. Why wouldn't it be.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com2Sunshine Coast QLD, Australia-26.65 153.06666700000005-27.104305999999998 152.42122000000006 -26.195694 153.71211400000004tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-89562551401183301782016-08-16T03:57:00.000-07:002016-09-13T17:23:39.954-07:00Brisbane, Australia: Koal-ity Time With KangaroosI'm losing my English skills. More and more frequently, I can't remember certain words or phrases, and I sit there mentally struggling to remember something and leaving weird long pauses mid-sentence as I try to do so. And they're not hard words. It's just because I've not been surrounded by native English speakers. Sometimes I have to google phrases because I can't remember if the middle word is "to" or "of" or "in" and they all sound correct to me. Issues.<br />
<br />
You would think this could be remedied now that I'm in Oz. This would be true, if only they spoke real English. KIDDING. Seriously though, what's with the overuse of weird shortened words like "mozzie" or "footie" (mosquito and football, FYI).<br />
<br />
From rural Goonengerry, my Australian tour continued, as we headed to Brisbane next.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland. Which is one of the Australian states. Is my Australian knowledge overwhelming you yet.<br />
<br />
Brisbane is also the third-largest city with ~2.3 million people (thanks, Google!) (is that number shockingly small for being the third-largest city to anyone else??), and is in the middle of the Eastern coast. It's also one of the older settlements in the country. Other than that, I'm not sure I have any other remarkable facts, except that I liked Brisbane. Seems like a very happy, livable place.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge69VcZdoCfmhjG3MH8dYvNosXlKod3KyrG6kUuA93CN0K858w1KW76ms9rzrwsT7qePCRqJ4DqTahOnKazcDoh9aFX_EMKy4jstAFaKwxX1lLiwmWFdsxy8tQG5EZy9SCqpg0NNuos58/s1600/mmexport1470369764023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge69VcZdoCfmhjG3MH8dYvNosXlKod3KyrG6kUuA93CN0K858w1KW76ms9rzrwsT7qePCRqJ4DqTahOnKazcDoh9aFX_EMKy4jstAFaKwxX1lLiwmWFdsxy8tQG5EZy9SCqpg0NNuos58/s640/mmexport1470369764023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm dead in front of the Brisbane sign. Because it was that delightful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Jesse's sister Vivian, her partner Sharna, and their 2-year old son live in Brisbane, which is who we stayed with while we were in town.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Headed into Brisbane by train - it's only about 2-3 hours from Goonengerry.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVljUEUV14xI-sXbWyU9HKPNlt3FSyd9mOFB5IDWUP-OlfCjZ7gNVCUDyYLnM67ItT-l3pj4nAL-2-1a4EB23LaDc0yQbjau9UYIhpzkWdut41XlD6AYx0a21MxDDGh4gLaVl8GgA0ujM/s1600/IMG_20160803_134332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVljUEUV14xI-sXbWyU9HKPNlt3FSyd9mOFB5IDWUP-OlfCjZ7gNVCUDyYLnM67ItT-l3pj4nAL-2-1a4EB23LaDc0yQbjau9UYIhpzkWdut41XlD6AYx0a21MxDDGh4gLaVl8GgA0ujM/s640/IMG_20160803_134332.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The school uniforms here look like Hogwarts uniforms (I'm sure it originated in the UK)! I especially like the jaunty hat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1ecGNv0ncMQX6NGgZFj9G5oSmZ7UCwsqymuuVgOiCV6BzNH9KWnmWETN65hOBzGYGp_lzSte8F11TZlzT85yc08q4eOvJTWXOL-PwfOKL-BAFZm_dWseVZmDueHTj3WqPKM_NbmmKn4/s1600/IMG_20160803_174234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1ecGNv0ncMQX6NGgZFj9G5oSmZ7UCwsqymuuVgOiCV6BzNH9KWnmWETN65hOBzGYGp_lzSte8F11TZlzT85yc08q4eOvJTWXOL-PwfOKL-BAFZm_dWseVZmDueHTj3WqPKM_NbmmKn4/s640/IMG_20160803_174234.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is Jesse's adorable nephew Teddy. And his stuffed beaver. And me looking manic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We spent our first morning in Brisbane walking around downtown. Apparently, Jesse used to be a tour guide for international students (he went to university in Brisbane), so he knows all the main sights and their history and interesting facts. Just kidding. He didn't. (But he was still a great guide!) </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSFl9PIiV1GoA7DOOuMXqc3arIjHv4w9JaGVZVYQorG5rdrFFmrVzkr0UIhk8S6x3VUHcS5hip2LGTFlK8DSHH9OwkkVc9BmbeIYQImMLD089dNfaxCDuvxK7Bt0fwttfM8cibAITolM/s1600/mmexport1470369725902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPSFl9PIiV1GoA7DOOuMXqc3arIjHv4w9JaGVZVYQorG5rdrFFmrVzkr0UIhk8S6x3VUHcS5hip2LGTFlK8DSHH9OwkkVc9BmbeIYQImMLD089dNfaxCDuvxK7Bt0fwttfM8cibAITolM/s640/mmexport1470369725902.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I don't know what's going on with my face. But we stumbled across a food festival in downtown, with all these food carts and stalls and delicious trendy eats from all around the world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LhAVBBeaVX6PaXkeAExNGca9ble-_cTQkF-Pu19eZYexA2b47h2pifZYz7040NcNZAD6j9BTilyPg3aewymt6pTLnlYrAMzXv8-GIido1bEqjJd8Vrmt2HK5msT469XEgw-0bCjMNKg/s1600/IMG_20160804_111832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LhAVBBeaVX6PaXkeAExNGca9ble-_cTQkF-Pu19eZYexA2b47h2pifZYz7040NcNZAD6j9BTilyPg3aewymt6pTLnlYrAMzXv8-GIido1bEqjJd8Vrmt2HK5msT469XEgw-0bCjMNKg/s640/IMG_20160804_111832.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Food stalls food stalls food stalls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBhZ8gu-8vvC-r_8pXpr1DNqOfYNtuGi0BsQpfFKLtHIJYHwxCbS0E-UpVKIeRrERA_ST9rgbY1vhS_FY9JfL24AdPF0gnjCnEg6L0RE5bjay1fnay7ZVrzElAo6xjLZ0kaNAJMTs9oE/s1600/IMG_20160804_111823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJBhZ8gu-8vvC-r_8pXpr1DNqOfYNtuGi0BsQpfFKLtHIJYHwxCbS0E-UpVKIeRrERA_ST9rgbY1vhS_FY9JfL24AdPF0gnjCnEg6L0RE5bjay1fnay7ZVrzElAo6xjLZ0kaNAJMTs9oE/s640/IMG_20160804_111823.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And with a pretty church backdrop!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WVbB2PlqhjdI0rtfM4Rmz67iffqqRLm-NdmoVVaoZ6UOgs7I9TYmLNC1EwofGrnEH7MlZAtkRnZtlyGgrJDF8vZKTJW3GTrJxFB36hgDXbXtD9y2p9HRvfIgNuVsm5xqrQNuxvrCd8A/s1600/IMG_20160804_115332.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5WVbB2PlqhjdI0rtfM4Rmz67iffqqRLm-NdmoVVaoZ6UOgs7I9TYmLNC1EwofGrnEH7MlZAtkRnZtlyGgrJDF8vZKTJW3GTrJxFB36hgDXbXtD9y2p9HRvfIgNuVsm5xqrQNuxvrCd8A/s640/IMG_20160804_115332.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then we walked along the river (harbor? I don't know what it is) - there's Brisbane's own version of the London Eye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTW2-paLGL6_rV8kZ96LmMfiaczcRB-M0-0NoxBUXcloaT8IbZXQ3-aJFvzWeikfINgpnws3Cjgz73U4jmQXgrquatdhbnwBCnYx9-rqqm6d4W8bB7OzEcNRX_D5pD4Te7VUid93-6Nk/s1600/mmexport1470369828789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBTW2-paLGL6_rV8kZ96LmMfiaczcRB-M0-0NoxBUXcloaT8IbZXQ3-aJFvzWeikfINgpnws3Cjgz73U4jmQXgrquatdhbnwBCnYx9-rqqm6d4W8bB7OzEcNRX_D5pD4Te7VUid93-6Nk/s640/mmexport1470369828789.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jess and I in front of the Brisbane sign. The girl taking this opted for "6-inches of dead grass" vs. "the Brisbane skyline" when taking this photo. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnbIFylOGsEicoy_kGkSOiUL2-z42WYo_2DpZ85mU75VTbGOzr5oVP9UrUWhVzzYpTGL2u-n9Fz0sgiHfq2wlSHSZjgM6gkKKRTz19giX7Nu2XzVAMa81UrGGW2I0nJxcOmBVuIXGqUc/s1600/IMG_20160804_122407.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcnbIFylOGsEicoy_kGkSOiUL2-z42WYo_2DpZ85mU75VTbGOzr5oVP9UrUWhVzzYpTGL2u-n9Fz0sgiHfq2wlSHSZjgM6gkKKRTz19giX7Nu2XzVAMa81UrGGW2I0nJxcOmBVuIXGqUc/s640/IMG_20160804_122407.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Brisbane has a fake beach. With imported sand and a fake pool. For your summer enjoyment.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKSE2b8-VJyFF0-WLgtChadHfAreXriBLwlUZivrGfwRYVeq7-rdArSFGiej3sriFu1pVu0tQC_Nw1ru6E6ssyGs1fkpzcQlbJL-XhoWb2M1lJYoy5xA_h7dDjQUAp5MZntU0YY40e1U/s1600/IMG_20160804_125239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHKSE2b8-VJyFF0-WLgtChadHfAreXriBLwlUZivrGfwRYVeq7-rdArSFGiej3sriFu1pVu0tQC_Nw1ru6E6ssyGs1fkpzcQlbJL-XhoWb2M1lJYoy5xA_h7dDjQUAp5MZntU0YY40e1U/s640/IMG_20160804_125239.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is an ibis.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdVuXpTAjFbnBFYlUg5DpuJOi31OS-BfU5bxAO89gc3gGsqpdpBQZJEANUTho2ZmNsPmUuLfvXkNyeh4UlbxNIt9PYlTX1DZu4WbEYJC1nl_ONrJl410S58dZl5VfIb5oEcrYiBOnImw/s1600/IMG_20160804_130841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdVuXpTAjFbnBFYlUg5DpuJOi31OS-BfU5bxAO89gc3gGsqpdpBQZJEANUTho2ZmNsPmUuLfvXkNyeh4UlbxNIt9PYlTX1DZu4WbEYJC1nl_ONrJl410S58dZl5VfIb5oEcrYiBOnImw/s640/IMG_20160804_130841.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The CAT (the ferry that chugs down the harbor/river) and Brisbane downtown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4JcxsBzZxqwGVTWlsB1T50Drc8R1Dg21SDn39Fm5F0pPleayUKK_KfadZYQwVzjWM6xUADBJ8hLAEkEVYQxAA-vrhGTQ5yPi2mxn9hIGcXEI7ZWDLFbF012SB9Ewi9F5cr4RTKXv7p0/s1600/IMG_20160804_133523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-4JcxsBzZxqwGVTWlsB1T50Drc8R1Dg21SDn39Fm5F0pPleayUKK_KfadZYQwVzjWM6xUADBJ8hLAEkEVYQxAA-vrhGTQ5yPi2mxn9hIGcXEI7ZWDLFbF012SB9Ewi9F5cr4RTKXv7p0/s640/IMG_20160804_133523.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Is this a hibiscus?? Love</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcEJex18DUQgv1KQEnKFiz23Cmq-RBKKoAa-rkJEcqnpXi6M_eELlE4TbtN1g3yCKShxKG2kbUoRXMbDsAUX_avKVZQsDjt6C8KV78tgAS8FbdpV51p5ZP7gaRDzuggxWLl3J6hxfsWA/s1600/IMG_20160804_140307.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWcEJex18DUQgv1KQEnKFiz23Cmq-RBKKoAa-rkJEcqnpXi6M_eELlE4TbtN1g3yCKShxKG2kbUoRXMbDsAUX_avKVZQsDjt6C8KV78tgAS8FbdpV51p5ZP7gaRDzuggxWLl3J6hxfsWA/s640/IMG_20160804_140307.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">IMPORTANT NEWS ALERT: <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Target in Australia is NOT like Target at home, AT ALL.</span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">I was beside myself with excitement upon discovering that Australia is full of Targets. Jesse was surprised that I was so excited about Target. And I dragged him there, and I now understand why. Target here is like a very very sad, very depressing version of Sears. Or Mervyn's. Set in the 80's. Cry.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day, we headed off to the Lone Pine Animal Sanctuary with Jess' sister Vivian and Teddy. There's a ton of koalas and kangaroos and other legit Aussie animals, and you can pet some and feed others - and I'm pretty sure Teddy and I had equal levels of excitement while there. Which is to say, very high.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQO3-B1XVbfoFvtGJ3HdGvGsfL1eyzoz3fIs0mrTIEQ0uS9UsQl373osUFnplep1P7VziZpBEHgCxJllzzBqVB8Nxml-aEkarF6XKCGlQxd5OdAzlmhgZ7QRNNrRDWXEsjQvNtk9W35Pk/s1600/IMG_20160805_102938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQO3-B1XVbfoFvtGJ3HdGvGsfL1eyzoz3fIs0mrTIEQ0uS9UsQl373osUFnplep1P7VziZpBEHgCxJllzzBqVB8Nxml-aEkarF6XKCGlQxd5OdAzlmhgZ7QRNNrRDWXEsjQvNtk9W35Pk/s640/IMG_20160805_102938.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jesse loves Lone Pine, because the sign says so</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IVdM4OvZT5urVqo6DvSE1CNBKLv1JkbPorLy4PDOp9R8maH7qtxEL-JWUOGhSj5aKDB6TXP4EomnWn3AT21fPoPif8oop6u1LLKWGcgZbRI7tfcNjx8pc8u916elNkVveDbfMi-AEAw/s1600/IMG_20160805_074501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IVdM4OvZT5urVqo6DvSE1CNBKLv1JkbPorLy4PDOp9R8maH7qtxEL-JWUOGhSj5aKDB6TXP4EomnWn3AT21fPoPif8oop6u1LLKWGcgZbRI7tfcNjx8pc8u916elNkVveDbfMi-AEAw/s640/IMG_20160805_074501.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A pink cockatoo thing that isn't a cockatoo but it was so cute and kept staring right up against the cage wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlWePTW6VOXqRl5gFp-ff5JrWhd0afmV9kd34CpvCeZ9gD6mt3CM2em_bSmIuUytvpgdejEe7ATM3hWVn6qj8dcO_WdNUrRiV3I9m2z9lQTqLhe6ZT1CHjM4cdk-msH5HPthCVSqgy3M/s1600/IMG_20160805_074751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIlWePTW6VOXqRl5gFp-ff5JrWhd0afmV9kd34CpvCeZ9gD6mt3CM2em_bSmIuUytvpgdejEe7ATM3hWVn6qj8dcO_WdNUrRiV3I9m2z9lQTqLhe6ZT1CHjM4cdk-msH5HPthCVSqgy3M/s640/IMG_20160805_074751.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I forgot what this is. Is it a Tasmanian devil? I DON'T REMEMBER BUT IT'S SOMETHING AUSTRALIAN</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkC3IFJEhhoJuI9-DNbDIdl7SudcRaSLHZlAVZ4kXKVYKPrqhHWMHgrT1A0GhwF6uElFFjJutnXm623JgQyalT-sxRYhVbzvUOTzI-Z7dhz2qQQyHpAaLokl4zAEEjwb0eLQai4V1QCE/s1600/IMG_20160805_075252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMkC3IFJEhhoJuI9-DNbDIdl7SudcRaSLHZlAVZ4kXKVYKPrqhHWMHgrT1A0GhwF6uElFFjJutnXm623JgQyalT-sxRYhVbzvUOTzI-Z7dhz2qQQyHpAaLokl4zAEEjwb0eLQai4V1QCE/s640/IMG_20160805_075252.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Koalas were everywhere! Here is one with a baby on its back</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU-U0gkvkcMl-GXb5b5xY2QLf9S-EmAnKPi-KiIwfs9A4ZXHqK330RHJ5IymGDyihqDlHa_mHyIvqQl0RcumnfNL0c-ktJHyg5LxN-eEGz5VDqO89HCOYjoQKhAvm0C6z1Cnn0t-tAec/s1600/IMG_20160805_080311.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrU-U0gkvkcMl-GXb5b5xY2QLf9S-EmAnKPi-KiIwfs9A4ZXHqK330RHJ5IymGDyihqDlHa_mHyIvqQl0RcumnfNL0c-ktJHyg5LxN-eEGz5VDqO89HCOYjoQKhAvm0C6z1Cnn0t-tAec/s640/IMG_20160805_080311.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Oh my god you are so cute</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKE-HGJ8xDbr6IpjJndJ9km8n1lC56qtQza1DYiU_5EyYi3M4eJ-NdFHtBhO3mTniYdUKnhTx9knD_gisU20nOnzbO0kv4Uj33DGL3RDETGy0MJMRSaKbD4Z93cOpH4nCjRYLTcG-ze6Q/s1600/IMG_20160805_080404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKE-HGJ8xDbr6IpjJndJ9km8n1lC56qtQza1DYiU_5EyYi3M4eJ-NdFHtBhO3mTniYdUKnhTx9knD_gisU20nOnzbO0kv4Uj33DGL3RDETGy0MJMRSaKbD4Z93cOpH4nCjRYLTcG-ze6Q/s640/IMG_20160805_080404.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Snuggling with baby</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKdHeaMrHX2uDAx1902Iea0kxXfgQO97OSKOspdtNCCr6c5AIdKp3ODoiD53Hkd5e5aWZ_0rzwqFdixinEUWt1RPryNTCNdOh3qfrpJz-KXEF8TMVk_q6CPWGadI1LFBLhoWX_xmRIOM/s1600/IMG_20160805_081059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKdHeaMrHX2uDAx1902Iea0kxXfgQO97OSKOspdtNCCr6c5AIdKp3ODoiD53Hkd5e5aWZ_0rzwqFdixinEUWt1RPryNTCNdOh3qfrpJz-KXEF8TMVk_q6CPWGadI1LFBLhoWX_xmRIOM/s640/IMG_20160805_081059.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Apparently all koalas do is sleep, but we got to see a ton of koala action because the keepers kept coming around to clean the cages and therefore, move the koalas to different branches.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgi0uxu3sfFDas5ydpq9na-uhZbS2Zng9O9aHvfn7ssgmG2Wmd8zl6e4Ueb75tsNZZd43evlD031DCw0cQQBECjcIB9tlyfhl94NfEgDjuyt3tfJCpJxOv-iAWAeXgX5qtpFD65aJxWE/s1600/mmexport1470369970195.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgi0uxu3sfFDas5ydpq9na-uhZbS2Zng9O9aHvfn7ssgmG2Wmd8zl6e4Ueb75tsNZZd43evlD031DCw0cQQBECjcIB9tlyfhl94NfEgDjuyt3tfJCpJxOv-iAWAeXgX5qtpFD65aJxWE/s640/mmexport1470369970195.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">AND THEN YOU CAN PAY TO HOLD ONE. PRICELESS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqEfuYZXUqmo66ERbX14zNeo77Fbn_KWTjISBq9A0zjY6Ah54jkkZgYtctiWt-vz020td1_3NxXUK-9I_zJL96G115XiEwIZTow3vpGl72Qa4uRqW2tuIEJGCa-3UqXCfYCeSPHh3ypU/s1600/IMG_20160815_105945.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEqEfuYZXUqmo66ERbX14zNeo77Fbn_KWTjISBq9A0zjY6Ah54jkkZgYtctiWt-vz020td1_3NxXUK-9I_zJL96G115XiEwIZTow3vpGl72Qa4uRqW2tuIEJGCa-3UqXCfYCeSPHh3ypU/s640/IMG_20160815_105945.jpg" width="478" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Official photo. The koala looks nonplussed. And like it wants to get down.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypusZUyvLOthSxs64IiutyQXnq9FvFI4O0HrcQO8Qrl9YTJ93ePsx1uz7vVzFHTD5DezCw6qvrOUntq82RWSAkz2CRCAZ4emHp_yEbS9s65K_OQHnRj-jmDcokzl2pvbwyFXlW79OHaE/s1600/IMG_20160805_102128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypusZUyvLOthSxs64IiutyQXnq9FvFI4O0HrcQO8Qrl9YTJ93ePsx1uz7vVzFHTD5DezCw6qvrOUntq82RWSAkz2CRCAZ4emHp_yEbS9s65K_OQHnRj-jmDcokzl2pvbwyFXlW79OHaE/s640/IMG_20160805_102128.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">TAY AND ED HAVE BEEN HERE TOO!? (circa 2000, by the looks of it)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHKro7InDqLLD7lixhz6UDTX57Gev6GEbLu4Xjrxw0ulGNq2XtmqCntpYhiCo2r0ls-ajPdKQccKKNTSYLr0nvVFruZx66jQanmV3B5I2_-vwcZ3yWpbZwwZ-f3p6abT176N03Y0ca0w/s1600/IMG_20160805_083908.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHKro7InDqLLD7lixhz6UDTX57Gev6GEbLu4Xjrxw0ulGNq2XtmqCntpYhiCo2r0ls-ajPdKQccKKNTSYLr0nvVFruZx66jQanmV3B5I2_-vwcZ3yWpbZwwZ-f3p6abT176N03Y0ca0w/s640/IMG_20160805_083908.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lone Pine has all these animal shows and events, and one of Jess' favorites (inexplicably) is the sheepdog show. Which was actually really cool, because you watched this dog herd sheep. He kept them all together and was able to herd them through various obstacles and would snap at any stray ones and make them get back in line. Amazing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwrUTTsYB1kluVuTbGjrqrR37BOznGudc0DFUcwkETMfBK3sawWNjPf0KaWpLUcFgnjm8lmGBoeIJLqdB7UnlnJ3QiWZ-I82t_9xZ_jPE24dDYHPjPA6GWqcZs0SaHRqfvNWjOFqADyk/s1600/IMG_20160805_084745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwrUTTsYB1kluVuTbGjrqrR37BOznGudc0DFUcwkETMfBK3sawWNjPf0KaWpLUcFgnjm8lmGBoeIJLqdB7UnlnJ3QiWZ-I82t_9xZ_jPE24dDYHPjPA6GWqcZs0SaHRqfvNWjOFqADyk/s640/IMG_20160805_084745.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then the dog herded all the sheep into this pen. And then was commanded to jump on top of them. He's seriously just chilling on top of the sheep's backs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnr8OANB4qDvhRm_xdBjmG6FbDl_0dZ_etbfLzy2QVCPMZqsNniLmiQfCVMjk2NnV4Zk1UTP2iKyEhtPKAkyW1OyzftWAI4wXW8TkiPgl0HqKkPYr03pN-fD8YZhlCZsxW05QCiAeYow/s1600/IMG_20160805_085327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOnr8OANB4qDvhRm_xdBjmG6FbDl_0dZ_etbfLzy2QVCPMZqsNniLmiQfCVMjk2NnV4Zk1UTP2iKyEhtPKAkyW1OyzftWAI4wXW8TkiPgl0HqKkPYr03pN-fD8YZhlCZsxW05QCiAeYow/s640/IMG_20160805_085327.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then there was a sheep-shearing demonstration. This sheep does not look happy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso2I1kitaS5GWEvbEjLaNB41qd80sh8DBp2JmOXd-xDIOVRIhV9Nr_CvEoxHa_xS0033dgJaeDNa1hvC2rFeNmUZ81ykixI-kNPrTqrzQ8M0KeKqn0QH3Be27Uc_VmjvdkBS60ZRXcOY/s1600/IMG_20160805_085632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgso2I1kitaS5GWEvbEjLaNB41qd80sh8DBp2JmOXd-xDIOVRIhV9Nr_CvEoxHa_xS0033dgJaeDNa1hvC2rFeNmUZ81ykixI-kNPrTqrzQ8M0KeKqn0QH3Be27Uc_VmjvdkBS60ZRXcOY/s640/IMG_20160805_085632.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Bzzzzzzz</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0OpfrRUs3T9WlE74DGyIbvPx4h5FRw8APn81KufT-OB-sbiIYsLOy9VJI-X0g7mUjlAEezcH3TMIv_YfFqLNAN6tOGcC4pPe27cI4biQbqK-l_LWMnNsbsRVCyTST8-hNHrCsJPbthY/s1600/mmexport1470370018837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc0OpfrRUs3T9WlE74DGyIbvPx4h5FRw8APn81KufT-OB-sbiIYsLOy9VJI-X0g7mUjlAEezcH3TMIv_YfFqLNAN6tOGcC4pPe27cI4biQbqK-l_LWMnNsbsRVCyTST8-hNHrCsJPbthY/s640/mmexport1470370018837.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The sheep fur (fuzz? hide? pelt?) comes off all in one giant piece. And they let us feel how fluffy it was!<br />
Teddy & me: entertained by similar things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>And then there's a huge kangaroo field, where you can buy a bag of kangaroo munchies and feed/pet/snap selfies with the (very docile, very non-wild) kangaroos! There's also a ton of wallabies milling around, which are just smallish-looking kangaroos with different faces. Same difference.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp59HhLyyCK3kp6XCYj0dZf6qYhIjxNJxxlXG_BhsAISKk5nZSCG4-8GATnA_4KUJ-u6_9iivoqmJngCauepQfEvfJhak-HwZtcHJmi2AwlsScvEDV7s5YikSR5i768jwonED8q2Ylhw/s1600/mmexport1470370025748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp59HhLyyCK3kp6XCYj0dZf6qYhIjxNJxxlXG_BhsAISKk5nZSCG4-8GATnA_4KUJ-u6_9iivoqmJngCauepQfEvfJhak-HwZtcHJmi2AwlsScvEDV7s5YikSR5i768jwonED8q2Ylhw/s640/mmexport1470370025748.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">They even have a child-sized door to enter the kangaroo field!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BhRzF75VhclbcwMjEHQUFG9QiuL1jk4GzETXy16FZV-BCaO_fxplJphEZ6l5WCTlXsPqlv2nGFmtIZZKbpU3jUegOZRwurLd9rWc_1CHPVa49agHIAKqwQvYq9e-dFv41wdTP3VXlqA/s1600/IMG_20160805_092058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BhRzF75VhclbcwMjEHQUFG9QiuL1jk4GzETXy16FZV-BCaO_fxplJphEZ6l5WCTlXsPqlv2nGFmtIZZKbpU3jUegOZRwurLd9rWc_1CHPVa49agHIAKqwQvYq9e-dFv41wdTP3VXlqA/s640/IMG_20160805_092058.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sadly enough, for some reason, 90% of the kangaroos were hanging out in the one corner where people are not allowed to enter. It's where they "rest" from being petted, aka groped by small children 24/7. We apparently came on a day where they had had it (normally, Jess swears they're all out around the people, not hiding in the corner)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK03NZdxWT8tk5q3oCWErQ2uwluMKHNGWwCUyw2mWcsjYlBdegvEHQWvTuNHmvqc4jEGzxY8clu8dnQuuJkwx_r3UWJIp1Tasb8iy4_NOnuE_d9fCk6CkWZrLmPK81Als21DqY7Kt7NgY/s1600/IMG_20160805_093402.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK03NZdxWT8tk5q3oCWErQ2uwluMKHNGWwCUyw2mWcsjYlBdegvEHQWvTuNHmvqc4jEGzxY8clu8dnQuuJkwx_r3UWJIp1Tasb8iy4_NOnuE_d9fCk6CkWZrLmPK81Als21DqY7Kt7NgY/s640/IMG_20160805_093402.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But we managed to find some in another pen! #KANGAROOSELFIE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qgox4uzqlOJMENpu-w1Cp3gz7v5rRJyxfLu_RgEoFRZthQMpIr2FP48oWUszFXf5iX3TyNzWcTccUoSUlE6NvvZZVIZlfHjinaz_s6N6rKH27tL8bH5LWgiHGivDOLCJX9LB7ZPn7oc/s1600/IMG_20160805_093947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Qgox4uzqlOJMENpu-w1Cp3gz7v5rRJyxfLu_RgEoFRZthQMpIr2FP48oWUszFXf5iX3TyNzWcTccUoSUlE6NvvZZVIZlfHjinaz_s6N6rKH27tL8bH5LWgiHGivDOLCJX9LB7ZPn7oc/s640/IMG_20160805_093947.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Teddy and a kangaroo!<br />
Jess says the kangas in the wild are pretty aggressive and dangerous, but the ones here are all so, so chill. How did they make so many kangaroos so docile, is my question...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZQn4WpKmqdUtbt8sLZyt-ZZjbXH6dNlU6yL9nTtgDMKCnUL-VQmkbJsOlRNEAA2vleUMWaHvhXl8F_knU7hYL24epvxhyphenhyphen3vgr6pS5paFlZSjwhIyKvu0uKGNmSn8b6AB_oTBPewfoXY/s1600/mmexport1470553376598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwZQn4WpKmqdUtbt8sLZyt-ZZjbXH6dNlU6yL9nTtgDMKCnUL-VQmkbJsOlRNEAA2vleUMWaHvhXl8F_knU7hYL24epvxhyphenhyphen3vgr6pS5paFlZSjwhIyKvu0uKGNmSn8b6AB_oTBPewfoXY/s640/mmexport1470553376598.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Me: Please love me.<br />
Kangaroo: Sure.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuXCw-z6vw4kroOdrE8pBsEJ5Jxghsfpfv-_bvdeu49nN8ZVwjJS_HDDG5efQ_p40OTPhnmU4CflEIrRwOpZdzk7OBI8FfjOw2wcv1UDnouI_Tg4J4h6Bs2WM31SLcNr6AfPz79cscYY/s1600/mmexport1470553427081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHuXCw-z6vw4kroOdrE8pBsEJ5Jxghsfpfv-_bvdeu49nN8ZVwjJS_HDDG5efQ_p40OTPhnmU4CflEIrRwOpZdzk7OBI8FfjOw2wcv1UDnouI_Tg4J4h6Bs2WM31SLcNr6AfPz79cscYY/s640/mmexport1470553427081.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">SO CUTE. SO CUTE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwLjjeC34gawOI5ZECuq4nQLO2C2NcqtBf_ZgCpoAidlH8JykvvIiPAyOGxNchPkZejLXSYcEhwxM4GJ_MoWXZhCTAS6JtlNXVcV-udvjQxm860dRG4eh4hGLVTVLIdvfkgINx0WRM0s/s1600/mmexport1470553461501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfwLjjeC34gawOI5ZECuq4nQLO2C2NcqtBf_ZgCpoAidlH8JykvvIiPAyOGxNchPkZejLXSYcEhwxM4GJ_MoWXZhCTAS6JtlNXVcV-udvjQxm860dRG4eh4hGLVTVLIdvfkgINx0WRM0s/s640/mmexport1470553461501.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The fence and children in the back manhandling the kangaroos really adds to the effect</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCtWP2nD7AOIPWRGSAKxbvzxw-cTx2K9dbMDw_aAQCmADYb9n_oGQkG3Lg1-63cpxF2rSb8cF9roVwNlXgyUhpjEblS19C_NNq1KybCbqsbY8V_pmmALEkNygk6pC5H4bgaRT1QNS82Q/s1600/mmexport1470553566059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglCtWP2nD7AOIPWRGSAKxbvzxw-cTx2K9dbMDw_aAQCmADYb9n_oGQkG3Lg1-63cpxF2rSb8cF9roVwNlXgyUhpjEblS19C_NNq1KybCbqsbY8V_pmmALEkNygk6pC5H4bgaRT1QNS82Q/s640/mmexport1470553566059.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">LOOK HOW CHILL THIS KANGAROO IS.<br />
Is there a full-time job where you feed animals by hand, do we think...?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Apparently, 90% of koalas have chlamydia. They can't help it.</li>
<li>Koala babies have to eat their mom's poo frequently when they're babies in order to get the nutrient that helps them digest eucalyptus leaves (apparently they're poisonous usually). Ewwww. Also, eucalyptus is their main diet but it's also super not-nutritious, which is what makes the koalas so low-energy and sleepy all the time. Maybe they should try munching on some other types of leaves....? Just a suggestion.</li>
<li>Kangaroo sausages are called "kanga bangas" here, and apparently they're game-y and Jesse loves them.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0Brisbane QLD, Australia-27.4697707 153.02512350000006-28.3721187 151.73423000000005 -26.5674227 154.31601700000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-70153279425317902982016-08-13T07:59:00.001-07:002016-09-16T12:21:41.462-07:00Byron Bay Shire, Australia: I'm in Australia!I'm in Australia, I'm in Australia! I never thought this moment would come. Well anytime in the near future, anyhow. To clarify, Australia is definitely on my "to-see" list, but I had always thought I'd hit up all the grittier countries first in my life before making it out here. <br />
<br />
I was in China messaging Jesse, deciding where to fill up my last month (PANIC MODE, so much still to seeee) - he has returned home to Australia, and he mentioned he'd be here and able to show me around and do all that good stuff if I came to visit, especially since he's searching for a job and has time free now. The icing on the cake was when we found a very cheap one-way flight from Hong Kong. When else would I get to go to Australia and have Aussie's best one-man personal tour guide?? And here I am!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span></div>
<div>
Jesse spent two weeks showing me all around his hometown of Goonengerry (that is a real place. really), Brisbane, and up the Sunshine Coast. I'm theming these next few posts, "A Day In the Aussie Life." It was really nice because it was a more local feel of Australia, and it was awesome getting to meet Jesse's fam and experience life on a daily basis here. <br />
<br />
Our trip started off in Jess' hometown of Goonengerry - about an hour away from Byron Bay (and in the shire of Byron Bay. What is a shire? Nobody knows.), the most easterly point in Australia and kind of right smack dab in the middle of the Eastern Coast of Australia. He basically grew up in the sticks. I am basically now an Australian farmer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7Bh5Vaen2L4688PVOTWdyOlqWzG5tKn3HRpJDA2_9F3zteh4c4EDG_znkK-2v_-lLw4xVHUpuey_-z_df_y43nvN-v7v0bonjbZfPoijX9-3oOOp6BFyiC9bKaV2b0NupbGesBTkjso/s1600/IMG_20160730_085432.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP7Bh5Vaen2L4688PVOTWdyOlqWzG5tKn3HRpJDA2_9F3zteh4c4EDG_znkK-2v_-lLw4xVHUpuey_-z_df_y43nvN-v7v0bonjbZfPoijX9-3oOOp6BFyiC9bKaV2b0NupbGesBTkjso/s640/IMG_20160730_085432.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I am carrying a chicken. Jess' mom has two chickens she keeps, and we ate fresh eggs every morning. You can call me Farmer Connie.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Jess picked me up from the airport early morning, then we made the hour-long drive to his mom's house in Goonengerry.</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBzQhr1ku8HcnkhI_ZCgDV7o0DtzMw0ClccFYeC0CIWHg5-cKIlmx5Z-npH3-p4woM8UZSh2p4Sj4oiPRNAcZtHzJaV2DhZBVJi9zwyEgI9VlPmyilIEn0j7lcyIlipOADYzGDD7Rquo/s1600/IMG_20160730_065159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBzQhr1ku8HcnkhI_ZCgDV7o0DtzMw0ClccFYeC0CIWHg5-cKIlmx5Z-npH3-p4woM8UZSh2p4Sj4oiPRNAcZtHzJaV2DhZBVJi9zwyEgI9VlPmyilIEn0j7lcyIlipOADYzGDD7Rquo/s640/IMG_20160730_065159.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way, we stopped for a quick coffee in the tiny town of Mullumbimby. Seriously, you couldn't make these names up.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonkt64dL9ZVmcJjt5pMsENnd_Fjo-oGWMHFaSgjhM2R8eyTnVwIpa9cniM80kP7s1N-PO8SJN6fBjLzHJI9QY8xRpRDqX6ZFVW4idYxehmhkGLbcxghSnhNtjVL6TBpryWbVXewW86c4/s1600/IMG_20160730_072619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonkt64dL9ZVmcJjt5pMsENnd_Fjo-oGWMHFaSgjhM2R8eyTnVwIpa9cniM80kP7s1N-PO8SJN6fBjLzHJI9QY8xRpRDqX6ZFVW4idYxehmhkGLbcxghSnhNtjVL6TBpryWbVXewW86c4/s640/IMG_20160730_072619.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is Jesse's old high school. They knew I was coming!!<br />
(KIDDING)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr_Jn9SiMeXRZ1Bsz0r96QUCw2Y96ksE6jJi4E8oFSbMXnatvtKCZaNFhNLuGU4SOBxdKI65-g_Ynp2jxaNknya68VCKSXQh0AMiF4wcuGSqRxxPIDcFYam4WDhYJpH94G8w3IxWw3eg/s1600/IMG_20160730_073317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnr_Jn9SiMeXRZ1Bsz0r96QUCw2Y96ksE6jJi4E8oFSbMXnatvtKCZaNFhNLuGU4SOBxdKI65-g_Ynp2jxaNknya68VCKSXQh0AMiF4wcuGSqRxxPIDcFYam4WDhYJpH94G8w3IxWw3eg/s640/IMG_20160730_073317.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The drive to his mom's house involved a very winding, very narrow country road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eBbznqvU2kyEKn7X8ursdXxBKMiCKalm_S_1sRrui-u0c2dyRDYr2Hdko8ZXscI1CXhmEnlHKCR4-bU1lMXgeXfRoQ7oGB-5qbEbR2GKQRWCMpyIrAqpmVYC1bWjHcs-99Mp0c0MYUE/s1600/IMG_20160730_090522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8eBbznqvU2kyEKn7X8ursdXxBKMiCKalm_S_1sRrui-u0c2dyRDYr2Hdko8ZXscI1CXhmEnlHKCR4-bU1lMXgeXfRoQ7oGB-5qbEbR2GKQRWCMpyIrAqpmVYC1bWjHcs-99Mp0c0MYUE/s640/IMG_20160730_090522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And here we are! Jesse's childhood home</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqneulL03eOnqgJyV1FEeQcGCyJm0L0zDlgChrwf7R2kHPdaj-O1JDQYeDd7jt7G83E5JjGRqmg2vabVF0QgV7w0mKh-AkRO1EfqmKyFzfA8ZvclW7_uS-IoIcu4g2Scv3XhIdvuBYoE/s1600/IMG_20160730_084100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqneulL03eOnqgJyV1FEeQcGCyJm0L0zDlgChrwf7R2kHPdaj-O1JDQYeDd7jt7G83E5JjGRqmg2vabVF0QgV7w0mKh-AkRO1EfqmKyFzfA8ZvclW7_uS-IoIcu4g2Scv3XhIdvuBYoE/s640/IMG_20160730_084100.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the veranda (this is what they call porches), where we often had our morning cup of tea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWIpCClhcD5u0steQpjZoKUI2fLGf5y9npj_LcZMrlEzhChPOcIkyPg8nuNbjiVGCuhlTpvcYNecGNoKPTWkUG7Wc_CCbvO_QGBj-iut88CUa2ZEvrGbkK-wdGmMNUSVQVO4I1_9vCpw/s1600/IMG_20160730_084148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidWIpCClhcD5u0steQpjZoKUI2fLGf5y9npj_LcZMrlEzhChPOcIkyPg8nuNbjiVGCuhlTpvcYNecGNoKPTWkUG7Wc_CCbvO_QGBj-iut88CUa2ZEvrGbkK-wdGmMNUSVQVO4I1_9vCpw/s640/IMG_20160730_084148.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I fell in love with his mom's dog Ava</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm3_WaKyWoIss39_zcMdQQsbiKPn5YLSQqIVQMU_b9jz4qOOmc0bXMYDdPebE4jEdCW1OTsGqpjIj-MnlMguqEcHZbmxGxXmIwc6u-n7hQLUQiHHEQY42eWr8dcRkOhNyWPbxk86U3Ls/s1600/IMG_20160730_090420.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKm3_WaKyWoIss39_zcMdQQsbiKPn5YLSQqIVQMU_b9jz4qOOmc0bXMYDdPebE4jEdCW1OTsGqpjIj-MnlMguqEcHZbmxGxXmIwc6u-n7hQLUQiHHEQY42eWr8dcRkOhNyWPbxk86U3Ls/s640/IMG_20160730_090420.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this photo because apparently Jesse made this concrete ditch himself after their driveway kept flooding. Like, he literally poured the cement and fit the grates to drain the water. Mind. blown.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We spent four days at his mom's house - which was hilarious for everyone. For them, because I was that weird city girl that knows absolutely nothing about country life and I got the biggest kick out of very everyday things to them - fetching eggs from the henhouse, mowing the lawn, holding the chickens, feeding the neighbor's horses, lighting bonfires for legit purposes other than s'mores-making, hanging the washing from the clothesline, etc. I'm sure my ineptitude at country life was just as alien to them as actually living a country life is to me.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZmYjmvpHeMfqV4clqa2ftLaOeur8Vpm1zR2TTM2sIoLI_T5hGgli07fAlh6iw_zBBQRFcno7XzUze-3dECKawKgxEk_mOzmzQ3_E_H-CMMOiMl9DKIFrKeUfv23vITLfZxlDxrtk10w/s1600/IMG_20160730_132139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZmYjmvpHeMfqV4clqa2ftLaOeur8Vpm1zR2TTM2sIoLI_T5hGgli07fAlh6iw_zBBQRFcno7XzUze-3dECKawKgxEk_mOzmzQ3_E_H-CMMOiMl9DKIFrKeUfv23vITLfZxlDxrtk10w/s640/IMG_20160730_132139.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Mowing the lawn" on a tractor with a beer. Fun fact, the chickens loooove the tractor because it kicks up a whole lot of dirt and unearths all the bugs they like to eat. So they come running when they hear the tractor - but they're not exactly smart enough to understand that the tractor is dangerous and will run them down. So riding the tractor is more of an exercise in dodging the chickens than anything else.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihw5moV1ZUf7uZwuD9YgTNVkeOfeQSVxw0GAwm11xvP_Km7iDlWgRkkAyxw1rgkllaki1Zx_B2PIUBCiyUUA8DvMv3XNGu6PqmaUgaX4_D23CSXjzqiAM5-v_zjsX1Mar2hyphenhyphenvFhXs-s8/s1600/mmexport1470369498068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjihw5moV1ZUf7uZwuD9YgTNVkeOfeQSVxw0GAwm11xvP_Km7iDlWgRkkAyxw1rgkllaki1Zx_B2PIUBCiyUUA8DvMv3XNGu6PqmaUgaX4_D23CSXjzqiAM5-v_zjsX1Mar2hyphenhyphenvFhXs-s8/s640/mmexport1470369498068.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fetching an egg from the henhouse. I had delicious fresh scrambled eggs every morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXxzYbDgnbZ-QkfcFadNn2G22acGqSKRvnzGvKGCDYcOtwD4V6VD1AjkUCVZSbKBXMI1f_0hqYQQ06hJW3hTGCvfB01vB_CmmENmwa0LfLrnD4aq9HBX-KGw8Rm_RO0CQ5bV1fKq1FPE/s1600/mmexport1470369454429.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghXxzYbDgnbZ-QkfcFadNn2G22acGqSKRvnzGvKGCDYcOtwD4V6VD1AjkUCVZSbKBXMI1f_0hqYQQ06hJW3hTGCvfB01vB_CmmENmwa0LfLrnD4aq9HBX-KGw8Rm_RO0CQ5bV1fKq1FPE/s640/mmexport1470369454429.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hanging out the washing to dry with my little apron of clothespins. Jesse got a big kick out of seeing the "city girl" do all the normal, everyday country things. Him and his mom were flabbergasted when they learned I'd never hung out washing to dry on the line before (or before this trip, anyway).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxGYtm4FqlqbOjhc2xrlJapHtfEHznbNfgV6iofQLjaOBpPyN3gMRLBqsxLbEeyMPDHz58Ah01F1AtGUpn6pG40X5drwk03CLwbvh84x63IpEceYVZ3F2G1AXwFz1NfEz2dnnOE_VOcE/s1600/mmexport1470368601923.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxGYtm4FqlqbOjhc2xrlJapHtfEHznbNfgV6iofQLjaOBpPyN3gMRLBqsxLbEeyMPDHz58Ah01F1AtGUpn6pG40X5drwk03CLwbvh84x63IpEceYVZ3F2G1AXwFz1NfEz2dnnOE_VOcE/s640/mmexport1470368601923.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picking a mandarin from the mandarin tree: anytime I wanted.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9yxElPgZhTO1uNVGVIQVx9WPN3H7XopmtGNNGA4pMtqJDbQizaVaMiSerzUiLLNmhFEvvEU8OEONz7nsEb1PEqD-alX8oqC9jC0qDmVV6JAStmuJpwEWqzn7dT2CcFthGdM2bgLoB8I/s1600/mmexport1470369392326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf9yxElPgZhTO1uNVGVIQVx9WPN3H7XopmtGNNGA4pMtqJDbQizaVaMiSerzUiLLNmhFEvvEU8OEONz7nsEb1PEqD-alX8oqC9jC0qDmVV6JAStmuJpwEWqzn7dT2CcFthGdM2bgLoB8I/s640/mmexport1470369392326.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was no cellphone reception at the house - so I had to hike up to the top of the driveway to get any kind of signal to do the blog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We did spend a lot of the days sightseeing in nearby towns - but we also spent a lot of time on the property (Jesse's mom has 23 acres!), doing things that were probably very ordinary, but that I thought were amazing.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O17EkUnnUliRQg3U8r5WfFh42eOSonNc4boj-a0E29aiR4P1IInrl-H1paSyRmfesZLihwowJNawbCeLybsjuYLJ-wWExo7vG61dneard2lp9zIH9HGtZFjagUJIxEN5qATXiZvzHWM/s1600/IMG_20160730_141839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8O17EkUnnUliRQg3U8r5WfFh42eOSonNc4boj-a0E29aiR4P1IInrl-H1paSyRmfesZLihwowJNawbCeLybsjuYLJ-wWExo7vG61dneard2lp9zIH9HGtZFjagUJIxEN5qATXiZvzHWM/s640/IMG_20160730_141839.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a walk through the rest of the property. Jesse's parents built that structure to house energy or something back in their hippie days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m0soOond_YDsSajfi_YPvlJ-RxyYlalXqALNsMa9M4gUSmU_1efKBlqCmSUeDgcoMz6zC1u-rZYhNnE3UKFuft-Wvzg-bQxk_s2ehQlTvMCHCK21qDj6URwfeWKhXIWPs2sVgn_wwNA/s1600/IMG_20160730_142530.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9m0soOond_YDsSajfi_YPvlJ-RxyYlalXqALNsMa9M4gUSmU_1efKBlqCmSUeDgcoMz6zC1u-rZYhNnE3UKFuft-Wvzg-bQxk_s2ehQlTvMCHCK21qDj6URwfeWKhXIWPs2sVgn_wwNA/s640/IMG_20160730_142530.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most of the walking we did was more like "fighting our way through huge weeds and bushes"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFaqP_3_v8HCDtI7OSBFOokLfuM-q2rqUd8FK3SlypL_BLrlkdJXKYvBJUfidzQdplVbEoOvlShlHevToTvsvCdj8wr7HLNaiApj_lxUXWBMpwexcTp1iKbos1zBvAU2ZRFfbplFwo60/s1600/IMG_20160730_143240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFaqP_3_v8HCDtI7OSBFOokLfuM-q2rqUd8FK3SlypL_BLrlkdJXKYvBJUfidzQdplVbEoOvlShlHevToTvsvCdj8wr7HLNaiApj_lxUXWBMpwexcTp1iKbos1zBvAU2ZRFfbplFwo60/s640/IMG_20160730_143240.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ava the intrepid dog followed us everywhere - this foray resulted in Jesse finding ticks on her later and having to pick them off. Maybe I am a city girl, but TICKS?! DON'T THOSE CAUSE LYME DISEASE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIzy37OPEFRkNd_JRd0L_144BArlrK_tPPCqKOoXbf7PdM5omBtFkgQrV9_dhgjKMMhv_acgGBDDBm1Qf1WrRO8jNUe8hbUwO4XZXNtUGkTFY7yoloUmi5jU8UFmC2Zc3ZIwy2JHw6_0/s1600/IMG_20160730_144543.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLIzy37OPEFRkNd_JRd0L_144BArlrK_tPPCqKOoXbf7PdM5omBtFkgQrV9_dhgjKMMhv_acgGBDDBm1Qf1WrRO8jNUe8hbUwO4XZXNtUGkTFY7yoloUmi5jU8UFmC2Zc3ZIwy2JHw6_0/s640/IMG_20160730_144543.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">In awe of all their property's giant trees</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHmnRxgQfERIIR9vC0rVWCoPFL2dVcvTdhjOLtJTb-Hxjb9XIjbvnMZwwTc95fcjZricj70RoRXA7g9KWy4cwLYLgpvO_Ti5i_XWuCdXk4cweF5cqnOlJZN0MI7pqyxPFBNUZn0TOWxM/s1600/mmexport1470369629083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHmnRxgQfERIIR9vC0rVWCoPFL2dVcvTdhjOLtJTb-Hxjb9XIjbvnMZwwTc95fcjZricj70RoRXA7g9KWy4cwLYLgpvO_Ti5i_XWuCdXk4cweF5cqnOlJZN0MI7pqyxPFBNUZn0TOWxM/s640/mmexport1470369629083.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A rousing game of croquet. My first ever. I felt like I was in Alice in Wonderland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCZTi199q8-amQOJniqm0MJNvyoWwIUDHK-NAWzxBIvsPBVux1jCSMCz2ShIGVyNJ0O7EwOJ0OKzXidd5r3362VmofLxsQY2spoX8FuBELc6o_o3TeXv4Glt-NaJreSgajg5EHOFFEL8/s1600/IMG_20160801_144009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCZTi199q8-amQOJniqm0MJNvyoWwIUDHK-NAWzxBIvsPBVux1jCSMCz2ShIGVyNJ0O7EwOJ0OKzXidd5r3362VmofLxsQY2spoX8FuBELc6o_o3TeXv4Glt-NaJreSgajg5EHOFFEL8/s640/IMG_20160801_144009.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jesse barbecuing on the outdoor grill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthhKbK8pJF8NKtU2ttRnigzhUFZzTr-_PbbiFvFh6RFwqNkjzyy25ghfhD9WFcO4u8R2-mVNEdEANoCmowsJdb74nMsxk-RcO5p80qRX65pWqBtsT0IRv-BA8s-6Vicq3VoTWPoxYKr4/s1600/IMG_20160731_170735.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthhKbK8pJF8NKtU2ttRnigzhUFZzTr-_PbbiFvFh6RFwqNkjzyy25ghfhD9WFcO4u8R2-mVNEdEANoCmowsJdb74nMsxk-RcO5p80qRX65pWqBtsT0IRv-BA8s-6Vicq3VoTWPoxYKr4/s640/IMG_20160731_170735.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Home-cooked meals, I have missed you!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFklmlGbvTcS9hOwwBxPxbY-yQ5MQJV4IT5YMvTcf4JK6GpbdJ1yD8AD9HnE2ghyphAD3jcC7rFEdOZYFEr8meiCWwUeVB4toAYUG_soIGbvl2g505krMEOycWtFEGRY1FtYqYT5hC9WY/s1600/IMG_20160802_083421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFklmlGbvTcS9hOwwBxPxbY-yQ5MQJV4IT5YMvTcf4JK6GpbdJ1yD8AD9HnE2ghyphAD3jcC7rFEdOZYFEr8meiCWwUeVB4toAYUG_soIGbvl2g505krMEOycWtFEGRY1FtYqYT5hC9WY/s640/IMG_20160802_083421.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And we had a giant bonfire to burn a bunch of the dead branches and grass that had accumulated over time! I mentioned we should do s'mores, which was apparently an idiotic suggestion because this fire was so huge, you couldn't get within 50 feet of it without having your face burned off.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK_u5PSNHuOK57s3fvW2y4M7I-NQl7mqPScWwNrfC9Uk9_HKs-r43tAFRpl1z2ShFa7LJp8C7Jwq24OIYBWycnQ7ddrZEwt03SnNEMUnVbASTeZpjQxl6KrymZ424GmXi7kphC4yE3_s/s1600/IMG_20160802_083612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtK_u5PSNHuOK57s3fvW2y4M7I-NQl7mqPScWwNrfC9Uk9_HKs-r43tAFRpl1z2ShFa7LJp8C7Jwq24OIYBWycnQ7ddrZEwt03SnNEMUnVbASTeZpjQxl6KrymZ424GmXi7kphC4yE3_s/s640/IMG_20160802_083612.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jesse and the giant bonfire. Yes, he is wearing a bright orange safety suit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Oq-3eZD9OKMgEgimBpW_MUCyKGGM2Md0nZ2Y321_DsDPaudBvXcthsTC0pJNF1X9yaIc7SF_FQh4RNLm6dm3SzxGtwr1QGErw-jHVBypKq_pKiWWmO39MKlia5HGSbgsiN7mGIWkFpE/s1600/IMG_20160803_083158.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2Oq-3eZD9OKMgEgimBpW_MUCyKGGM2Md0nZ2Y321_DsDPaudBvXcthsTC0pJNF1X9yaIc7SF_FQh4RNLm6dm3SzxGtwr1QGErw-jHVBypKq_pKiWWmO39MKlia5HGSbgsiN7mGIWkFpE/s640/IMG_20160803_083158.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I even had to wear my own safety suit so that the branches and stuff didn't tear my clothing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENDgBKiWxB8pS7F9Fm9gFV1lD9zxqPiPds6QFzx9k5dG9gd9NXwnmzsxKQQ0XOTZHzSA1GwifP5eG1OXC7xDKrY2iog7HINXkadQnENKJUCL6WGoXpL2BMnj3Ag0XMQs7u2mAuW6vkjk/s1600/IMG_20160730_145542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENDgBKiWxB8pS7F9Fm9gFV1lD9zxqPiPds6QFzx9k5dG9gd9NXwnmzsxKQQ0XOTZHzSA1GwifP5eG1OXC7xDKrY2iog7HINXkadQnENKJUCL6WGoXpL2BMnj3Ag0XMQs7u2mAuW6vkjk/s640/IMG_20160730_145542.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another thing about country life? Beautiful sunsets. And not just sunsets, but at night, there were millions of stars. And the sky was so clear you could see the Milky Way. I will never get sick of either of these things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>As mentioned, we took a bunch of day trips to nearby areas. First up was Byron Bay, which is a well-known surfer's spot - a lot of backpackers come here to chill for awhile.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i4bo7Oo4DmHGSdukfTec76t7GWS4XlS0cE53timME97KugxTKSKPjzxKHD3A7deuZYJMTUuc1SZdoIG8yCNZfvTmfwpE9x4V6oZT0lnDzJx5W-EkEvkoiusTjmZuRv11BUIhJIswIpY/s1600/mmexport1470369361266.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-i4bo7Oo4DmHGSdukfTec76t7GWS4XlS0cE53timME97KugxTKSKPjzxKHD3A7deuZYJMTUuc1SZdoIG8yCNZfvTmfwpE9x4V6oZT0lnDzJx5W-EkEvkoiusTjmZuRv11BUIhJIswIpY/s640/mmexport1470369361266.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An overlook on the way to Byron Bay. In the upper right corner, you can see the peninsula that is Byron Bay jutting out into the water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIILJd2qVBT2VOtQnbEzS7wSvl4UA2rEOjj-7-6uRelHmD-PPM1lqQYVdLjY9-daw_s3X-oXcW9sTWjQwaoOWD-RMQL-G_LIXvJtEzdqBTmLyF2-_miR0-itwelwC7Mm5K8cCR7Nku9s/s1600/IMG_20160731_111509.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIILJd2qVBT2VOtQnbEzS7wSvl4UA2rEOjj-7-6uRelHmD-PPM1lqQYVdLjY9-daw_s3X-oXcW9sTWjQwaoOWD-RMQL-G_LIXvJtEzdqBTmLyF2-_miR0-itwelwC7Mm5K8cCR7Nku9s/s640/IMG_20160731_111509.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Byron Bay! Which is apparently a hippie surfer's paradise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaFQhhi6dd1k3ul3Gx6GY89Lia_3LPAjB812msDpTO5e5klqj7S8HL0YmSTSHD40ZB1ZNx7H02YerZ8hrfuei41GJzRfwhvu6GzY2x4dEpq30HuKBF0KMHnEtlosGUIyJwqm-d4czffg/s1600/IMG_20160731_113459.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaFQhhi6dd1k3ul3Gx6GY89Lia_3LPAjB812msDpTO5e5klqj7S8HL0YmSTSHD40ZB1ZNx7H02YerZ8hrfuei41GJzRfwhvu6GzY2x4dEpq30HuKBF0KMHnEtlosGUIyJwqm-d4czffg/s640/IMG_20160731_113459.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There it is! The most easterly point of the Australian mainland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjRgH_1AN8G4iGFqPdCI6D67lXosBYnJ8_qllEDeLIXDEmZzX1qOB9NEsXDlnXkCL9_w6hdwQXTnawfEXpbgkoU6tUwq2jp2NTAqdoKW_vJgLpVTnDQ3FOrvdEPkrHyCoRs0wiwIenQQ/s1600/IMG_20160731_114345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjRgH_1AN8G4iGFqPdCI6D67lXosBYnJ8_qllEDeLIXDEmZzX1qOB9NEsXDlnXkCL9_w6hdwQXTnawfEXpbgkoU6tUwq2jp2NTAqdoKW_vJgLpVTnDQ3FOrvdEPkrHyCoRs0wiwIenQQ/s640/IMG_20160731_114345.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See? The sign says so</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv6wrkN7kK8aZKNAYSfEYCU4J25zdewL6WtPuD67jPxAJ6jSOkHv1umcK1AbvytbVOavLNcVJH_BrMxkrIovofRtkCQz5Ea089SFdeEMXu_dZL_lh_9DeVHFp1YV3flzsA7xCx3WWxJg/s1600/IMG_20160731_120603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFv6wrkN7kK8aZKNAYSfEYCU4J25zdewL6WtPuD67jPxAJ6jSOkHv1umcK1AbvytbVOavLNcVJH_BrMxkrIovofRtkCQz5Ea089SFdeEMXu_dZL_lh_9DeVHFp1YV3flzsA7xCx3WWxJg/s640/IMG_20160731_120603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the lookout on top of Byron Bay. See those two gray figures in the water? THOSE ARE WHALES. WHALES.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXKfC9gwu8Twyv2edffLNDnsWsEtZx1EYaTVlZC7piFMKRp7-opBFQaKrqQbaDVJbVMsc4g0FKB-yY9sx7DcnxKd7U_7IE5-RMCfDlPzYJWs0hydgWxEgw_woMa3PlSW7Nt-FeNxw-2E/s1600/IMG_20160731_121603.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXKfC9gwu8Twyv2edffLNDnsWsEtZx1EYaTVlZC7piFMKRp7-opBFQaKrqQbaDVJbVMsc4g0FKB-yY9sx7DcnxKd7U_7IE5-RMCfDlPzYJWs0hydgWxEgw_woMa3PlSW7Nt-FeNxw-2E/s640/IMG_20160731_121603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we encountered a bush turkey. These things are everywhere, but I was fascinated and kept taking photos of it. I suppose it's kind of like when you see tourists in America taking photos of all the squirrels, but reverse.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUOUPVAvTmn8HRSMuDh6etzBIA7WO0lRBfS7xV0yUDFfogEDFDNFBpKCydMboj_lC6bKSdl1LqA1Xuwjmagb1paRmbFs-FkrDHp1U-ZQ6td9u0XqIXDYJB3j4FQgEg3sTQJvdehfZOHU/s1600/IMG_20160731_122721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUOUPVAvTmn8HRSMuDh6etzBIA7WO0lRBfS7xV0yUDFfogEDFDNFBpKCydMboj_lC6bKSdl1LqA1Xuwjmagb1paRmbFs-FkrDHp1U-ZQ6td9u0XqIXDYJB3j4FQgEg3sTQJvdehfZOHU/s640/IMG_20160731_122721.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know if you can see this, but in the wave is a huge pod of dolphins. DOLPHINS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjuYpkyHNRPQgtVyAaoKZnaYxGdJ7Spk0HmJ1xP-3r1wkaiSKYEnUeMPeD53qsQD90McxjlhU_J5qFwtKYcEIl2_mLcazYQSuRv5_DtMQtZy0lUfqfaedlPk61im48za3sTHZH-rdk9g/s1600/IMG_20160731_123545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCjuYpkyHNRPQgtVyAaoKZnaYxGdJ7Spk0HmJ1xP-3r1wkaiSKYEnUeMPeD53qsQD90McxjlhU_J5qFwtKYcEIl2_mLcazYQSuRv5_DtMQtZy0lUfqfaedlPk61im48za3sTHZH-rdk9g/s640/IMG_20160731_123545.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And at the very top, the Byron Bay lighthouse!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14daM7P-FoGiakcytVDIS8sEh49B3zjNd18UB7YBWQOMPa4BokKHrwWTm5MUlOCp7u7ejZDMmuz3V5nJTbMNM2o0wr7UpItq_hZMx1yk6hbEBxEvzwtW-sBG6wulxpu9_v123GKS7u4U/s1600/IMG_20160731_123710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj14daM7P-FoGiakcytVDIS8sEh49B3zjNd18UB7YBWQOMPa4BokKHrwWTm5MUlOCp7u7ejZDMmuz3V5nJTbMNM2o0wr7UpItq_hZMx1yk6hbEBxEvzwtW-sBG6wulxpu9_v123GKS7u4U/s640/IMG_20160731_123710.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Such a pretty view of the coast</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4685aKPPKJKOTxrIQqYQNdO-NssgtohQeCrnOJ9c0uzujjfhQj5SDUXCjjqfD9Ted0BASuhYOjcxUGBSguwDfQtf60Mu4m5QLCDYt22MIuPwNPEWxqFRbgJs_vgdC-s7HLfhKLeNkXuM/s1600/IMG_20160731_130241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4685aKPPKJKOTxrIQqYQNdO-NssgtohQeCrnOJ9c0uzujjfhQj5SDUXCjjqfD9Ted0BASuhYOjcxUGBSguwDfQtf60Mu4m5QLCDYt22MIuPwNPEWxqFRbgJs_vgdC-s7HLfhKLeNkXuM/s640/IMG_20160731_130241.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made a stop down by the beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Our next day trip was a hike to a nearby set of waterfalls, called Minyon Falls. Which, up until I saw the sign, I had thought was "Minion Falls." </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKJ8TOBSpxx3uFMRrW8jMDePGWuMYQ1mfkXJfgwd1FaM5jIDRdtOXiZvG797LUzEQ78SibhPKkDZIt5E5eEWJuhXZgIH5foWmprT8BSQ3ow5JwGIeuT7Syo6ZEC-AfiM7OOYPLFYFhCw/s1600/IMG_20160801_104741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjKJ8TOBSpxx3uFMRrW8jMDePGWuMYQ1mfkXJfgwd1FaM5jIDRdtOXiZvG797LUzEQ78SibhPKkDZIt5E5eEWJuhXZgIH5foWmprT8BSQ3ow5JwGIeuT7Syo6ZEC-AfiM7OOYPLFYFhCw/s640/IMG_20160801_104741.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minyon Falls!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmF4iXzuy0F2AJZgrKXWdmvrLKeQ-FEs_gU42Ym6imddU1tjmC6Je4ZhF87DgMVHvi0N5asPPc3GC2vvJSHFnZKAfjFPohLZzqhe2YLHcwv6qFaaFAZA3eMpHfTUuBdaO_gJQkZK9ba8/s1600/IMG_20160801_105047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDmF4iXzuy0F2AJZgrKXWdmvrLKeQ-FEs_gU42Ym6imddU1tjmC6Je4ZhF87DgMVHvi0N5asPPc3GC2vvJSHFnZKAfjFPohLZzqhe2YLHcwv6qFaaFAZA3eMpHfTUuBdaO_gJQkZK9ba8/s640/IMG_20160801_105047.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess, his mom, and me at Minyon Falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF68AKSsqs-_brEuXbj2xrbRlW84mxtSFx4pOR-xkUrK5CDY9Dso__lGwbdWimXWq-39Rehyphenhyphene3gGEkhRuvcixIrvM0_aSZpHkbaw7upEl4QxlVSp26OVyP3Pa1dHhuA-2k6Ns8XQ4Smvg/s1600/IMG_20160801_120300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF68AKSsqs-_brEuXbj2xrbRlW84mxtSFx4pOR-xkUrK5CDY9Dso__lGwbdWimXWq-39Rehyphenhyphene3gGEkhRuvcixIrvM0_aSZpHkbaw7upEl4QxlVSp26OVyP3Pa1dHhuA-2k6Ns8XQ4Smvg/s640/IMG_20160801_120300.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You can hike from the top of the falls down to the bottom, which takes about an hour and a half</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJgOnZjOZIQF97b4rhAb_m65xf4l_yTPZAhh0q3DvMI5maiOaRvfS_UIkCxhUbIqQH92Dw18x2dd4Jdtq-Oc_4N-XgcNZTgFrLgJuVEpsqtHsZfwkM8jqshf-p1aWP4CUv_DNvMhDDgo/s1600/IMG_20160801_114814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJgOnZjOZIQF97b4rhAb_m65xf4l_yTPZAhh0q3DvMI5maiOaRvfS_UIkCxhUbIqQH92Dw18x2dd4Jdtq-Oc_4N-XgcNZTgFrLgJuVEpsqtHsZfwkM8jqshf-p1aWP4CUv_DNvMhDDgo/s640/IMG_20160801_114814.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVhYji77jxe5CvT0QvjVZKcCrabA5P6yEVNR_ZqEqEoVIPlaMV2h_WOHeZ055IkCaCXKSuSV_W_1UrqeaRlEv52Rd4ZFTusUpMeC-5XVZPAf1DArN5vnZPb854P6-9j9AO1AwmG1e4CE/s1600/IMG_20160801_122052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTVhYji77jxe5CvT0QvjVZKcCrabA5P6yEVNR_ZqEqEoVIPlaMV2h_WOHeZ055IkCaCXKSuSV_W_1UrqeaRlEv52Rd4ZFTusUpMeC-5XVZPAf1DArN5vnZPb854P6-9j9AO1AwmG1e4CE/s640/IMG_20160801_122052.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we reached the bottom of the falls! And sat on a rock and watched the falls and ate mandarins</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBewmDclEI5ps5Fu-e9KuAVKZQAQC56GkrpLCxnBS7Hz0riZRj722C7VcmYrfdtFq1xyGKCFyq0fZ3mneyqdu3BSt5di9aTzGnUR446RVeF9mDEhP-pP8s3G5I5CIm2GrNG1jg6hUYdA/s1600/IMG_20160801_122834.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBewmDclEI5ps5Fu-e9KuAVKZQAQC56GkrpLCxnBS7Hz0riZRj722C7VcmYrfdtFq1xyGKCFyq0fZ3mneyqdu3BSt5di9aTzGnUR446RVeF9mDEhP-pP8s3G5I5CIm2GrNG1jg6hUYdA/s640/IMG_20160801_122834.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jess and his mom from the bottom of the falls</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Our last day trip was to a small crazy-hippie town called Nimbin. This is also apparently very well-known on the backpacking circuit - it's super laid-back and full of dreadlocks and weed and incense and funkiness and all that good stuff.</li>
</ul>
<ul></ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrtikwp4O37NBokm9HnA0oEb7oeMdVuZIRBcZzg_dMq46a5fkvnJaKpXlnP8QFbhvwsdVmo0Caq0yYulwpb7XxgCQUt1BQoSK-D7_XLHxN4QeQyxjoKjEYp06zF9aB-xq61x7b-XMryw/s1600/IMG_20160802_120714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrtikwp4O37NBokm9HnA0oEb7oeMdVuZIRBcZzg_dMq46a5fkvnJaKpXlnP8QFbhvwsdVmo0Caq0yYulwpb7XxgCQUt1BQoSK-D7_XLHxN4QeQyxjoKjEYp06zF9aB-xq61x7b-XMryw/s640/IMG_20160802_120714.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to crazy-hippie Nimbin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKCHYKOIRCqofU4iyRkS2DxmxYggRX3cHShGwZWHf2ojrYKHXAwVR528Fx3_Gqd3NXEliFM0oXRyz9g7xVuYeL8_qUBqgKBpzFlvt4KfHCqErnW33K0jqLYAGw2C9vwLtJmISYlv30Jw/s1600/IMG_20160802_125745.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwKCHYKOIRCqofU4iyRkS2DxmxYggRX3cHShGwZWHf2ojrYKHXAwVR528Fx3_Gqd3NXEliFM0oXRyz9g7xVuYeL8_qUBqgKBpzFlvt4KfHCqErnW33K0jqLYAGw2C9vwLtJmISYlv30Jw/s640/IMG_20160802_125745.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow fence. Like.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgPio2zkPA9H2i6Sa1EHylbGCmCjJSmsyesnylZFpbseJ7UQkYzZibKrRAlOkULupZb5zj1RKQvdFZfIk-SGFs9h_gwvuaXCiejmO1MxeFOHfeCi_WxVKmq9UavhBXDZ02O_mih-v2xo/s1600/IMG_20160802_125849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjgPio2zkPA9H2i6Sa1EHylbGCmCjJSmsyesnylZFpbseJ7UQkYzZibKrRAlOkULupZb5zj1RKQvdFZfIk-SGFs9h_gwvuaXCiejmO1MxeFOHfeCi_WxVKmq9UavhBXDZ02O_mih-v2xo/s640/IMG_20160802_125849.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippie stores. Like.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdufD-TyklaNI4IH3vA1hoGWaPEcswH2a_fthp-9c6jbzwTnTk-1UZw-7-Pvvyh6ZcC-HpJLr-p2Lw_wpxNdHc-jXZeg6-kicDEg3ay-VYRj6dP00ZYtXdt6mYHgJV4Gc26PMJYwsOyM/s1600/IMG_20160802_130016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsdufD-TyklaNI4IH3vA1hoGWaPEcswH2a_fthp-9c6jbzwTnTk-1UZw-7-Pvvyh6ZcC-HpJLr-p2Lw_wpxNdHc-jXZeg6-kicDEg3ay-VYRj6dP00ZYtXdt6mYHgJV4Gc26PMJYwsOyM/s640/IMG_20160802_130016.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Weed-themes everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqx9zZaW8m9VxT9PScA0VWfusSMjZV2wNLDTnNEOOqGNPMjjcl_xQUOS6SGrt2rxXDyKcpauAxqW0scm_5lv-QzAAQz3V3Ie9x4lNlOfIEFpWJNyfrq9wReWYVdVazTAes5Qjsg00pYQ/s1600/IMG_20160802_130055.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYqx9zZaW8m9VxT9PScA0VWfusSMjZV2wNLDTnNEOOqGNPMjjcl_xQUOS6SGrt2rxXDyKcpauAxqW0scm_5lv-QzAAQz3V3Ie9x4lNlOfIEFpWJNyfrq9wReWYVdVazTAes5Qjsg00pYQ/s640/IMG_20160802_130055.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3UFnbu2_Lwi5jT7Y3NGUPYl2BFYBGkt_WOb6lO4-DOAoWmujzRp7HerDM7VYyomqTspF7xbUsxAqprlyhoSSajUbwTRT_sVDdYyNZw4ZwQrO3uKqaLNh151HuIuERsXR9fWtYIzcKVA/s1600/IMG_20160802_130614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3UFnbu2_Lwi5jT7Y3NGUPYl2BFYBGkt_WOb6lO4-DOAoWmujzRp7HerDM7VYyomqTspF7xbUsxAqprlyhoSSajUbwTRT_sVDdYyNZw4ZwQrO3uKqaLNh151HuIuERsXR9fWtYIzcKVA/s640/IMG_20160802_130614.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Hemp bar"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK5UYuRBSMBBqTKOMS7HWwso8T39Aiew4E42WVVUmkgoXjJ_9xXEuw30jbxIdSg48SAl2GwnvbPpdH-b3aE5GL6jeTaPWgSVezzukSMwUxLjmzQfmOatnOlLHThpbAIVEPQCF9AMR6ng/s1600/IMG_20160802_132411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCK5UYuRBSMBBqTKOMS7HWwso8T39Aiew4E42WVVUmkgoXjJ_9xXEuw30jbxIdSg48SAl2GwnvbPpdH-b3aE5GL6jeTaPWgSVezzukSMwUxLjmzQfmOatnOlLHThpbAIVEPQCF9AMR6ng/s640/IMG_20160802_132411.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice cafe I had a veggie burger at. I asked if they had WiFi and the lady was like "uhh no." And that is how you know you're in Nimbin.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdI5RVzJWTGhu9tAI8pSgu8Ei6CtdkVaMBDujTI0IsvCLrGSz1z7NuUNYP0LWUL71E-XGnuiSpBoijgPlKsr3JsrqT-JttxOCfMZL3ri9ySHBfDhc3aaR8cPDMvaNDH02RBmMVHz0cfA/s1600/IMG_20160802_144840.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTdI5RVzJWTGhu9tAI8pSgu8Ei6CtdkVaMBDujTI0IsvCLrGSz1z7NuUNYP0LWUL71E-XGnuiSpBoijgPlKsr3JsrqT-JttxOCfMZL3ri9ySHBfDhc3aaR8cPDMvaNDH02RBmMVHz0cfA/s640/IMG_20160802_144840.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our drive home from Nimbin - LOOK AT THIS SUNSET. AND THE VIEWS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE5bv57C3aOuwv5-pZJZH3xzboTaNhVTuNDdfycJf81b4wBCWx1YJFcHTFtkG81Wh3bkju6lDUQpfqf-3tBNi6TleUx4jMKMuC-zYpvRq0Xkbu6lCPe3U8SLfu2akY-glLa1Y_yzJAbU/s1600/IMG_20160802_145442.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE5bv57C3aOuwv5-pZJZH3xzboTaNhVTuNDdfycJf81b4wBCWx1YJFcHTFtkG81Wh3bkju6lDUQpfqf-3tBNi6TleUx4jMKMuC-zYpvRq0Xkbu6lCPe3U8SLfu2akY-glLa1Y_yzJAbU/s640/IMG_20160802_145442.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may have made Jesse stop the car every five minutes for a sunset photo. Sorry not sorry.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YOB9o-C4LZagxXP3_tYYvMMiA5WhFFBwaoJ74siNXUexzwECyp9ElMALliAOq6AUhvamwtiC1asYCrY8snXYwFSPIOP9PveU7igDXWSxmcB3_I0qvk7mrscgb9LApkCMOgyCPQ05vqU/s1600/mmexport1470369716445.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9YOB9o-C4LZagxXP3_tYYvMMiA5WhFFBwaoJ74siNXUexzwECyp9ElMALliAOq6AUhvamwtiC1asYCrY8snXYwFSPIOP9PveU7igDXWSxmcB3_I0qvk7mrscgb9LApkCMOgyCPQ05vqU/s640/mmexport1470369716445.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Magic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>In Australia, chickens= chooks. And for short, they call them "chookies." Also, did you know they lay eggs like, every other day?? Why don't we all have chickens?? FREE LIFETIME SUPPLY OF EGGS.</li>
<li>Did anybody else have the incorrect perception that Australia was eternal summer?? This is false. It is chilly. My one fleece is working OVERtime here.</li>
<li>On that same note, did you know that Americans need visas to visit Australia?? I was under the impression we didn't. I thought we were friends. You know, the whole "ignorant arrogant American" thing, which I played up to a T when I was at the airport in Hong Kong trying to get to Australia and the check-in lady asked where my visa was. (Convo that followed. Her: "Where is your visa?" Me: "I need a visa?" Her: "Uh. Yes." (while glaring at me like I was a complete idiot.)) Luckily, I was able to log online and get one online ASAP. Unluckily, they are suspicious of people who get their visas on the same day they fly, so I was pulled aside at Australian customs upon arrival and questioned and searched for over an hour. (They even made me pull up Jesse's Facebook to prove he was a real person. Way harsh, Ty.)</li>
</ul>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-19487165976506397722016-08-10T06:12:00.003-07:002016-09-16T18:38:58.158-07:00Hong Kong, China: This Doesn't Feel Like ChinaHong Kong should really be its own country. Nothing inflammatory here, but it is completely different from the rest of China. I basically used Hong Kong as my leap pad out of China, as flights from Hong Kong were incredibly cheap to my next destination (to be revealed - obviously there need to be some fun surprises on the blog! I'm sure nobody cares that much, but humor me). <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been to Hong Kong a couple times in the past, so I've seen a lot of the big sights already - Victoria Peak, that giant sitting Buddha statue, fancy dim sum, the street markets, Macau, those outdoor elevators that go up the side of the mountain, etc. So this time around, I just did one of those I'm-not-going-to-see-all-the-sights-I'm-just-gonna-relax-and-enjoy-the-city for a day and a half. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And it was great, because in Hong Kong I got the appreciate the little things that make it not like China: no one spits in the streets, everyone is able to speak English, GOOGLE WORKS again (as well as Facebook and Instagram and Gmail and everything else that was blocked in China), I didn't see people's bare feet being put all over everything (HUGE. THIS IS HUGE), and everything just felt a step above the "everyone's trying to rob me blind" feeling that you feel so often in China.<br />
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span></div>
<div>
Hong Kong is part of China, but it is not part of China. It feels kind of like an Asian New York - you have your numerous neighborhoods that are all different, some grittier than others, but it's generally a huge gleaming fancy mega city. There's a different currency than China (HK dollars!), and there's different visa rules than China: you can enter HK without a visa if you're American (but not China) and Chinese people need visas to enter HK. Last important difference, since it used to be a British colony (until its handover in 1997! SO RECENT), they call all the elevators "lifts." </div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi93-xn25oYB_k0pE-wn7Z0CWVbI7Fjo1WGxmf0LcY6g5gkRKr1E0SyGKpdzlFUiByDCWes8kxIMSjMyiPZpE8GirEEaBW_vIOOD2P0EBfPZ2vD3Y4X_AuO7siF_EQuCjniEUc5n-TIg/s1600/IMG_20160728_202826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimi93-xn25oYB_k0pE-wn7Z0CWVbI7Fjo1WGxmf0LcY6g5gkRKr1E0SyGKpdzlFUiByDCWes8kxIMSjMyiPZpE8GirEEaBW_vIOOD2P0EBfPZ2vD3Y4X_AuO7siF_EQuCjniEUc5n-TIg/s640/IMG_20160728_202826.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Um look at the nighttime skyline view of Hong Kong. We're definitely not in China anymore, Toto.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family: "times"; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>My 2 night/1 day foray into Hong Kong, as told in pictures:</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FHzO_vbLFWlVhBO2aQGgnPUyM7QFHGHpVN3t5xvmeERZ5l1DVmM06uJfLW0HeD6yIq7Tfc3BvszqHjQQtPwGpfPoZmff9lWuikhHVsrvG9vnPNK_x8UihfiC7iFBdSPLgmRUWay6ZXU/s1600/IMG_20160727_154534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FHzO_vbLFWlVhBO2aQGgnPUyM7QFHGHpVN3t5xvmeERZ5l1DVmM06uJfLW0HeD6yIq7Tfc3BvszqHjQQtPwGpfPoZmff9lWuikhHVsrvG9vnPNK_x8UihfiC7iFBdSPLgmRUWay6ZXU/s640/IMG_20160727_154534.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Landing into civilization! (Jokes. All jokes, I swear)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_h0RuS3xaqUJyHxdlScfnNKh6S2oavseFhUULKA-bJtlRa4zsdr_mFvlbGrs2buimgw93Hfa0vv36AoMZIC-HkifdUjzh1CJCZOclv5FV5jNNSonPPwHLVAGzd0ikp5y7iJExAp1axk/s1600/IMG_20160727_204421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI_h0RuS3xaqUJyHxdlScfnNKh6S2oavseFhUULKA-bJtlRa4zsdr_mFvlbGrs2buimgw93Hfa0vv36AoMZIC-HkifdUjzh1CJCZOclv5FV5jNNSonPPwHLVAGzd0ikp5y7iJExAp1axk/s640/IMG_20160727_204421.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Checked into my hostel and then wandered out in the evening to the Temple Street Night Market</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2Hqe8VsBdolTKvB14ZlHdFixU284z5eyT_JAbmfIiITwy53Uat6vWaBJ7qGDmq-lpsBDAx2SuocgPX-pmmfrZphuDftEAoqlTGNq5JzwUzV2CjTh8ESpmhaR8EbooUaBtkiCNheTl5s/s1600/IMG_20160727_204409.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe2Hqe8VsBdolTKvB14ZlHdFixU284z5eyT_JAbmfIiITwy53Uat6vWaBJ7qGDmq-lpsBDAx2SuocgPX-pmmfrZphuDftEAoqlTGNq5JzwUzV2CjTh8ESpmhaR8EbooUaBtkiCNheTl5s/s640/IMG_20160727_204409.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everybody was sitting outside and eating spicy crabs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7wOcW4JngjAL1-1z9GH7iNdNt_9u_APAESM6mjcgIjPG_Vd8Pu3aeZauOB5J-w1UfnXwqBH5mt8IyDRI6IDR61rym_q2EoxNOD-zS3xpIMZmO4C65j6UJyAaxDE9U0Pj1IKeQfibKTc/s1600/IMG_20160727_210742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI7wOcW4JngjAL1-1z9GH7iNdNt_9u_APAESM6mjcgIjPG_Vd8Pu3aeZauOB5J-w1UfnXwqBH5mt8IyDRI6IDR61rym_q2EoxNOD-zS3xpIMZmO4C65j6UJyAaxDE9U0Pj1IKeQfibKTc/s640/IMG_20160727_210742.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love night markets. The price inflation here is crazy - some lady offered me a bracelet I was looking at for 70 HKD, and I walked away (the "walk away" method of bargaining is #1 best ever) and she chased me down and I ended up getting it for 20 HKD.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvqyPfmyVspmIC-H8DRegwmv2O-tYgDH4XU6TLiLAH7MrV3HO8T22mrgN7u-6a4hEqd8CqbHS2k4sKoHINjYdiU0uRl8Nv23TBkW66XLl37afkwpxU57p4buVQdu6FY3PFzsRWxL-XSc/s1600/IMG_20160727_213342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmvqyPfmyVspmIC-H8DRegwmv2O-tYgDH4XU6TLiLAH7MrV3HO8T22mrgN7u-6a4hEqd8CqbHS2k4sKoHINjYdiU0uRl8Nv23TBkW66XLl37afkwpxU57p4buVQdu6FY3PFzsRWxL-XSc/s640/IMG_20160727_213342.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oops, how did this end up here. Eh, you might as well see it. I think the pillow on the night bus in Kunming might have had fleas or bedbugs or something, because I had a weird line of bites up my neck. #Charming. Please let me into your homes when I get back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9qECmj3UGUt0kOrYhkAihssDMEjRV3ZMiQUDZ2_48bTk74wewIihDBwQKNebNq6IijyLYkrWhNV0WRAnnYGKeebS-NcXOEhCSTpmJg9XqzXIrQiMvvt19Y9Yn5sgUXAJjtc7EglcRlM/s1600/IMG_20160727_222112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie9qECmj3UGUt0kOrYhkAihssDMEjRV3ZMiQUDZ2_48bTk74wewIihDBwQKNebNq6IijyLYkrWhNV0WRAnnYGKeebS-NcXOEhCSTpmJg9XqzXIrQiMvvt19Y9Yn5sgUXAJjtc7EglcRlM/s640/IMG_20160727_222112.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view over Nathan Street (one of the busiest and most happening streets) in Kowloon, as seen from my hostel. A lot of hostels here are in apartment buildings - mine was weirdly in 4 separate rooms on 4 separate floors of an apartment building. Front and center is a big mosque.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Day 1! I got coffee/breakfast with a girl from the hostel, then headed into Hong Kong island to wander around. From what I've learned, Hong Kong is kind of like NYC - Hong Kong island is like Manhattan (and is actually an island!), where all the financial district and fancy things are. Across the harbor is Kowloon, which is kind of like Brooklyn/Queens - it's got tons of stuff to see and hang out and do too, and things are slightly more affordable but people on Hong Kong island kind of are like, "Ohhh <i>Kowloon</i>" with an air of "you're not as good as we are" if you live there instead of HK island. And they don't like to have to haul themselves out to Kowloon. I hate to say that I totally kind of get this...</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoQSeoBiC-QVpI0djSfqMCEIGoxiKKNWpxQ18QrKAWErCgO_djTZo9Ea-cEpXK9iun2VIMN2CdBckA6iy7yscBj9o0MTQR5_arhf7pWXzBSP9evVJFRYfkyS4-FGKWTFlIF8WT7PU8Zw/s1600/IMG_20160728_161848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoQSeoBiC-QVpI0djSfqMCEIGoxiKKNWpxQ18QrKAWErCgO_djTZo9Ea-cEpXK9iun2VIMN2CdBckA6iy7yscBj9o0MTQR5_arhf7pWXzBSP9evVJFRYfkyS4-FGKWTFlIF8WT7PU8Zw/s640/IMG_20160728_161848.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got myself a bag of egg tarts at a famous egg tart bakery called Tai Cheong Bakery. I had it in mind that I was gonna share with others. Right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTnIM67HBBHa09Su3j3YZ-XFefE6aDUPkbLL5gW7d6KVT7m9zFi3ta45Qyg8rkoE8MRK2p8Ia9wI6sATtc4CP2FiFyOK4Ytrm0rvQ8TdWL2pa1diKzASznm8AznDZfSUXHsdGtpzYHwo/s1600/IMG_20160728_162032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUTnIM67HBBHa09Su3j3YZ-XFefE6aDUPkbLL5gW7d6KVT7m9zFi3ta45Qyg8rkoE8MRK2p8Ia9wI6sATtc4CP2FiFyOK4Ytrm0rvQ8TdWL2pa1diKzASznm8AznDZfSUXHsdGtpzYHwo/s640/IMG_20160728_162032.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like how random everything is! Like next to a major financial tower, a weird street cart selling hair ties and flags.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP4gN-ROvQzDXrE6U0Kidf3Kf86UmD1Gv8phMXWg4TH7ZGfzBdIRV9bX1sCBkVfqKXcxwH_57wh7SXuhbeXt5GM6_DjKfaij1uCl1K5mqhubyOqlcRLHsS7oDPYB4jbd1tRN1mGhyphenhyphent8U/s1600/IMG_20160728_175936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCP4gN-ROvQzDXrE6U0Kidf3Kf86UmD1Gv8phMXWg4TH7ZGfzBdIRV9bX1sCBkVfqKXcxwH_57wh7SXuhbeXt5GM6_DjKfaij1uCl1K5mqhubyOqlcRLHsS7oDPYB4jbd1tRN1mGhyphenhyphent8U/s640/IMG_20160728_175936.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am not proud to admit (ok I AM proud to admit), but I went to Starbucks to use their free WiFi to bang out some blog posts and found out that the WiFi code on the receipt only lasts for 30 minutes! (WTF Starbucks, I know you have more than enough money to provide free unlimitless WiFi!) So I maybe went to the counter and gathered all the receipts left behind by other people and used all their WiFi codes so I could sit and blog in peace. #homeless</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaQlcuHtcpknV-tUAFxWlp93d1U0rt8V6afYda-SRs4jSOLcNxmhvMAMJNo0Va9EQr6ysx7RMmlGVJ8FnacEpLHMpAS4CbfLpylpHi2l3P4fjTZiLfv5ERe0ADY-q-UyVXglQ4its0JA/s1600/IMG_20160728_192249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaQlcuHtcpknV-tUAFxWlp93d1U0rt8V6afYda-SRs4jSOLcNxmhvMAMJNo0Va9EQr6ysx7RMmlGVJ8FnacEpLHMpAS4CbfLpylpHi2l3P4fjTZiLfv5ERe0ADY-q-UyVXglQ4its0JA/s640/IMG_20160728_192249.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I got lost in the subway station and ended up in a fancy mall. Which reminded me exactly of Columbus Circle (it's a shopping center in NYC, get with the program), down to the fancy famous chef-sponsored open seating restaurant overlooking the foyer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl32Gzuhpvawpxj0c0OI0lJE3ON2Eqc0w1y8xiUeF7Q5vPeZM3j72G_8Ty26N1A7rGlGCgsdeHhIWfpJL8v5JtGwiWaFXRg2w5ePrSvuLX5kPPpu-20zOd9aFqJck136oGYKLHytlNV0/s1600/IMG_20160728_194157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMl32Gzuhpvawpxj0c0OI0lJE3ON2Eqc0w1y8xiUeF7Q5vPeZM3j72G_8Ty26N1A7rGlGCgsdeHhIWfpJL8v5JtGwiWaFXRg2w5ePrSvuLX5kPPpu-20zOd9aFqJck136oGYKLHytlNV0/s640/IMG_20160728_194157.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this ferris wheel. I want to ride it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Then I rode the Star Ferry, the best deal in all of Hong Kong. It's the ferry boat between Hong Kong and Kowloon, and it provides maybe the most beautiful view of Hong Kong Harbour (spelled the British way, ATTENTION TO DETAIL folks), and it's still the same price it's always been since back in the day, which is around $0.50 USD. And it took me back to the slum of Kowloon, where I was staying. Just kidding. About the slum part, not the part where I ended up back in Kowloon. Anyhow. IT'S LIKE RIDING THE STATEN ISLAND FERRY FOR CHEAP-O AND GETTING A GORG-O VIEW OF THE STATUE OF LIBERTY. HONG KONG REALLY <u>IS</u> NEW YORK, example #230.</li>
<li>And then it was perfect because the ferry drops you off right where you can get ridic amazing postcard views of Hong Kong from across the harbour. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_Mz9SETmL3pdt3lGZVZqPujuM4qxmGaNWagdjaj1rwdnKfZdoiUvFFqySgUVM5MKwiZQ_IL0i61s4hySzNTC78T0xBaIju7UwrvmfyYZ7eIgMAffn0kr0CU72dz1SO-PluQ_3BJD88g/s1600/IMG_20160728_195327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk_Mz9SETmL3pdt3lGZVZqPujuM4qxmGaNWagdjaj1rwdnKfZdoiUvFFqySgUVM5MKwiZQ_IL0i61s4hySzNTC78T0xBaIju7UwrvmfyYZ7eIgMAffn0kr0CU72dz1SO-PluQ_3BJD88g/s640/IMG_20160728_195327.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Views like this, complete with red junket boat. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbG2_wDXyp5KCk7sDZzZtfxlqsIl0Y6LnQYwa85JT8GThrksNnxrQb4gWccjjcq1r9hjQAW8oNqV8nVxQmyqiD63wCu-AU0sJQeBFNkbEpwS3m122AVO71GybWzgopewdmf3R8wzM_zU/s1600/IMG_20160728_201326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbG2_wDXyp5KCk7sDZzZtfxlqsIl0Y6LnQYwa85JT8GThrksNnxrQb4gWccjjcq1r9hjQAW8oNqV8nVxQmyqiD63wCu-AU0sJQeBFNkbEpwS3m122AVO71GybWzgopewdmf3R8wzM_zU/s640/IMG_20160728_201326.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a "light show" every night at 8pm, which everyone makes a huge deal over and people crowd the harbour to watch - and not to be a hater, but really only one building participates in the light show. Like it stands there and blinks crazily to the music, and the rest of the 99 buildings are just like "meh" and do nothing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7-1F8AlaSA8MS_KS2aBEGkIkp9agLl8omQfVoy5DFCK20j33nIgJUlAmAoxl9H84qGepm9d0F30Cc9SD8XQG23iH3V8OORSOo3iw1wcr18Xbd6wrVR7u23FqqLBkNdoanFBmxCK_SR4/s1600/IMG_20160728_203029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7-1F8AlaSA8MS_KS2aBEGkIkp9agLl8omQfVoy5DFCK20j33nIgJUlAmAoxl9H84qGepm9d0F30Cc9SD8XQG23iH3V8OORSOo3iw1wcr18Xbd6wrVR7u23FqqLBkNdoanFBmxCK_SR4/s640/IMG_20160728_203029.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweaty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfaW7aqGyH1suB4bKJr0WfAUdQ6K4luAj5YB7TSSKH7N3LA1TIOLQI2lpGBHiDtr4m_9MoOHDOvrNCQz4A0S1NdFAClGPCKGlELwifz1UKSynuTEeyEKNfCZv31rmiT8WW9nzaMVJoac/s1600/IMG_20160728_213203.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOfaW7aqGyH1suB4bKJr0WfAUdQ6K4luAj5YB7TSSKH7N3LA1TIOLQI2lpGBHiDtr4m_9MoOHDOvrNCQz4A0S1NdFAClGPCKGlELwifz1UKSynuTEeyEKNfCZv31rmiT8WW9nzaMVJoac/s640/IMG_20160728_213203.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then I returned to the hostel, met a new hostel friend named Julie from Boston, and we went to dinner right around the corner at a hole-in-the-wall, Michelin-starred dumpling place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7FjpjGQHYs3Yi_IDWVgzFii_rAR9pAaNhfoJjL-nwr7f7Teze_dQzmwiAPe7bQt50phuUtvMkC0-SRv6BodsqjNErkC2jEwwlz6qeLDscr75eHurkinocbWKFioTzKEwOtIZ_n5Z7IE/s1600/IMG_20160728_213216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH7FjpjGQHYs3Yi_IDWVgzFii_rAR9pAaNhfoJjL-nwr7f7Teze_dQzmwiAPe7bQt50phuUtvMkC0-SRv6BodsqjNErkC2jEwwlz6qeLDscr75eHurkinocbWKFioTzKEwOtIZ_n5Z7IE/s640/IMG_20160728_213216.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was so hyped up that there was only one kind of dumpling left (some kind of black truffle dumpling or something). So I bought two. And a watermelon juice. It was delicious.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Julie and I went and mingled back in the hostel - I had intentions of going to bed so I could leisurely get up and pack and head to the airport for my mid-day flight, but it turns out Thursday nights are Ladies' nights! Which means free drinks at a lot of places! Maybe we'll just go out for one drink...</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklBLorgQb_mY6hSSaHLJxZRcu6UkevBDRgX_VxAzaX6wZ0P2A4lv8wnxJrr5EG8x0Mt6RDD2mTpNeEkWnovl5chT2UVX23R08TspIy11zWRomk00gkosUjKsmqhpNtHir9WNLvsdMPLo/s1600/IMG_20160729_001522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiklBLorgQb_mY6hSSaHLJxZRcu6UkevBDRgX_VxAzaX6wZ0P2A4lv8wnxJrr5EG8x0Mt6RDD2mTpNeEkWnovl5chT2UVX23R08TspIy11zWRomk00gkosUjKsmqhpNtHir9WNLvsdMPLo/s640/IMG_20160729_001522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first stop was a Pokemon-themed club - we only stayed for 10 minutes because one of the guys couldn't get in, but that was ok because all Julie and I wanted were the free Pikachu ears. CHECK.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPXQUpsIai8N0NCtCf2ImLWf2uDzVx0BynIXKMoqTTkMMucTxNGclbHf885qy52L-JaN_2-7UXZ63FXSRL9pbxW1qwvY7sJwSjwuRpn9_EdqC3zOI-p_h2zRFh2MwLnf56MvC1u6JbDs/s1600/IMG_20160729_002243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPXQUpsIai8N0NCtCf2ImLWf2uDzVx0BynIXKMoqTTkMMucTxNGclbHf885qy52L-JaN_2-7UXZ63FXSRL9pbxW1qwvY7sJwSjwuRpn9_EdqC3zOI-p_h2zRFh2MwLnf56MvC1u6JbDs/s640/IMG_20160729_002243.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hong Kong is expensive (NYC, IS THAT YOU) - so everyone goes to the 7-11 and buys drinks and drinks them on the street outside</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszuCLThi7pKyZoaLMm-DbPdddpFNAfjVeoP3s5d9MxM0FuN6wk8uxH_Mh1kGd8aZ-PLpyN_7hyoIQjfKuzQtuyfPam9gHOSinYB8oOYBy40B0JSu-ZLuNb3jqVQ53qOxMLZoDXnngL60/s1600/IMG_20160729_015403.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszuCLThi7pKyZoaLMm-DbPdddpFNAfjVeoP3s5d9MxM0FuN6wk8uxH_Mh1kGd8aZ-PLpyN_7hyoIQjfKuzQtuyfPam9gHOSinYB8oOYBy40B0JSu-ZLuNb3jqVQ53qOxMLZoDXnngL60/s640/IMG_20160729_015403.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ladies' night! Is that a drink you had to purchase with your own money, guy next to me?? THAT'S UNFORTUNATE.<br />
Really though, these are friends from the hostel whose names I have forgotten but the girl is from Canada and the boy is from Australia, and that's all I know.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76VMN9cs_bMR_xn6D77m0tTMSy2tshi46q_sSisjzv4O8_vknUnARfl8cfhIlhL3-ndx63wtEAU-D_t0GR-B1vHmH1gmLCkl5aYk4uhWEJ1I8bQS0pylArLyXvFtUSGpLNp1OjIgyLPA/s1600/IMG_20160729_020746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi76VMN9cs_bMR_xn6D77m0tTMSy2tshi46q_sSisjzv4O8_vknUnARfl8cfhIlhL3-ndx63wtEAU-D_t0GR-B1vHmH1gmLCkl5aYk4uhWEJ1I8bQS0pylArLyXvFtUSGpLNp1OjIgyLPA/s640/IMG_20160729_020746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crazy party nightlife - we went to Hong Kong island to go out.....because HK = Manhattan....you know</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LZzvt-ur8IZjDil02kfb9S_DL_epw5SNyYHPHBFAQYj_xqQ7L9FkgPetmCPVrPwECpzLWLp0eZ02JsXzU1Moig-pQmehKIb2WRm4v3Z_MjtOLPTFTv8F80RRHbHnjeWUo4eaW_2cwdc/s1600/IMG_20160729_022714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LZzvt-ur8IZjDil02kfb9S_DL_epw5SNyYHPHBFAQYj_xqQ7L9FkgPetmCPVrPwECpzLWLp0eZ02JsXzU1Moig-pQmehKIb2WRm4v3Z_MjtOLPTFTv8F80RRHbHnjeWUo4eaW_2cwdc/s640/IMG_20160729_022714.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then Julie and I didn't want to pay for an exorbitant taxi back to Kowloon and the subway had stopped running for the night, and the pizza man Julie bought her 2am pizza from on the street goes "just take the minibus over there! It'll take you to Kowloon!" So we ended up randomly on this minibus with no idea where it'd drop us off. It was a steal. It was 1/10 the price of a taxi and it even had this classy sign inside it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>And with that, comes the end of my mini-Hong Kong adventure! It was perfect. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Farewell, China!</span></div>
<div>
Larger picture-wise, this actually marked the end of my China adventures (even though I've made it very clear, I'm sure, that HK hardly counts)! I feel like I need to write a good-bye ode to China.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In general though, I know I expressed certain displeasures (mostly jokingly, I swear!) with a lot of parts of this country. And it is all<i> </i>true, I don't take it back: the people, in general, are shockingly rude. There is definitely a lack of decorum, especially in public. Waiting in lines is an exercise in futility, and if done long enough, will definitely drive you insane. Cleanliness levels are often questionable. It's exceedingly hard to get around - you can't find a single person who speaks English, and there are minimal (and I mean <i>minimal</i>) facilities to help you if you don't speak Chinese. The toilets will make you cry (especially if you encounter the public ones, which basically consist of a long ditch and no doors and you're expected to squat over the ditch, all while you literally see everyone else's business running down said ditch). And there are way, way too many people. Pushing. Shouting. Elbowing. Everywhere. At all times.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But that comes with the territory. And the sights, the unbelievable beauty in some parts of the most populated country in the world, make it all worth it. There's something beautiful about going somewhere that feels totally off the regular tourist grid. So many parts of China are pretty inaccessible unless you A.) join a tour group, or B.) speak Chinese. And for being able to fall into the latter is something that makes me feel incredibly lucky. China is a totally different world. And when you go, you immerse yourself fully in that world. There's no coddling or only getting to see the "tourist face" of the country, or anything else. You dive in, headfirst (really you're thrown in, if I'm being accurate). And in spite of all the crazy things you're not used to, there is a certain marvel, or the constant feeling of being in complete awe when you see all the things you get to see, and know all the things that has made the country what it is. For me, getting to stand on the Great Wall and see its massive scale and how it winds over hilltops and mountains as far as you can see - or taking in the thousands and thousands of life-size stone warriors in rows with insane amounts of detail on every one, just because an emperor thought it'd help him in the afterlife - or standing on top of a mountain that looks exactly like a Chinese painting, with equal parts fog, craggy stone, and trees - or wandering through insane football-field sized gardens dotted with pagodas and lakes and picturesque bridges and knowing it used to be an important official's<i> personal</i> garden, just bc he wanted a nice place to chill - and then adding in the vast, ridiculous, drama-filled, rich history of it all - it is truly a country that is not only awe-inspiring, but leaves you speechless. Seriously. There are sometimes no words. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I spent 6 weeks in China in total. It may have meant a little more to me because it's the homeland of my homeland, and it was wild for me just to walk around and be like "omg this is where my people are from. In another life, I could have been born here. I could be related to some of these people. Except for that one spitting over there, obviously he and I share no genetics at all" (I am digressing here). But getting to spend the time to experience China and live it and get to know it was a <i>huge </i>blessing on this trip for me. It was one of the richest experiences I've gotten to have, and I am beyond appreciative of the opportunity. China is a truly amazing place. Children peeing in the streets included.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I promise I'm done now! Sorry for the novel. Bye, China! I'll see you in the future again at some point, I'm sure, but for now - I'm moving on to the last dregs of my adventure!</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-64957317012584708212016-08-08T05:09:00.002-07:002016-08-08T05:10:18.968-07:00Lijiang, China: Disasterland. But Still PrettyMaybe it's not fair that I call Lijiang "Disasterland," because every disaster that befell me there was maybe kind of my own fault.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Lijiang is a super-old, World Heritage city that is incredibly historic and pretty. It has an ancient system using waterways that is still in use today - making it one of the original water villages. More importantly, it is just one of those places that you enter and feel like you're in a different world. Much of the old architecture and such has been preserved because it is a World Heritage Site, so you can really get an actual feel of how it used to be. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrNlE_r8Ad1LfsPdldtnXWDfqAmTD6d3n7OJqcKRrwT2uA0e7EgWPs9CICqT4SZwe0b2NIaxKVjPz6dB251op6OWsIYWVGf4UIRwIVbDfSIvU_dxVmrGB3v-vM2mtjQpPAnlWHS8S7f8/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_185456_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggrNlE_r8Ad1LfsPdldtnXWDfqAmTD6d3n7OJqcKRrwT2uA0e7EgWPs9CICqT4SZwe0b2NIaxKVjPz6dB251op6OWsIYWVGf4UIRwIVbDfSIvU_dxVmrGB3v-vM2mtjQpPAnlWHS8S7f8/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_185456_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wandering the streets of the old city = dreamy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
With its preserved status, however, there is also one tiny downfall - tourists, tourists everywhere. Along with that comes all the cons of having a high-tourist area - you actually have to pay a hefty fee to enter the old city itself, and many of the old buildings have been converted to tourist shops and cafes. If you can get over that part of it, however, Lijiang is seriously the prettiest. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWsBk4WvTebZHS0N0oVCUM_3zH7YWhQ_dK8U0k3gguciZl2xm7jDpxZY4tfHrKEXlIb_E_3CYvFCPSHmw_mdmGd-2s_I7-GYVTJ_YfBnopUXYCnFAmDVkh_dNL8nkW2VteJZRCgP4BeE/s1600/IMG_20160726_154712.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigWsBk4WvTebZHS0N0oVCUM_3zH7YWhQ_dK8U0k3gguciZl2xm7jDpxZY4tfHrKEXlIb_E_3CYvFCPSHmw_mdmGd-2s_I7-GYVTJ_YfBnopUXYCnFAmDVkh_dNL8nkW2VteJZRCgP4BeE/s640/IMG_20160726_154712.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You can't hate on these lovely (algae-filled) canals</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
Sliiiiiight problem with my time in Lijiang was that a series of travel disasters befell me, all at the same time, and all in Lijiang. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Disaster #1:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>My bus into Lijiang from Dali was late. It's only about 2.5 hours, but I had booked the latest bus, meaning I didn't roll into town until about 11pm. I took a taxi to the outskirts of Old Town, but had to walk to the hostel because cars aren't allowed in the entire Old Town complex (which is quite large). I had the location of the hostel on my maps, but unbeknownst to me, it had pinned the wrong location.</li>
<li>30 minutes later, I was hopelessly lost. Not to mention on a dark road with no cars (aka other taxis I could take). I finally located a parking attendant playing on his phone, had him call my hostel for me on his phone, and then got instructions on where to go to get a new taxi to the hostel (apparently I was beyond walking distance by that point). When I finally got to a lit area where there were taxis, the first two that approached tried to rip me off because of how late it was. I finally located one that was reasonably priced, and had her call my hostel to figure out where to take me. It was seriously over an hour later....and she dropped me off at the exact same spot my first taxi had dropped me an hour earlier. I had been in the right spot, but had taken the wrong turns. The owner of the hostel met me at the taxi this time to ensure I wouldn't be lost. Sorry, mister - I'm sure you have better things to be doing at midnight (he assured me it happens all the time since they're located wrong on the map).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVooE5HwiSeg9p7zX1hyphenhyphennGgGSpgnjznQwjsd6ZrrxJK3OECMxFK9SHLnM1RCy-Kokjgjj0b7VyGc8wrsIeNHVJNPNfHZcGPdTAjEg5f60JZA6s4LhtnzPgsLy1DlQxJxpRw0dKPiCxKM/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_222257_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVooE5HwiSeg9p7zX1hyphenhyphennGgGSpgnjznQwjsd6ZrrxJK3OECMxFK9SHLnM1RCy-Kokjgjj0b7VyGc8wrsIeNHVJNPNfHZcGPdTAjEg5f60JZA6s4LhtnzPgsLy1DlQxJxpRw0dKPiCxKM/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_222257_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Despite being dark and lost, I still had time to appreciate how pretty the city was....??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Disaster #2:</span><br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>The next morning, I had made plans with a couple girls at the hostel to get brunch. I also had to book a bus out of Lijiang back to Kunming, and went down to the front desk to get that sorted quickly before brunch. Upon having to pay for the bus, I looked into my wallet.....and couldn't find my ATM card. Or my credit card. Both. Missing.</li>
<li>Panic.</li>
<li>Panic some more.</li>
<li>These poor girls I had just met were waiting for me for brunch, and I was running around upending all my things and rummaging through everything and ranting about missing both my cards. I retraced my steps and realized that I don't think my last hostel in Dali had returned my credit card after I'd paid the room fee. I had the front desk of my new hostel call my old hostel to check for my card. AND THEY HAD IT. (Apparently, the lady at my old hostel had been like "what does her card look like?? We have so, so many of them here!" THEY HAVE A HABIT OF FORGETTING TO RETURN CREDIT CARDS. Seriously, that hostel was a hot, hot mess. Even hotter of a mess than I sound like right here). </li>
<li>My old Dali hostel worked out that they had a guest who was headed to Lijiang this day - they said they'd send along the card with that guest, and I could meet him at the Lijiang bus terminal. But I had to come back to the hostel at 1pm and call him to make sure it was ok and work out logistics.</li>
<li>So I went to brunch. Then I had to run to the Bank of China across town to get some of my emergency USD changed to Chinese Yuan because I had no cash left, no credit card, and no ATM card (the girls came with me. They are angels). </li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Disaster #3:</span><br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>I ran back to the hostel at 1pm to call my old hostel to talk to the guest that was headed to Lijiang - and SMALL WORLD, it ended up being Chen, the guy who was on my lake tour in Dali the day before! I know Chen! I'm WeChat friends with Chen! We made plans to meet at the bus station at 5pm when he got in. Problem is, I don't have a Chinese phone and couldn't reach him if the bus was late (and he had to head to the Lijiang airport directly from the bus station to catch a flight), or if we had problems meeting up or anything. It was so nerve-wracking.</li>
<li>Of course, around 5pm, my taxi driver on the way to the bus terminal sneakily took a loop to pick up other customers and made me late to go meet Chen at the bus station. I seriously almost lost it at him but he kept lowering the price of my taxi and assured me I'd be on time. (Spoiler: I wasn't).</li>
<li>I flew into the bus terminal about 10 minutes late - no bus to be found. I asked around - and the man said the bus from Dali had arrived a long time ago. Apparently it'd gotten in early.</li>
<li>Panic.</li>
<li>Ran around like a homeless person until I finally found a lady willing to lend me her phone (seriously, I've learned that when you approach a stranger in China and use your heavily accented Chinese to ask to borrow their phone to make a call, they either look at you like you're an axe murderer, or they pretend not to hear you and scoot away). I called Chen, freaking out because I thought he'd left because he had a really tight plane to catch. </li>
<li>AND RELIEF. Turns out Chen's flight was delayed (THERE IS A GOD. I KNOW THERE IS) and so he was just next door having noodles. And then there he appeared, with my credit card in hand! ANGELS.</li>
<li>ATM card is still missing. I think I lost it in Shanghai. But I have a backup because I am a prepared (yes still somehow disastrous) traveler! So all's well that end's well. Back to regularly scheduled programming. (Only one more month, Connie - hold yourself together).</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Well, besides running around like a crazy person doing weird arbitrary errands I shouldn't have had to do if I had my life together (i.e. heading across town to the bus terminal and back, heading to the other side of town for the one bank that would change my USD, etc.), I did really get to enjoy some time in Lijiang as well. I swear. I really liked it. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pyInPq8eTUptlfagiNs44d_dd-RHgH-Q7OIYjyN_snJ3sF1F17PDGt3FOxjiynwbXefaEkBerU17pb6GcZRcV_wyH7k_4W23hLX_9xbkj0X55f8SOgi8cHfTmKrL4b86bF6NkKet6xI/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_151556_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pyInPq8eTUptlfagiNs44d_dd-RHgH-Q7OIYjyN_snJ3sF1F17PDGt3FOxjiynwbXefaEkBerU17pb6GcZRcV_wyH7k_4W23hLX_9xbkj0X55f8SOgi8cHfTmKrL4b86bF6NkKet6xI/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_151556_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canals, lanterns, and pretty buildings as far as the eye can see</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>I spent my time in Lijiang with some lovely new hostel friends (the ones who were saints in insisting on waiting for me for brunch, accompanying me to the world's farthest bank, and waiting for me to return from the bus station to get dinner).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdy7Npv74thbqyJJHWCacZLxnodwlXDQ9_h5HcCOKZQRHot_8L9-cSZ1vz_3hBtHIOhXD23nY1NSbOPOTahECbodf-16DA0KCstIfHtxwNEnaQM1qC-l__swMmnzwESQAJRA6d1_iWBM/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_141655_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgdy7Npv74thbqyJJHWCacZLxnodwlXDQ9_h5HcCOKZQRHot_8L9-cSZ1vz_3hBtHIOhXD23nY1NSbOPOTahECbodf-16DA0KCstIfHtxwNEnaQM1qC-l__swMmnzwESQAJRA6d1_iWBM/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_141655_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New hostel friends (L to R) are Helene from Denmark, and Aurelie from France (but living in Massachusetts). We walked up to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain (fave name ever), a famous sight in Lijiang. We are actually standing at the most famous viewpoint ever, which looks highly unimpressive because the dense clouds are actually covering (what I've been told is) a beautiful snow-covered mountain. Darn you, clouds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOmVcF4y2A2xQNPQkmm4DEv0S1mjBZf4gjzzx8gSTrjaIVPkkXyXAnM66GH8hfOh_QQF3GflwnPL2LFgtbcFF6YIH0U9ApHVw9CwnkdEZG5OqYbA9rnJUijvlE80jKQ2D1J5mOiSJeVA/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_141932_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOmVcF4y2A2xQNPQkmm4DEv0S1mjBZf4gjzzx8gSTrjaIVPkkXyXAnM66GH8hfOh_QQF3GflwnPL2LFgtbcFF6YIH0U9ApHVw9CwnkdEZG5OqYbA9rnJUijvlE80jKQ2D1J5mOiSJeVA/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_141932_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However, the area was a really nice park that you could wander around. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN60BWzhz4K7iZoeUm3sER_BPB_jkfo-0xsstpHbZZD5Gp2R31qynMrzWd7uoPCpYvccM4VVHpo6hDBTlY9ubp53qqBGvULtT_Y6-j9zdOf_GhqQkHhJlBLpSNnpYoa6OG8gJ8bRH21gU/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_142344_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN60BWzhz4K7iZoeUm3sER_BPB_jkfo-0xsstpHbZZD5Gp2R31qynMrzWd7uoPCpYvccM4VVHpo6hDBTlY9ubp53qqBGvULtT_Y6-j9zdOf_GhqQkHhJlBLpSNnpYoa6OG8gJ8bRH21gU/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_142344_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With very pretty, very historic (but reconstructed) temples all around!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div>
<ul>
<li>After our "hike" to the Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, we spent a lot of time just walking through the Old Town. Lijiang is one of those cities that's so, so lovely to wander through - there's alleys full of people and tourists and shops and noisy performances, and then you can take a turn to a tiny little picturesque alley with no people, and get a glimpse of actual life there. It's absolutely stunning either way. Photo dump of Lijiang to commence.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXLjiBZdhkXsJHLFzBzibIvyqHrrsErqKd2VjloDZkC1Ff-r6X2WXu-NJscdz5j5PO20ZNH6rHPP5VTO435na5uMibfrgqsw88EvFm3jsei0M0tKzMPpfIftR5AVPJBkZykRTvEC0mX0/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_150511_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDXLjiBZdhkXsJHLFzBzibIvyqHrrsErqKd2VjloDZkC1Ff-r6X2WXu-NJscdz5j5PO20ZNH6rHPP5VTO435na5uMibfrgqsw88EvFm3jsei0M0tKzMPpfIftR5AVPJBkZykRTvEC0mX0/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_150511_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the old city is very grandly displayed. Signs a city is way over-touristed: there is a grand entrance to enter it. With ticket booths.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZBxFN9_AqPfUZ29WzMFJY1ns1xBRfmynaDqJbbDUL2PHJFYLaRFWI3fBbMLOpeTWPGp3BpF9PW9842aDYFi4Yf9pnAcSKh-Ia7z2wCx6mDHe2-cAbGJPROxY9LcPwry3i4PMQYIbbnU/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_150621_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBZBxFN9_AqPfUZ29WzMFJY1ns1xBRfmynaDqJbbDUL2PHJFYLaRFWI3fBbMLOpeTWPGp3BpF9PW9842aDYFi4Yf9pnAcSKh-Ia7z2wCx6mDHe2-cAbGJPROxY9LcPwry3i4PMQYIbbnU/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_150621_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I can't read this (not that I have the patience to), but I imagine this plaque is boasting of the World Heritage status. Oh, and that's a World Heritage logo on the top.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ksazxDOw5KWsKThWsmU9cyqACelBbpjmhLfIl7X8oa6Avo55yVAf18qEGIocM1R95k5esxr2Fp8DsR4ASUjgjQ8FzlmpddoVG8RuVRag1eVVR5Rqy0HdgIavchal64H8-GyJ9LauUbo/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_151731_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ksazxDOw5KWsKThWsmU9cyqACelBbpjmhLfIl7X8oa6Avo55yVAf18qEGIocM1R95k5esxr2Fp8DsR4ASUjgjQ8FzlmpddoVG8RuVRag1eVVR5Rqy0HdgIavchal64H8-GyJ9LauUbo/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_151731_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, but you are so pretty!! Dragon head water spouts?!? SIGN ME UP.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHog2OfZP4FaUNjqTq60Som99DOek9DxGU6pMo-5YK1sIYRzjimhYYa5KTBYUmonaL1VWa7jm6x3zE0euu88qrjJ_nSTH4PPjyDI8tdYo8Fot7idfruJDR3AhvQ2qnMqWYbsdMmqhpDi8/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_152016_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHog2OfZP4FaUNjqTq60Som99DOek9DxGU6pMo-5YK1sIYRzjimhYYa5KTBYUmonaL1VWa7jm6x3zE0euu88qrjJ_nSTH4PPjyDI8tdYo8Fot7idfruJDR3AhvQ2qnMqWYbsdMmqhpDi8/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_152016_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoards of people</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxg6xuJqlE5U4lGWvIHGkSQQX_ui80oJzkYQhRQXuvgmAcklyRdOzWPveo2U6bYBW9eeSW9nhsC9eMKDgwbt45EUwmjDywKrqTXMUSKyo2gdew-9o7jec1-sMIDY8td-UqUsrQAqQ4NU/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_150304_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxg6xuJqlE5U4lGWvIHGkSQQX_ui80oJzkYQhRQXuvgmAcklyRdOzWPveo2U6bYBW9eeSW9nhsC9eMKDgwbt45EUwmjDywKrqTXMUSKyo2gdew-9o7jec1-sMIDY8td-UqUsrQAqQ4NU/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_150304_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tofu that they top with spring onions and peppers and deep fry with sesame seeds. Delicious. A little oily, but that never hurt anyone (Chinese people looooove their oil. There's always an unappetizing pool of it left over at the bottom of every dish).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW2Rmd3QCf53AZOVafUjZsgjTz65wOTZM2mJv2G8wwTyF_JH6soV34067DYwQYV9D-P40V148kpRqRcsndvx-I2nxyq2WwWxsbLQa0NySKgz_sWtgFcIvoUrRNeVPxC9ShGzYkHX5g9g/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_151602_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRW2Rmd3QCf53AZOVafUjZsgjTz65wOTZM2mJv2G8wwTyF_JH6soV34067DYwQYV9D-P40V148kpRqRcsndvx-I2nxyq2WwWxsbLQa0NySKgz_sWtgFcIvoUrRNeVPxC9ShGzYkHX5g9g/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_151602_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dream.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Neved_-T3OmmAxS3N5VrR75WpydbJ88bPHSS-SfidwbdtgDC9HPoAwvrlkp82HaeyHCbUeNNaW3JwUh0NUvaCGJ8TlwWFKBy9UII_LYcLCvAspoh4_iCtcDJW0pUb7YVrcd4ErgdP4I/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_155728_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Neved_-T3OmmAxS3N5VrR75WpydbJ88bPHSS-SfidwbdtgDC9HPoAwvrlkp82HaeyHCbUeNNaW3JwUh0NUvaCGJ8TlwWFKBy9UII_LYcLCvAspoh4_iCtcDJW0pUb7YVrcd4ErgdP4I/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_155728_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8xyXn3up9ipb9yZXmle_vtX0N6SBhxmTx3eSEfe57F0ShbgNm9_Ql6I3v5DqcYsZBcg6afGQVKUmRMHnqvFoV2Tg_sJRN6GXIGNSY0okdUTgyYphSxvvw6YSQacs9TTffFgV-RnUax4/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_161901_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8xyXn3up9ipb9yZXmle_vtX0N6SBhxmTx3eSEfe57F0ShbgNm9_Ql6I3v5DqcYsZBcg6afGQVKUmRMHnqvFoV2Tg_sJRN6GXIGNSY0okdUTgyYphSxvvw6YSQacs9TTffFgV-RnUax4/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_161901_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I bought a printed shawl #soauthentic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzrcD-b2ogZn_3C_zEvmBrmAlJFY4vLQnh1OY4i5W26H26nKXBrcY5k9u_eO-Ehg87WTLbrGmbGthnGlurC3jdOIyx2hWMXKfu1Qvcw4Ir30xwBY_ukhvI6kO5ngr0t0mmkG1Am10_nc/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_164018_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzrcD-b2ogZn_3C_zEvmBrmAlJFY4vLQnh1OY4i5W26H26nKXBrcY5k9u_eO-Ehg87WTLbrGmbGthnGlurC3jdOIyx2hWMXKfu1Qvcw4Ir30xwBY_ukhvI6kO5ngr0t0mmkG1Am10_nc/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_164018_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could have taken a billion photos of this city. Too bad I only succeeded in taking about a million.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcKWMBpxtrlR_9i53IKFDtxxt5_jRJJwiDBhIZkGR2I9g_XKfDMQ9hHYZ4_zn4Bsg1e8G50Ou6rcaNzRM_B-aY5Hf_mrT7TDY6Pz6eNIKU5aV2ZtGF2FuH4sOXlD-Is2qd14XncsI30g/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_165023_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcKWMBpxtrlR_9i53IKFDtxxt5_jRJJwiDBhIZkGR2I9g_XKfDMQ9hHYZ4_zn4Bsg1e8G50Ou6rcaNzRM_B-aY5Hf_mrT7TDY6Pz6eNIKU5aV2ZtGF2FuH4sOXlD-Is2qd14XncsI30g/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_165023_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT3qdouhRapfh5v2rE3cmnSnr1N5gg3gvxjl9ActBU8vBgMTIqAxnjXi-H0KvYUAMQED9N2AUtYW-kwM2MMREGBgbDCi0MOpJVKNt8Yl-z_7oepoLKAIhlOmAUXS7iujlYm_JWdWZJ5U/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_163831_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHT3qdouhRapfh5v2rE3cmnSnr1N5gg3gvxjl9ActBU8vBgMTIqAxnjXi-H0KvYUAMQED9N2AUtYW-kwM2MMREGBgbDCi0MOpJVKNt8Yl-z_7oepoLKAIhlOmAUXS7iujlYm_JWdWZJ5U/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_163831_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some local guys offered to take this photo for us and when handing the camera back to me, asked "Are you their tour guide?" I'm going to assume it's because I carry myself with an air of authority.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpLDQOCoWgsogYl75baalQYWh4juqWC-PGYWs1T9PV-vtPCnE7T07IB2rwfOSsv_aZvxP8qCPahIAIKml-7KPwb28238IBag6fIFDRKHlJcRwFbuy1n3DfXz8EySuXGBpJkK2QdUAkRE/s1600/IMG_20160726_104634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpLDQOCoWgsogYl75baalQYWh4juqWC-PGYWs1T9PV-vtPCnE7T07IB2rwfOSsv_aZvxP8qCPahIAIKml-7KPwb28238IBag6fIFDRKHlJcRwFbuy1n3DfXz8EySuXGBpJkK2QdUAkRE/s640/IMG_20160726_104634.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Seriously, such BEAUTIFUL BUILDINGS.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyj5bxyZNZNPilgrobBiClgH19R9bPVHXC3Guuy1gvWd9jrjqKiToCU8g0AvCcaUQI6Kf_yzWxO8wJSRTD58mPlGj2o91c6PUhTJYIaf6FXleR1uaOqvIKycXbwccji2MhvFKlOctCW8A/s1600/IMG_20160726_150705.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyj5bxyZNZNPilgrobBiClgH19R9bPVHXC3Guuy1gvWd9jrjqKiToCU8g0AvCcaUQI6Kf_yzWxO8wJSRTD58mPlGj2o91c6PUhTJYIaf6FXleR1uaOqvIKycXbwccji2MhvFKlOctCW8A/s640/IMG_20160726_150705.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Four flavors of Oreos. Another reason I know heaven exists. I may have purchased the birthday cake flavored Oreos and eaten the entire tube for dinner (IN MY DEFENSE, I WAS STRESSED).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSem27aYpu7-5wtn9PWw7fwGE_RkXpJ7V_BgFzbn2iWA8GxQVcWUXlJwfjO2WftSgGsh-1cRM5IUY2S28wh4rbH-KSbHCmIKRwXxzv-XL7t7VA4NbDDOamo521Q4fY99YqewtLo4EP2M/s1600/IMG_20160726_151703.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSem27aYpu7-5wtn9PWw7fwGE_RkXpJ7V_BgFzbn2iWA8GxQVcWUXlJwfjO2WftSgGsh-1cRM5IUY2S28wh4rbH-KSbHCmIKRwXxzv-XL7t7VA4NbDDOamo521Q4fY99YqewtLo4EP2M/s640/IMG_20160726_151703.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Waterways everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaARJKohyphenhyphengHYBpRJM15tCL5suk0lFzjhtH5M3vgMRsvYyYmBqwFqX-Gz1e8q6SKXxkrDWu9aDbMUa50lQYiaZoYebDy4QX1d_Xr9F0l2H9IjeuVgyGZor3AYIQSHp1M8pZ_8rX4RvOEFo/s1600/IMG_20160726_152224.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaARJKohyphenhyphengHYBpRJM15tCL5suk0lFzjhtH5M3vgMRsvYyYmBqwFqX-Gz1e8q6SKXxkrDWu9aDbMUa50lQYiaZoYebDy4QX1d_Xr9F0l2H9IjeuVgyGZor3AYIQSHp1M8pZ_8rX4RvOEFo/s640/IMG_20160726_152224.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This street was so pretty. And photos like these are what make me miss my iPhone more than ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ2q_1-z9-BXSFVXUJY_D2fSNoOzWBeAni-4B9i5gyonXoGttnJQ4-W3waovglFek3VZmrBX5-g0AqJtpazljREcZrDzd8dDqANp-BgN5m3agSP5w1TzXSqsb0Yn3ZAgrorcTiXEB5wY/s1600/IMG_20160726_152837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaZ2q_1-z9-BXSFVXUJY_D2fSNoOzWBeAni-4B9i5gyonXoGttnJQ4-W3waovglFek3VZmrBX5-g0AqJtpazljREcZrDzd8dDqANp-BgN5m3agSP5w1TzXSqsb0Yn3ZAgrorcTiXEB5wY/s640/IMG_20160726_152837.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">There's also construction going on everywhere here too - I think they're continually expanding to accommodate the crazy tourism. This was like the opposite of Yuanyang. My hostel owner said he's owned his hostel for 10 years now, back when Lijiang was lesser-known and more quaint, and the boom in tourism since has been so crazy that he has considered closing the hostel and going somewhere else.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxkQDP4h7qucElwj3IE6DnfjZ16oPq3pEtLHxmlDzgLEs6rqDKfAcs0S8O_B8DBDNSjF-aA-2WJ4bRxwh6X4RIU3RKMCByuo4tNjCvhWGvCEq1pHVf3-f2rgFIQ5YmOWifRfiKvJN_cw/s1600/IMG_20160726_154028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxkQDP4h7qucElwj3IE6DnfjZ16oPq3pEtLHxmlDzgLEs6rqDKfAcs0S8O_B8DBDNSjF-aA-2WJ4bRxwh6X4RIU3RKMCByuo4tNjCvhWGvCEq1pHVf3-f2rgFIQ5YmOWifRfiKvJN_cw/s640/IMG_20160726_154028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Though are these streets not a photographer's dream??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof9celh1ZJHOFtu8M_qYQS7T_-zUDx9XQ7aVRxtOekUmBtKg94YBufuf3mpJURVhGLtvb5-iWxFzYL_DsJxER9uLTsb89wmR90h8fLs40iCBGZ4SNPZtvOgERODDCpDPFwK6YwtwTzjE/s1600/IMG_20160726_154512.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgof9celh1ZJHOFtu8M_qYQS7T_-zUDx9XQ7aVRxtOekUmBtKg94YBufuf3mpJURVhGLtvb5-iWxFzYL_DsJxER9uLTsb89wmR90h8fLs40iCBGZ4SNPZtvOgERODDCpDPFwK6YwtwTzjE/s640/IMG_20160726_154512.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKVT0czGqaGRj4qnhdfExLzsLf1xXPmt1DCEWSCzxcwUOe-ULr06L7RxDhlP6b7AtI2ppAYkTcy_wOs64xhUnj1tI0opskPFE4bybRTQ59-lZdt_i69obv7zx6W7e24sRl0bZZvLTTKg/s1600/IMG_20160726_154654.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKVT0czGqaGRj4qnhdfExLzsLf1xXPmt1DCEWSCzxcwUOe-ULr06L7RxDhlP6b7AtI2ppAYkTcy_wOs64xhUnj1tI0opskPFE4bybRTQ59-lZdt_i69obv7zx6W7e24sRl0bZZvLTTKg/s640/IMG_20160726_154654.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokEBXxGUsUB_4QXbjwigOCoB8g6blmVb73nu6qv0BxvVl3LhRolzjNPWRyXkqSTpt1zRl6-2rAAMJ4JllGQf-t3QY7zt17adH1W4fbr3QkQ5qiTN6a1iVX9n04iXIulufo35b7jQPQYk/s1600/IMG_20160726_155334.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgokEBXxGUsUB_4QXbjwigOCoB8g6blmVb73nu6qv0BxvVl3LhRolzjNPWRyXkqSTpt1zRl6-2rAAMJ4JllGQf-t3QY7zt17adH1W4fbr3QkQ5qiTN6a1iVX9n04iXIulufo35b7jQPQYk/s640/IMG_20160726_155334.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Construction means one side of the road is entirely covered with particle board.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXf21OfZyDeUdu-znHe_yFkEkKfb4SGQgIXM42-iKnjQiRcwEMc2sc9V2oaqXX1Ekux_iQhDuVuZmYvUV1SwkaP9j5D3Gi43djrkByJalELHO3wogNe_2MMBFiTWVeUoeipBR9FyRvH5s/s1600/IMG_20160726_152601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXf21OfZyDeUdu-znHe_yFkEkKfb4SGQgIXM42-iKnjQiRcwEMc2sc9V2oaqXX1Ekux_iQhDuVuZmYvUV1SwkaP9j5D3Gi43djrkByJalELHO3wogNe_2MMBFiTWVeUoeipBR9FyRvH5s/s640/IMG_20160726_152601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I only took this photo because Aurelie and I went to get our hair washed (I had told her how amazing and cheap hair washing is in China; see Chengdu post) - and they curled my hair! And for one day, I didn't look homeless!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLf55uJ95k9VZSbkdnXOSqu9p1s5hy9JrwiSflsYVd2cEYbjFb8lW-tEUYRKi9U5yZIeiDWRo7GgT4GzYbWdtWTZCFARH6KqGj-f3ZvHndyZaircGrPT1kgPm02ULwKKhVG-3Tgycn1M/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_185308_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLf55uJ95k9VZSbkdnXOSqu9p1s5hy9JrwiSflsYVd2cEYbjFb8lW-tEUYRKi9U5yZIeiDWRo7GgT4GzYbWdtWTZCFARH6KqGj-f3ZvHndyZaircGrPT1kgPm02ULwKKhVG-3Tgycn1M/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_185308_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusk over Lijiang rooftops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_PWE687jx44u4v9LutFzAQg2ldiBvmVnwSjQ7ipb6ZC-JCQJNqRI53eCby7w_cYpLvU9Avn3cZ11jFPuJ8_zpGPDgJhDHGDKMIk0dEYWTVGRozUgEI8PANS9eFJDsDxoqG1Zi-H6nhQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_195839_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_PWE687jx44u4v9LutFzAQg2ldiBvmVnwSjQ7ipb6ZC-JCQJNqRI53eCby7w_cYpLvU9Avn3cZ11jFPuJ8_zpGPDgJhDHGDKMIk0dEYWTVGRozUgEI8PANS9eFJDsDxoqG1Zi-H6nhQ/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_195839_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For dinner, the three of us went to a restaurant our hostel owner recommended, called Daily Fresh. You can tell it's legit because there was a huge line of people waiting outside at all times. We waited forever. And were rewarded with the most delicious meal EVER. There were a ton of local Yunnan specialties, which included some braised tofu and bacon things. And a very authentic-looking wooden rice bucket (I'd like those boys to still think I could be tour guide now....)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgeLrFkvYrEfEyF1MXDqeo-0qW_sxJuz_70JcA4a_Uf2159a6wi0rbKbB_XYYQj5VOS7awHAFLgbxHDHnIgeEcZ0i-P5XBUD6_fcssiF_1fq9jsV23drFZm85Z6B0iUanex2ZAapdqkg/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160725_203301_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgeLrFkvYrEfEyF1MXDqeo-0qW_sxJuz_70JcA4a_Uf2159a6wi0rbKbB_XYYQj5VOS7awHAFLgbxHDHnIgeEcZ0i-P5XBUD6_fcssiF_1fq9jsV23drFZm85Z6B0iUanex2ZAapdqkg/s640/thumb_IMG_20160725_203301_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nightfall - they light the buildings up, in true tourist-pleasing form</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>After two days in Lijiang, I hauled myself back to Kunming to catch a flight I had previously booked to Hong Kong. If I'd had more time though (THEME OF MY ENTIRE TRIP), there are so many cool places I could have explored in Yunnan! Near Lijiang is this stunning hiking gorge called Tiger Leaping Gorge (with a name like that, how could it not be life-changing), and then even further on is the city of Shangri-La! Which is apparently beautiful and mountainous and like being in Tibet, without actually being in Tibet. Side note, did you know China does not let you enter Tibet by yourself if you're a foreigner?? They make you join an approved tour. It's like North Korea. Crazy.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtRWq7yiyWl3BHPEAks3Vb7krBZfILViIkpC1eZGh1ByVeB0CYkzAxEhspVR9ZLvFt24jXJrGSqeJlWOTLhsPllVX86pLS3UPNDmzbhDhkEXzkmY71Yeth0i7A6xcvI_i_XOaq6KNe9U/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160726_194503_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJtRWq7yiyWl3BHPEAks3Vb7krBZfILViIkpC1eZGh1ByVeB0CYkzAxEhspVR9ZLvFt24jXJrGSqeJlWOTLhsPllVX86pLS3UPNDmzbhDhkEXzkmY71Yeth0i7A6xcvI_i_XOaq6KNe9U/s640/thumb_IMG_20160726_194503_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhh, the overnight bus back to Kunming was an upgrade! They had three rows of single beds, instead of having you sleep THISCLOSE to a stranger right next to you. Never mind that the aisles between the beds were basically the narrowest things ever - like once you entered the aisle, there was no turning back. Literally.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
I feel like here, I have to bid farewell to the Yunnan province as a whole since it's my last post here. All I have to say is: you have to visit this province if you're in China! It feels absolutely nothing like the rest of China, and the places you see and visit and go are such different experiences and so, so different! There are a TON more backpackers in this part of China than I've encountered anywhere else (seriously, every other hostel I've stayed at in China had a very weird, Chinese-only kind of vibe) - and the hostels are much more like the hostels you'll find in other parts of the world. Also, if you come here in summer, you will not melt. You will in the rest of China. Really.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Bye, Yunnan! Bye moto taxis and beautiful ethnic tribes (DIVERSITY) and cool weather and backpacker-friendliness! </div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-46145208938811310632016-08-06T04:36:00.002-07:002016-09-16T18:53:19.112-07:00Dali, China: We Get Our Faces Painted Onto ShirtsI'm coming home. It's official. For anyone who might have been concerned that I was never coming home (valid concern) or losing sleep over this, I have my ticket in hand (a.k.a. in my email inbox). It's been slightly delayed, I know, but it had to be done. Oh, the date btw, is August 27th. See you all then?<br />
<br />
Anyways, back to the scheduled programming - onto the city of Dali! Emma and I headed there together from Yuanyang, which took an entire day of travel.<br />
<br />
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Dali is another city in the province of Yunnan - it borders a beautiful lake and has nearby mountains to hike, and is also known to be one of those incredibly lovely backpacker hubs: the old city has more trendy cafes, wifi availability, massage parlors, and chillout spots than you know what to do with. My Lonely P says that Dali is a great place to relax and while away a week - it just has one of those vibes. I've noticed a trend that anytime somewhere is a "popular backpackers' hangout place", I tend to looooove it. Always. Against my will. Dali was no exception.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCUiAdpkjs7nDF2M1MYDwIFY4zD6EYgIdqUkYasjf6GLpE9APbdNx6oIW7yUv6kISCQZS4P_av0DyTyVY8yH4QJwtVogfY2Os1KDRUzoyR6VPfjF3841sD9eNF9z8WZgFhh4bd35UylY/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_180257_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVCUiAdpkjs7nDF2M1MYDwIFY4zD6EYgIdqUkYasjf6GLpE9APbdNx6oIW7yUv6kISCQZS4P_av0DyTyVY8yH4QJwtVogfY2Os1KDRUzoyR6VPfjF3841sD9eNF9z8WZgFhh4bd35UylY/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_180257_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">YOU'RE DRIZZLY. I DON'T LIKE YOU. Ugh, except I do.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
It SHOULD have been an exception though, because it literally nonstop rained the entire two days we were there! Despite the drizzly weather and constantly frizzy hair, however, Emma and I still managed to have a great time: we spent a day in the old city, and spend a day touring nearby Erhai Lake.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Our transport from the Yuanyang terraces included: an hour-long ride on a minivan to the main city of Xinjie, a 2.5-hour minibus from Xinjie to Nansha, a 2-hour minibus from Nansha to Jianshui, a moto taxi from the bus station in Jianshui to the long-distance train station, then to cap it all off: a 12-hour overnight train from Jianshui to Dali. To be fair, I think I could have just taken a 7-hour bus back to Kunming and then a 5-hour bus to Dali, which would have been maaaybe a little less involved, but it was already too late by that point. I also may have forgotten that I'd left my large backpack in Kunming at my hostel and had only brought a small daypack to Yuanyang - I realized too late that I'd have to make do with the contents of the daypack for the rest of the week, since I was bypassing Kunming. Oops.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpeuntNwP4usj-hoooeAn_2Jozd7BvH2SIQ9AicvRyjUQBNsTyO189PP5uj-6idcGLOau6ivN5PrLjf-UA1vABI1VgwlP146QREyIxViRcZxmG5W09DfPi2GreZSmduIBdUYtsy_ak-M/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_190125_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmpeuntNwP4usj-hoooeAn_2Jozd7BvH2SIQ9AicvRyjUQBNsTyO189PP5uj-6idcGLOau6ivN5PrLjf-UA1vABI1VgwlP146QREyIxViRcZxmG5W09DfPi2GreZSmduIBdUYtsy_ak-M/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_190125_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our overnight train to Dali! The one way you know you're not traveling with Parks anymore? We booked a cheaper bed (the hard sleeper), where the bunk beds are stacked in three's on top of each other. And some of the bunks don't have doors.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuOQp1hpePEGMSK1DTQUDYMJxWlnycC8fVkxNk6AgrfnmzoS_DO5iOyxJvYxe_5nSGaj85Zsjfv2Ah2lOpuMy1nDZ3mIiojhGnsTY36g8UNjhxWUiJPgkMt1L3PKfR5T0WojIO_akCqs/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_190905_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuOQp1hpePEGMSK1DTQUDYMJxWlnycC8fVkxNk6AgrfnmzoS_DO5iOyxJvYxe_5nSGaj85Zsjfv2Ah2lOpuMy1nDZ3mIiojhGnsTY36g8UNjhxWUiJPgkMt1L3PKfR5T0WojIO_akCqs/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_190905_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our evening dinner of delicious ramen noodles. In China, ramen noodles are EVERYwhere - they're sold in all the shops, and there's hot water dispensers everywhere you can imagine: train stations, on the train, in airports, at transit stops, everywhere. And they're super delicious. Not just Cup o'Noodles - but tons of flavors and tastes and types and included extras! Loveeeee.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImnW91yfaYqatJ6tu4ePVF8l1xzB0O9HD4Jn-xSD6if_B2XcDVU4kvCLpCVlfyLb8HCtlWjROOBOB9ptSvH9wgZ-IRqx3FQo4ymB9Gyz8AQmFMtC7WDKwOvyiZoKDPGhQ0zKwThw9gxA/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_185523_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImnW91yfaYqatJ6tu4ePVF8l1xzB0O9HD4Jn-xSD6if_B2XcDVU4kvCLpCVlfyLb8HCtlWjROOBOB9ptSvH9wgZ-IRqx3FQo4ymB9Gyz8AQmFMtC7WDKwOvyiZoKDPGhQ0zKwThw9gxA/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_185523_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And of course, Emma and I both got stuck with top bunks! Where you have to basically monkey-climb over the bottom two bunks and you can't sit up because there's not enough room between the bed and ceiling. Living the dream.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We arrived in Dali in the early AM to a constant, steady drizzle of rain. After checking in at our hostel, Emma and I headed out to wander the Old City. We spent the day wandering in and out of the shops, cafes, and adorable sights of the center. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNs-5DOouip9YVyFenyl5LD_s1MxqrLmWsTDhyphenhyphenx51pDrNw0XZnz1b95K_RC6ZSSBxN-M_0QW7OxTUhWQzPaX52MX4LfFEgcm9dLbOnuIfIwVF_h3vheKUJCSyM08ZuackPtsqj5ouFdo/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_114745_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqNs-5DOouip9YVyFenyl5LD_s1MxqrLmWsTDhyphenhyphenx51pDrNw0XZnz1b95K_RC6ZSSBxN-M_0QW7OxTUhWQzPaX52MX4LfFEgcm9dLbOnuIfIwVF_h3vheKUJCSyM08ZuackPtsqj5ouFdo/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_114745_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">How cute is the old town of Dali!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBN3qJtri2D_6-1MklEeu2gJy9BgNqEIJLPm9Ie0q1DQwfSG2SGTeIuscRWghQ7KOXitMba9z8HnOCOXlkEBxuHWiDRQrZy3l0qna28PbpemsZxVxoW2jceQJZTmrcYFd0MVhxUwoBIs/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_115145_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMBN3qJtri2D_6-1MklEeu2gJy9BgNqEIJLPm9Ie0q1DQwfSG2SGTeIuscRWghQ7KOXitMba9z8HnOCOXlkEBxuHWiDRQrZy3l0qna28PbpemsZxVxoW2jceQJZTmrcYFd0MVhxUwoBIs/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_115145_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">There were a lot of fancy tea shops (Yunnan is the home of Pu'er tea), and this man treated us to a tea tasting. It was crazy-involved, like there was a very specific number of steepings for each kind of tea, and lots of little silver hardware and tools and such. Tea can be so fancy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H6Nmu774tFCbonaOdrRObGhJVeu7YvC20N2bnCZxbPx8NgEQGf4vxlpea86XUqij_cKmeIWxjhqMrMXQ4FOMr_IX7CTJKoZ2V5iuTkQ1T5uvki0UPB59OlVt58KCOOnBl37tWfbTt_A/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_133320_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2H6Nmu774tFCbonaOdrRObGhJVeu7YvC20N2bnCZxbPx8NgEQGf4vxlpea86XUqij_cKmeIWxjhqMrMXQ4FOMr_IX7CTJKoZ2V5iuTkQ1T5uvki0UPB59OlVt58KCOOnBl37tWfbTt_A/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_133320_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rainy-day ponchos in front of one of the city entrance gates</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jYY_UHH5ZxB5Cfn5aApoiuZqD-AEkJPvgRMThqNelzK8X8yl5ticm9c3dsYWGNJVHJJQEB5fdQ6XAOy3yXmof2e3eb7gvQczkcpuQdZsBehLYpt2n2TEITgmyGmpSFJCaMh3qL1M9s0/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_140247_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jYY_UHH5ZxB5Cfn5aApoiuZqD-AEkJPvgRMThqNelzK8X8yl5ticm9c3dsYWGNJVHJJQEB5fdQ6XAOy3yXmof2e3eb7gvQczkcpuQdZsBehLYpt2n2TEITgmyGmpSFJCaMh3qL1M9s0/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_140247_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">These guys are hammering patterns into metal bracelets with tiny nails</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi9DB3T7d2DDo0WHx7W5pLNQz3cAhWb7K-pADakx2G7WuPf3TyaZWUHCxtlihRqRQH2ohhHf4DT6isOdzEVNLoDdAR9dJR680FaKXtG4Jvo_e_FfTPJlQ1SVwHjH5AbbV6dLm37AHl98/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_140713_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmi9DB3T7d2DDo0WHx7W5pLNQz3cAhWb7K-pADakx2G7WuPf3TyaZWUHCxtlihRqRQH2ohhHf4DT6isOdzEVNLoDdAR9dJR680FaKXtG4Jvo_e_FfTPJlQ1SVwHjH5AbbV6dLm37AHl98/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_140713_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Assortment of lotus flowers and pods for sale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtxZgp88R3dmy0WKboxprnsrVs86Ez1vo7aG6ac3rKAz39N2TGl-g7_0eYjQFLK4cuh-th8rFeDKF0kq85q17sBYoV-lNyIB4bDVg1xRbeVmqYhYdAWPAHtnRcGWquLnu-g8bcA2ksk4/s1600/thumb_IMG_0479_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLtxZgp88R3dmy0WKboxprnsrVs86Ez1vo7aG6ac3rKAz39N2TGl-g7_0eYjQFLK4cuh-th8rFeDKF0kq85q17sBYoV-lNyIB4bDVg1xRbeVmqYhYdAWPAHtnRcGWquLnu-g8bcA2ksk4/s640/thumb_IMG_0479_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This area is well-known for its flowers - they collect roses and do everything with it: stick it into tea, infuse it in honey, sell it in bunches, etc. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKcX18eAJmjTWtK9-z5L6-PmcRWZW0n_ZvgIaUnrpZKfKIczSXTYJ3HoZcLii3tqToFbLS1HE4Dgg3fJMpKM73TKl_Fk1t625e98dD3DMmHZI1ZhSuLkTnsX4nEohEz9yoWXkU7iYBts/s1600/thumb_IMG_0478_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKcX18eAJmjTWtK9-z5L6-PmcRWZW0n_ZvgIaUnrpZKfKIczSXTYJ3HoZcLii3tqToFbLS1HE4Dgg3fJMpKM73TKl_Fk1t625e98dD3DMmHZI1ZhSuLkTnsX4nEohEz9yoWXkU7iYBts/s640/thumb_IMG_0478_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This lady is filling pastries with rose petals! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oN5NBWY16df6gl42BjI3Tw1McYbcnTDJaNSXqC78SwXYk-vehoBWM6m4Iwtd93AJnm2xO9DuL-SDJ8ZSuc2pe07drkaiI6722rjm6wissPjfiaV9P1v_QaNuCC_gfBsYeNgCrkPa5Zg/s1600/thumb_IMG_0476_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oN5NBWY16df6gl42BjI3Tw1McYbcnTDJaNSXqC78SwXYk-vehoBWM6m4Iwtd93AJnm2xO9DuL-SDJ8ZSuc2pe07drkaiI6722rjm6wissPjfiaV9P1v_QaNuCC_gfBsYeNgCrkPa5Zg/s640/thumb_IMG_0476_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Here are the little rose-stuffed pastry cakes! I bought a box. It was weird. Like eating mouthfuls of flowers. Which I guess it was.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFcp10m25lfy_v9L3yevuu2L72ziB6Vrmk6CTqXB1F819OzMjbK-hr83vR9ozHByzTyjxdnG3E5El-xcpyTO-ROqGLIiFyZ9ejvRyiLIgT35Z2yyz0Pp2ZkJ6ddAsvyKfefKb8E_HxFs/s1600/thumb_IMG_0470_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFcp10m25lfy_v9L3yevuu2L72ziB6Vrmk6CTqXB1F819OzMjbK-hr83vR9ozHByzTyjxdnG3E5El-xcpyTO-ROqGLIiFyZ9ejvRyiLIgT35Z2yyz0Pp2ZkJ6ddAsvyKfefKb8E_HxFs/s640/thumb_IMG_0470_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBRqEy_CrIUrPy1WIE-gMWLm1oOZiKaJsFx1xDRQj7vc5sryYN4qn0NA1SAAPCnB-7Q3sJfY8yUtHg-t85XiZgQxl3Ig4PbT_0_n4JWfHZ3ZbcZsoCtRyC-3LgJFUQpHCgQ4E_B_HmRI/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_165407_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We love Dali!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBRqEy_CrIUrPy1WIE-gMWLm1oOZiKaJsFx1xDRQj7vc5sryYN4qn0NA1SAAPCnB-7Q3sJfY8yUtHg-t85XiZgQxl3Ig4PbT_0_n4JWfHZ3ZbcZsoCtRyC-3LgJFUQpHCgQ4E_B_HmRI/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_165407_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzBRqEy_CrIUrPy1WIE-gMWLm1oOZiKaJsFx1xDRQj7vc5sryYN4qn0NA1SAAPCnB-7Q3sJfY8yUtHg-t85XiZgQxl3Ig4PbT_0_n4JWfHZ3ZbcZsoCtRyC-3LgJFUQpHCgQ4E_B_HmRI/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_165407_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3T8EgdMkTjywB_luMjy0pzloLkUqb3MwDG8DiYVL9DdJslaSfGhVY8MjX_nnFODJvESVOvkLLoOEViTIyzb1GRsZ8yCgfYtMXxFjb8RufyFiLVOApkpX3NgTW-gXjz2tr0N1mqw0Akg/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_165541_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib3T8EgdMkTjywB_luMjy0pzloLkUqb3MwDG8DiYVL9DdJslaSfGhVY8MjX_nnFODJvESVOvkLLoOEViTIyzb1GRsZ8yCgfYtMXxFjb8RufyFiLVOApkpX3NgTW-gXjz2tr0N1mqw0Akg/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_165541_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sounds delicious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1WQQ2_9C3TezyVmKd74ZXmivq3ZkKJR4GOjQBQZagCGa8a19LGEwhfDmWFhN65gD3JGT_6Qp5IH4djXUrJnNm-KV4Wn2oKK0NzAkZIvqNSUgXjFivyVl4b2Xa5_hkZDzzOCI82R5zFA/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_170019_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK1WQQ2_9C3TezyVmKd74ZXmivq3ZkKJR4GOjQBQZagCGa8a19LGEwhfDmWFhN65gD3JGT_6Qp5IH4djXUrJnNm-KV4Wn2oKK0NzAkZIvqNSUgXjFivyVl4b2Xa5_hkZDzzOCI82R5zFA/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_170019_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">All the pedestrian walkways are filled with willow trees and leafy plants and rivers and adorable shops</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZI-MYaCk7B4YDNFswkEtQAACy9xFlozX5DgVb2TqeKcC900YNWeBJYKtSG49ckGEkTtsB-5Rlqrb02OFTnXHiJMlHjk3zamQEGx7lJHp-t9x7vO4fOlDbtHTBrzWFmNgY_F3yi7NTxLc/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_163909_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZI-MYaCk7B4YDNFswkEtQAACy9xFlozX5DgVb2TqeKcC900YNWeBJYKtSG49ckGEkTtsB-5Rlqrb02OFTnXHiJMlHjk3zamQEGx7lJHp-t9x7vO4fOlDbtHTBrzWFmNgY_F3yi7NTxLc/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_163909_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lotus flowers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKalD0YQ3Iw7GfkF5Ma-QxBpunj1CMfAh8EuKhqt2wPMU09N7tsftGYW5qH7cM6_PgfMcZ9_tvZNPhpjXuXALHtF4w2IaB3aKw2XWqcNXasyRYuw5qHcq3ap17uK6T4KPgAI524gfE9K0/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_163825_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKalD0YQ3Iw7GfkF5Ma-QxBpunj1CMfAh8EuKhqt2wPMU09N7tsftGYW5qH7cM6_PgfMcZ9_tvZNPhpjXuXALHtF4w2IaB3aKw2XWqcNXasyRYuw5qHcq3ap17uK6T4KPgAI524gfE9K0/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_163825_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And in pink!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WIzoUEfeu_njYCxJEKyO1clw9Rsxg4W2nmMBjOnk9SU-fsWn3MKeBylPkFXF9kv726UVhCJ0OpQpgvzRVdI1l5fO0aekyo0NwiskHQFH5noQBvtS52pbY4S7sCbcjdH8IFfXABZQ1Qs/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_163946_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0WIzoUEfeu_njYCxJEKyO1clw9Rsxg4W2nmMBjOnk9SU-fsWn3MKeBylPkFXF9kv726UVhCJ0OpQpgvzRVdI1l5fO0aekyo0NwiskHQFH5noQBvtS52pbY4S7sCbcjdH8IFfXABZQ1Qs/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_163946_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dali has prettiness everywhere, seriously</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4c6FpbQzD9FoRC_J3xsvfB3uZvySysDlhyphenhyphenZUfr78rjo-tgP1VlopfjyzhnsT2kVLeN1F0kQoGRJZbxqVrZz86w8xAISdJOdW_-tmOKK1K4A1_jxuGTnY_JV36hYmAYRWoWEzX4mlxEQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_165211_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy4c6FpbQzD9FoRC_J3xsvfB3uZvySysDlhyphenhyphenZUfr78rjo-tgP1VlopfjyzhnsT2kVLeN1F0kQoGRJZbxqVrZz86w8xAISdJOdW_-tmOKK1K4A1_jxuGTnY_JV36hYmAYRWoWEzX4mlxEQ/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_165211_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A restaurant/bar that I liked the look of</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHlAxOUq0Le-iS5n_upQrEUWRf0cN4sjrkG7HZ-J4sb0pPS3ZdDq5J6Hv1SDlpuXpF-o2owQPPxKpzB39hV3afQ7VW_7IY7zDSadZsHHND_bPIkmf4Yv9eZlIGTrH9exqfIQBUeaJ81Y/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_180245_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A store that sells matching shirts for couples. THIS is where they come from!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilHlAxOUq0Le-iS5n_upQrEUWRf0cN4sjrkG7HZ-J4sb0pPS3ZdDq5J6Hv1SDlpuXpF-o2owQPPxKpzB39hV3afQ7VW_7IY7zDSadZsHHND_bPIkmf4Yv9eZlIGTrH9exqfIQBUeaJ81Y/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_180245_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2o-Zsi8LPe9HMH5ID2nqdbCzfzD2y8x1JaGUsgWZ_Z7xtBhQOgBP5vwDFVDv_Mpr4EqJb70ZMl3GD6NXgFfjdYNgU39OETixhs0P0bPzCYwfNeF-jeufPNeN_ifahKvt8qax5kBsicg/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_180744_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2o-Zsi8LPe9HMH5ID2nqdbCzfzD2y8x1JaGUsgWZ_Z7xtBhQOgBP5vwDFVDv_Mpr4EqJb70ZMl3GD6NXgFfjdYNgU39OETixhs0P0bPzCYwfNeF-jeufPNeN_ifahKvt8qax5kBsicg/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_180744_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pretty decorative rivers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DY4yqVrJuf8T0aUMo6uRSjqXFTc9ZzHsN6Ov9xm5Wz8jvX2HX8k_UkaQg77jZRJrNZ5fSBslvZ2nx_jMPqkUbyTDBjCrPR55xlcrYLJXbXLEx_I3OWYB3A20-SrjifNA5CNKu6Bq5IQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0494_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DY4yqVrJuf8T0aUMo6uRSjqXFTc9ZzHsN6Ov9xm5Wz8jvX2HX8k_UkaQg77jZRJrNZ5fSBslvZ2nx_jMPqkUbyTDBjCrPR55xlcrYLJXbXLEx_I3OWYB3A20-SrjifNA5CNKu6Bq5IQ/s640/thumb_IMG_0494_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then Emma and I found ourselves in one of those shops that can paint you, either as a caricature or in real life. We were standing there wondering whose face you would get painted on a shirt which the worker misunderstood to mean that <i>we</i> were interested in having our faces painted onto shirts. He offered us a great deal and we looked at each other and were like "Hey. Why don't we get shirts painted with our faces on them?" And a genius idea was born.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV02ko0Ca9o1PLjDipfAC8QAwNJQtWAdnTzNs5zV7hPVP4Sstkus5ztmTB8aj71gWGB0p96t16jp0aYRZsoUNRYOU0mlX7r9GPCcVQONiRitndii4RFtNRlGF20K_EzNHsxmKfPfF8ZfA/s1600/thumb_IMG_0495_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV02ko0Ca9o1PLjDipfAC8QAwNJQtWAdnTzNs5zV7hPVP4Sstkus5ztmTB8aj71gWGB0p96t16jp0aYRZsoUNRYOU0mlX7r9GPCcVQONiRitndii4RFtNRlGF20K_EzNHsxmKfPfF8ZfA/s640/thumb_IMG_0495_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The artists offered to paint us in real life (i.e. rainy hot messes with no makeup on), or work off a photo. We both chose a photo (the only one each of us had was our WeChat profile photos with our hair and makeup done), which the artists looked at, then looked back at us, as if not really believing they were the same people. THANKS GUYS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RPd-QoRT-UeKMvGbUY85fTdSleR13E6UMou7NgsvPdYMDM9OmAtP1K_Q6g1SuobuNOBPb0QnD0xJuaGG0LyUtJmiGggMHm3WLTvMfDbivRuDUqisAfB3nH_nebujE3IVEaMsoV5U76U/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160723_170123_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RPd-QoRT-UeKMvGbUY85fTdSleR13E6UMou7NgsvPdYMDM9OmAtP1K_Q6g1SuobuNOBPb0QnD0xJuaGG0LyUtJmiGggMHm3WLTvMfDbivRuDUqisAfB3nH_nebujE3IVEaMsoV5U76U/s640/thumb_IMG_20160723_170123_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A scenic shot exiting the old town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day, Emma and I joined a tour to drive us around Erhai Lake, which borders Dali. There are tons of cute little minority villages and scenic views along the way (though most of them were pretty foggy the day we went, due to the rain). </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4i8jlz93OoxhqzRzAV2SHz7kOo2tH0bOWSYDRopCl6x6uA5hStq_sB0Gys52Z15oMGuh1Q1v-06yAwjks7G7TX18ybNl20x5g6tVh78P3ZfI6cAMM4w48JPqQPc6bqrldZAG1erqlVHM/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_103949_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4i8jlz93OoxhqzRzAV2SHz7kOo2tH0bOWSYDRopCl6x6uA5hStq_sB0Gys52Z15oMGuh1Q1v-06yAwjks7G7TX18ybNl20x5g6tVh78P3ZfI6cAMM4w48JPqQPc6bqrldZAG1erqlVHM/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_103949_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our first stop was a minority Bai village market! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbA80-_0R5ghRl-b-WW9wQWXW92T32znQei19W0BlY9ikydycVjG849SLMBQvOmMGKhFvL3LcJpam3QtVnL0F24k6atJnltZCBotHODLHEiITFqGpWAMsfAk9CZQ18MRwzBUunRyF4exc/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_104810_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbA80-_0R5ghRl-b-WW9wQWXW92T32znQei19W0BlY9ikydycVjG849SLMBQvOmMGKhFvL3LcJpam3QtVnL0F24k6atJnltZCBotHODLHEiITFqGpWAMsfAk9CZQ18MRwzBUunRyF4exc/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_104810_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So many veggies, including my fave, eggplants! LOOK HOW MASSIVE AND PURPLE THEY ARE HERE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHbuhCJg6XGFS9tI6jkdJ8NSDnHvwKYxzL_njgHO69b6g5uoEVv-KIOrdZL3iaGZzAL1teZRVJ_UvFVKmZ67xAeEjGlT5h_TVLA3MIVm9-u5e-8jway5781kpUy6eX3h7fzWyytfiNFg/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_104903_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHbuhCJg6XGFS9tI6jkdJ8NSDnHvwKYxzL_njgHO69b6g5uoEVv-KIOrdZL3iaGZzAL1teZRVJ_UvFVKmZ67xAeEjGlT5h_TVLA3MIVm9-u5e-8jway5781kpUy6eX3h7fzWyytfiNFg/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_104903_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This lady was selling tiny fishes in tiny pans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZlhRdeJv19fHQPrIh4FhrXuG72sXRMwqOuVdVbHw4wnGJdENoQsVZRXbi47wCd_8exTzQaPeC2gDgHmUKUXyAWaWgZlcSGbH1kmFxLor4OIyTuPnC2jtYHp92o3hjRA6xtFY-R3a8o8/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_105443_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZlhRdeJv19fHQPrIh4FhrXuG72sXRMwqOuVdVbHw4wnGJdENoQsVZRXbi47wCd_8exTzQaPeC2gDgHmUKUXyAWaWgZlcSGbH1kmFxLor4OIyTuPnC2jtYHp92o3hjRA6xtFY-R3a8o8/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_105443_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrW8Mv7KPkeCsbwE1UlCXecNC4TpJgsCdUatNQ5H74y_XfZEG_UsUvzN-mk5VHBJ4_UOk2wtLP5brf-G8VphSIMsS_FJoZ3fpHLYDDQPAycUbFqJXTPT7ablI3yRLJWNOPbUccs5geqk/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_111537_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrW8Mv7KPkeCsbwE1UlCXecNC4TpJgsCdUatNQ5H74y_XfZEG_UsUvzN-mk5VHBJ4_UOk2wtLP5brf-G8VphSIMsS_FJoZ3fpHLYDDQPAycUbFqJXTPT7ablI3yRLJWNOPbUccs5geqk/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_111537_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Walking through the village, there was a super interesting mix of old structures and new</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1cGz6wkzCRNH4AIFTMTLrLWijul1H_wpd_2etg_U9KtrzeD9pxAJKCyzpS1yvqJ5EvpUb3Z7Ynq27qp7R9XpUXOJQt5nlY0ep-plmechd96SL8arY8IgOMULfAgqn95ICr1YSSWcXds/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_103551_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga1cGz6wkzCRNH4AIFTMTLrLWijul1H_wpd_2etg_U9KtrzeD9pxAJKCyzpS1yvqJ5EvpUb3Z7Ynq27qp7R9XpUXOJQt5nlY0ep-plmechd96SL8arY8IgOMULfAgqn95ICr1YSSWcXds/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_103551_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This local tribe uses a head brace to carry their goods</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5iXJl8XELO5dnnvGdl7e8_hgmv0gGcZxbYlbTudGqp4XA7h11SNcekVgekVmoPJtqaWzd4X-VL83hp1dgtuiVj6OUjDODPh8Kt2k58yEngtDBwZRj8Tzo63AKlCnfXxeCpREshF863w/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_111653_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5iXJl8XELO5dnnvGdl7e8_hgmv0gGcZxbYlbTudGqp4XA7h11SNcekVgekVmoPJtqaWzd4X-VL83hp1dgtuiVj6OUjDODPh8Kt2k58yEngtDBwZRj8Tzo63AKlCnfXxeCpREshF863w/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_111653_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Like this. This is a super-old house, which has been preserved over the centuries. But when we went inside, they'd filled the inside of it with souvenir stalls. At least the architecture is still intact!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpLhq830tMKA91mCWzFsI14supPacBgxFzyvQYz9I145ekO5LKUNJdiKWNrBVmMb_ul3Gc1llmI2YTMIoUi3-8_kbB24ir8FutTeobMs-HmrtztxgthpYFLi0kbd-mX7naqWR2chAIvI/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_113036_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihpLhq830tMKA91mCWzFsI14supPacBgxFzyvQYz9I145ekO5LKUNJdiKWNrBVmMb_ul3Gc1llmI2YTMIoUi3-8_kbB24ir8FutTeobMs-HmrtztxgthpYFLi0kbd-mX7naqWR2chAIvI/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_113036_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pretty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWKJ4uQkkVq9GJoIo79wPG9CmTfodHQDfxlN3pw9uF2iQG5IW4LbqTh6uYBJ9EVmnf70MGi8fRaCS7DnlWp4oJUxYBS9yzcGQ6azNOfcnvNhSaInOhtRUUFljIWHHVBVbK6Ghg8VOZzQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_113106_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghWKJ4uQkkVq9GJoIo79wPG9CmTfodHQDfxlN3pw9uF2iQG5IW4LbqTh6uYBJ9EVmnf70MGi8fRaCS7DnlWp4oJUxYBS9yzcGQ6azNOfcnvNhSaInOhtRUUFljIWHHVBVbK6Ghg8VOZzQ/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_113106_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Uhhh how adorable are these boys - I think they were enthralled with the foreigners outside but too scared to come out</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-xQUlsfVPjGKUmZjVDFjqPz94CaJk5cYasLlDqQSjFZKM93zwJr3JYhUS6o5GJf9YlPDPC6VmopTpdIaCOsmK4zbn_uaz-fU_EcbEp-gw6tq-2B7EQbPufGLGnmBv7LucBcni5KGRFY/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_114745_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib-xQUlsfVPjGKUmZjVDFjqPz94CaJk5cYasLlDqQSjFZKM93zwJr3JYhUS6o5GJf9YlPDPC6VmopTpdIaCOsmK4zbn_uaz-fU_EcbEp-gw6tq-2B7EQbPufGLGnmBv7LucBcni5KGRFY/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_114745_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our next stop was a local Bai textile factory - where they tie-dyed fabric. The batik print they create is very well-known in this area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5N5QhQmzMbThFTzrhitALPlZ5R3w1e9MbVVTEDzB_ETciCCt53PJqMDECexM7XYMShsUVlCgEx8mk-xlT7pa5lSewMvCeNDpcodGsZ5_lqa5PZ-VneLtkq67Tq3U-h5ff7osst4CZZQ/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347251072_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC5N5QhQmzMbThFTzrhitALPlZ5R3w1e9MbVVTEDzB_ETciCCt53PJqMDECexM7XYMShsUVlCgEx8mk-xlT7pa5lSewMvCeNDpcodGsZ5_lqa5PZ-VneLtkq67Tq3U-h5ff7osst4CZZQ/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347251072_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">OF COURSE WE WORE OUR FACE SHIRTS SIGHTSEEING FOR THE DAY.<br />
These are the batik prints the local ladies dye! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0dvQ_xk-BmE6P3E4XX5qAhfSxcwQoufdSIKQL84D9uSzUTFq5Uh9MlekNFOUHm44nDxU2n9SPwYW6-pDh8qqW-8eejV2F2yuL1q20lzod7bIrnABSs7oULiRVyka_cI3oaPLYrNJjqo/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347248115_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0dvQ_xk-BmE6P3E4XX5qAhfSxcwQoufdSIKQL84D9uSzUTFq5Uh9MlekNFOUHm44nDxU2n9SPwYW6-pDh8qqW-8eejV2F2yuL1q20lzod7bIrnABSs7oULiRVyka_cI3oaPLYrNJjqo/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347248115_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I also tried on a local hat. The lady tried very hard to sell it to me. Only afterwards did we find out this type of hat is a man's hat. (uhhh that is NOT what the tassels say, people)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_seyNMS69HEtr_rs2xFX8TA3q-vMj8-iyHY2pJE3E6dEneFeyKMQVhp7Tdy5yEUzBhMtnyxS_Z5RYz8Umfad3aRfaF5PiGMRdf64MyZkladx6wsjjfhSzhdYnSbhi4OkEBE1haICq7s4/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347272168_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_seyNMS69HEtr_rs2xFX8TA3q-vMj8-iyHY2pJE3E6dEneFeyKMQVhp7Tdy5yEUzBhMtnyxS_Z5RYz8Umfad3aRfaF5PiGMRdf64MyZkladx6wsjjfhSzhdYnSbhi4OkEBE1haICq7s4/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347272168_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Finally, we made it to the lake! This is a pretty overlook of one of the towns next to the lake.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmp7cX5J_vKbJEy3xq5QjpgUtbawANYA6NebopinvYMQjaFhnN9Ej2D7qwDrC0EdPumYkF6MAT4_VGp4D3lsDLT6-OAFv8_dhX63Ufdz6yOmAyR01zX14T1bbN3fqYTB2BzDAMw7RbzE/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347277334_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitmp7cX5J_vKbJEy3xq5QjpgUtbawANYA6NebopinvYMQjaFhnN9Ej2D7qwDrC0EdPumYkF6MAT4_VGp4D3lsDLT6-OAFv8_dhX63Ufdz6yOmAyR01zX14T1bbN3fqYTB2BzDAMw7RbzE/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347277334_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">These were the people on our tour for the day - besides Emma, there was Sophie (from China), and Chen (from China, but studying abroad in Indiana at the moment)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLqBez3A2ghNL9jY9bsPWg3BbhlD7Lnfa-M_vJVTlhPhOMgilD_tOk_XMeBxn3pGgMDd05rviftlEE8p9-j4Hl4lPINDYeE3Gs_sIcMs5UC7LDijmcuIzWSWVHBXrIZdIeBf64mEPdnA/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_131407_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLLqBez3A2ghNL9jY9bsPWg3BbhlD7Lnfa-M_vJVTlhPhOMgilD_tOk_XMeBxn3pGgMDd05rviftlEE8p9-j4Hl4lPINDYeE3Gs_sIcMs5UC7LDijmcuIzWSWVHBXrIZdIeBf64mEPdnA/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_131407_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I think the views of the lake are usually much more spectacular, when it's not constantly rainy and foggy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7y3-jF5MTSiKppMkR97QBAJ4NJ25aynwKjW3b0U4xz6panJBX27AW0yDrMGs7WwyW2pqWt8oJzxRZ0Jz8dD0oE3ohczSGDicEn3LyNo9_dBC9F3RFum9jCaZd3JVdG-LfqkITinQ_k/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_141758_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7y3-jF5MTSiKppMkR97QBAJ4NJ25aynwKjW3b0U4xz6panJBX27AW0yDrMGs7WwyW2pqWt8oJzxRZ0Jz8dD0oE3ohczSGDicEn3LyNo9_dBC9F3RFum9jCaZd3JVdG-LfqkITinQ_k/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_141758_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">In fact, the entire lake is surrounded by these crazy fancy-new hotels with floor-to-ceiling windows for the rooms.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkmsYQU9zraBictxH13QKZUSSfsu80mKKKM8GPQZIQMmotMDhiWBuK-tC89qw0l0fQNzYrr4CivcpwgRmlj6ouGgrYttYKQnIz9gm3d_NQAN18-2UjUeNx9-VAe_u9UKODwADg5sCIG0/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_141816_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkmsYQU9zraBictxH13QKZUSSfsu80mKKKM8GPQZIQMmotMDhiWBuK-tC89qw0l0fQNzYrr4CivcpwgRmlj6ouGgrYttYKQnIz9gm3d_NQAN18-2UjUeNx9-VAe_u9UKODwADg5sCIG0/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_141816_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tourism is growing SO FAST in this area that new mega-hotels under construction are literally every other building along the lake. There were dozens upon dozens of new hotels coming up (and they look so out-of-place, because there really aren't that many buildings yet). I feel like the lake will look completely different in a couple years.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-WeiuSXFBTIUOuP1SzSny7-hrgCA6aqJbeWAq6chyaaC0wBoclDRrQcoC0GZV_xuYpYJCMldHo90N_CPKD09S4KdoVYDPMuLhGw4xJAd5plKl53ywIBmP_PJ8mNAwuSRt-YK5zR9JNs/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347315130_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC-WeiuSXFBTIUOuP1SzSny7-hrgCA6aqJbeWAq6chyaaC0wBoclDRrQcoC0GZV_xuYpYJCMldHo90N_CPKD09S4KdoVYDPMuLhGw4xJAd5plKl53ywIBmP_PJ8mNAwuSRt-YK5zR9JNs/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347315130_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We stopped by a (very, very rainy) open-air restaurant for lunch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXY38epAcFUux2fVhESeEBwn2jeWPSE-O0shpEb_mcK3tMVSgccCRoSt2iGUIJG7XmcH9JhbV2IRDfNKBGvuExJrMxyaih4rTInbdK_pvB0IeC-bks7YuZl0NNHMNbzJ_Suyw3nRd4RU/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160724_131649_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQXY38epAcFUux2fVhESeEBwn2jeWPSE-O0shpEb_mcK3tMVSgccCRoSt2iGUIJG7XmcH9JhbV2IRDfNKBGvuExJrMxyaih4rTInbdK_pvB0IeC-bks7YuZl0NNHMNbzJ_Suyw3nRd4RU/s640/thumb_IMG_20160724_131649_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The lake is so huge and vast - it took us hours upon hours to drive around it</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRFnfiKkIiRf0SjcJJr7AaghTTV9SF1H1e2-Mzs6P1TLmRThGjUeDELOT3Ozrw0T5ZVBlQkpK6vamEGUOl003mXiKU_Jb1F2Oysafg7lgE7pCceYoS6vzkOT0lFfPYeBtMDYoPWxybHY/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347327385_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsRFnfiKkIiRf0SjcJJr7AaghTTV9SF1H1e2-Mzs6P1TLmRThGjUeDELOT3Ozrw0T5ZVBlQkpK6vamEGUOl003mXiKU_Jb1F2Oysafg7lgE7pCceYoS6vzkOT0lFfPYeBtMDYoPWxybHY/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347327385_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is a tiny famous island with a temple on it that you have to take a boat out to, that I tried to eat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlASZgQ3HjYlxv1XaHIr_5e1EviWDxnl6zdw23Lx-zUwDkvVKH5V6vvil1yl69CBMx_EujGK8_geKsdIDca9NsNQsz4XNjJLDatMgrr7SM_Kpnf0gfVxF-GHo6JFLEmhIny46JjDkefZ0/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347296660_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlASZgQ3HjYlxv1XaHIr_5e1EviWDxnl6zdw23Lx-zUwDkvVKH5V6vvil1yl69CBMx_EujGK8_geKsdIDca9NsNQsz4XNjJLDatMgrr7SM_Kpnf0gfVxF-GHo6JFLEmhIny46JjDkefZ0/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347296660_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">At least we have face shirts to look at, if the scenery isn't gonna do it for us</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DgVUkQFP-YUNBIkrLx7Y4fe0laHI6nk0z5X2z-e7SsyWMv4G_OFeyQJk9zS8KSCNqq3FCcQ6mFsqdP5V3GAw8cvhGYTH1KtE_wP5tptcfE0ASeequptNrXpjP7YRu4o8XH7dwCgBAjY/s1600/thumb_mmexport1469347312418_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DgVUkQFP-YUNBIkrLx7Y4fe0laHI6nk0z5X2z-e7SsyWMv4G_OFeyQJk9zS8KSCNqq3FCcQ6mFsqdP5V3GAw8cvhGYTH1KtE_wP5tptcfE0ASeequptNrXpjP7YRu4o8XH7dwCgBAjY/s640/thumb_mmexport1469347312418_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Group photo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>That evening, sopping wet and wearing shirts of our faces, Emma and I parted ways after two days in Dali - she was headed back to Kunming to fly home to the U.K., while I was on an evening bus farther into Yunnan to the ancient water town of Lijiang. I loved Dali and would have loved to see it when it wasn't raining - I imagine it's probably a million times better when it's not raining 24/7. I guess that just means I'll have to come back someday (oh god, along with a million other places!).</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Moment of the Day:</span><br />
On our way to Dali, we had to transfer in the city of Jianshui from the bus station to the train station - we asked around a couple taxis to see how much it'd be to get a ride to the train station. A moto taxi driver offered us a lower fare than the others - and was clearly enamored with the fact that Emma was a foreigner (no one's ever enamored with me in China, part 34). He said he'd never had a foreigner on his moto taxi before. We negotiated him down a little further, agreed on a price (he said he was giving us a discount because he was so excited about having us on his bike) - and then he eagerly took out his phone and had his moto taxi friends take photos of us on the back of his bike.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLsC42K_SC3TNFp1N6JYkIRbUV32fVgUWEUUqK0WcMq5uLDYMq9yCj8JkaeyTNwVJnHco-GFz4lR-ImE9KKJ1dfcF-btricc4de8_Nrj0qtzcHFflT4NYMi60UpwigZah4quOAHSnJTQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_165228_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLsC42K_SC3TNFp1N6JYkIRbUV32fVgUWEUUqK0WcMq5uLDYMq9yCj8JkaeyTNwVJnHco-GFz4lR-ImE9KKJ1dfcF-btricc4de8_Nrj0qtzcHFflT4NYMi60UpwigZah4quOAHSnJTQ/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_165228_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So. Cute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
On the 15-minute ride to the train station, he asked me so many questions about America - are there mountains? What are the people like? What is the weather like? How are the schools? It was so endearing. He literally knew nothing about the world outside China - just what he'd heard about in movies and on TV, and he was honestly just curious. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On our ride, I also asked him about his family: he has a son and a daughter, and his son was entering middle school - which is when there starts to be an incredibly stressful amount of work. He wanted his kids to learn to speak another language, like I could. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Do you think," he asked on the way, "that America and China are going to war?" The question kind of took me aback, especially because he seemed genuinely concerned. I responded that I didn't think so, or at least it's not a huge immediate concern given there are probably some other larger issues on the horizon for both the countries. "Maybe just a war of money then," he said, laughing. "Ha. Maybe. Probably," I said.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It was just such a great conversation. Such different worlds, just coming together and learning from each other, for a brief motorcycle ride. He was so excited when he dropped us off - he said he was gonna tell his kids that day about the worldly foreign girls from the other side of the world that he'd met that day. It was the sweetest. Love. These are the moments I love the most.</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-18251872881850361332016-08-04T03:01:00.001-07:002016-10-25T06:49:09.154-07:00Yuanyang, China: The Most Beautiful Rice Terraces You'll Ever See<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was casually browsing the titles on the bookshelf of a hostel I was at in Shanghai, when I noticed that they had like 203980329 Lonely Planet China books. So I maybe temporarily borrowed a copy. I borrowed the oldest one, in my defense (it's from 2013 - which in China, where everything's changing so fast, basically means the book may as well be 50 years old and completely obsolete anyway). </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyway, browsing through my stolen Lonely P's Yunnan section, the #1 recommended place to visit were the Yuanyang Rice Terraces. I was kind of like "Meh, I've already seen rice terraces" (first world travel problems), but then I looked up photos and it was <i>stunning</i>. Like rice terraces on crack. So fine, I found myself a bus and hauled myself out there.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yuanyang is an area in the Southeastern part of Yunnan - the entire area is composed of deep valleys and mountainous terrain chock full of GORGEOUS RICE TERRACES. EVERYWHERE. Yuanyang itself really refers to a conglomerate of multiple little villages, which all perch on their own section of rice terraces. The best time to visit Yuanyang is actually in the winter (namely, Dec/Jan), because the rice has been harvested and the terraces are filled with pools of water, which make for gorgeous, reflective photos. I happened to visit in low season (so everything is super green because the rice is actually growing in the terraces) but it was beyond stunning anyhow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichtq3WPZx3cpMi5QIX4iYpRQX7y_GL5yH9OBib8dCQ1cKac_Dy6Bc3qTJBwx0IT37fh4QGHtVskJJJwQ6UZmywDtUDmyDgge3EQr5U-aMYyQndkfLb47IWTt0r-bjFQraJB5xYmDTTu0/s1600/1445236685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichtq3WPZx3cpMi5QIX4iYpRQX7y_GL5yH9OBib8dCQ1cKac_Dy6Bc3qTJBwx0IT37fh4QGHtVskJJJwQ6UZmywDtUDmyDgge3EQr5U-aMYyQndkfLb47IWTt0r-bjFQraJB5xYmDTTu0/s640/1445236685.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stolen off Google, but THIS is what the terraces look like in the winter with the sun reflecting off them. Must come back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The area is home to a lot of ethnic minority groups and it feels incredibly, incredibly local. Yes, tourists come and visit this area (especially if the Lonely P is singing its praises), but it hasn't developed mass tourism yet, considering it's still fairly remote and hard to get to (the highway from Kunming was built fairly recently). It mostly felt like very local, very authentic village life. It kind of makes sense, given that the main sights are actual, functioning rice terraces that are being farmed and used to support the surrounding villages - there aren't really actually places or sights built out for tourists to see. You could just stop along the side of the road and see a breathtaking view anywhere. It was the first place I've been where the minority women actually dressed in their traditional dress every day, and not as a song-and-dance for the tourists - but because they just did, normally. It was amazing.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwtgj2_0VZ0O9ARJjjyi8QVmF12catjT3LE-y-SWHFQ3SxC6L2_Lk102hi35ZWa26J7py9gHrcdUDgagGcPitxAeCLH84gQYNPrxNvy2R2xDvnIhQWsZQOQVWl7qIYaoN0cWkp7NLwCA/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_162558_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgwtgj2_0VZ0O9ARJjjyi8QVmF12catjT3LE-y-SWHFQ3SxC6L2_Lk102hi35ZWa26J7py9gHrcdUDgagGcPitxAeCLH84gQYNPrxNvy2R2xDvnIhQWsZQOQVWl7qIYaoN0cWkp7NLwCA/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_162558_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice terrace goodness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As a tourist, you have your choice to stay in many of the little villages - there's a dirt road that runs to each village and kind of forms a huge loop. Little minivans zoom along the loop daily, so you can easily hitch a ride from one village to another (each village has their own awe-inspiring set of rice terraces), and you'll probably get to share your ride with a local woman and her chicken, or a farmer heading to work. All with VIEWS the entire way. There's also big market days every day of the week, where all the women of the different tribes get together to trade, all wearing their individual traditional garments - it's apparently such a cool thing to get to experience. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>Kunming to Yuanyang is 7 hours by bus, and I didn't want to waste an entire day sitting on the bus, so I opted for a night bus. Strangely enough, there's only one night bus and it leaves at 6:30PM. So it arrives around 1:30, 2:30AM. Even weirder, when the bus arrives in Yuanyang, it leaves the doors shut and you can stay on the bus to sleep until around 6:30AM. WHY. Why wouldn't they just make it leave later and arrive later??</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "times";"><br />
</span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h63FP_c_tezikGQbYJg6_FWAAWEUvrct9uSXmIGl1tObN77-Znu3M2SLalx2jmqSBNAGmkRNwTTUTOCqJ27QJPKmdRE4FHlupW5NEW1ZO-8naHEZEUdkbPNkhyuXeKD1YnCy-Fo6Jl8/s1600/IMG_20160720_181340.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5h63FP_c_tezikGQbYJg6_FWAAWEUvrct9uSXmIGl1tObN77-Znu3M2SLalx2jmqSBNAGmkRNwTTUTOCqJ27QJPKmdRE4FHlupW5NEW1ZO-8naHEZEUdkbPNkhyuXeKD1YnCy-Fo6Jl8/s640/IMG_20160720_181340.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Oh dear. Maybe I should have asked for a couple more details about this "night bus."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhx83PIyuNwEdNQBmwQnGT-SzGa7EQpicZrcVjbnyXAx92qWBolslvxxt_w5dSrw-8UUs25uKGildoE4ztxI4134wMqP2CLjBavgbdfWm0n6PLCM3N_lzp4m7v6wom3eSYORhCQqj0Gv8/s1600/IMG_20160720_181333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhx83PIyuNwEdNQBmwQnGT-SzGa7EQpicZrcVjbnyXAx92qWBolslvxxt_w5dSrw-8UUs25uKGildoE4ztxI4134wMqP2CLjBavgbdfWm0n6PLCM3N_lzp4m7v6wom3eSYORhCQqj0Gv8/s640/IMG_20160720_181333.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you were on the left side, you had to sleep THIS CLOSE to another rando! And the mattresses smelled very heavily of B.O. My only blessing came in the form of me tucking my backpack on the bed next to me under a blanket, which may have saved me from having to sleep 2 inches from a questionable stranger. #Chinawin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>After groggily being kicked off the bus in the main town of Xinjie at 6:30AM, I instantly found a minibus who would take me to my hostel, which I'd booked in the tiny little town of Duoyishu. The man told me it would be 15 yuan when I asked, and then he literally turned around to the only other foreigners, a French couple, and indicated on his hand that it would be 20 yuan per person for them. Blatant. I guess being Chinese <i>sometimes</i> has its advantages.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3izM7S_thkWja6k1fEJ8e06xzQ-Ce1PlMzPQze8Jg_aoO_AjCt1SW7SaXh9IPnLdLxBAxAq_H9CDeVjW8KkppfQhv_PnbUy3FhDPPZWF9YfdrzIPMNGTGeMNGZzooWeo280lZozARXRE/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_065838_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3izM7S_thkWja6k1fEJ8e06xzQ-Ce1PlMzPQze8Jg_aoO_AjCt1SW7SaXh9IPnLdLxBAxAq_H9CDeVjW8KkppfQhv_PnbUy3FhDPPZWF9YfdrzIPMNGTGeMNGZzooWeo280lZozARXRE/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_065838_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Partway to Duoyishu, the taxi driver stopped and told us to check out the view. My first view of some of the terraces.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Upon checking into my hostel (it was wayyy too early for them to allow me to check in), I started chatting with a British girl, Emma, in the lobby - she mentioned that she had met a group of people and they'd all booked a private car for the day to take them around to a bunch of the more famous terraces and sights, and offered for me to join them. Even though the car was at max capacity, and the driver insisted on charging more money, the rest of the group coerced me to coming with them. It was the nicest ever.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m2l2a7mjqWE0fhhazwjYPEADqS-VG-eL4JcuaES3t4d0vdJZX-YTC5QTkrvF7LfFcbscsrZyuBeSmEgCB5UTERXqFBIfv0bgNj2UE4Nxm2cvyKrtOS1Ljhz8cNzIwbNS-WPEQiipGBY/s1600/thumb_IMG_6316_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m2l2a7mjqWE0fhhazwjYPEADqS-VG-eL4JcuaES3t4d0vdJZX-YTC5QTkrvF7LfFcbscsrZyuBeSmEgCB5UTERXqFBIfv0bgNj2UE4Nxm2cvyKrtOS1Ljhz8cNzIwbNS-WPEQiipGBY/s640/thumb_IMG_6316_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our private group for the day! L to R: Carlos and his sisters Faviola and Christian (all originally from Mexico but more recently from NYC, Dubai, and Mex City), Emma (UK), me (who knows), and Tom & Hannah (a Dutch couple).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUA2tWRSa7JxBKWu2dWVVPbvcogoE2htDvwx1DJZRITfl3-fGa4-mc5xRnYuJEV4qvhY5Rv_2JxNfgm5PdPLIjuiP8Xb3HYhBR900MIhy4w8TXMipEv8wSxrOWBA_iJ3ZZwhwYeoX_q8/s1600/thumb_IMG_0132_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUA2tWRSa7JxBKWu2dWVVPbvcogoE2htDvwx1DJZRITfl3-fGa4-mc5xRnYuJEV4qvhY5Rv_2JxNfgm5PdPLIjuiP8Xb3HYhBR900MIhy4w8TXMipEv8wSxrOWBA_iJ3ZZwhwYeoX_q8/s640/thumb_IMG_0132_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Immediately stepping out of our hostel, we were greeted by the world's largest pig and her accompanying piglets. This is what I mean, the entire place was so <i>local-</i>feeling. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb_wRz_v9y5crJ_oe8X7OOD9oCCRhqFmYqkcamzWUjrQPS3gGORp372Lapic7DZK4FuyzYL2zX1-gE390TsJRXdWckZuq_iM3rpVri_scRIIawVo4TzTvkO-2iykaYRdkeWFYomQEPyg/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_083846_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXb_wRz_v9y5crJ_oe8X7OOD9oCCRhqFmYqkcamzWUjrQPS3gGORp372Lapic7DZK4FuyzYL2zX1-gE390TsJRXdWckZuq_iM3rpVri_scRIIawVo4TzTvkO-2iykaYRdkeWFYomQEPyg/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_083846_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You also have to constantly watch where you're stepping, because the path is also for cows</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9V9Eg0wSsEvkj-m3a8g7-d0CzTvCyMLhLfd1fgB-4JmULhEl6yHHSqeICXI-qbT8NVwszxGNWS2CwxvU36pQPnfHeuiwfEiqenpdJUtEYSiRmtRixucT1CwXSQnK2wK24io1ErXwb8o/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_103638_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9V9Eg0wSsEvkj-m3a8g7-d0CzTvCyMLhLfd1fgB-4JmULhEl6yHHSqeICXI-qbT8NVwszxGNWS2CwxvU36pQPnfHeuiwfEiqenpdJUtEYSiRmtRixucT1CwXSQnK2wK24io1ErXwb8o/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_103638_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">In some of these tribes, the women do all the physical labor. It was crazy, because you kept passing these tiny little women carrying HUGE, crazy-heavy bags of cement and rock and building materials. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>There are four main well-known rice terraces for viewing, though there are dozens more you can choose to stop by or visit or see on the way. Our driver took us not only to three of the main ones, but also tons of small viewpoints along the way. I can't describe how cool it was - he'd drive down a little farm path, then we'd just get out and BAM there would be a view. No tourist buildout, no tourist shops, no set viewpoint or any indication that you should stop at that location - it was all very organic-feeling. Like we're just heading to this village and oh, by the way, look at this stunning, life-changing view on the road over. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<ul>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL-day9bcr9DD4GlIiNTmo-mycrzE5vZDZk2N7IC32t_f4S5zXs8zNEaxmbcULU1W2dn6mH4cjdkBoCil0qWP3ZuO8taCscOZmYbnfk_dJPP_FQqDqigk8C7Fj5rFFAwEJxxmnho66GU/s1600/thumb_FullSizeRender+4_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL-day9bcr9DD4GlIiNTmo-mycrzE5vZDZk2N7IC32t_f4S5zXs8zNEaxmbcULU1W2dn6mH4cjdkBoCil0qWP3ZuO8taCscOZmYbnfk_dJPP_FQqDqigk8C7Fj5rFFAwEJxxmnho66GU/s640/thumb_FullSizeRender+4_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 minutes into our drive, our driver stopped at the edge of a small road and there was life-changing rice terrace view #1!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMIZotGpjaksDlMKioBgPxF_5jqg_f07sHx7VaGk7YD_Z7NfbFjAeAkJ7COcHYUClmqEb9cJmvPXoGGoy7YOg2uPgJ9hf_a3DH1SKL-dKbGnjTPADRRhIkCV623uoNtPathFE4pL3nH8/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_094236_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXMIZotGpjaksDlMKioBgPxF_5jqg_f07sHx7VaGk7YD_Z7NfbFjAeAkJ7COcHYUClmqEb9cJmvPXoGGoy7YOg2uPgJ9hf_a3DH1SKL-dKbGnjTPADRRhIkCV623uoNtPathFE4pL3nH8/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_094236_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I like the tiny little villages tucked into all the terraces</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUc4GUPozAa97LdEcjDHuZSGJAuWWNsy1uD9ZHFShEQtNPjUAKfu5h3A1A66XMFU86itV7DQvJyyh4ccxLzFlQCokPckbog_lJ_IFqJz4czOYFKA5uZzjK7d4p2FMAS3OvIX0NRrKXNc/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_095113_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHUc4GUPozAa97LdEcjDHuZSGJAuWWNsy1uD9ZHFShEQtNPjUAKfu5h3A1A66XMFU86itV7DQvJyyh4ccxLzFlQCokPckbog_lJ_IFqJz4czOYFKA5uZzjK7d4p2FMAS3OvIX0NRrKXNc/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_095113_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">JACKET AND PANTS. IS THIS CHINA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpoRggjHic6RT5UWNA3xWSSsrV7NtabLZinZpe8ymfq0vdyKgg0HbZW0a91TGM0eo8Bb2ltWv2-Bgr04fnOXASJ0lv3dyzy1jV9BPjH1xHtf74GqWEIKEd2a98AWOnhFtoIQCJIY0Xks/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_165354_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPpoRggjHic6RT5UWNA3xWSSsrV7NtabLZinZpe8ymfq0vdyKgg0HbZW0a91TGM0eo8Bb2ltWv2-Bgr04fnOXASJ0lv3dyzy1jV9BPjH1xHtf74GqWEIKEd2a98AWOnhFtoIQCJIY0Xks/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_165354_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So, so many terraces. It kind of reminds me of a delicious, multi-layered crepe. Mmmm crepes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG9rCkLo0DyYxLRV8DwSLHnJg6HMWpLvmlezS06GoznR96L2w-yakwH-fBCcK12C9q5mom1DVr-h9uQGyPwg4-Pr9FZ8wy7rtb-3dCV0PJMkEIUrNn1hYdUbxB4iRLZlnsEd-7CmyuXc/s1600/thumb_IMG_0206_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLG9rCkLo0DyYxLRV8DwSLHnJg6HMWpLvmlezS06GoznR96L2w-yakwH-fBCcK12C9q5mom1DVr-h9uQGyPwg4-Pr9FZ8wy7rtb-3dCV0PJMkEIUrNn1hYdUbxB4iRLZlnsEd-7CmyuXc/s640/thumb_IMG_0206_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stop #2: more crepe-y goodness! Also, I have to clarify that I spent a day in these clothes, then slept in them on an overnight bus, and then zoomed right onto a rice field tour, sooo slightly homeless is the theme of the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oa4sYwlZrehnHxxNS5SX4AJG5a2NJOsPhHyJJDeUR8pEx8MSOxLJ-Kr_We19GYGFKWs_0Px_odqGnUQe-tbOjhSKVgolCPXK-vslC72czS5pfgDaED-I4vOPsZvyVrUyOcZaGMoxU4w/s1600/thumb_IMG_0222_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oa4sYwlZrehnHxxNS5SX4AJG5a2NJOsPhHyJJDeUR8pEx8MSOxLJ-Kr_We19GYGFKWs_0Px_odqGnUQe-tbOjhSKVgolCPXK-vslC72czS5pfgDaED-I4vOPsZvyVrUyOcZaGMoxU4w/s640/thumb_IMG_0222_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These rice fields were some of my favorite.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVzm9pgNR2P7_w78aYO5d5zyw3qFW5kYX9RYzNzugZbak70ZMeE03bggVonytHYnymiOnQ7KiV8Vpseu6E9rHx-7xSI1eudWfZtX0CKHNq96i_lJzMIGu3PyRFTC3HZL9NgqJ4d8W0iM/s1600/thumb_IMG_6276_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVzm9pgNR2P7_w78aYO5d5zyw3qFW5kYX9RYzNzugZbak70ZMeE03bggVonytHYnymiOnQ7KiV8Vpseu6E9rHx-7xSI1eudWfZtX0CKHNq96i_lJzMIGu3PyRFTC3HZL9NgqJ4d8W0iM/s640/thumb_IMG_6276_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7W6IMAwzw9kKDPxC1rT_qr70GBUKm-NGH8lTk_etKy-4m_p-UkULO5gbD0g4PjwqqrOh-AD6ayr9o-my8lzbOtJt6698OGTR8hxWUSq8uJJ8zhFpenpaWcn12rgX7l5GhBIwFgXg3ME/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_104702_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7W6IMAwzw9kKDPxC1rT_qr70GBUKm-NGH8lTk_etKy-4m_p-UkULO5gbD0g4PjwqqrOh-AD6ayr9o-my8lzbOtJt6698OGTR8hxWUSq8uJJ8zhFpenpaWcn12rgX7l5GhBIwFgXg3ME/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_104702_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">My favorite part of this photo is the bird zooming above</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxMJy0sK6SMhs2eaDak6icaOkLgu9b1PD_m66vAbeBPCBAfowuM2WoQXBW60HV43L2_Zo59qRvck1hdSUYZkx4PsClhPZSAPUImJdkxjcut-O6GiUKXZWTqt6zias1n5sy8udxtSjAas/s1600/thumb_IMG_0253_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxMJy0sK6SMhs2eaDak6icaOkLgu9b1PD_m66vAbeBPCBAfowuM2WoQXBW60HV43L2_Zo59qRvck1hdSUYZkx4PsClhPZSAPUImJdkxjcut-O6GiUKXZWTqt6zias1n5sy8udxtSjAas/s640/thumb_IMG_0253_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sat long enough to watch the fog roll in. It's crazy - one moment the fields are pristine and clear, and in the next 5 minutes, a thick blanket of fog comes in and covers them up. And then 5 minutes after that, the fog will randomly disappear. It seriously all changes by the minute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxPl6Aje0TM_hXFCEGownMiMuWMjkJA12GaGuHc3Hoz_DndKOIuoxvCA86DhXG67w002HOekLsSaZI_cDqeVbLvnqv7Nb2uSx3xWI-n3MzdDGFn9_w09a-ivRlhQx4rkVGbVm0bg1nIY/s1600/thumb_IMG_6301_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRxPl6Aje0TM_hXFCEGownMiMuWMjkJA12GaGuHc3Hoz_DndKOIuoxvCA86DhXG67w002HOekLsSaZI_cDqeVbLvnqv7Nb2uSx3xWI-n3MzdDGFn9_w09a-ivRlhQx4rkVGbVm0bg1nIY/s640/thumb_IMG_6301_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made so many stops at different rice fields that I've lost track of which one this was - it may just be a different foggy view of the last one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEXVI2UZuB2IGh6Nf8on6Atf3CHbGTOT-UA-bRJo0_oaxcjxK4XjD4q2eksWaPdVs-KmZzn3TbH5Mv0ywzUUjNpTaevfrqHzLiTz-74AlWvpmDO8Zk01pW5SuDT50-38RuquuIs5-Gos/s1600/thumb_IMG_6319_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEXVI2UZuB2IGh6Nf8on6Atf3CHbGTOT-UA-bRJo0_oaxcjxK4XjD4q2eksWaPdVs-KmZzn3TbH5Mv0ywzUUjNpTaevfrqHzLiTz-74AlWvpmDO8Zk01pW5SuDT50-38RuquuIs5-Gos/s640/thumb_IMG_6319_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then there was one that we could hike down into the terraces. It was awesome.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLE_Tx7mV7HBaZ3vGD11r8RJ8WimeVgY0Ip_m4w_8yL8NTOMQkw5Y9fSpTZb563dlAIr5EB0h1y3U_rl0ThgWxiY9NdtH_w3-btHqfNYQap5QyCwK0OtV0bo8bI8nOw9hfUX0hJ38fK0/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_214332_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLE_Tx7mV7HBaZ3vGD11r8RJ8WimeVgY0Ip_m4w_8yL8NTOMQkw5Y9fSpTZb563dlAIr5EB0h1y3U_rl0ThgWxiY9NdtH_w3-btHqfNYQap5QyCwK0OtV0bo8bI8nOw9hfUX0hJ38fK0/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_214332_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">What do they do with the green stalk-y parts of the rice? Thought of the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkcTUQnJRf4DhqdqdPvRQnaWGpaiqBJ7j7h32Frv_Y6VbSyCo403S6Az2c-IoCKKMjezyly2E_pNLZGdqVUuciK5psetAPRl_rhR4Ls2YqhEdPp1jx61dtyC9HQvsn4lirkvHKbvaKwE/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_131922_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixkcTUQnJRf4DhqdqdPvRQnaWGpaiqBJ7j7h32Frv_Y6VbSyCo403S6Az2c-IoCKKMjezyly2E_pNLZGdqVUuciK5psetAPRl_rhR4Ls2YqhEdPp1jx61dtyC9HQvsn4lirkvHKbvaKwE/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_131922_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of the women from the ethnic minority tribe Hani, one of the original inhabitants of the area. You can tell the Hani women because of their traditional dress, which involves the royal blue blouses.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGrk-XayzU0uMmSRmLKs7caXSjAN4Wjh-WUpYs3DLeLM9s0wMib7z4QNbNAbGSfDrOyyI03oJS79NSU8CvC6lAl-pRvosL1LUQ0wSdTXUNzJ3FywPeuFYEqLGr-nAUPfRA55WmtOw7J4/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160721_132953_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGrk-XayzU0uMmSRmLKs7caXSjAN4Wjh-WUpYs3DLeLM9s0wMib7z4QNbNAbGSfDrOyyI03oJS79NSU8CvC6lAl-pRvosL1LUQ0wSdTXUNzJ3FywPeuFYEqLGr-nAUPfRA55WmtOw7J4/s640/thumb_IMG_20160721_132953_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm only including this photo of me and Emma because I turned "Beauty Mode" on my phone - all Asian phones have this feature, which usually smooths out your skin/enlarges your eyes/makes your face thinner. It seemed to only have enlarged one of my eyes, which makes me look super creepy. Gotta look at the positive parts of having my iPhone stolen and trading it in for a weird Chinese brand phone #BeautyMode</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZzMGKs7l6NMDKWljrzhkRjwljRWevSYjNVk7dNS_B0t_XN0hFyVgTV3NIGvZaQpUVc6uKc3c-jpSI-9q7L7jt348QS4L4NCN0De-ad39JBtjRfT89XCZsCnS7GM-BPzJMST7r8l9lFA/s1600/thumb_IMG_6374_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZzMGKs7l6NMDKWljrzhkRjwljRWevSYjNVk7dNS_B0t_XN0hFyVgTV3NIGvZaQpUVc6uKc3c-jpSI-9q7L7jt348QS4L4NCN0De-ad39JBtjRfT89XCZsCnS7GM-BPzJMST7r8l9lFA/s640/thumb_IMG_6374_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our last stop; one of the most famous rice terraces of all - called Tiger's Mouth, because apparently there's some terraces that look like a tiger's mouth open. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTz5DwP9zclKpIEndGypPNzZYJrANOl2zdSoXZLk4LTbqapF8l7zFh49MBdYErZCiSZJ_jTLWBNiAA5tAYGfd8Ek-Q9OpJozohN5V0vmSBPGz8QhsPJKcws2V1V51c1k0Vlnbh0yYfkI/s1600/thumb_IMG_6388_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeTz5DwP9zclKpIEndGypPNzZYJrANOl2zdSoXZLk4LTbqapF8l7zFh49MBdYErZCiSZJ_jTLWBNiAA5tAYGfd8Ek-Q9OpJozohN5V0vmSBPGz8QhsPJKcws2V1V51c1k0Vlnbh0yYfkI/s640/thumb_IMG_6388_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">We tried really really hard to see the tiger's mouth, but the best we could come up with with a slobbery-looking dopey dog mouth. If you look at the terraces near the middle that are filled with water and yellow - it kind of forms the upper part of an open mouth. Maybe.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7eIDFeNWi-B36JWvjm_3igv44vSjI4fAoQHWxwWBeD7366cypENEfhSv692jLgq2iTEwxbjvERzuNVIeHVLp0tFwN4m-NV-2hZwaYrc5MaC3D3sb_jgf1Qp_oXUX506atDG6_LcnY80/s1600/thumb_IMG_6396_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7eIDFeNWi-B36JWvjm_3igv44vSjI4fAoQHWxwWBeD7366cypENEfhSv692jLgq2iTEwxbjvERzuNVIeHVLp0tFwN4m-NV-2hZwaYrc5MaC3D3sb_jgf1Qp_oXUX506atDG6_LcnY80/s640/thumb_IMG_6396_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had been conned into buying an overpriced ticket to see some of the terraces from these official platforms - and I was the only one - so the driver would drop me off at the entrance and let me go wander inside while the others waited in the car. Then I would promptly go back to the van and declare to everyone that the viewpoint was the most amazing part of my entire trip to China.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQzH4hZCwcOn5-xHgZ4hK9pSlZ15DWmk-dgMl5smSfXHorv60eks5YR4K0j3x2_s6ilD4oy9dG8PkLdisTsuagqprvlZRz2XpSUHyyC2an6AhER95Gw1wmHMK69dnJ3ghniKrYD1lOH0/s1600/thumb_IMG_6419_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQzH4hZCwcOn5-xHgZ4hK9pSlZ15DWmk-dgMl5smSfXHorv60eks5YR4K0j3x2_s6ilD4oy9dG8PkLdisTsuagqprvlZRz2XpSUHyyC2an6AhER95Gw1wmHMK69dnJ3ghniKrYD1lOH0/s640/thumb_IMG_6419_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Returning back to the van, Carlos had befriended a local boy named Ah-Fun. He was incredibly cute. Of course they were kind of just waiting for tips, but the boy was authentically cute and happy to interact with Carlos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We seriously saw more rice terraces in a day than you can ever believe. It got to the point where it was like temple-overload in Southeast Asia, safari animal-overload in Africa, but rice terrace-overload in China. Except I was clearly not overloaded by rice terraces, because the set of terraces my hostel was next to (Duoyishu) is well-known for epic sunrises. So I hauled myself up at 5:30AM to go see if I could see the sunrise over the Duoyishu terraces.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgcRvWJiOZ2lHk0EHuWCSd68rY3rk983VLPghP60rlvwp-3nv5_mbpYsdGamzMpFdzopThKqarNTAmsI7ihyXpdTgsMgpJpJ6qgeH9uF1Jagi64StW2eHnmtWJL0_rcJKCPsvMXDMYmE/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_063650_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgcRvWJiOZ2lHk0EHuWCSd68rY3rk983VLPghP60rlvwp-3nv5_mbpYsdGamzMpFdzopThKqarNTAmsI7ihyXpdTgsMgpJpJ6qgeH9uF1Jagi64StW2eHnmtWJL0_rcJKCPsvMXDMYmE/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_063650_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrises in this area are kind of hit-or-miss, because there are so many clouds. The crew had gone the day before, and not seen anything because the entire sky was too foggy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZmGBnhoy8oiVpSpyGtEW_yk1b1mvnfSC07sQnPOihJxwjf_hSg0kBCBeUh3vGgSh7DCnEFOQE4enyfJQOxtJo1oPHDouy5UT2SVIlQn2RBAd8cGFWiTOmj7iEIEVagSABwIjtOECut8/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_063913_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTZmGBnhoy8oiVpSpyGtEW_yk1b1mvnfSC07sQnPOihJxwjf_hSg0kBCBeUh3vGgSh7DCnEFOQE4enyfJQOxtJo1oPHDouy5UT2SVIlQn2RBAd8cGFWiTOmj7iEIEVagSABwIjtOECut8/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_063913_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IS THE SUN GONNA BE ABLE TO BREAK THROUGH THE CLOUDS. So much suspense.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw4Gbg2P63fAhrb4ThB7KEQkwGfUTv6c8jGRZax0WeJh7rvMc0AqwECEgeLkNUfZgryh4bkNBCMn_INeEz6ix-5wtWfLU9UrzKGSyxabAt-HnAFjZq41bNPGgwbaETmkWB9ZrzWazZYo/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_115213_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="548" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbw4Gbg2P63fAhrb4ThB7KEQkwGfUTv6c8jGRZax0WeJh7rvMc0AqwECEgeLkNUfZgryh4bkNBCMn_INeEz6ix-5wtWfLU9UrzKGSyxabAt-HnAFjZq41bNPGgwbaETmkWB9ZrzWazZYo/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_115213_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sooo my new phone does NOT have a great camera, unfortunately, but this was the best it could do.<br />
BUT THERE IS A SUNRISE HOORAYYYY</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2_30hsQyys0lDwdPodYF9Ziusw134QoNdwUsL6LTSNHnAFLchSop4y-l_dXmXpBFCQ2VgS1kI1YSdRYKtTT2kgkA5luCyDdg9WlnHKBMig8rA1RrmxMnNbkRl8uKgqkL4sPrAyoFH4w/s1600/IMG_20160729_221330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2_30hsQyys0lDwdPodYF9Ziusw134QoNdwUsL6LTSNHnAFLchSop4y-l_dXmXpBFCQ2VgS1kI1YSdRYKtTT2kgkA5luCyDdg9WlnHKBMig8rA1RrmxMnNbkRl8uKgqkL4sPrAyoFH4w/s640/IMG_20160729_221330.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently this view in winter is beyond epic - because the rice has already been harvested, the terraces are all filled with pools of water, which reflect the color of the sunrise and will apparently change your life. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikduBp1BJ5JJw2PaSzBsrbk_JBEU0RZ2t84PYEIXk8sVNXX-Rse54vCQbeoxGtNHrUuIWS370ynaHzCHA1eHgqkbCKEfY3p-Y7OHRi_oCgWmJLVZn5hxmiQS_0xbYQ9UvgFOIOiHWuM50/s1600/IMG_20160729_221139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikduBp1BJ5JJw2PaSzBsrbk_JBEU0RZ2t84PYEIXk8sVNXX-Rse54vCQbeoxGtNHrUuIWS370ynaHzCHA1eHgqkbCKEfY3p-Y7OHRi_oCgWmJLVZn5hxmiQS_0xbYQ9UvgFOIOiHWuM50/s640/IMG_20160729_221139.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">HOORAY SUN. Worth the 5:30AM wakeup.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>You know what happens when you haul yourself awake that early in the morning? You've done all this stuff, and it's still only 7:30AM. The owner of my hostel had drawn me a little hand-drawn map on a slip of paper suggesting other places I could wander after the sunrise. One was a little village he referred to as "mushroom village," called that because the houses all have little reed-made, mushroom-shaped roofs. I hitched a ride with a local van (my first attempt at telling him "mushroom village" led to mass confusion because I directly translated the words into Chinese and apparently that is NOT at all what it is called in Chinese. It actually has a Chinese village name. Oops). </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyPXqwykQOmqCQHXRJnRQ-cyqKxBALOLnAw7hS6s60piyfYEIEJ-_sfhFl4yLrDH6ijsMmYvt38aif0ceLmOaoONMmJSE0m2aXA2UxEjZNjDtlD2npoRE_9gaXIgX-86QG7YixIZ1TSo/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_074006_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDyPXqwykQOmqCQHXRJnRQ-cyqKxBALOLnAw7hS6s60piyfYEIEJ-_sfhFl4yLrDH6ijsMmYvt38aif0ceLmOaoONMmJSE0m2aXA2UxEjZNjDtlD2npoRE_9gaXIgX-86QG7YixIZ1TSo/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_074006_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village involved a 15-20 minute hike down a winding, muddy dirt path. And then there it was! So small and so cute, and I was definitely the only non-village person tromping around, looking completely out of place.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHuodbyDGCCYPvrzUOJ55rPkeMQ7P_PCacI4qqjEHzFAYfyB7HyEBrpOiToP321xE-xIxwrBO5NjZud4BpDdAmL7ox4nbOD4isEoK-LU6YLm6EfWTK6b96tOkHY0fXOidJgRwE_rLZMg/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_074050_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirHuodbyDGCCYPvrzUOJ55rPkeMQ7P_PCacI4qqjEHzFAYfyB7HyEBrpOiToP321xE-xIxwrBO5NjZud4BpDdAmL7ox4nbOD4isEoK-LU6YLm6EfWTK6b96tOkHY0fXOidJgRwE_rLZMg/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_074050_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I seriously felt like I'd been randomly dropped into the middle of rural China. Like I was in a movie or something. It felt completely removed from the real world somehow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNKSJ-MPN6AiVaXgq2P70sGZMpFT8L-YSfTU_i7gREDF6hGvJlQLbMRh2DIm0HPbtKnRinLCW47Jw-Sq6a2msxdYY7u1QdqYedD2-6wDqAvspnqZrPMEl8bda08GGdRCjtNWu7jK3LEw/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_074103_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNKSJ-MPN6AiVaXgq2P70sGZMpFT8L-YSfTU_i7gREDF6hGvJlQLbMRh2DIm0HPbtKnRinLCW47Jw-Sq6a2msxdYY7u1QdqYedD2-6wDqAvspnqZrPMEl8bda08GGdRCjtNWu7jK3LEw/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_074103_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rooster.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT7k07wWb5f8GlEA8n4Tr6pd4Zz59Rtd1nbDhpMty5XzyeLIsP4A0ZypqCbs7NVj3XXjSSZLnDnM_JsKyW9C-OeXMwy8dJWhm3ODNqMqBqjCQ48hXnqsjPUs50DbecDFh4w0DsExJhLc/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_075645_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFT7k07wWb5f8GlEA8n4Tr6pd4Zz59Rtd1nbDhpMty5XzyeLIsP4A0ZypqCbs7NVj3XXjSSZLnDnM_JsKyW9C-OeXMwy8dJWhm3ODNqMqBqjCQ48hXnqsjPUs50DbecDFh4w0DsExJhLc/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_075645_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pig.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRYLSboYKs9AzRXUODN978iNZEcQt1ul991eEXb6OAd-wFaQIyQAXiG8Q3eN4uw5UV_cjJNVNPZtYMepltF56VHHNLlSA6d6O3Z3bfpMjyCeS5lxpUlbi72XTTAnmM5ivl0w2zh80X5I/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_075737_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuRYLSboYKs9AzRXUODN978iNZEcQt1ul991eEXb6OAd-wFaQIyQAXiG8Q3eN4uw5UV_cjJNVNPZtYMepltF56VHHNLlSA6d6O3Z3bfpMjyCeS5lxpUlbi72XTTAnmM5ivl0w2zh80X5I/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_075737_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I seriously loved this village and getting to wander through by myself so early in the morning.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zcGIlcdGNLln0NJiXLw47xKsw5b8Cb5Ns-fay39AiwbWcsnpG0DeqL4RwVGHNjGebFQq_cPIW2PekjloV3921z0vAsgZ9PtN5gxa8JFUsfawGM6s95pZETaJfjXXJwhzlZLZFy19ChY/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_080001_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zcGIlcdGNLln0NJiXLw47xKsw5b8Cb5Ns-fay39AiwbWcsnpG0DeqL4RwVGHNjGebFQq_cPIW2PekjloV3921z0vAsgZ9PtN5gxa8JFUsfawGM6s95pZETaJfjXXJwhzlZLZFy19ChY/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_080001_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With my poor Chinese skills, the only thing I can get from this writing is that it's saying it's equally good to have girl children and boy children. I think maybe in parts of rural China, families often prefer male children because they provide for the family and carry on the family name - and because of the (former) one-child policy, there was a tiny trend of getting rid of the girl children in favor of boys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUFBYXakLvXJYUNbxzbLVqISjTHPg9OdTl5DnAsnniWV7EUqNwBR88mUL5fI2lL8VtDRNMLyxofof5hZSfSSxdJhvQZsvFFtGt_otJoV-KUAN7U54JCdjCQyBZTaBpjIsfPNYjGaMUe4/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_080043_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUFBYXakLvXJYUNbxzbLVqISjTHPg9OdTl5DnAsnniWV7EUqNwBR88mUL5fI2lL8VtDRNMLyxofof5hZSfSSxdJhvQZsvFFtGt_otJoV-KUAN7U54JCdjCQyBZTaBpjIsfPNYjGaMUe4/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_080043_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A very mushroom roof.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8vdQqMJR8teJtc0R6qW6NInH0scnFTElykaVvccrpF-aqTWfbmVL3NV5fM-orFygMkNhKXyCswakq2j7z4bjqiUyzh6W6tO3TMNvt6c7ycE1fQ7ET2mMDn_q5lM5S9uSUTJ2ovtcAR8/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_080230_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8vdQqMJR8teJtc0R6qW6NInH0scnFTElykaVvccrpF-aqTWfbmVL3NV5fM-orFygMkNhKXyCswakq2j7z4bjqiUyzh6W6tO3TMNvt6c7ycE1fQ7ET2mMDn_q5lM5S9uSUTJ2ovtcAR8/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_080230_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtscxxlVOc-KXDnYRAm9nD_e4RjwDU1xuuT_hunKD2jk198Ng5TYy02waibmxk4Kpmrh-n5QYfKuGHn6Gq-uvkXhr3ES4W6-jBkvmeOX3BYN6FPvU8ZTlf0UsM-LOngUIaAOgf-SMj938/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_080242_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtscxxlVOc-KXDnYRAm9nD_e4RjwDU1xuuT_hunKD2jk198Ng5TYy02waibmxk4Kpmrh-n5QYfKuGHn6Gq-uvkXhr3ES4W6-jBkvmeOX3BYN6FPvU8ZTlf0UsM-LOngUIaAOgf-SMj938/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_080242_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw0C4anrXuTYPry2GMxtajmbJRAfg6WETjf04DuPA-_l83rN1S-1JMl9FpLuBm4yBioami5-E-gmEfYDhRyXIynmld6eO6i2ogQoqDCTdJHuscihAChaUyWNJ86snYBzE8y8blwUCGM0/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_080429_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyw0C4anrXuTYPry2GMxtajmbJRAfg6WETjf04DuPA-_l83rN1S-1JMl9FpLuBm4yBioami5-E-gmEfYDhRyXIynmld6eO6i2ogQoqDCTdJHuscihAChaUyWNJ86snYBzE8y8blwUCGM0/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_080429_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could not stop taking photos of this village</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIaJkVjtXga0_2NMP-fe5Kw6AHGjnt6R8OwT7caltq-aA3ukeAH-z6UstOHC6WWNAn3ha1xsEsijFVBhSuwhmEYc0OYLsZFwJpYGjYCwe5fgXC6KwrMmfAqUo7ZL2O9OW2SKtTyXrNdQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_074832_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIaJkVjtXga0_2NMP-fe5Kw6AHGjnt6R8OwT7caltq-aA3ukeAH-z6UstOHC6WWNAn3ha1xsEsijFVBhSuwhmEYc0OYLsZFwJpYGjYCwe5fgXC6KwrMmfAqUo7ZL2O9OW2SKtTyXrNdQ/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_074832_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And once you reached the bottom of the village, there was a set of the village's own rice paddies you could walk through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtLdU4GP5TCJomazXKv7JvhsSSwmzNvqz9Xzvd1Wi2YzQ8Qqc2BKjK9lPQeMpC6J5g9f_s7JtU_Zk9f0zgfUrPmHHh9SuCOMOR7r8dcL4oeHbP9VbvJ6QF87CO_ZMgDLTjWaFuBfRgp8/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_075000_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtLdU4GP5TCJomazXKv7JvhsSSwmzNvqz9Xzvd1Wi2YzQ8Qqc2BKjK9lPQeMpC6J5g9f_s7JtU_Zk9f0zgfUrPmHHh9SuCOMOR7r8dcL4oeHbP9VbvJ6QF87CO_ZMgDLTjWaFuBfRgp8/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_075000_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">IT WAS SO PRETTY AND SO COOL</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f-jQT3qvGhU1TATztOzPXlB9T1c0PK3TP7_lVpoR7iHjDjzpyhLlztRnOH4qGQhFbn5-Sz20t1hCqyXua329IXD7UqPvtxKY0jZgqGpwr7ZiPh0YL8Loqr_gAgwwUe5_yyU2cb1rr8k/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_075426_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0f-jQT3qvGhU1TATztOzPXlB9T1c0PK3TP7_lVpoR7iHjDjzpyhLlztRnOH4qGQhFbn5-Sz20t1hCqyXua329IXD7UqPvtxKY0jZgqGpwr7ZiPh0YL8Loqr_gAgwwUe5_yyU2cb1rr8k/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_075426_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then a local farmer came down to check on his paddies and thought nothing of this rando girl standing in his fields with a pink selfie stick.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O81HrqFcEIruApyJzouqvfbdmakrpwQa7QBCxxxhk1ifHYOPNmPiWGqXi21TMZ-xmABgIYSovdwa1FhUCHwrHNQ04VYcNxvAhAme3XAbqOffcO5qLkJ-HmFruEsjnFk-jUoB4jJUQ1g/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_081806_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8O81HrqFcEIruApyJzouqvfbdmakrpwQa7QBCxxxhk1ifHYOPNmPiWGqXi21TMZ-xmABgIYSovdwa1FhUCHwrHNQ04VYcNxvAhAme3XAbqOffcO5qLkJ-HmFruEsjnFk-jUoB4jJUQ1g/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_081806_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to hike another 20 minutes back uphill to the main road to hitch a ride from a passing van back to my hostel. And all the local children were slowly wandering out of their houses to play, and they were so cute.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZfFBobffMEbH5iVAd9KVAcfdz8UuktvobXxVMKgfnCYw-_Dr4OCgnMJHJYOC4_fbRafvap16LUfs9FEWU7tUlUslQ7quzWFF222frk2nMh6qWqIrS7LjnonbpQio52Wnssmu8QbiEv0/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_081916_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZfFBobffMEbH5iVAd9KVAcfdz8UuktvobXxVMKgfnCYw-_Dr4OCgnMJHJYOC4_fbRafvap16LUfs9FEWU7tUlUslQ7quzWFF222frk2nMh6qWqIrS7LjnonbpQio52Wnssmu8QbiEv0/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_081916_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seriously, local children can entertain themselves with anything. These three were playing with the water spout.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>I got back to the hostel around mid-morning, where I met Emma and we headed out of Yuanyang together. It took a series of (two very long) buses and an overnight train, but we were headed to the city of Dali! </li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_GyRaVYIkS9NbrQzUoBT1uBpOsTv6CQajtc79niyXBpoEIIvzFc6fFCfJ2mIyozROMUr81pMhO8matiQ_8BK2-dGIEgFb2SUUgjyCEjc8HYtr6NvfSlZ-EaXIiEGKfTlUcA_reU8C8A/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_102254_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr_GyRaVYIkS9NbrQzUoBT1uBpOsTv6CQajtc79niyXBpoEIIvzFc6fFCfJ2mIyozROMUr81pMhO8matiQ_8BK2-dGIEgFb2SUUgjyCEjc8HYtr6NvfSlZ-EaXIiEGKfTlUcA_reU8C8A/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_102254_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emma and I took one last mini-walk to the rice terraces near our hostel, a 1-minute walk away. Bye, rice terraces!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSTXJwxK-AbLlpyOcyRRZhr0P2vV6J5rJ61qkkaKWva5xKLv-DbztwVfl9_OxLIlXvnre9pr7KQWDQS2KTAkkzk_WbvqQgirS9g6hS6xDqiBeCqg0MPHRefahE8-LPZ55ChAnoxwyHHg/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_110302_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSTXJwxK-AbLlpyOcyRRZhr0P2vV6J5rJ61qkkaKWva5xKLv-DbztwVfl9_OxLIlXvnre9pr7KQWDQS2KTAkkzk_WbvqQgirS9g6hS6xDqiBeCqg0MPHRefahE8-LPZ55ChAnoxwyHHg/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_110302_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our van to the first bus was super delayed because a truck was blocking the entire road (a hazard of having a tiny dirt road be the only passageway from one village to another) - so I took photos of village life out the window to pass the time. This is an elderly Hani woman outside her house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JpdxxI1QLPIDiZzrQGQA9w8he_EwuGeRUFpurFp3crP9LWGisCn09tX2DF8MYqXWof_hXB0VtUtLPuvc5nALcZ2Gin2oiF7sTPBp8ZZZA2di2jfmAxgSWgeh3OSvFNVRlegm6lle9Xo/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_111815_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JpdxxI1QLPIDiZzrQGQA9w8he_EwuGeRUFpurFp3crP9LWGisCn09tX2DF8MYqXWof_hXB0VtUtLPuvc5nALcZ2Gin2oiF7sTPBp8ZZZA2di2jfmAxgSWgeh3OSvFNVRlegm6lle9Xo/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_111815_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These old men were just chilling, one of them more than the others. I think he's just smoking a huge tobacco pipe - I saw a couple other men with the same contraption, either made of metal or bamboo. Amazing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcoIKuP-wsmVpewWKfruqtwkiNNLDw6sgIPWg4cJ8VNj7QF1VKvTA2zID3Dv97b0I6Sr8Vs9Mp2AM0P1jmX5ZQrucM0enuseHyMrIKiHtUFQqhv0Bxxc1fgYHZgNOw-xalZPvtUTE1rs/s1600/thumb_IMG_20160722_150908_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcoIKuP-wsmVpewWKfruqtwkiNNLDw6sgIPWg4cJ8VNj7QF1VKvTA2zID3Dv97b0I6Sr8Vs9Mp2AM0P1jmX5ZQrucM0enuseHyMrIKiHtUFQqhv0Bxxc1fgYHZgNOw-xalZPvtUTE1rs/s640/thumb_IMG_20160722_150908_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first bus out of Yuanyang to Jianshui, this goose was trying to bust out of his box like whoa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>This area is changing super quickly - there is tons of construction going on everywhere, and I think new hotels are being developed as we speak. You need to get out here ASAP. It is so untouched and unspoilt and beautiful and unique.</li>
<li>Ok so my Lonely P just informed me that best time to come out is actually officially November through April, as that's when the terraces are filled with water (there is only one rice harvest/year). And the climate is fairly temperate, so it remains cool year-round.</li>
<li>There are over 28,000 acres of rice terraces in this area! And some of these terraces are over 1,300 years old!</li>
</ul>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-73129598438743474702016-08-01T02:52:00.000-07:002016-09-16T19:16:00.810-07:00Kunming, China: I Get My Phone Stolen<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
So off I head to the Southwestern province of Yunnan - this province borders Vietnam, Laos, Tibet, etc., and is incredibly ethnically diverse (well, as ethnically diverse as China gets) and different than the rest of China. Yunnan is home to over 15 ethnic tribes that were originally settled in this area before the Han Chinese came and took over. As is such, it's a super interesting place to visit once you've been bumming around "regular China" for a bit.<br />
<br />
I started my Yunnan adventures in the capital city of Kunming, which I flew to from Shanghai.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
I'm having trouble describing a place that I only want to refer to as "The Evil Place Where My Phone Got Stolen" (a fact which my title gave away). I'm sure Kunming is lovely, though. Actually, I did really like the city - or what little of it I saw while running around getting my phone nicked and then having to replace it, anyhow.<br />
<br />
The minute I stepped foot into Yunnan, it felt different. First off, it's lovely and cool here (it's higher altitude, which makes it totally dreamy, weather-wise) - it's the first time since I've been in China that I haven't had a steady stream of sweat running down my back. The people are also noticeably different - they tend to be darker and more diverse-looking, and many of the tribes wear colorful, patterned clothing. This means no one has commented on my skin color at all. Win!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNvGrp67hy1kYYUGnN00Fi2EvRcssZZsXgGH2yVV-BpKdukYL26FkiskgUkm-zWDze7tOI7PZCB0L6CJ2C5RsRoCj176trZizmlzMEhG4bYqt8SZ-BvpnLYog5Ssimr55qWMKx7gRJyk/s1600/IMG_20160720_151405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNvGrp67hy1kYYUGnN00Fi2EvRcssZZsXgGH2yVV-BpKdukYL26FkiskgUkm-zWDze7tOI7PZCB0L6CJ2C5RsRoCj176trZizmlzMEhG4bYqt8SZ-BvpnLYog5Ssimr55qWMKx7gRJyk/s640/IMG_20160720_151405.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Green Lake Park in Central Kunming</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Kunming is the capital of Yunnan - as is such, it's a great base to explore the rest of the province. The city itself doesn't have too many must-sees in it (there are a couple lovely pagodas and parks and shopping streets and such, but nothing too out-of-the-ordinary), but it's a good place to start to get your bearings. And to replace lost phones.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The Stolen Phone Saga:</span><br />
So let's get right to it, since it happened on my first day in Kunming. There I was, walking down a busy street, when I decided to get in line for meat sticks. Because I love meat sticks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebzW_cGOC7CBxWwK7Oo7wz2oD8CMzd1Iy-a0oLDlFjLKmXk3711BX9tPPZv2AY115lSo1Qa6_6wY2pa2MNKY-0S0ijyJQmdwNq1y2_0D4QeCHxuTEz2SMMZOx1qkBM84r8stsEkynhSE/s1600/IMG_20160720_154538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebzW_cGOC7CBxWwK7Oo7wz2oD8CMzd1Iy-a0oLDlFjLKmXk3711BX9tPPZv2AY115lSo1Qa6_6wY2pa2MNKY-0S0ijyJQmdwNq1y2_0D4QeCHxuTEz2SMMZOx1qkBM84r8stsEkynhSE/s640/IMG_20160720_154538.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Exhibit A. I love meat sticks. Clearly I seem to have no idea where the camera on my new phone is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I literally reached into my purse for my phone to check on some directions, then I put the phone into my jacket pocket (because you wear<i> jackets</i> in Yunnan!!) for two minutes while dealing with the meat stick transaction. I walked away from the counter - and then I knew instantly. I felt down for my phone and everything, but it was gone. It happened that fast.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There were a bunch of incredibly shady-looking characters loitering around the meat stick stand - a man, a lady, and a teenage-looking girl. They were all standing apart from each other, but they looked shady AF and they were seriously standing around, not doing anything, not waiting for anyone - just standing there and looking suspicious. I asked all three of them separately - basically was like "Hey I noticed you've been standing here awhile and I just got my phone stolen - did you see anything?" The man rudely asked why he would have seen anything and then turned away from me, the lady shrugged her shoulders and moved on, and the teenage girl kind of freaked out and started backing away the moment I started to approach her. I'm sure there was some kind of ring going on, looking back on it. But there was nothing I could do about it or prove it, in any case, so I was forced to walk away. Honestly, it was devastating - my phone is my life while I'm traveling - but I was oddly calm at that moment. I back up my photos constantly because of this blog (so I'd only lost a day's worth of photos), and I'm due for an upgrade as soon as I get back to the States anyhow - so it could have been much, much worse. It still didn't stop me from wishing that my iPhone thief would fall down and hurt himself badly enough to regret his actions forevermore, but not enough to cause death. I'm not a sadist, people.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I spent the entire next day hauling myself out to an area of town that my hostel told me sold a lot of cellular phones. And now I'm basically a Chinese phone expert. The best Chinese phone brands are Vivo, Oppo, and Huawei. Samsung is way expensive, and iPhones are alone in their own world of "completely and utterly unaffordable" (they don't get those contract discounts or anything on iPhones, so they have to pay full price of $800-1000 for a new iPhone). I spent my day staring blankly at phone salespeople explaining features I couldn't understand (I have to confess I don't even fully understand things like processing speed and RAM and phone functionalities in English, nevertheless in Chinese) - I seriously was just like "I want a camera and internet!" </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Also, walking around on the streets, you see tons of people holding signs that say "secondhand phones" - I tentatively asked one of them what he was selling, and he produced a very new-looking Samsung phone. He was selling it for less than 1/4 of what the same phone was selling for in the store, which made me wary. Later on, I asked a store employee how those people in the streets could sell secondhand phones for so cheap. She told me that they either are selling fake phones (with shoddy hardware), or stolen phones. I (half-jokingly) suggested to her that if I asked every single person on the street selling secondhand phones to see their inventory, maybe I'd find my stolen phone! She looked horrified at the suggestion. Apparently nottttt recommended.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyhoo, to wrap up the phone saga, I am now the (not-so-proud) new owner of a gold Huawei Honor phone! The camera works (in that you can kind of tell what I'm trying to take a photo of, barely). That's the only positive I can say about it right now, as I've had to take a crash course in how to work an Android phone, and despite having changed the language of the phone to English, all the error messages still pop up in Chinese. Which causes me to press a lot of rando buttons in hopes the message will go away. I've probably inadvertently signed up for thousands of dollars worth of additional services on accident. I can also say, however, that I bartered the phone price down enough (and got the man to throw in an extra SD card, a free cover, and a free case) that the man who sold it to me grumbled that being an American must make me an extra-cutthroat bargainer, so that pleased me. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Sorry for the long-winded story, but to warn you all going forward - the photos from here on out are going to markedly decline in quality (I miss my iPhooooone!), and I no longer have access to Whatsapp, Line, or Snapchat (Chinese phones doesn't support Google-related services! Booooo), so sorry if anyone has tried to reach me on any of those mediums. Otherwise, business as usual (she said, as she sobbed silent tears into her tea).</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<ul>
<li>So the phone saga probably took a day and a half of my time in Kunming, but I did manage to take some time to wander around otherwise. Here is an amalgamation of rando photos from around Kunming (though probably not representative of Kunming at all, honestly). Most of them are me testing out my new phone.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWKdoBMfRRf_bqNqA8wkEdz9bkO4dRJUeNFVLgxfONVzoGR_ak1UBQ8inAf1KkwMKObvYPSVA6zjSKZKxl70iE-mgdPXKKEFY4LwpXLWH4qa7_M4dewA6rkogC3eQ65qEHD7VVA8VAcY/s1600/mmexport1469608070682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlWKdoBMfRRf_bqNqA8wkEdz9bkO4dRJUeNFVLgxfONVzoGR_ak1UBQ8inAf1KkwMKObvYPSVA6zjSKZKxl70iE-mgdPXKKEFY4LwpXLWH4qa7_M4dewA6rkogC3eQ65qEHD7VVA8VAcY/s640/mmexport1469608070682.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">THE LAST PHOTO MY POOR IPHONE EVER TOOK. RIP.<br />
My first morning, I wandered a market near my hotel that was CRAY. It was filled with animals in cages (the dogs above made me especially sad. I wanted to buy them all). But there were also huge cages filled with geese, and turtles, and doves, and frogs, and fish, etc. It was the craziest, most in-your-face, not-meant-for-tourists market ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sgZJY9X6RB2VQCe1WEJtn-qKgfvrDG7723odLmSGkiSgWK0_HVQukLF7c5or56OtWdwkViDE6WuHivM-yVBnnPk52HO9agkjAL7txv4o59q8MJdt0SlbQLgP957GjMSOKdQH3g0RoHk/s1600/IMG_20160720_144825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_sgZJY9X6RB2VQCe1WEJtn-qKgfvrDG7723odLmSGkiSgWK0_HVQukLF7c5or56OtWdwkViDE6WuHivM-yVBnnPk52HO9agkjAL7txv4o59q8MJdt0SlbQLgP957GjMSOKdQH3g0RoHk/s640/IMG_20160720_144825.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Old men playing chess in the streets. I'm basically just testing out my new phone.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBfW9dyCNprkZaV8D4LB1m6DKWPREvaR29Zqo4GhL-_PpFWAyEIXzet5qgowBC1pvQLLqkY5I1nBPGqVo1iHwwy1HpfuQukiW4GNzjdqi1gIGM9dVdS5NSFO8_cjqxomHAcWAKt5r5-M/s1600/IMG_20160720_145048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEBfW9dyCNprkZaV8D4LB1m6DKWPREvaR29Zqo4GhL-_PpFWAyEIXzet5qgowBC1pvQLLqkY5I1nBPGqVo1iHwwy1HpfuQukiW4GNzjdqi1gIGM9dVdS5NSFO8_cjqxomHAcWAKt5r5-M/s640/IMG_20160720_145048.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is the Green Lake Park in Kunming, which I spent an hour wandering on the nicest, sunniest day ever</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LhYV5ctPGrveJwDzj_TFyM8SG5IfMN_qJR9vP9jvPh-_lJyvE2DQ7xs-3-L8ULz2TqryDvWD7aQCeMFBfZX_fYf9md2qMYaE4sLjQFsSeHHJB3NulX-aAo7DjRAOSV_QFM6isPIY5v4/s1600/IMG_20160720_145117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LhYV5ctPGrveJwDzj_TFyM8SG5IfMN_qJR9vP9jvPh-_lJyvE2DQ7xs-3-L8ULz2TqryDvWD7aQCeMFBfZX_fYf9md2qMYaE4sLjQFsSeHHJB3NulX-aAo7DjRAOSV_QFM6isPIY5v4/s640/IMG_20160720_145117.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A local man playing violin in the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mibqZFC_cpvkWU27HVWGZDDOLBN7ku5OnL6vQbIHjaz9113h1fobntZ3lYmWflvcCr0yt15s5OV1XGtboR5FZj2UtNAph9hvEiBbXKLbACl4OadFWQ3Cx4PH6RfQSp3QOpCQUN6BOlQ/s1600/IMG_20160720_145444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7mibqZFC_cpvkWU27HVWGZDDOLBN7ku5OnL6vQbIHjaz9113h1fobntZ3lYmWflvcCr0yt15s5OV1XGtboR5FZj2UtNAph9hvEiBbXKLbACl4OadFWQ3Cx4PH6RfQSp3QOpCQUN6BOlQ/s640/IMG_20160720_145444.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Everyone was riding car-shaped paddle boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz3TFad3EaAuf52h0czDDwLY5HJENWtrIlcpAhHKvphvK6dIJ-mW0cwTvoAOeErpMz7O5eWMccuaEOihpIiTM8yVH4ADydwxs07smRZyRXpnPGO-ylXNfHQSb8gMp0IqShu9dhgicHaw/s1600/IMG_20160720_150932.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyz3TFad3EaAuf52h0czDDwLY5HJENWtrIlcpAhHKvphvK6dIJ-mW0cwTvoAOeErpMz7O5eWMccuaEOihpIiTM8yVH4ADydwxs07smRZyRXpnPGO-ylXNfHQSb8gMp0IqShu9dhgicHaw/s640/IMG_20160720_150932.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This kid running on the giant floating hamster wheel was incredibly entertaining</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP025f6sf5zd8MbKXXghfNe4eFl43ArVHLJlC7tn_Ei3DWy0lHjNpAtFPVON6nJvFv2ezEyoRF0UxOmnifFTDLqM7BcHMcRn6BXsKEY51y2WkN4R84JGzKjXmUvnG-pQpQNhyphenhyphencTvR0wQ0/s1600/IMG_20160720_151417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP025f6sf5zd8MbKXXghfNe4eFl43ArVHLJlC7tn_Ei3DWy0lHjNpAtFPVON6nJvFv2ezEyoRF0UxOmnifFTDLqM7BcHMcRn6BXsKEY51y2WkN4R84JGzKjXmUvnG-pQpQNhyphenhyphencTvR0wQ0/s640/IMG_20160720_151417.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">More chess tactics. You have to visit a Chinese park, honestly - the feeling of community, and of people singing, and old men gambling, and groups of ladies dancing, and families with children everywhere - it's the greatest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFQJBEOVlu1Q-jzxK5CTrRbuQDTbdfrR7RuStqTlaoYL-8fhZyKgr2mUV77-FLU-ooIJWFzI_p3zFtNguAnfTBv_3C5_4eB0FtRfNC5yi-mSw-NPlcjCVjdwDgVS448kpuNPpLIdZtYA/s1600/IMG_20160720_152030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFQJBEOVlu1Q-jzxK5CTrRbuQDTbdfrR7RuStqTlaoYL-8fhZyKgr2mUV77-FLU-ooIJWFzI_p3zFtNguAnfTBv_3C5_4eB0FtRfNC5yi-mSw-NPlcjCVjdwDgVS448kpuNPpLIdZtYA/s640/IMG_20160720_152030.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This bridge was highly inefficient</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5bWWXLXumKoqNMTUZ6xW4BB6V4pnWL04FCDib946re8iQgL80QqLdmyK3GQ4iga2RBvkvCyk5VyNBXcNGwpuE5FJI8u7feX-2IbwGykWppmnwCYYlxJzIMwt3gkx7lb_rebpHodTr6c/s1600/IMG_20160720_152751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5bWWXLXumKoqNMTUZ6xW4BB6V4pnWL04FCDib946re8iQgL80QqLdmyK3GQ4iga2RBvkvCyk5VyNBXcNGwpuE5FJI8u7feX-2IbwGykWppmnwCYYlxJzIMwt3gkx7lb_rebpHodTr6c/s640/IMG_20160720_152751.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This man was writing beautiful Chinese characters with water and giant sponge brushes. He could have been writing a disgruntled political diatribe for all I understood, but I thought it was so pretty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKdgA0RGpfl1AOGLyPtOLaXRO63gu8v-G1heKdbKMlr_ut5KDXkX2ANcuOr4wPlW7XRhS7Sw_2bNZF82qUn_8aUi02FtgIq9UlNCrOGae6GM3MJsejwpZ-gybFO-c-06LwehuxeUaA8A/s1600/IMG_20160720_152943.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKdgA0RGpfl1AOGLyPtOLaXRO63gu8v-G1heKdbKMlr_ut5KDXkX2ANcuOr4wPlW7XRhS7Sw_2bNZF82qUn_8aUi02FtgIq9UlNCrOGae6GM3MJsejwpZ-gybFO-c-06LwehuxeUaA8A/s640/IMG_20160720_152943.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then there was a dried foods market, 75% of the food unidentifiable to me</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4ZottLDJY1YhpIDkj0_zIM4KVlazN3wEZjXHCM1MOKtxXZUi3HtGaUNpGeaFKAm2e6TTGmWbEBM3koOI5IL9u1NN8ARd-Vp0B-NzeRUOO8TaYXuuIt_1awJvUmpKzIXeEFzeOyI_YCo/s1600/IMG_20160720_153401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4ZottLDJY1YhpIDkj0_zIM4KVlazN3wEZjXHCM1MOKtxXZUi3HtGaUNpGeaFKAm2e6TTGmWbEBM3koOI5IL9u1NN8ARd-Vp0B-NzeRUOO8TaYXuuIt_1awJvUmpKzIXeEFzeOyI_YCo/s640/IMG_20160720_153401.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Selling blankets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-UbmE0biNlHb-K_lfvxSwAuaZ4RXuL7IjaHGLM1XG3pHahiV1AHcAUkmDAzD9veQFPyYCTHyww9Gzb_QWU9QbG5MBuQxqbv7ypnhCqOyrentI-ytO1wQzJLQHNeT3edojMkqMwH1GEY/s1600/IMG_20160720_160651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-UbmE0biNlHb-K_lfvxSwAuaZ4RXuL7IjaHGLM1XG3pHahiV1AHcAUkmDAzD9veQFPyYCTHyww9Gzb_QWU9QbG5MBuQxqbv7ypnhCqOyrentI-ytO1wQzJLQHNeT3edojMkqMwH1GEY/s640/IMG_20160720_160651.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">People dancing in the park. In Kunming, I saw numerous instances where everyone was holding hands to dance in a circle, which I WHOLEHEARTEDLY APPROVE and love.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrQv__kojssk7ZT0Un0qRpTX3r40_FSfNx7XVGXz283gm5gdfEwPEKvvlnzRrDvrzr-f_j5wx5tZpgqUjJCXl4aQ4sTPhnLZqoDJw9gFvCEF8l7KP3u1-F9XKT4IjMm-nolS2Db-Dmt0/s1600/IMG_20160720_160802.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvrQv__kojssk7ZT0Un0qRpTX3r40_FSfNx7XVGXz283gm5gdfEwPEKvvlnzRrDvrzr-f_j5wx5tZpgqUjJCXl4aQ4sTPhnLZqoDJw9gFvCEF8l7KP3u1-F9XKT4IjMm-nolS2Db-Dmt0/s640/IMG_20160720_160802.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">These couples were all waltzing and the woman in the middle was just getting down on her own.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Sorry for the lack of photos and/or info. Now that I'm back in business with a phone and a camera, things will be (semi) normal starting next post! Please reassure me that you don't see any difference at all in the photo quality. Do it. But honestly, if 13.5 months in, and the worst thing that's happened to me just happened, I think it's all going to be ok.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Moto taxis are back! If there's one thing I truly love, it's a good moto taxi. You won't be walking down the street any longer than a minute before a motorcycle will stop and offer you a ride. Sweet, sweet bliss.</li>
<li>There's an incredibly pretty sight called the Stone Forest near Kunming - it's accessible as a day trip, and while crazy-touristy, it's apparently <i>stunning</i>. I didn't have time (see Exhibit "I spent a whole day replacing my phone"), but I would have loved to add it onto my trip.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkVqipW38LO4ZQ_lV4oA1z2G1jBq3tfELpuiJo_jBVEfwlNRcx53b80pzYhMskNLBp5oklu5RctnTDTrMAs9nMsz0I_VpbRsTet3e8UOH5QpBKCTq55LwNYD-TjlAoIqv1xnNdzFa9Pg/s1600/%253Basldkfj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSkVqipW38LO4ZQ_lV4oA1z2G1jBq3tfELpuiJo_jBVEfwlNRcx53b80pzYhMskNLBp5oklu5RctnTDTrMAs9nMsz0I_VpbRsTet3e8UOH5QpBKCTq55LwNYD-TjlAoIqv1xnNdzFa9Pg/s640/%253Basldkfj.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is what the Stone Forest looks like!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>I can't understand a single word the locals are saying here - their accents are super suuuper heavy.</li>
</ul>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-38654657366625636222016-07-29T05:06:00.000-07:002016-07-29T22:38:58.235-07:00Shanghai, China, Part 2: Chinese Glamour ShotsHeading back from Suzhou, I hit up Shanghai one last time before finally leaving the area for good (Shanghai and its surrounding areas sure got some quality time on this trip). I spent a couple days crashing with Jade at her apartment (THANK YOU for being the sweetest hostess ever!), and, in my words, "living like a local." With no "to-see's" on the docket, I totally took my time and did whatever I wanted (one of those days involved me sitting in a coffee shop with a giant iced coffee for hours, catching up on the blog. After so long on the road, that is sometimes the true, true luxury!).<br />
<br />
<br />
Jade and I were talking my first night back, and she mentioned that she had been meaning to go get some photos done. At first I assumed they were work photos or something, but then she explained that sometimes it's fun (and a fairly common activity) to just go to a photo studio, get your hair and makeup done, throw on a couple outfit changes, and get photos taken by a professional. For (what appears to me to be) no reason; as in, they don't need a special occasion like a wedding or an engagement or a graduation to get photos done. She asked if I'd be interested in joining her for a session, saying that they had packages specifically designed for friends, called "friendship shoots." Seriously, this was the name of the photo package. WELL OK.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54JIawo7Td23gujH55S3lMzWEWDPZ9WycousRguqdeUwgseVbk9k-uKjbWTR_UPXqNY1soxRhd-d5y_JfAG7B6sgNvtWJyu57CgiiduJegPR9ZFaEhdwkRAzTxxO5Q1eQRirPYuFwbk0/s1600/DSC_5211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh54JIawo7Td23gujH55S3lMzWEWDPZ9WycousRguqdeUwgseVbk9k-uKjbWTR_UPXqNY1soxRhd-d5y_JfAG7B6sgNvtWJyu57CgiiduJegPR9ZFaEhdwkRAzTxxO5Q1eQRirPYuFwbk0/s640/DSC_5211.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">In China, "friendship shoots" involve wearing matching clothes and posing on beds. Apparently.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>So I actually also spent a day and a half in Shanghai in between Hangzhou and Suzhou, with Jesse, before he left - but I had no idea where to put those photos because they don't exactly warrant their own post, so I'm sticking them here!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkjprcTxpYc7X5NQRpQtsYxPgXuY4wyAoLFZNoirFJtDhm8qOeJd_99HQSOTZH4YhDyrDNw1PyoXw7QliswjNZrNgZgzs4INJKAawhcXkPY8aRYstDrten3dVt54eQITTXVODLeXH__g/s1600/thumb_IMG_4893_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkjprcTxpYc7X5NQRpQtsYxPgXuY4wyAoLFZNoirFJtDhm8qOeJd_99HQSOTZH4YhDyrDNw1PyoXw7QliswjNZrNgZgzs4INJKAawhcXkPY8aRYstDrten3dVt54eQITTXVODLeXH__g/s640/thumb_IMG_4893_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">My dad had been saving his points at the Radisson for FOREVER, and he asked me to help him use them - redeemable for exactly one night at the Shanghai Radisson Blu. I made him a montage of me using every square inch of the hotels facilities, to show him that his points were being well utilized. I'm sure the Radisson loved this.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj853n4lZe5M5zOihNjS0CbU36nVHS7-fbzqXU6mc4icAT1YvTPbjJthHHzuz9C0OagRX4tpqlxVxzRvK7tGrwy359Vg4uGM6IxWzFMmlIA_G7r3iVaN-w7kGKnVwUfaMT66YnZRoe-uq0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4910_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj853n4lZe5M5zOihNjS0CbU36nVHS7-fbzqXU6mc4icAT1YvTPbjJthHHzuz9C0OagRX4tpqlxVxzRvK7tGrwy359Vg4uGM6IxWzFMmlIA_G7r3iVaN-w7kGKnVwUfaMT66YnZRoe-uq0/s640/thumb_IMG_4910_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">We spent Jess' last night walking down Nanjing Road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis5Po58npsUPnO2JMAzZGz4S5gl1FgOipxgGrclQhuEt-V5oNAtfPJFfKhMjYQMvFdByWFstcO_VM54cP92bpVfOUHb0XEonOIHoUlYGfgjrZeAuTQU7ZPPeBoep74rPArQZLIn-8Rfc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4824_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis5Po58npsUPnO2JMAzZGz4S5gl1FgOipxgGrclQhuEt-V5oNAtfPJFfKhMjYQMvFdByWFstcO_VM54cP92bpVfOUHb0XEonOIHoUlYGfgjrZeAuTQU7ZPPeBoep74rPArQZLIn-8Rfc/s640/thumb_IMG_4824_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I maybe made us ride the super fun-looking tiny trolley across town</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The day Jess left, and the day before I left for Suzhou, Jade took me on her own (rainy) "political dissident tour". I named it myself. Jade has a lot of interest in history; and not just the history that the Chinese government teaches, but all of it. For example, if there's a home belonging to a famous leader who was against the Communist party (you know, like Chiang Kai-Shek - the leader of the Nationalist Party who fled to Taiwan because he was against Mao Zedong, the Communist Party leader)(#Chinesehistorylessons) - the government today tries to hide it. There will be no information on the home or the area or the individual at all, and it will be restricted for access and hidden behind fences. On the other hand, if there's a home belonging to a former government official, or a famous poet that supported the Communist government, the house is proudly preserved and displayed with information plaques and presented openly to the public. You really start to see that the Chinese government just shows you what it wants you to see. Anyhow, Jade has a deep interest in all this history. She took me to see a lot of the homes and properties of former political figures that are not marked or indicated. In fact, many of them just look like large buildings hidden behind even larger fences. It's super interesting that you would normally just walk right by these, and not have any idea of their historical significance.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYp8v1jGDcsc0tSP1lud63Geu0rBYw7DlguVileoK9vlN8JHGK7qh3IQjVU7UN3OIOHhFXrHSyp6DSns8h4Kn4OqqtwtRoC2hDIofR0TqQ-HXyzzFuHqD_GvZq-kkTztLXptdeZmzIPDs/s1600/thumb_IMG_4898_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYp8v1jGDcsc0tSP1lud63Geu0rBYw7DlguVileoK9vlN8JHGK7qh3IQjVU7UN3OIOHhFXrHSyp6DSns8h4Kn4OqqtwtRoC2hDIofR0TqQ-HXyzzFuHqD_GvZq-kkTztLXptdeZmzIPDs/s640/thumb_IMG_4898_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rainy walk through the French Concession, to see some of the old houses.<br />
At one point, we tried to enter a park that a guard would not allow us into, telling us it was private property. Jade responded with "I've studied the history of this park, and it used to be for public use. How can the government sell public property to a private individual?? Who allowed that? Who's the owner?" #wow. The guard admitted it did used to be public property, but now it isn't and he wouldn't answer who owned it. And he still didn't let us in. Jade let this one go, but apparently she's picked fights before. (insert big-eyed emoji here)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoxWHYmkBm3ijUJK-NFwGPMSlAupT4zo6qXJJV9XzR39IJLOp5XvHPsfwsncoi3ydaIiGeoQwxTQU92EiHh9o9W-Cq-hFePai4V3s7MfWkf2y28TLBL94UtVXMY8CaGi8dwZzPE48YEI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4884_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoxWHYmkBm3ijUJK-NFwGPMSlAupT4zo6qXJJV9XzR39IJLOp5XvHPsfwsncoi3ydaIiGeoQwxTQU92EiHh9o9W-Cq-hFePai4V3s7MfWkf2y28TLBL94UtVXMY8CaGi8dwZzPE48YEI/s640/thumb_IMG_4884_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This was also somewhere historic that I can't remember, someone's former property or something - and now the police occupy it, but they won't put up a sign that it's a police station so people can't question why the police get to use this super swanky fancy building (you know, benefits of being government employees). But it's fairly obvious because there's like, 10 police cars parked in the backyard. The way China works sometimes blows my mind.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjldu4MNbDIL25zYvJUYp9ZAunkKNE9bWZ1bOXRixigJbjkL_Dpx0lTuZw76RinwE0KIKvrGVZiQpAu9bpWv8mE6cJRawz45PG8wRSdHy6mh5qDNVVSRGrCuGMyYJ8Muhu8bBklPx7eY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4887_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrjldu4MNbDIL25zYvJUYp9ZAunkKNE9bWZ1bOXRixigJbjkL_Dpx0lTuZw76RinwE0KIKvrGVZiQpAu9bpWv8mE6cJRawz45PG8wRSdHy6mh5qDNVVSRGrCuGMyYJ8Muhu8bBklPx7eY/s640/thumb_IMG_4887_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We found an art exhibit of photos from all over China; snapshots into all the different provinces and ways of life and such. And it had this old propaganda poster.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitljbNtzlgBADMVPDsSGepSiszOU5UHwAuVV5SUpKwMk5fuuLcPDdXDz88cNMvx_Httsv_AIZ-BdspKd3Z1zJ37nn7eGAQ7vBCmdilUHslvvp_C-1RgLW0_qNSMLqAePaUomJmWoNz4OA/s1600/thumb_IMG_4886_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitljbNtzlgBADMVPDsSGepSiszOU5UHwAuVV5SUpKwMk5fuuLcPDdXDz88cNMvx_Httsv_AIZ-BdspKd3Z1zJ37nn7eGAQ7vBCmdilUHslvvp_C-1RgLW0_qNSMLqAePaUomJmWoNz4OA/s640/thumb_IMG_4886_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I changed my mind; the entire photo gallery was propaganda. Look at this caption. I could not get over it.<br />
"It's quality is, quite obviously, superior than that of other countries, such as Iran." WHO SAYS THAT.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4Z6EOuSh7eZ3Jhrt44oEMq2dMhLkxKm4qY_K0XW62Mqkvkf2nwZV0ARJun0Ru1M-KkaOPbYeSYJF7gEYhU2uPRLVo_23qAyS3eolwkYsEJApHVCcF1Ugy-npvN7lKH1CVtAC0gaC7a0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4890_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4Z6EOuSh7eZ3Jhrt44oEMq2dMhLkxKm4qY_K0XW62Mqkvkf2nwZV0ARJun0Ru1M-KkaOPbYeSYJF7gEYhU2uPRLVo_23qAyS3eolwkYsEJApHVCcF1Ugy-npvN7lKH1CVtAC0gaC7a0/s640/thumb_IMG_4890_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This was an incredibly pretty park (I think a hefty chunk of all the parks in China are named "People's Park"), with a teahouse overlooking the fountain.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqpl-ePsFxvKF9mWfb1zgSYQ8Tj4zm5OiqS5P3EfYZtCFXzw0NbVU4zK9IVPVAI2En7v25yRHg5YhEZlKAw65qiYa0S1mtnKsN4iyY8PfYtiXrcCJCyO-cj8EyNN7M2idg0mnPJs5JjQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4891_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuqpl-ePsFxvKF9mWfb1zgSYQ8Tj4zm5OiqS5P3EfYZtCFXzw0NbVU4zK9IVPVAI2En7v25yRHg5YhEZlKAw65qiYa0S1mtnKsN4iyY8PfYtiXrcCJCyO-cj8EyNN7M2idg0mnPJs5JjQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4891_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Shanghai, you look so Euro sometimes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wsqVxVH6Z9JiIC2x-t4AFAoGej5RKxLApgbRobUtKFFm5TdZMpXb-SoLgzmcurVCoSkbVOxwhyf-Vf_hV0_wS8PKZgGkeGFLfDmG_fZUyVY6RwsXDCY_V4IMqZscBeUuxpM6g8ThSJw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4905_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wsqVxVH6Z9JiIC2x-t4AFAoGej5RKxLApgbRobUtKFFm5TdZMpXb-SoLgzmcurVCoSkbVOxwhyf-Vf_hV0_wS8PKZgGkeGFLfDmG_fZUyVY6RwsXDCY_V4IMqZscBeUuxpM6g8ThSJw/s640/thumb_IMG_4905_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ended our day (and our political dissident tour) with big bowls of personal hotpot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cLW9u0f1xqj35NrT0qeTbpY_aAusmQOz7xiq1Izi2X1s8kX5MuO0VpdhC4KGNCJlzirPd3Y3VAxJU5xdCkLR04nHnyGJcy3g6ftlTYV-VlhMc3bZyZ4tkxZi-tGkq-7gKatmNqU5YNg/s1600/thumb_IMG_5136_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4cLW9u0f1xqj35NrT0qeTbpY_aAusmQOz7xiq1Izi2X1s8kX5MuO0VpdhC4KGNCJlzirPd3Y3VAxJU5xdCkLR04nHnyGJcy3g6ftlTYV-VlhMc3bZyZ4tkxZi-tGkq-7gKatmNqU5YNg/s640/thumb_IMG_5136_1024.jpg" width="526" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Slumber party at Jade's = face masks and computers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day, we woke up bright and early for *drumroll* the "Friendship Photo Shoot!" I don't think that needs to be capitalized, but I'm making it a proper noun. Let me just preface these next set of photos with </li>
<ul>
<li>These are only a handful, and trust me, these are the faaaaairly normal ones. If you want weirder, I have weirder. Just ask; </li>
<li>Jade was right! Girls do randomly just go get photos done for no reason! There were two sets of them at the photo studio when we arrived. One was getting a set with her boyfriend done (what?? What happens if they break up!?), and one was just getting photos of herself in different outfits for no apparent reason; </li>
<li>Please keep in mind that China loves themes. Jade chose all our themes. </li>
<li>Girls in China are very <i>close</i> - like, they hold hands in the street and stuff. So getting photos done together felt kind of like an engagement shoot to me, but here it's normal; and hey, what the wife wants, the wife gets. (The wife is Jade, btw. Keep up.)</li>
</ul>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrqP7zrUukYWnVpJSpJGVPCtDALJZzu9C1FnaTDgK1FZ6ozLLZzLaH6UT30vjiMYUS6U70Ts4OIhWmndM-JFGKEUYZAFRhGUW2lL1XNNB8gbuHaay4W2htYm64KBrRbXE06L_heLvo-U/s1600/DSC_5199.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrqP7zrUukYWnVpJSpJGVPCtDALJZzu9C1FnaTDgK1FZ6ozLLZzLaH6UT30vjiMYUS6U70Ts4OIhWmndM-JFGKEUYZAFRhGUW2lL1XNNB8gbuHaay4W2htYm64KBrRbXE06L_heLvo-U/s640/DSC_5199.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The first theme - boudoir?!? Just kidding. But kind of not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXCYfeR92nllfme0CuiEMybs526uo3-bzRSLsZAW0oMc_hH2GaOOwV45oGTUxXU2BO7qrMMxi24Qgjy7jPo75zBfMnaCeahXwGNnbVMrmXa9HqbwTY7uhv5QmxWcfzaRQJ45vh69_NuY/s1600/DSC_5228.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXCYfeR92nllfme0CuiEMybs526uo3-bzRSLsZAW0oMc_hH2GaOOwV45oGTUxXU2BO7qrMMxi24Qgjy7jPo75zBfMnaCeahXwGNnbVMrmXa9HqbwTY7uhv5QmxWcfzaRQJ45vh69_NuY/s640/DSC_5228.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Yeahhh I'm not exactly sure what the difference between this and a boudoir shoot is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m6-8EIe79lHaY5VH8k_Twwf_M3b2T-jg_ziM1KH7Or3rptPK4oNISRCCl8swTLKQ7IjuvaejSgyoK0GYeHaphhnhpgdH6HlmmPnMuz9XeOt2yxis9LDyPWZc_Fcx0mssWBBA-9T-N5s/s1600/DSC_5255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3m6-8EIe79lHaY5VH8k_Twwf_M3b2T-jg_ziM1KH7Or3rptPK4oNISRCCl8swTLKQ7IjuvaejSgyoK0GYeHaphhnhpgdH6HlmmPnMuz9XeOt2yxis9LDyPWZc_Fcx0mssWBBA-9T-N5s/s640/DSC_5255.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jade was barely touching my hair, but the photog instructed me to act like I was in pain, "while still keeping my face pretty." Uh. I'm not a magician here, sir.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iQWCpZxbSA26qLfaz48V8irPIS1i3EG1xsBYjvh2AWXMJm-8XS-uiZvJ74GbeJ7VJ2egazc2RZFAFfIvnSCuQCyRBmGB6eHs5_AhXxt93UZ6ItpcbW9-hNAX-XJrmPKwnjuhAAJ1ueI/s1600/DSC_5273.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4iQWCpZxbSA26qLfaz48V8irPIS1i3EG1xsBYjvh2AWXMJm-8XS-uiZvJ74GbeJ7VJ2egazc2RZFAFfIvnSCuQCyRBmGB6eHs5_AhXxt93UZ6ItpcbW9-hNAX-XJrmPKwnjuhAAJ1ueI/s640/DSC_5273.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Next set: Chinese traditional dresses (<i>qipaos</i>) - we went outside for these, and it was hot as balls. That's all.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgtZ61Z-ZSamLalu5zwZrfB40D5ZS3NVmS-wkDV0r3azJRJ9n4L069nwVqNSo8aNBSbqOVRozRR34KWsXHqi3gSH94OVhib9a0AFu8lN1Qwkx-vVpEHAFhkCulkj0lf4_ItBty5XObtw/s1600/DSC_5284.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEgtZ61Z-ZSamLalu5zwZrfB40D5ZS3NVmS-wkDV0r3azJRJ9n4L069nwVqNSo8aNBSbqOVRozRR34KWsXHqi3gSH94OVhib9a0AFu8lN1Qwkx-vVpEHAFhkCulkj0lf4_ItBty5XObtw/s640/DSC_5284.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photo shoots in China are like acting sessions. "Walk slowly while pointing and looking over at that tree!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwDS1_XnNjGnY0kDAnLLcWwg9rNT_nYKBxKWnPslWyyOC9WTlWovECup9o7T7827Z9jI7-2uOzyFXQaLv0-o7CHrrgWReDxZy5nT1AlbN3sUpBOU8KgmI6yKyehw-Xj_nytbN4rDLDxo/s1600/DSC_5306.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwDS1_XnNjGnY0kDAnLLcWwg9rNT_nYKBxKWnPslWyyOC9WTlWovECup9o7T7827Z9jI7-2uOzyFXQaLv0-o7CHrrgWReDxZy5nT1AlbN3sUpBOU8KgmI6yKyehw-Xj_nytbN4rDLDxo/s640/DSC_5306.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The photog was way into this fan. I was too, but only because I got to fan myself aggressively between shots in the 100 degree heat.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vRNSPQcrtNKIeGh9RfyfImxKY758SPG9gLRx2gWu6dzI_O6i-_aZh_aWM_qUXHEpMAIlkLE0rq16zWEuSD6szzmgiOOPQ7jH5g1_vSVKVqkjiGowziXZzKUDBCNcW9-RQy05tadYAeM/s1600/DSC_5319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vRNSPQcrtNKIeGh9RfyfImxKY758SPG9gLRx2gWu6dzI_O6i-_aZh_aWM_qUXHEpMAIlkLE0rq16zWEuSD6szzmgiOOPQ7jH5g1_vSVKVqkjiGowziXZzKUDBCNcW9-RQy05tadYAeM/s640/DSC_5319.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I love this one of Jade! The photog sent us onto the deck of a rando restaurant for these</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjii2ang4O5Dytu9HV4wEBCvBYT2Aegx3dSmMOgHRCpDmPiVpG9-ud2GRydl9jij1_uV0qTuwkQ2QMI-87prUMRLZu8PXTjVx9kLdyG_1RWFfT_nC6JjfB5EamvR4hXkmConcQylk4XiiM/s1600/DSC_5322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjii2ang4O5Dytu9HV4wEBCvBYT2Aegx3dSmMOgHRCpDmPiVpG9-ud2GRydl9jij1_uV0qTuwkQ2QMI-87prUMRLZu8PXTjVx9kLdyG_1RWFfT_nC6JjfB5EamvR4hXkmConcQylk4XiiM/s640/DSC_5322.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Oh, now we're sitting on the rando restaurant's deck. Thanks, guys.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxiPeuwprjc796IVl3bEu-FEb_aa-7cUjI0mDrnCwW1Cu7wBcc973BxylUQfpcamPLZsxsJedaboIgKuduCbwJvlYKkG0wW-Cuu8sC8NejaMfpECHSl0J8pqLxuEOJda4vHGgdLgAOrI/s1600/DSC_5324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJxiPeuwprjc796IVl3bEu-FEb_aa-7cUjI0mDrnCwW1Cu7wBcc973BxylUQfpcamPLZsxsJedaboIgKuduCbwJvlYKkG0wW-Cuu8sC8NejaMfpECHSl0J8pqLxuEOJda4vHGgdLgAOrI/s640/DSC_5324.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><i>Qipaos</i> are super racy. Jade says they are designed to be that way - to appear demure and ladylike on the surface, but then have these ridiculous sky-high slits in the legs, and have the shape be skin-tight and form-fitting to the body. Apparently we Americans have it all wrong, what with the putting skin out there right up front. The key is you have to TRICK THE MEN into thinking you're a lady at first.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn92ZUjnckz-mNYnowbLYj7Op3hyV8Nwp-asDvN_jFWMcEmaCiRG2F5esEZhmVg9j04flAqdVPNsDCiPMuk193ZDkaLSPHBof6bm_7rbCSnl6GTdtrAM2ehtT6eEQy9pWSA21kmZhHGPM/s1600/DSC_5331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="427" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn92ZUjnckz-mNYnowbLYj7Op3hyV8Nwp-asDvN_jFWMcEmaCiRG2F5esEZhmVg9j04flAqdVPNsDCiPMuk193ZDkaLSPHBof6bm_7rbCSnl6GTdtrAM2ehtT6eEQy9pWSA21kmZhHGPM/s640/DSC_5331.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Qipaos are racy, part 2. Unless you don't think it's racy to see all my million mosquito bites.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUp4YbaD-r1rYw_zrWbA7HFe3ARMYJhunGkGJG8aoQkthNQ5HXdLyRIOBbx2J6v5dHEWJyjA2WFpSpi7XLMxm6AAHrzFXzO8G8FMB2QO8fl3ubLS3CZLfpbg17BioCt6x9EpJVZhnvgIY/s1600/thumb_IMG_5137_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUp4YbaD-r1rYw_zrWbA7HFe3ARMYJhunGkGJG8aoQkthNQ5HXdLyRIOBbx2J6v5dHEWJyjA2WFpSpi7XLMxm6AAHrzFXzO8G8FMB2QO8fl3ubLS3CZLfpbg17BioCt6x9EpJVZhnvgIY/s640/thumb_IMG_5137_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The lady did our hair in like, 5 minutes. So impressive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraTHT_Or539N3RkT2OPqMPxbIcduOsUw8kgixRmtQxQl-xpduYZMBR-nPYHVEIuPDyDRl958SUuVU_tMypdRZdHgXYSZ2qpqxY8gnUL_Ur845gLGkJqvtwzAo9Yv5m2wx6mYij3SGMm4/s1600/DSC_5394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhraTHT_Or539N3RkT2OPqMPxbIcduOsUw8kgixRmtQxQl-xpduYZMBR-nPYHVEIuPDyDRl958SUuVU_tMypdRZdHgXYSZ2qpqxY8gnUL_Ur845gLGkJqvtwzAo9Yv5m2wx6mYij3SGMm4/s640/DSC_5394.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">AND THE FINAL THEME. Jade was going for "cool and dangerous." Seriously, some of these pics (which I will not post) are the most ridiculous ones of all. The photog kept instructing us to be cool (seriously, I think I heard the word "cool" 100+ times) and I was like "I DON'T KNOW HOWWWWW"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRRxPjRczoGJV_3aBqj5n45e9-7X2x2KEDXDtE8_4ibperG2cF6u1YzT4JgH5SqVCKZlreYl3StZNWglyxN8vGPa_NBfBkjSypeVRjlOXFkxw9igpLZmYJRo-6zbYf6fOvYPWDiCi3sg/s1600/DSC_5406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRRxPjRczoGJV_3aBqj5n45e9-7X2x2KEDXDtE8_4ibperG2cF6u1YzT4JgH5SqVCKZlreYl3StZNWglyxN8vGPa_NBfBkjSypeVRjlOXFkxw9igpLZmYJRo-6zbYf6fOvYPWDiCi3sg/s640/DSC_5406.JPG" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Apparently my go-to when "acting cool" is duckface</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMV-5dQg0FuVTqQESGGlad5FYMTj-MPxFEY1lySLjQtnHQORvGcS7bsNYoSSSAEaqGdMO7B5uNaOnsnBmZXVyUCWzaqpBe_nDpVsUjW9MTyIOOtFTeQR2b39agIIT5Mwtfjse2f5QI1iA/s1600/DSC_5411.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMV-5dQg0FuVTqQESGGlad5FYMTj-MPxFEY1lySLjQtnHQORvGcS7bsNYoSSSAEaqGdMO7B5uNaOnsnBmZXVyUCWzaqpBe_nDpVsUjW9MTyIOOtFTeQR2b39agIIT5Mwtfjse2f5QI1iA/s200/DSC_5411.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jade is much better at being cool than I am</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aNKyhaGoPKQ6XLoaj9grp5dapwl4nRjdUYm6QQ7LgTsN5DHJPFC7JG4kRQ2tf3ZiD-k31OxwjjPJKY692ZSY0BikNbgsu9-VUCkpYdtbBhjrlw7jIuNoXT3HikUo5oeQCjRdG5zh5ck/s1600/DSC_5430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8aNKyhaGoPKQ6XLoaj9grp5dapwl4nRjdUYm6QQ7LgTsN5DHJPFC7JG4kRQ2tf3ZiD-k31OxwjjPJKY692ZSY0BikNbgsu9-VUCkpYdtbBhjrlw7jIuNoXT3HikUo5oeQCjRdG5zh5ck/s200/DSC_5430.JPG" width="133" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Omg I'm keeping this photo small</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>It was a super-fun day (SO WEIRD YET SO INTERESTING), and we had a good time at the end of it. You know who else had a great time? Jesse. I think he could barely breathe, he was laughing so hard, when he saw these photos. You're welcome for the day's entertainment. I hope you were entertained. I have more, if you need.</li>
<li>After the photo shoot, we went to brunch with family friends, then headed to an area of town that has a bunch of cute cafes and afternoon tea spots and (again) looks very Euro.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20xYhyphenhyphenBWSv0hBeiD3Zeb4pOz9FWf36UKXJxx7IhrhM0uetAvwFvLMFJ40Qw9VL0KPWU4hs0vKd-_L_hIy8dhVcmEnfOogv2h_4NyLcUcEf3_qKCcpoJLQA3-5emhxpjgR7f27Xh3e4Ek/s1600/thumb_IMG_5145_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20xYhyphenhyphenBWSv0hBeiD3Zeb4pOz9FWf36UKXJxx7IhrhM0uetAvwFvLMFJ40Qw9VL0KPWU4hs0vKd-_L_hIy8dhVcmEnfOogv2h_4NyLcUcEf3_qKCcpoJLQA3-5emhxpjgR7f27Xh3e4Ek/s640/thumb_IMG_5145_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I forgot what this section of town is called. I fail.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys2VoS4DsujIKMg_xrh_08wlko88IwkmMZT3o6ewrGfQTON5kRVxhs2RvJf5TiRpcex0FZWEbCfx6N0Ny39flUh_jtrAGWwIvNlGXNn0bmRo5b9AVbYYXCYZLGyxs5lDtgvMr6GUwwPc/s1600/thumb_IMG_5152_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhys2VoS4DsujIKMg_xrh_08wlko88IwkmMZT3o6ewrGfQTON5kRVxhs2RvJf5TiRpcex0FZWEbCfx6N0Ny39flUh_jtrAGWwIvNlGXNn0bmRo5b9AVbYYXCYZLGyxs5lDtgvMr6GUwwPc/s640/thumb_IMG_5152_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But we went and had (expensive!) afternoon tea at a place that tried so, so hard to be British.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav8SCoULIaQMWrIE_dY7qgtesthQsqEjot2xmunspRMPUqZPAQOiANOU1fXCSMobv5hrrqAS37nhfz4yoR32bkDy_yJUFWZ5YJ9zFaSI6GQeeEQtLgCiHmc_puYTYtyaCMtDqnAxVMPI/s1600/thumb_IMG_5141_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjav8SCoULIaQMWrIE_dY7qgtesthQsqEjot2xmunspRMPUqZPAQOiANOU1fXCSMobv5hrrqAS37nhfz4yoR32bkDy_yJUFWZ5YJ9zFaSI6GQeeEQtLgCiHmc_puYTYtyaCMtDqnAxVMPI/s640/thumb_IMG_5141_1024.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And since we still had our makeup on, we went and took our own photos in the area (DOUBLE DUTY)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nSxrse56vNyX8HqbX8qOFIyVuYEICpjQD9cTnx4IwnSZVdQHZb4WJmNzmZPXUBU3SDvaBNKMwa-HXCuoypSiJ0ZzwM3_qczPkBUXYwA61d9ooK2YBtnjzJQy_wS57Mh0TSzgbKe7Sfg/s1600/thumb_IMG_5150_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="530" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-nSxrse56vNyX8HqbX8qOFIyVuYEICpjQD9cTnx4IwnSZVdQHZb4WJmNzmZPXUBU3SDvaBNKMwa-HXCuoypSiJ0ZzwM3_qczPkBUXYwA61d9ooK2YBtnjzJQy_wS57Mh0TSzgbKe7Sfg/s640/thumb_IMG_5150_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is a beautiful former convent, which has now been turned into a swanky hotel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>And with that wrapped up the end of my (multiple) Shanghai adventures! I loved having this city as a home base for two weeks, which would not have been even close to the same without Jade the superstar. So thanks Jade, and thanks Shanghai, for being a semi-home for a little bit! Also, thanks to the photo studio that made me feel like I was in a strange, very-interesting movie set for a day. I now have photos that will last a lifetime, and will also be plastered across my wall in poster-size going forward. I'm onto the rest of China!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>After the photo shoot, Jade and I went to brunch with family friends, where my friend Catherine's aunt commented: "You know, you can put Connie in a qipao...but she still looks American." Jade says this is because Chinese girls are taught to be more demure - not so open with their smile or gestures or emotions (oops - fail, fail, and fail). Apparently, in the airlines (only the prettiest and most feminine girls get flight attendant jobs in Asia), they require that you only show the top 8 teeth when you smile. And this is how Jade says she was taught to smile (Jade says when I smile, the entire rack of both teeth come out). Asian girls are taught to smile with no bottom teeth. Try it in the mirror. Only show 8 teeth. It's impossible, you will see. </li>
<li>On that note, they also measure waist sizes for flight attendants. They are supposed to be as wide as a piece of paper. I'm going to go ahead and say that my large smile already disqualifies me as a flight attendant here.....</li>
<li>I have no idea when wearing a business suit made you cool. You wouldn't believe the range of other options the photo studio had..</li>
</ul>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-36345508489398314882016-07-26T18:43:00.000-07:002016-07-29T03:19:40.309-07:00Suzhou, China: I Make New Chinese Friends!Jess and I hung out for a day back in Shanghai before he left for Vietnam, on his way home to Australia, again. I know he's "gone home to Australia" like, 5 times already - but this is what he claimed this time. I spent an extra day in Shanghai hanging out with Jade, and then headed out on a solo adventure to the city of Suzhou, a couple hours away from Shanghai.<br />
<br />
Near Shanghai are all these "water towns": think Venice, with houses and villages built along little canal-like waterways, but in Chinese form. A lot of them are pretty historic, though many have been remodeled or "improved" (again, Chinese-style), and most of them are super touristy. But I wanted to check out at least one, and eventually settled on Suzhou.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Suzhou, northwest of Shanghai, is an incredibly historic (over 2,500 years old!) city, tucked off the banks of the Yangtze River. Its best known for its beautiful gardens that were built for personal use by the olden-day Chinese people who had more money than they knew what to do with (i.e. government officials, etc.) They'd build these ridiculous, elaborate, huuuuge gardens for themselves - many of which have been preserved today. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2i-PmEEZCQKHTR8XhncEOUQh59w3kyo4XwIBpKUe7NzXhstJEiED_9LZo70SL4nupqatAZqUhbNQj4niQY_Almbio-UDXS3OzS00wpN_Pr6BP5DuF536ihjuS2c1F5yGN9QhDFXH9PU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4976_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2i-PmEEZCQKHTR8XhncEOUQh59w3kyo4XwIBpKUe7NzXhstJEiED_9LZo70SL4nupqatAZqUhbNQj4niQY_Almbio-UDXS3OzS00wpN_Pr6BP5DuF536ihjuS2c1F5yGN9QhDFXH9PU/s640/thumb_IMG_4976_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">These people had way too much money to be building personal gardens like this for themselves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Suzhou also has beautiful canals and temples, and is situated very close to the water town of Tongli - which is known to be one of the most beautiful water villages. And also one of the most touristy. But water villages and gardens, sign me up!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0aR0ENGA-whnQuc5vs8de9k_v2gad4wRJIbGs9I_cxvi82SEBcy9ycLKy2AesVeHlv22MoXK_t5qu3aWi7S84GR-cOgKomoqbGtnWlCf-4PBFxr78m4FigNMym3cbwqPwxoV5O5jPEs/s1600/thumb_IMG_5073_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB0aR0ENGA-whnQuc5vs8de9k_v2gad4wRJIbGs9I_cxvi82SEBcy9ycLKy2AesVeHlv22MoXK_t5qu3aWi7S84GR-cOgKomoqbGtnWlCf-4PBFxr78m4FigNMym3cbwqPwxoV5O5jPEs/s640/thumb_IMG_5073_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Tongli water village! <br />
While pretty, I've now come to associate the phrase "water village" with "endless cesspools of mosquitoes"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul><li>I literally checked out of my Shanghai hostel in the morning, sat in the cafe with a coffee and did some internet research on where to go next, decided on Suzhou, and then purchased an afternoon train over there. The internet is an amazing place. Even despite the fact that half of it is blocked in China.</li>
<li>I arrived to my hostel in Suzhou, filled with only Chinese people, and had the owner recommend some sites for me to see the next day.</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuiLTaSfSneh1TUUZUtqKpTE_F1gvYvzehHerDZCnL-SDFklNuNMvxlB-VTqr0j1XVcDDRczEWfo69_wpjIjHMxJdPvydck1jFCT9hoXCj86DXTTgZeVBr3Z8o4T7pmSpbt8eHPXixjQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4914_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLuiLTaSfSneh1TUUZUtqKpTE_F1gvYvzehHerDZCnL-SDFklNuNMvxlB-VTqr0j1XVcDDRczEWfo69_wpjIjHMxJdPvydck1jFCT9hoXCj86DXTTgZeVBr3Z8o4T7pmSpbt8eHPXixjQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4914_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this Post-it is what he gave me. Never mind the fact that I can't really read Chinese (I had to add notes in green), but this is basically how I got around all day: showing people my Post-it, cross-checking the Chinese characters with the bus stops and signs, etc.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>First stop was the Tiger Hill Pagoda and Scenic Area (虎丘塔). The area houses tons of historic sights, gardens, and temples - and has served different purposes over the years, though the area has been in use since Suzhou's founding. Which means it's also over 2,500 years old. The area is called Tiger Hill either because 1.) It's rumored an emperor buried his father here, and the next day saw a white tiger hanging out, or 2.) The mountain is shaped like a tiger. Nobody knows.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBAqonluPFy8z_SwKAleqSWLyFr8MBt2bOqxxv_5n-dW1gEP_V3jhIcTj5-Dje3RV8aZyaRhbBvB2kHJ6NZ8FOzvdMD-spm_IclpfNj_99sBxMNAmwhEBhfOcwhEDWhhSF3hNinpxk6Y/s1600/thumb_IMG_4921_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoBAqonluPFy8z_SwKAleqSWLyFr8MBt2bOqxxv_5n-dW1gEP_V3jhIcTj5-Dje3RV8aZyaRhbBvB2kHJ6NZ8FOzvdMD-spm_IclpfNj_99sBxMNAmwhEBhfOcwhEDWhhSF3hNinpxk6Y/s640/thumb_IMG_4921_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love Chinese signs, part 100. <br />
Such an emphasis on being civilized. You have no idea how appropriate that emphasis is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR53Cc-w1IYiEichAG0D_WAk0LwCJvxdWlskSqFWBquDYfiPpA1qZ1cQs2Pz_PszXsdIZsj_PyvnBxt-jjCCRZnBMjj2vGSf3CsXcGvCI7qfTwRPOVv3XrWak-PjqeAT23d79LArKSxQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4924_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiR53Cc-w1IYiEichAG0D_WAk0LwCJvxdWlskSqFWBquDYfiPpA1qZ1cQs2Pz_PszXsdIZsj_PyvnBxt-jjCCRZnBMjj2vGSf3CsXcGvCI7qfTwRPOVv3XrWak-PjqeAT23d79LArKSxQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4924_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of the most famous sights in the area - called the Sword Pool, it's thought that the emperor's father that's buried here especially loved swords - and had workers dig this pool to bury his thousands of swords after he died. And then the workers were probably all killed. Also, no one can verify the authenticity of this story because the pool has never been excavated, given that it is part of the foundation of the pagoda.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoenbzBkLzat6vYnvHSmzKR_gtylQyWtVTQ3A2S_vN1cV0iaWOPnzPt6X3Qtat5dw6qEPLaqVPpltyzLFrf7rA2diG8XNHGV6KSJxxBSnID81RNs_zhS5Tth9YQf8yL32mPiTRj_xaf0s/s1600/thumb_IMG_4929_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoenbzBkLzat6vYnvHSmzKR_gtylQyWtVTQ3A2S_vN1cV0iaWOPnzPt6X3Qtat5dw6qEPLaqVPpltyzLFrf7rA2diG8XNHGV6KSJxxBSnID81RNs_zhS5Tth9YQf8yL32mPiTRj_xaf0s/s640/thumb_IMG_4929_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is the main feature, the leaning Tiger Hill Pagoda! The pagoda, first built ~900AD (it's been destroyed and reconstructed many times along the way), was initially part of the Yunyan Temple, and is nicknamed the "Leaning Tower of China" because it's started to lean over the past couple hundred years, due to an uneven foundation of concrete and soil.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IvC3aEdIHjQJO3LZtZw2DmmOY2nFF1oVdcpcuilRXkjOcqqIs8Qr5ZnhJyUZ4XCd1JIRNcerytQ7N-SCP0B3MNBaz_nqrgQI6EPRBeNOcQpy-qH1UC3L9nzTUEd4pOV3ajxvn61RtMI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4933_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IvC3aEdIHjQJO3LZtZw2DmmOY2nFF1oVdcpcuilRXkjOcqqIs8Qr5ZnhJyUZ4XCd1JIRNcerytQ7N-SCP0B3MNBaz_nqrgQI6EPRBeNOcQpy-qH1UC3L9nzTUEd4pOV3ajxvn61RtMI/s640/thumb_IMG_4933_1024.jpg" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It is almost 48 meters tall and 7 stories high (TUCKING IN FACTS WHEREVER I CAN)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq92hxTYYoRToE1v2x5R1PGkeKs4TZRexOUXSqZ-AWRrk-IrbRTBxazRj8QgfRq7mwvkziRGWhI5uo6XrWw_c5tateEOJgtx8comoCQoa5VpPawIsvQBdaX45scfCHRoyB9VZbuNDGfWM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4943_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq92hxTYYoRToE1v2x5R1PGkeKs4TZRexOUXSqZ-AWRrk-IrbRTBxazRj8QgfRq7mwvkziRGWhI5uo6XrWw_c5tateEOJgtx8comoCQoa5VpPawIsvQBdaX45scfCHRoyB9VZbuNDGfWM/s640/thumb_IMG_4943_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then I walked around the scenic area, which was lovely. There were tons of winding paths and ups and downs everywhere. And some parts were totally secluded.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98Bg1eOZuzibovtV5kr-i9hKjPpmxYNQieOmnea45ctXxaqsA4j5LtRKzVICOvO_zLVhe0gy6Lv0kzH9YC5SfqSnceUzoXtfnjf1Znc81hosIR-NTugUlJNItWiXbU8vGhY6PN2ylF7k/s1600/thumb_IMG_4944_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg98Bg1eOZuzibovtV5kr-i9hKjPpmxYNQieOmnea45ctXxaqsA4j5LtRKzVICOvO_zLVhe0gy6Lv0kzH9YC5SfqSnceUzoXtfnjf1Znc81hosIR-NTugUlJNItWiXbU8vGhY6PN2ylF7k/s640/thumb_IMG_4944_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking along a forest path with a lion friend</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N_Sjl2gO_rTMYpDr1VutE21VMpTXpDUI5j4hHSecrDls5kIwsyUE_P4-bfCmge4Mh0_e3XkIQv5HdYt-a-feQGDWEEJhOGsmwOmoffoW5D83nLA71_xBWsC05zu5ro9st9UbBI9TE9U/s1600/thumb_IMG_4945_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7N_Sjl2gO_rTMYpDr1VutE21VMpTXpDUI5j4hHSecrDls5kIwsyUE_P4-bfCmge4Mh0_e3XkIQv5HdYt-a-feQGDWEEJhOGsmwOmoffoW5D83nLA71_xBWsC05zu5ro9st9UbBI9TE9U/s640/thumb_IMG_4945_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the top of the hill is a view over Suzhou</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEkLQD4atXTIuHz__K2-_ZfqUQqwlCcd4yQrjarw3WN2KldngCEVogCv0JiNtWbbbxYGsL7kTqfhH2MQKmWy0wLXAz-AlOmsEVM5G_FeKrscqCB2F8wvwrZOn99gsW_f086EmBG4mkKI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4946_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEkLQD4atXTIuHz__K2-_ZfqUQqwlCcd4yQrjarw3WN2KldngCEVogCv0JiNtWbbbxYGsL7kTqfhH2MQKmWy0wLXAz-AlOmsEVM5G_FeKrscqCB2F8wvwrZOn99gsW_f086EmBG4mkKI/s640/thumb_IMG_4946_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrSQAVTEk2K_Y3ZNdsLkxUGsl1bCF45ARCkrN0OeXCkrx4IkYr-cW31dbDOI4v5cdCjEI6ql9cOIwPah_2_NZ3lvFAONauep5NiclbEb9n5u55oQif-T4k23NzjBZwUOsw2DVfSiVPFc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4948_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikrSQAVTEk2K_Y3ZNdsLkxUGsl1bCF45ARCkrN0OeXCkrx4IkYr-cW31dbDOI4v5cdCjEI6ql9cOIwPah_2_NZ3lvFAONauep5NiclbEb9n5u55oQif-T4k23NzjBZwUOsw2DVfSiVPFc/s640/thumb_IMG_4948_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good luck if you can stand your coin up in this rock. Which might work better if people weren't using only 10 cent yuan coins, which are so light they feel plastic.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5iUCY_s0eRomwbZOmQQ8q4I6z5Ri61QxxjkFi_SSk-ivdq9VM4jUI_e3bswvqrQC4E-OhoVNKwMSbxa7xN3SrY2mt-9hoCx2yIl0DvNw3neaN2y5J-3jnlGHmnuocX0ZRS7BNRfYfw0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4951_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip5iUCY_s0eRomwbZOmQQ8q4I6z5Ri61QxxjkFi_SSk-ivdq9VM4jUI_e3bswvqrQC4E-OhoVNKwMSbxa7xN3SrY2mt-9hoCx2yIl0DvNw3neaN2y5J-3jnlGHmnuocX0ZRS7BNRfYfw0/s640/thumb_IMG_4951_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you notice that a photo has a description missing, it's most likely because I had no idea what the heck I was taking a photo of</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW2vl9GqZvEGUydf1oxCt6VMDNUsHS_iWkKJf9t7qOGNqAtsehVM0Azl82ZmJeGeQ0EScWjKlCCDEp6tYpFobF0aBUuHI-sVOeTwOd4Wi86gjKcmTQv-0-jaNoO4Oo6-GBjZdWSp0bl4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4952_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoW2vl9GqZvEGUydf1oxCt6VMDNUsHS_iWkKJf9t7qOGNqAtsehVM0Azl82ZmJeGeQ0EScWjKlCCDEp6tYpFobF0aBUuHI-sVOeTwOd4Wi86gjKcmTQv-0-jaNoO4Oo6-GBjZdWSp0bl4/s640/thumb_IMG_4952_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bamboo forest (that, I know)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGnHu7DSo6URU6ciqp7ripA8YpEK7fJpstF_j9vUffwWlmjXv4_pNdu5bOEWuY1OQpKlfLHUIiy_BFlVN7GbHReGUgSnVOaOn_jRak21v_8InM4-tPmVhI9B4pO_QTOijz0u6lhiy1I8/s1600/thumb_IMG_4955_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoGnHu7DSo6URU6ciqp7ripA8YpEK7fJpstF_j9vUffwWlmjXv4_pNdu5bOEWuY1OQpKlfLHUIiy_BFlVN7GbHReGUgSnVOaOn_jRak21v_8InM4-tPmVhI9B4pO_QTOijz0u6lhiy1I8/s640/thumb_IMG_4955_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterfalls</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRRuFJPlTtjn2jDiOjopemKJMZ_166oH1wMPoCBVi4bucelfh_MerHy3Z7GFWizCqykvy5HSB8GZAv8w7ahAuI8zRLCLpOhkQtdwGBwSd_G9NJHeExI25vOmRQK1-i5ptL4FbektU0Sw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4958_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfRRuFJPlTtjn2jDiOjopemKJMZ_166oH1wMPoCBVi4bucelfh_MerHy3Z7GFWizCqykvy5HSB8GZAv8w7ahAuI8zRLCLpOhkQtdwGBwSd_G9NJHeExI25vOmRQK1-i5ptL4FbektU0Sw/s640/thumb_IMG_4958_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is this maybe some kind of temple? It had a bathroom off to the side that was nice and air-conditioned. Fact.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jQ8GDbie2BfIdHUVGeBeckSeEodi_wuM8js54R80OWrJEBDVPcxkL3OqGzTcW4nV9dvzRLChcRt5GbnrHLMXXHakm2lEtI3Zcmy8zNjaftbEmKIZznfuu67qBFBPWZh9QQsULWllBZI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4959_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jQ8GDbie2BfIdHUVGeBeckSeEodi_wuM8js54R80OWrJEBDVPcxkL3OqGzTcW4nV9dvzRLChcRt5GbnrHLMXXHakm2lEtI3Zcmy8zNjaftbEmKIZznfuu67qBFBPWZh9QQsULWllBZI/s640/thumb_IMG_4959_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I've decided this is another temple. And with that, your tour of the Tiger Hill Scenic Area is over!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>Next, I managed to navigate the bus system (I deserve some points for this - China makes it way too easy to hop into a cab to go somewhere because every cab ride is like, $3) to make it to my next destination - the Lingering Garden (留园).</li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hFRAHc07VAekYEIskvgWS0hKwou1XWdaDAsg8-GKJxsh4BclyrJb5zpgZ2gdas2Mwoz-TItcG0fGuY_0AGUouCVw-U-9K9e6_8cu5Kz6laoIsjzKkckG7BrxvhLohr0HO92zYJFH-NU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4960_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hFRAHc07VAekYEIskvgWS0hKwou1XWdaDAsg8-GKJxsh4BclyrJb5zpgZ2gdas2Mwoz-TItcG0fGuY_0AGUouCVw-U-9K9e6_8cu5Kz6laoIsjzKkckG7BrxvhLohr0HO92zYJFH-NU/s640/thumb_IMG_4960_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Lingering Garden! Built for some fancy official back in the day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FaypnXAw5YLe08QoI_tVTpj2MbPqyo_9HvBVV0Y6kaD5bXjNCPxddrrumuOicAfQDiwOTO1OHo4cPo31uSDfak9GndHNzd0nE98lJa32PeZs9qzLp049eSxUKQVOB1DQ5NLv_7QRYKU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4967_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FaypnXAw5YLe08QoI_tVTpj2MbPqyo_9HvBVV0Y6kaD5bXjNCPxddrrumuOicAfQDiwOTO1OHo4cPo31uSDfak9GndHNzd0nE98lJa32PeZs9qzLp049eSxUKQVOB1DQ5NLv_7QRYKU/s640/thumb_IMG_4967_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These gardens are all World Heritage Sites, FYI.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynBOxExOd8M8N__jNiLl-Y7S2X5xfuphXDsCEnWQEkRuPWGUk_kVGfaRGtyZHgSzw4xADfi4XxHpUUvpVz0v2KYKIFbOcLUMPoUrR4HgMO9Y0IWzbwN0esnlTOtDkTo_zHSbfmkR9cZs/s1600/thumb_IMG_4968_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynBOxExOd8M8N__jNiLl-Y7S2X5xfuphXDsCEnWQEkRuPWGUk_kVGfaRGtyZHgSzw4xADfi4XxHpUUvpVz0v2KYKIFbOcLUMPoUrR4HgMO9Y0IWzbwN0esnlTOtDkTo_zHSbfmkR9cZs/s640/thumb_IMG_4968_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were also lots of interior rooms and structures left over</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt2oWL_d0hvtl_OjNyeQqqg9YJilLw1SLZpKi1LXO7y-Equ9wG5qW2dleET8siZ-cIr2Hp_qHaeWIQIPzkh6Vfye8QVnJQw93diHso4-1LmF8JnbqhbrKu4pNFJsYphEY3cEjjEtM0D8/s1600/thumb_IMG_4974_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt2oWL_d0hvtl_OjNyeQqqg9YJilLw1SLZpKi1LXO7y-Equ9wG5qW2dleET8siZ-cIr2Hp_qHaeWIQIPzkh6Vfye8QVnJQw93diHso4-1LmF8JnbqhbrKu4pNFJsYphEY3cEjjEtM0D8/s640/thumb_IMG_4974_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty rock formation in the bonsai section of the garden. These gardens are so huge that you can easily get lost. There's paths everywhere. And they're all segmented into parts.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDh5ad80ythZcH6jAb7YSFpdhyhvnjlSC_fknAfoqEVnnrLngRleCTd_pRrFEUhBegx7ldc0LEgkw3MmFkzJdIph8YXlNPfB64HLMH1p54UEnTaY9_ni0fDr6oe8_3JeCnyHB2ipnd5A/s1600/thumb_IMG_4981_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDh5ad80ythZcH6jAb7YSFpdhyhvnjlSC_fknAfoqEVnnrLngRleCTd_pRrFEUhBegx7ldc0LEgkw3MmFkzJdIph8YXlNPfB64HLMH1p54UEnTaY9_ni0fDr6oe8_3JeCnyHB2ipnd5A/s640/thumb_IMG_4981_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Proof that I was actually in Suzhou, doing all the things I said I was.<br />
(Also, MOSQUITO CESSPOOL).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1_0KHPbodST7tCS16yFm8AxB6eG-xLWkqrmVqwfYuP9hHO6tW2nqNtCYAuE-WwaYQ4W8GGW85ujKoKQfcB6eE-0lOaw3t1Zuq-VccYgx04QnwppYHZmz9NzmU0FVqxyYQRXjd8PI3mI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4986_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1_0KHPbodST7tCS16yFm8AxB6eG-xLWkqrmVqwfYuP9hHO6tW2nqNtCYAuE-WwaYQ4W8GGW85ujKoKQfcB6eE-0lOaw3t1Zuq-VccYgx04QnwppYHZmz9NzmU0FVqxyYQRXjd8PI3mI/s640/thumb_IMG_4986_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty, but the Lingering Garden turned out to be "meh" in the grand scheme of old-school, baller-ass Chinese gardens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6QROnbsP1jMXUerlNB99WUw3F6LPcZJNWP-AdN_jnLU-8PjQz80DQ4RWHrxFC21SoyjtStGvlFKXwFvuwUIUFJej7JB0Sewsjr0A2xuZcFtyrAuwILjAM-Ydq_fUU-5aXN8x4jCsR4s/s1600/thumb_IMG_4987_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6QROnbsP1jMXUerlNB99WUw3F6LPcZJNWP-AdN_jnLU-8PjQz80DQ4RWHrxFC21SoyjtStGvlFKXwFvuwUIUFJej7JB0Sewsjr0A2xuZcFtyrAuwILjAM-Ydq_fUU-5aXN8x4jCsR4s/s640/thumb_IMG_4987_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back near my hostel, people were queuing like crazy to buy $1 loaves of fresh bread stuffed with <i>rou song </i>(meat fuzz)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>Later that evening, crossed the last thing off my "Post-it of advice" - Shantang Street (山塘街), a pedestrian street. We're very familiar with these now, aren't we? It was extra pretty though, because this street runs by the water - so all the food stands, shops, stalls, etc. look extra nice and historic.</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFwSnOYqSNgQGPid1uf3i6dUtY9HsNjJzJxk2LYvlRJS1QWG81ImFG9tfDixYMGVXc1pyDB0RW2wXZrhsZWWfz1cNZnYw_FRLcVho-6ROomcWUYyZAvAaT6fyQu4_7OxUAsszsw1FQ5k/s1600/thumb_IMG_4992_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhFwSnOYqSNgQGPid1uf3i6dUtY9HsNjJzJxk2LYvlRJS1QWG81ImFG9tfDixYMGVXc1pyDB0RW2wXZrhsZWWfz1cNZnYw_FRLcVho-6ROomcWUYyZAvAaT6fyQu4_7OxUAsszsw1FQ5k/s640/thumb_IMG_4992_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In true Chinese form, LET'S LIGHT IT ALL UP</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHx6dobFw36XhPZdkGHZcK3PKuOq6JIZgWejR4hvKObjxBArnRFBvQzNmYRaQO6Iv08MuOy0pTlSOkK5jDKZw7g_HsERt-eYhMHAUL9bHHZDA3Mo3krOSKq0RuyA-OFpz5gHPtFr0HfI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4993_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHx6dobFw36XhPZdkGHZcK3PKuOq6JIZgWejR4hvKObjxBArnRFBvQzNmYRaQO6Iv08MuOy0pTlSOkK5jDKZw7g_HsERt-eYhMHAUL9bHHZDA3Mo3krOSKq0RuyA-OFpz5gHPtFr0HfI/s640/thumb_IMG_4993_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But it's so pretty! Five stars.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduIIpz212PPTbrTO9DHdTdm7UMk8qUweyxR4RA6cD2RXNVF4s0eR4RlLieEo5GO0WJUoDibCCOYIUtuqfYifTvgwkUUEI4dm5vnOa8DSH7xBj27ynludfRZEtgxzN8050L2TvcO134wg/s1600/thumb_IMG_5001_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduIIpz212PPTbrTO9DHdTdm7UMk8qUweyxR4RA6cD2RXNVF4s0eR4RlLieEo5GO0WJUoDibCCOYIUtuqfYifTvgwkUUEI4dm5vnOa8DSH7xBj27ynludfRZEtgxzN8050L2TvcO134wg/s640/thumb_IMG_5001_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How dreamy are the canals at night!?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26wSUmiZ3TqrImB1PFtdzgxLZ5MyQVMOaDpBHq80PVsu2pWR47OgHkI_MA6iWYweUpHrs9rn2rJHe0jSzs0qrWuYDVhBRlcdLOHiRgo2k0-5-f5hrTU6IJEbul2fH3OrVOZnEWaQuDCY/s1600/thumb_IMG_5008_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26wSUmiZ3TqrImB1PFtdzgxLZ5MyQVMOaDpBHq80PVsu2pWR47OgHkI_MA6iWYweUpHrs9rn2rJHe0jSzs0qrWuYDVhBRlcdLOHiRgo2k0-5-f5hrTU6IJEbul2fH3OrVOZnEWaQuDCY/s640/thumb_IMG_5008_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure these lanterns are all for the sake of the tourists, but I loved it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAyew068_365jz5Efa-J-eGIH3W4841hWF1CSCmZz3UNW_d4PaR6uWhQk3rBsPsPaJMcHLpSAr78loG5MNQXy3GNkKKNjChRtocbk-iw11IN7ytv7A0MFeLPhdXlffX_lloIv1b-NWzM/s1600/thumb_IMG_5010_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEAyew068_365jz5Efa-J-eGIH3W4841hWF1CSCmZz3UNW_d4PaR6uWhQk3rBsPsPaJMcHLpSAr78loG5MNQXy3GNkKKNjChRtocbk-iw11IN7ytv7A0MFeLPhdXlffX_lloIv1b-NWzM/s640/thumb_IMG_5010_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ended the night with a delish skewer-filled dinner by the river (MOSQUITO CESSPOOL #10). </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>That evening, arriving back at my hostel, I was accosted by the three other Chinese girls staying in my room (all solo). Confession, I get nervous hanging out for long periods of time with young Chinese people. I don't think my Chinese is good enough to adapt to all the slang and references they make and things they choose to discuss (a popular conversation topic is the differences between all the provinces in China, which always inevitably comes up when people are talking about where in China they're from - I have zero to contribute to this topic except for what I hope is a look of mild interest). But Chinese people have no hesitation to jump right on in with the questions, particularly with strangers. They wanted to hang out the next day. And that is how I made new Chinese friends. </li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Swgyuh0_qNXsIFUF7upVrr4p2Xbu9qZlpSZ38GHAMZCL5IL4LyOwdaC_U3TlSxlTaHhUKizDQ5go_EFddT9oq6Y8kKJj85ezdBUcpQa56A5U-Z0TaQZSL5SD10oBdZAzwk5xlMhrI4M/s1600/thumb_IMG_5011_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Swgyuh0_qNXsIFUF7upVrr4p2Xbu9qZlpSZ38GHAMZCL5IL4LyOwdaC_U3TlSxlTaHhUKizDQ5go_EFddT9oq6Y8kKJj85ezdBUcpQa56A5U-Z0TaQZSL5SD10oBdZAzwk5xlMhrI4M/s640/thumb_IMG_5011_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new Chinese friends and I went to the Suzhou Museum the next day, which always has a very long line to enter because it is free.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-8TirT6NCWmKXt1NFcqq9Kpkv8W9MsxZzZallPf_VD7jkYbuVYhS4Zj3BNVugO8OgidCI6vDexcDmQbgm3t0x-dQCxEd9LzVGaCWekCXcwPdY320NijRU3B4TOqovsB9RB-iVCECfls/s1600/thumb_IMG_5015_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc-8TirT6NCWmKXt1NFcqq9Kpkv8W9MsxZzZallPf_VD7jkYbuVYhS4Zj3BNVugO8OgidCI6vDexcDmQbgm3t0x-dQCxEd9LzVGaCWekCXcwPdY320NijRU3B4TOqovsB9RB-iVCECfls/s640/thumb_IMG_5015_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some very old pottery.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DP323G3iM9Vr7_G3-P0-49x41dH4G_tcG7EydOt9GZk8vXVM1_EOoYf-nYFW2zFlSjEnSKuak-f5n_EvVvcYOa97MNnLgzHdee-Q5DJMehQCt2mJHCEnGsRIBqOYrcktcFeMcJKtkzY/s1600/thumb_IMG_5016_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5DP323G3iM9Vr7_G3-P0-49x41dH4G_tcG7EydOt9GZk8vXVM1_EOoYf-nYFW2zFlSjEnSKuak-f5n_EvVvcYOa97MNnLgzHdee-Q5DJMehQCt2mJHCEnGsRIBqOYrcktcFeMcJKtkzY/s640/thumb_IMG_5016_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my new Chinese friends is super-interested and versed in Chinese history, so she took it upon herself to explain everything in the museum to me. To be honest, I maybe understood 20% of what she was saying (old, ancient Chinese historical vocabulary is not my forte), but bless her heart for trying. I simply just nodded along vigorously and added in an "oh really" here and there, and I think she was satisfied.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPQtYrSGx_d4jMfLnkWPIjEjGz8h14i5KWBtIcBgANz7tX3Wfhk4w8IgXnfOzTncqhvA5piQKs0zUZcv-80IEsMALCdmhyex_6hvAP8viYvHIX53yQHYO0izM-Bi2smIa1XuIvco-EwY/s1600/thumb_IMG_5017_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPQtYrSGx_d4jMfLnkWPIjEjGz8h14i5KWBtIcBgANz7tX3Wfhk4w8IgXnfOzTncqhvA5piQKs0zUZcv-80IEsMALCdmhyex_6hvAP8viYvHIX53yQHYO0izM-Bi2smIa1XuIvco-EwY/s640/thumb_IMG_5017_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like this because it looks pretty.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFMa8MmJrvijM6Z8y4wmL8U_cdoKWwFs7vsD7BX998aUrdavpwU9TAjJeAIo2gafI5ToO3ABmNWOv_D3bV51xdhn4m2AbMy_IfApGvy7nFP72JkE3weC-h9FejsbD_F7wP5-T4-EZGaw/s1600/thumb_IMG_5018_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzFMa8MmJrvijM6Z8y4wmL8U_cdoKWwFs7vsD7BX998aUrdavpwU9TAjJeAIo2gafI5ToO3ABmNWOv_D3bV51xdhn4m2AbMy_IfApGvy7nFP72JkE3weC-h9FejsbD_F7wP5-T4-EZGaw/s640/thumb_IMG_5018_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">THIS POTTERY STEAMER IS FROM 6000-7000 B.C.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rM-r0_8nIfBAd4Zpef2lulMCi3LKX5w6R85oisAzdTCzoBFh480ZnoUdXy1AUExnD1X2m_tXyNcmrTPL-l4lgKBN-oHHVtkJFeL3SSKYbeIpuoVdiPM5CJRiYm1hASZTmwItr_P4UVA/s1600/thumb_IMG_5019_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rM-r0_8nIfBAd4Zpef2lulMCi3LKX5w6R85oisAzdTCzoBFh480ZnoUdXy1AUExnD1X2m_tXyNcmrTPL-l4lgKBN-oHHVtkJFeL3SSKYbeIpuoVdiPM5CJRiYm1hASZTmwItr_P4UVA/s640/thumb_IMG_5019_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Suzhou Museum is very pretty. And air-conditioned.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8Wct1VvpX7guuiqRfsbfKSXrDY6SVMjuNAwzkL9cUaBlKfM4JZaoMiGCS7D57MzEdQWcQPgE3u_qudBV87LL90YYSIFi90X83rLazy0tNi_E_B4zsy_RSwDCdECFeFDhzhnrsRZEBHA/s1600/thumb_IMG_5020_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM8Wct1VvpX7guuiqRfsbfKSXrDY6SVMjuNAwzkL9cUaBlKfM4JZaoMiGCS7D57MzEdQWcQPgE3u_qudBV87LL90YYSIFi90X83rLazy0tNi_E_B4zsy_RSwDCdECFeFDhzhnrsRZEBHA/s640/thumb_IMG_5020_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took a stealth photo of my legs next to my new friend's legs while no one was looking, just to give you a sense of why everyone in China looks at me like I'm some kind of horrific beast when they see my skin color.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjtCQq6-nP3AysKktlpYcfMLqNN9wT1LuIfXQ9w4wuXgYKsaKBeJUvTJiMIyDqxdCcYgtEWPsMWK3ij4GJvTEXHvSFqhUcAUhZsEQv-BWcLUB8DDUIhSpiAXjy5BNVOauU2cNNYd-Fxs/s1600/thumb_IMG_5048_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjtCQq6-nP3AysKktlpYcfMLqNN9wT1LuIfXQ9w4wuXgYKsaKBeJUvTJiMIyDqxdCcYgtEWPsMWK3ij4GJvTEXHvSFqhUcAUhZsEQv-BWcLUB8DDUIhSpiAXjy5BNVOauU2cNNYd-Fxs/s640/thumb_IMG_5048_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">One of the girls bought all the rest of us fans (she also bought us our morning yogurts!) and insisted we take photos with them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0jmUKi_4ZaglzVBi8esJb3UmvWR0Ihw3jlp8mmRGCcRTuJqVUSbsQbq97qtqUb1KLgJgDS9WewM7WpT_mHwBWu2f7EbWbgjl0b6si8ednl7_CiI3Ed0Q5NrEBVSiOR8E9INn_03nvLs/s1600/thumb_IMG_5050_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0jmUKi_4ZaglzVBi8esJb3UmvWR0Ihw3jlp8mmRGCcRTuJqVUSbsQbq97qtqUb1KLgJgDS9WewM7WpT_mHwBWu2f7EbWbgjl0b6si8ednl7_CiI3Ed0Q5NrEBVSiOR8E9INn_03nvLs/s640/thumb_IMG_5050_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">I HAVE NEW CHINESE FRIENDS. SEE, MOM?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>After the museum, two of the girls had to leave - one to catch a train back home, and the other one had to go for a job interview. So the last girl, who told me to call her "m" (lowercase, just one letter) (JUST LIKE JAMES BOND), and I continued our day of sightseeing by heading to the "Humble Administrator's Garden." Favorite name for a garden, ever.</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKucNFAO2WxBn3NPmDN39bviUoBCYaN8MkFxP1PRSGtuoE83qy0ujopTTpk8ytvlTBMMChMIFNRmNvqhG9ur7mhuIseg6qo9cPaNO-JgikteYH1GJLijGaYxztQMkm_QJu08XqZ1M7_3w/s1600/thumb_IMG_5021_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKucNFAO2WxBn3NPmDN39bviUoBCYaN8MkFxP1PRSGtuoE83qy0ujopTTpk8ytvlTBMMChMIFNRmNvqhG9ur7mhuIseg6qo9cPaNO-JgikteYH1GJLijGaYxztQMkm_QJu08XqZ1M7_3w/s640/thumb_IMG_5021_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Humble Administrator's Garden!<br />
Obviously, this was a former administrator/high-ranking official's fancy-ass personal garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMRszarpO8X35PVbo19nyCye7tx91cxpEeil5vgv7IN6jusx020Zo2exb0b8oeJL-cbskhv88AbkTvEPPdmllxIlPo56L55wTIc2Gfq32mRxjgcY57BnDIUpaiCrDNLpfIGu4qodxHTw/s1600/thumb_IMG_5030_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkMRszarpO8X35PVbo19nyCye7tx91cxpEeil5vgv7IN6jusx020Zo2exb0b8oeJL-cbskhv88AbkTvEPPdmllxIlPo56L55wTIc2Gfq32mRxjgcY57BnDIUpaiCrDNLpfIGu4qodxHTw/s640/thumb_IMG_5030_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The humble administrator sure liked lilypads</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSwDb4zA3JC4WXIKfyoabx28O9RdRn-uK5L1dSvsKpQF2CXLsMnSTMXoApdfNy7mCqsvBmDnTKJdIPaUD7jD-zeX_5_gqpnfJpqFTEfF_8EI3XIsIaDDPT-7N-cMqgOu-vvvc3eEC0zw/s1600/thumb_IMG_5031_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSwDb4zA3JC4WXIKfyoabx28O9RdRn-uK5L1dSvsKpQF2CXLsMnSTMXoApdfNy7mCqsvBmDnTKJdIPaUD7jD-zeX_5_gqpnfJpqFTEfF_8EI3XIsIaDDPT-7N-cMqgOu-vvvc3eEC0zw/s640/thumb_IMG_5031_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And bonsai. He had an entire section devoted to bonsai.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJl8UUXJ3rMwsPM_8XEP1HSoPcS9U9FAhJxejYWMu7Jp8rEtM8Ls82qYZInc-kyupyTMPFlS2kSWpY2TaQrHfmZ7b2GSKD9AA3ZDgFKLYMRij5pvVQccVr4D5dcwJOSmfM2HuhEENtVY/s1600/thumb_IMG_5033_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRJl8UUXJ3rMwsPM_8XEP1HSoPcS9U9FAhJxejYWMu7Jp8rEtM8Ls82qYZInc-kyupyTMPFlS2kSWpY2TaQrHfmZ7b2GSKD9AA3ZDgFKLYMRij5pvVQccVr4D5dcwJOSmfM2HuhEENtVY/s640/thumb_IMG_5033_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These windowpanes were imported from the Netherlands! (overheard from another group that had actually paid for a guide)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOQglHXmgCsmgZ00MxK-wbMGs8UIgCXVkCLhLRbWtzL_9p8WhDqAzyZKqNd4T0SkAqqdbLf-kjPsiu0LvnkgSYSJdzexNZm_Q_Ra3ZsUqvBSttLGS_Clmq-FjLPsQt_ko9gsJLXx65_E/s1600/thumb_IMG_5035_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOQglHXmgCsmgZ00MxK-wbMGs8UIgCXVkCLhLRbWtzL_9p8WhDqAzyZKqNd4T0SkAqqdbLf-kjPsiu0LvnkgSYSJdzexNZm_Q_Ra3ZsUqvBSttLGS_Clmq-FjLPsQt_ko9gsJLXx65_E/s640/thumb_IMG_5035_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is m! I'm unclear why she insisted her letter was lowercase, but I like her style</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99M_qTndKtMYb2Uz6RyrMqgKpTrL59oKVjI3iq-UxDJIaVuWWiEXJy7J5LZNRH84AfNvbeJCXp7T2Lp-XmhMNHY-XmuEzTOyrIPJl4ygw-j5f3nJDxOkIXzvVCaQ3zxshRJ5M4ecHqD4/s1600/thumb_IMG_5037_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg99M_qTndKtMYb2Uz6RyrMqgKpTrL59oKVjI3iq-UxDJIaVuWWiEXJy7J5LZNRH84AfNvbeJCXp7T2Lp-XmhMNHY-XmuEzTOyrIPJl4ygw-j5f3nJDxOkIXzvVCaQ3zxshRJ5M4ecHqD4/s640/thumb_IMG_5037_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This dude doesn't seem all that humble to me</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hm-Zq65cLss03xUT4lVs39AT2sP2PIazBuP2zD0hvHKCsJk6GsSh7EwpvGPoxKuiI8A9LHk1oR8KerZsg08uXDSA5qbAYoB0PvjLZUBx7QFvssTodDa2G8iuRV16dUGspBln15VW6e0/s1600/thumb_IMG_5040_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1hm-Zq65cLss03xUT4lVs39AT2sP2PIazBuP2zD0hvHKCsJk6GsSh7EwpvGPoxKuiI8A9LHk1oR8KerZsg08uXDSA5qbAYoB0PvjLZUBx7QFvssTodDa2G8iuRV16dUGspBln15VW6e0/s640/thumb_IMG_5040_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love how Chinese people pose for photos, Part 4. There are still so many things for me to learn in this world</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6fipEru8j0OouckKTtdytewl7F3Q3GHwuSugxXwxH0uHWgxg66J_B7arPIgF3A39QyVoRMLRLEccg2ZKGWrrIPPW0HW2KEcut4kUc4I2cPTIILJsSaJ1u7R9A6ZapFh8sBoAWDAquCY/s1600/thumb_IMG_5042_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6fipEru8j0OouckKTtdytewl7F3Q3GHwuSugxXwxH0uHWgxg66J_B7arPIgF3A39QyVoRMLRLEccg2ZKGWrrIPPW0HW2KEcut4kUc4I2cPTIILJsSaJ1u7R9A6ZapFh8sBoAWDAquCY/s640/thumb_IMG_5042_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Later that evening, we went to watched the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2 movie in 3-D (...there was a 1st???)<br />
Has anyone seen it?! Why is Raphael so grumpy and meathead?! He used to be my favorite. Dislike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7TaStN7SqR8ZDKy52lvUD-X0oZVQensBLzfyYF5UQXfp901cI8pyo9r8rmh5RtH-m5QHOQG8rzLRAIlvbOsSfjIRsgUkt9uxVAM0r7WWbZ9Oo893R7vrJk8GC839VCAdigKhcX7f8yA/s1600/thumb_IMG_5053_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid7TaStN7SqR8ZDKy52lvUD-X0oZVQensBLzfyYF5UQXfp901cI8pyo9r8rmh5RtH-m5QHOQG8rzLRAIlvbOsSfjIRsgUkt9uxVAM0r7WWbZ9Oo893R7vrJk8GC839VCAdigKhcX7f8yA/s640/thumb_IMG_5053_1024.jpg" width="361" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I had to leave my new Chinese friends the next day to head to Tongli, but they all added me on WeChat (think China's version of Facebook/Instagram/Whatsapp/Venmo all in one). And m (WHY IS HER NAME CAPITALIZED ON HER WECHAT) posted the sweetest message to her WeChat Moments (i.e. Facebook wall)!<br />
Aaaaah I loved getting to meet these girls! Such a different world.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>From Suzhou, I took less than an hour-long bus to the water village of Tongli.</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfS_rs_LgbFGyNIn769PlQHS1szPUd8PUB5k57TPPijPJ9NmboCY_qGaLpsDKSf3g1pqS2RvBr3qdygCEJHTKje9VwrJoQPb9D7F3DU-TKEEWORALI_wQ6KWrfLn4Xqyq4FYow-lz5fc/s1600/thumb_IMG_5056_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsfS_rs_LgbFGyNIn769PlQHS1szPUd8PUB5k57TPPijPJ9NmboCY_qGaLpsDKSf3g1pqS2RvBr3qdygCEJHTKje9VwrJoQPb9D7F3DU-TKEEWORALI_wQ6KWrfLn4Xqyq4FYow-lz5fc/s640/thumb_IMG_5056_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Tongli is over 1,000 years old!<br />
<div><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J72TgBgJQS5JUzzMlDX8AcsST-2KOOesmHV1gc2bckrBibclFWjf6OztuNhC_oT-JRGQWg3KM6gDY2ptKy0x7If8MmADw1IITS34HAV-pUVdChG8POiM0x8yGQWmCSrMrylY_U8S6BY/s1600/thumb_IMG_5058_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J72TgBgJQS5JUzzMlDX8AcsST-2KOOesmHV1gc2bckrBibclFWjf6OztuNhC_oT-JRGQWg3KM6gDY2ptKy0x7If8MmADw1IITS34HAV-pUVdChG8POiM0x8yGQWmCSrMrylY_U8S6BY/s640/thumb_IMG_5058_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another China fact: they will make you purchase tickets to anything they can. So you have to buy a ticket to enter the village of Tongli. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-ZGk3VZW2q2M_PC_Qdv3lgZYjA5WftN9oazNxGqLWsirOsjMp2k_FG36iNxNtuYCMDdUNGKhss8gG3O2TTpULtTAj3Agu5WoXGteD_uRSETIpWg0E08JDJF30OStvpJgGjJxb1qh7_I/s1600/thumb_IMG_5061_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-ZGk3VZW2q2M_PC_Qdv3lgZYjA5WftN9oazNxGqLWsirOsjMp2k_FG36iNxNtuYCMDdUNGKhss8gG3O2TTpULtTAj3Agu5WoXGteD_uRSETIpWg0E08JDJF30OStvpJgGjJxb1qh7_I/s640/thumb_IMG_5061_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh my gahhh I loved the tiny little charming streets</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToca4eqzHLx-ZusAYebKmtrthGxlDsz2dm66l1yK3OxsWeIb1DCAFa8G_vlUz-tB4NIwpebtMs24DDxBY7RJY9Sqkl6u5uDL-2BOXpywOuBsopx1GTyimbSjOs40x3e9rZP1yaB5vsK0/s1600/thumb_IMG_5064_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgToca4eqzHLx-ZusAYebKmtrthGxlDsz2dm66l1yK3OxsWeIb1DCAFa8G_vlUz-tB4NIwpebtMs24DDxBY7RJY9Sqkl6u5uDL-2BOXpywOuBsopx1GTyimbSjOs40x3e9rZP1yaB5vsK0/s640/thumb_IMG_5064_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here are the canals!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65W5j6sFHGAXsHrBV1Cg5OgjpZ6Z_75g7Ry1C2PSlZaKQakG4luURmtRRS5PWA6RA1w4LtGlFYichyphenhyphenAHWK9rCHwC1E-xIaOprBxkCOsXnK_iDWJ6ifjeCoM7UYraia6ZZ_58HjAZ8iFg/s1600/thumb_IMG_5069_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65W5j6sFHGAXsHrBV1Cg5OgjpZ6Z_75g7Ry1C2PSlZaKQakG4luURmtRRS5PWA6RA1w4LtGlFYichyphenhyphenAHWK9rCHwC1E-xIaOprBxkCOsXnK_iDWJ6ifjeCoM7UYraia6ZZ_58HjAZ8iFg/s640/thumb_IMG_5069_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man and his cormorants were only there for the tourists, but still beautiful.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxhxnNtCmDM6fczJZpPrV8XYmloboL-K4yExq09iMNLB3I-o4_bCUp-Kkt6L-cOs5h_nBbfDJR8M2Ysi7aaZGZ4seANRNPaSJbZ5z2t7EgbpziPC2s6_eQgNntR0Fq-MCedFmYVgyvSA/s1600/thumb_IMG_5071_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxhxnNtCmDM6fczJZpPrV8XYmloboL-K4yExq09iMNLB3I-o4_bCUp-Kkt6L-cOs5h_nBbfDJR8M2Ysi7aaZGZ4seANRNPaSJbZ5z2t7EgbpziPC2s6_eQgNntR0Fq-MCedFmYVgyvSA/s640/thumb_IMG_5071_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restaurants and cafes line the entire waterfront</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUhnqv9-zpBCobKzEuZd-ToHqSDbhKut5zx-EZVjO2CyOGGtgJdqEbkcipIi7NsxaQE_Aaz43PC_h51UNKVxVVRFVh_eUAM9DiC5jkFBVnhiVoym409AU0kFLzMhfoys091GkkqbKJ0k/s1600/thumb_IMG_5072_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUhnqv9-zpBCobKzEuZd-ToHqSDbhKut5zx-EZVjO2CyOGGtgJdqEbkcipIi7NsxaQE_Aaz43PC_h51UNKVxVVRFVh_eUAM9DiC5jkFBVnhiVoym409AU0kFLzMhfoys091GkkqbKJ0k/s640/thumb_IMG_5072_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think it's aggressive to call this Venice, but it definitely has its own charm</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Iw7LeqWxnjAmnPzC6UIwustbKz2BN72V75Echv_jqWMsyBsNtjFrzevwp65MHSi4g7bIL_Hrp5N-eT_eTHXGS7qbdRFHhN7P5z3QtpGn3a_Nmo0qeCaMOp-Fcq3U_Kb1711nUPpGIb8/s1600/thumb_IMG_5087_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Iw7LeqWxnjAmnPzC6UIwustbKz2BN72V75Echv_jqWMsyBsNtjFrzevwp65MHSi4g7bIL_Hrp5N-eT_eTHXGS7qbdRFHhN7P5z3QtpGn3a_Nmo0qeCaMOp-Fcq3U_Kb1711nUPpGIb8/s640/thumb_IMG_5087_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mDrA_80QVpjOD-WTCi8woKMx2bS3Aj3riqJOvZgx5eU3M0mQJM8QWY3otrDLhTHl6tVIb5x836focNGSLqzq97KpzAbvTVAizfL_7F1uNLtwwNj_f7RLZWcEV4YAB57j77qJrSIj3UE/s1600/thumb_IMG_5091_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1mDrA_80QVpjOD-WTCi8woKMx2bS3Aj3riqJOvZgx5eU3M0mQJM8QWY3otrDLhTHl6tVIb5x836focNGSLqzq97KpzAbvTVAizfL_7F1uNLtwwNj_f7RLZWcEV4YAB57j77qJrSIj3UE/s640/thumb_IMG_5091_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIOvE4tlr8Kj0PeS03htDDwMFskqbzuv-rBp9o3kH2b2p5L-Q7jQAhweFciBWcylnGC0xe4jAt6oW3gZ_9eadZgGZc40whkAVlmscRAGqO3e1VK2MOxj1K-u3_HUo_8I2fbKGz5sWK7Y/s1600/thumb_IMG_5098_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkIOvE4tlr8Kj0PeS03htDDwMFskqbzuv-rBp9o3kH2b2p5L-Q7jQAhweFciBWcylnGC0xe4jAt6oW3gZ_9eadZgGZc40whkAVlmscRAGqO3e1VK2MOxj1K-u3_HUo_8I2fbKGz5sWK7Y/s640/thumb_IMG_5098_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Included in the entrance fee to Tongli was a bunch of famous gardens and sights. I was slightly over gardens by this point, but this garden was pretty enough.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLYL7FuwFqre4jFaBFrmlybuGSB1PU9he4xmhaFAAHNfH0uy88tI5ZM5fr_H-WNHyhy7JoJrYMVh9PAIoWO-sESsF-cjie7gmKvaG_yOkN7yhSGP7hTwEIR4M3Qy_FCXAtVuypR32I5A/s1600/thumb_IMG_5108_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLYL7FuwFqre4jFaBFrmlybuGSB1PU9he4xmhaFAAHNfH0uy88tI5ZM5fr_H-WNHyhy7JoJrYMVh9PAIoWO-sESsF-cjie7gmKvaG_yOkN7yhSGP7hTwEIR4M3Qy_FCXAtVuypR32I5A/s640/thumb_IMG_5108_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fine, garden, you're pretty too</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>And with that came the end of my solo foray into a random Chinese city! I took a bus/train combo back to Shanghai that evening.</li>
</ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP8Yz4fb-DgWVVWJtNBa_z7JI_9M_vXC_vOdbZk_LeL4zQd9VaVgJ2cpytpuovMmatevkWnrXoNSAkDhUHtRZQJXktKuuwJXBZEcSikI-3JIv-FdRBc1RgkdWuitLwEcuKsN6d-dlpAM/s1600/thumb_IMG_5060_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjP8Yz4fb-DgWVVWJtNBa_z7JI_9M_vXC_vOdbZk_LeL4zQd9VaVgJ2cpytpuovMmatevkWnrXoNSAkDhUHtRZQJXktKuuwJXBZEcSikI-3JIv-FdRBc1RgkdWuitLwEcuKsN6d-dlpAM/s640/thumb_IMG_5060_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">The result of traipsing around gardens/canals/rivers/ponds (MOSQUITO CESSPOOLS) for the week. It doesn't look like much, but I think I must have had a hundred of these all over my legs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEaz9FQKtWWI3pTknGsZ9MngwYJBbkFQXlHTAoqa9KUNhSXHcdUKuvrainIjhpSlsq-P2sz0vKK5mFCyLqt_xgDKrqM_HPGdDOCvojIoVei68rnKZmTpFxCxhcASXSq_fxfWuKZqPNCQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4920_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggEaz9FQKtWWI3pTknGsZ9MngwYJBbkFQXlHTAoqa9KUNhSXHcdUKuvrainIjhpSlsq-P2sz0vKK5mFCyLqt_xgDKrqM_HPGdDOCvojIoVei68rnKZmTpFxCxhcASXSq_fxfWuKZqPNCQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4920_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">And just so I don't end this post with an unflattering mosquito-covered leg shot, here is an updated shot of the bracelets!<br />
<div><br />
</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul><li>In China, they have a second way of accounting for age (I learned this from my new Chinese friends) - they consider you to be a year old when you're born, and then they calculate your age based on the year you're born. So even though I haven't had my birthday yet this year, they'd already count me a year older because all they do is subtract your birth year from the current year, irregardless of month. And then they add an additional year because you're a year old when you're born. So apparently I'm actually two years older than I've been saying. Yeah, I'll take a hard pass.</li>
<li>It's apparently not ok to leave your hair wet after showering, or so the Chinese believe. The girls were horrified when I tried to get into bed after showering without blowing my hair dry - they regaled me with stories of various horrendous ailments that could befall me as a result of going to sleep with wet hair (it's definitely a huge superstition here). And then one of them insisted I go over to her and she blew my hair dry for me. I declined to mention to them how many times in my life I've gone to bed with my hair wet in the past. </li>
<li>In China, the only people who had money back in the day were government officials.</li>
</ul></div>Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-58921791738183745662016-07-24T02:24:00.000-07:002016-07-24T10:10:04.426-07:00Hangzhou, China: Gorgeous West Lake & Its SunsetsWhy <i>is</i> it that Chinese people spit everywhere? Do we all have a ton of flemmy stuff in our throats and we, in Western culture, have just learned to suppress it and not notice it's there? Or does sometimes the pollution here generate extra flem? Question of the day; which occurred to me as I was enduring an incredibly long bus ride yesterday where (yes this happens all the time!) the old man behind me kept hacking and spitting huge spit wads all over the bus floor. This is why you never sit on any floors in China, people.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyhow, from magical, misty Huangshan, Jess and I headed to the city of Hangzhou!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Hangzhou is where all the pretty girls in China come from. Just kidding. But really, someone told me that once.<br />
<br />
Hangzhou is a city about 2-3 hours away from Shanghai (to the Southwest), and is the capital of the Zhejiang province (fun fact, one set of my grandparents are from the Zhejiang province!). It's a super fast-growing and cosmopolitan city - it's noticeable fancier-looking (to me), and construction is EVERYwhere you look. The G-20 Summit this year is taking place in Hangzhou in September, and you'll see signs for it <i>everywhere</i>. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl__fKdmdUpnsNsxaTYOSQTQ0Nc-b59R98V36T5TyDT_3hfKWW_7YN9XhsAyBHYwUHAH2o6sopnxWifSMUgha1ND83ICJrjezGcbK0sqnSGkhtxP1Figt_yf1dVL1bvJKML9q0wjfzKRc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4851_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl__fKdmdUpnsNsxaTYOSQTQ0Nc-b59R98V36T5TyDT_3hfKWW_7YN9XhsAyBHYwUHAH2o6sopnxWifSMUgha1ND83ICJrjezGcbK0sqnSGkhtxP1Figt_yf1dVL1bvJKML9q0wjfzKRc/s640/thumb_IMG_4851_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Walking through pretty (re-created) Hangzhou; giant boba in hand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
Hangzhou's most famous attraction is the West Lake (西湖), a beautiful, giant lake right in the middle of town. You can rent bikes and spend a day (or two) leisurely riding around the lake and enjoying all the gorgeous views. West Lake is also the photo on the back of the 1-yuan note! There's also tons of hiking trails and nature stuff you can do in Hangzhou.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfh3mBah1EQxiQCSxgi7GiEw0I8C7Vp3Yk67UCc2R7yiqTHCig6gkJrT1zsC7KO_KS_f5PTbsYE1ZTvBm5DzwpgY6hTNoWXxqK-17EVuxiEHp7JJwxP3o50OQ1hVNKuGdPJr0PE24-68/s1600/thumb_IMG_4775_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUfh3mBah1EQxiQCSxgi7GiEw0I8C7Vp3Yk67UCc2R7yiqTHCig6gkJrT1zsC7KO_KS_f5PTbsYE1ZTvBm5DzwpgY6hTNoWXxqK-17EVuxiEHp7JJwxP3o50OQ1hVNKuGdPJr0PE24-68/s640/thumb_IMG_4775_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And the views of the sunset from West Lake are pretty epic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>A couple-hour, relatively pain-free bus ride from Huangshan to Hangzhou got us in around early afternoon. What was pain-filled was the hotel process, as there was a couple mix-ups here and there, but we finally managed to book ourselves at a hostel near the lake.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NGOQ34rKPjUhsgqjnrORIifLY4ZFWXv03Zmm0K1NuxiNhXQsPb4GXiO3x6btcCX94WQjVjhaZL5T-PntqScacqkhGGkZ7W0KgdZON0ggPm-FhSpZJjJ2kBuYYyEIET9C4wmxjiLwGAk/s1600/thumb_IMG_4616_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6NGOQ34rKPjUhsgqjnrORIifLY4ZFWXv03Zmm0K1NuxiNhXQsPb4GXiO3x6btcCX94WQjVjhaZL5T-PntqScacqkhGGkZ7W0KgdZON0ggPm-FhSpZJjJ2kBuYYyEIET9C4wmxjiLwGAk/s640/thumb_IMG_4616_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was some legit-adorable village scenery on the bus ride to Hangzhou</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We took an early afternoon walk down this incredibly happening pedestrian street/side road (Hefang St.) that ran right alongside our hostel and led all the way to the lake.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLCQDTZsRFe5PGh_FZB9YJMYu6L-_5ecxMgJ1BuP9H_aiHhtWo0NSwTpMh-r5hTk0X3o-8GxVk9r03oc_h0eMVZLHGaCGimp0RvDAKvzWN2ZvvKeDnYm1dVxpfNVexfPn7aqpOXwT9Mk/s1600/thumb_IMG_4623_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgLCQDTZsRFe5PGh_FZB9YJMYu6L-_5ecxMgJ1BuP9H_aiHhtWo0NSwTpMh-r5hTk0X3o-8GxVk9r03oc_h0eMVZLHGaCGimp0RvDAKvzWN2ZvvKeDnYm1dVxpfNVexfPn7aqpOXwT9Mk/s640/thumb_IMG_4623_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eeee Hangzhou has such pretty streets! So leafy and clean!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdChkFyjI4oWPW2j3PLFGfK4IKZdCsYfSlgx8MOHmvaJfAb184jXXPFpEdiCVrLc0RfLe_XhASkpPLHnxPoK89hV8GiKbwkay6dC4CIw-Ybj4JZm7WurHlSNyElKm0fQia1WOslsZj9Fg/s1600/thumb_IMG_4624_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdChkFyjI4oWPW2j3PLFGfK4IKZdCsYfSlgx8MOHmvaJfAb184jXXPFpEdiCVrLc0RfLe_XhASkpPLHnxPoK89hV8GiKbwkay6dC4CIw-Ybj4JZm7WurHlSNyElKm0fQia1WOslsZj9Fg/s640/thumb_IMG_4624_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even the McD's is pretty! Also, did you know Chinese McDonald's have a life-changing matcha soft-serve ice cream in an Oreo cookie cone? ALL FOR $1?!?! IT IS AMAZING.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT61Po8cunFmwdmZ1-VSwCcUtHVVUNPc73ExzsB9l2pU7Q2IFCNnXCpu5ljXngXu-q-cYEjEU2ww8kqVfzWtiTy8jUm7BWD2YyuqjkhL343sUvDREDNk5G8ttJKYcXljsqh1XrK3h_rZ0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4627_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT61Po8cunFmwdmZ1-VSwCcUtHVVUNPc73ExzsB9l2pU7Q2IFCNnXCpu5ljXngXu-q-cYEjEU2ww8kqVfzWtiTy8jUm7BWD2YyuqjkhL343sUvDREDNk5G8ttJKYcXljsqh1XrK3h_rZ0/s640/thumb_IMG_4627_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much shopping! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSPr9QBX9jizUdOIXVamBzWw9Rm1umGl91iffF0Q7ceZJHGOaeBV5Iilu_jYFWaCj1FGfxJDFRDd_92l5FFYCan5Ok8fwl2XAwxVrhrvlDmC2steaHjNyFC3BE5tEPvu7QokF_B_ch00/s1600/thumb_IMG_4854_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmSPr9QBX9jizUdOIXVamBzWw9Rm1umGl91iffF0Q7ceZJHGOaeBV5Iilu_jYFWaCj1FGfxJDFRDd_92l5FFYCan5Ok8fwl2XAwxVrhrvlDmC2steaHjNyFC3BE5tEPvu7QokF_B_ch00/s640/thumb_IMG_4854_1024.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I may have gone shopping for qipaos - Chinese traditional dresses - because Hangzhou is known for its silk! I tried this one on with my tennis shoes. I think the shopkeeper was horrified (she was like, "Of course you're not gonna want to buy it if you try it on with <i>that </i>footwear! You need heels!").</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_gKfzvkc_JyKUrEWFFLWbnaEM-9cW1j0Va2bknqk2Slglycn91JEN5QlAG4tl2QzU5lMIcE1FNrGoLvAnelIv348_nu3dYCtbvgUctIV5sCjkgKu9RP0k4dOvs56hbCnJEcUr2hW99w/s1600/thumb_IMG_4631_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_gKfzvkc_JyKUrEWFFLWbnaEM-9cW1j0Va2bknqk2Slglycn91JEN5QlAG4tl2QzU5lMIcE1FNrGoLvAnelIv348_nu3dYCtbvgUctIV5sCjkgKu9RP0k4dOvs56hbCnJEcUr2hW99w/s640/thumb_IMG_4631_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prettiest street ever</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38NybZrK5lAdTWzvR5iYzjZD13z3l4nP214R9R0xATq1rYztv1m4rOk9ovS0Mn6g0zNByBHOaMktaiqj9qJwzC2TdFvNuYo0DYGtDI_w5uZhtKIlrHRVNcMxr2MWi-WTJ9aJzuKwaaHc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4632_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38NybZrK5lAdTWzvR5iYzjZD13z3l4nP214R9R0xATq1rYztv1m4rOk9ovS0Mn6g0zNByBHOaMktaiqj9qJwzC2TdFvNuYo0DYGtDI_w5uZhtKIlrHRVNcMxr2MWi-WTJ9aJzuKwaaHc/s640/thumb_IMG_4632_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then you come across a pretty park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2j9OhDdQh1lOEoYhIND25Ddn429Nlia4Igubp6tQ5TACSbSqHBBf32tgF39xJYecQLie4uaMl1jZVUXnux9afOsrqVDxgBhb_sv78R2Xzmc_gcw5_BcOdIjsXSd0chIRIiw30RNpj4M/s1600/thumb_IMG_4633_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI2j9OhDdQh1lOEoYhIND25Ddn429Nlia4Igubp6tQ5TACSbSqHBBf32tgF39xJYecQLie4uaMl1jZVUXnux9afOsrqVDxgBhb_sv78R2Xzmc_gcw5_BcOdIjsXSd0chIRIiw30RNpj4M/s640/thumb_IMG_4633_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And people fly kites in the square next to the park, Wushan Square</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7nssygU1ZMLal8Vrpma6igDfQpbdtaAS6kYVVA7l3o4jZ2rbenZd0XqmIYeXWUqx-tsJbi9EgVGLf0KCSCGce-DmliayxwBPejHbq5RPnF0wYPqPEUpb69LWOyajHxQmqmn-Ema6fao/s1600/thumb_IMG_4635_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7nssygU1ZMLal8Vrpma6igDfQpbdtaAS6kYVVA7l3o4jZ2rbenZd0XqmIYeXWUqx-tsJbi9EgVGLf0KCSCGce-DmliayxwBPejHbq5RPnF0wYPqPEUpb69LWOyajHxQmqmn-Ema6fao/s640/thumb_IMG_4635_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we arrived to West Lake </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtc-YsYoB70otMQG3bsiaPaEWyyhbsd2o-uHV182EQ0DqBh40clRRRwhegsa_Avotj_dOWBSGSdqS8VYFrx1SFOI6ze3DnPVLqwLD_45ScB2j9zotyiQ-csf9QaxnJaSJuKJXEL_msyI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4637_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNtc-YsYoB70otMQG3bsiaPaEWyyhbsd2o-uHV182EQ0DqBh40clRRRwhegsa_Avotj_dOWBSGSdqS8VYFrx1SFOI6ze3DnPVLqwLD_45ScB2j9zotyiQ-csf9QaxnJaSJuKJXEL_msyI/s640/thumb_IMG_4637_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sat by the lake and watched the sky get dusky</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnf5ilJFaxo3HcEBOYm7CItmjssoqyr4lDdWHkDAY25kbysyUFllR5VEP3lljjNhCjPderxPJKkcz2TmSx_bkbzTQtPmwBU5-S1NedH6RpgklNdVyIMq60Z80AiYZGCMGvdMhXbPjYIM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4642_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZnf5ilJFaxo3HcEBOYm7CItmjssoqyr4lDdWHkDAY25kbysyUFllR5VEP3lljjNhCjPderxPJKkcz2TmSx_bkbzTQtPmwBU5-S1NedH6RpgklNdVyIMq60Z80AiYZGCMGvdMhXbPjYIM/s640/thumb_IMG_4642_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then went to dinner at a delicious restaurant - this is a Hangzhou specialty called Dongpo pork (braised pork belly). It looks jelly-ish and unappetizing, but it was amaaaazing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjJbW8pQ440bfxGYqjI-d0_dq4aquIDEbFO9i-egjSBsKf0VLPdziP9BCB0qlAT5RX7ub3x48yMUA-jaqW2EygSyqvh_FrxePOGJKRbpud_tssBQSQ8oqiboU2u5wNTVCObRKzcykyNY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4646_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjJbW8pQ440bfxGYqjI-d0_dq4aquIDEbFO9i-egjSBsKf0VLPdziP9BCB0qlAT5RX7ub3x48yMUA-jaqW2EygSyqvh_FrxePOGJKRbpud_tssBQSQ8oqiboU2u5wNTVCObRKzcykyNY/s640/thumb_IMG_4646_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On our walk back home after dinner, we encountered more synchronized park dancing. I LOVE SYNCHRONIZED PARK DANCING SO MUCH. I also love that there is a lit-up temple in the hills behind them.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35e9SWlY5D5LYbghVgrq8qq8__RCNU9RH9C2-cWNBTdWkhLv5SPrXwqjR6Z4yYWApdgGBfqlGJxcM7NCOCKA7WXOUblGGcK_CpxvCLDEQlgvBm5i1MVubLoEdk52W_zMK4iMUHCF-24M/s1600/thumb_IMG_4650_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35e9SWlY5D5LYbghVgrq8qq8__RCNU9RH9C2-cWNBTdWkhLv5SPrXwqjR6Z4yYWApdgGBfqlGJxcM7NCOCKA7WXOUblGGcK_CpxvCLDEQlgvBm5i1MVubLoEdk52W_zMK4iMUHCF-24M/s640/thumb_IMG_4650_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">50 ft away, there was another group of park dancers getting down with another song. <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI4X5zYuROjczj4r1p_Imq3yx0swCIvCHSHG_2TsiO3sjENnl3F23LcHmzOvcIm7FT7EPJb2Y5RLEGSn-lmGaIt61Q3NczBHAwh4vvdjySoRB-nW7x45rdQ2nuMdISqY8_Qy7B3jC5D4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4651_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOI4X5zYuROjczj4r1p_Imq3yx0swCIvCHSHG_2TsiO3sjENnl3F23LcHmzOvcIm7FT7EPJb2Y5RLEGSn-lmGaIt61Q3NczBHAwh4vvdjySoRB-nW7x45rdQ2nuMdISqY8_Qy7B3jC5D4/s640/thumb_IMG_4651_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hefang St. was in full swing when we got back - this man was painting shirts to sell.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGIcd9tsExT9b_hHjKNU9l335PK8VF5UtrWsMp7fOKzEDITVgHxxQyxwy56Fy__aNj46N1fZyvoEchQsq8NYjKMmqH5rWAOrbRI5oCi4NaMmYqTz8WQXMx17FxYO24pX3hxfqUjmQrqs/s1600/thumb_IMG_4856_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGIcd9tsExT9b_hHjKNU9l335PK8VF5UtrWsMp7fOKzEDITVgHxxQyxwy56Fy__aNj46N1fZyvoEchQsq8NYjKMmqH5rWAOrbRI5oCi4NaMmYqTz8WQXMx17FxYO24pX3hxfqUjmQrqs/s640/thumb_IMG_4856_1024.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lots of sketch artists</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pEtZx_lNE9f3KGiJbyyuIhBNvhz1zzqs6rRGQN8xbojTsABo3SZ8HsTubpYQ4OgrwShwstuHmDRmKhJ6xWCqD8RT9FyJE2_5Um8573TMqDUh6GOpkjKIHRAzhO5Rh_AUK_UgXrguCnI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4655_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pEtZx_lNE9f3KGiJbyyuIhBNvhz1zzqs6rRGQN8xbojTsABo3SZ8HsTubpYQ4OgrwShwstuHmDRmKhJ6xWCqD8RT9FyJE2_5Um8573TMqDUh6GOpkjKIHRAzhO5Rh_AUK_UgXrguCnI/s640/thumb_IMG_4655_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man was firing glass and making shapes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwMyFFK28qMliJkpJqDZgFTn4nYXmO1zpbNypHvP7eB9a16WZ7hkaBLd2_GjkaT_543scScUh_FHqVQr5h04hYtqHhIlZQRGbwJ7m6h4zHZ2Ju1hquH7L3-ZCBO9HZHtAAXEzU_3a1FY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4652_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXwMyFFK28qMliJkpJqDZgFTn4nYXmO1zpbNypHvP7eB9a16WZ7hkaBLd2_GjkaT_543scScUh_FHqVQr5h04hYtqHhIlZQRGbwJ7m6h4zHZ2Ju1hquH7L3-ZCBO9HZHtAAXEzU_3a1FY/s640/thumb_IMG_4652_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Girl, I know how you feel #spiritanimal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Next morning, we went and did the classic Hangzhou activity - rented bikes to ride around the lake!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn86yj1VhQpBNfwEcMTbtdRaxP1pWfwQhbDdsBDTMIWNTneH7M7YpkoWtHUI3tjwnQzBb91mOZFbw568JUmvzTuae9EMXBreBwih9f1R0bUPMtuqIDlYGyUqqbU2dmpVjG6lyOYSBVoU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4864_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn86yj1VhQpBNfwEcMTbtdRaxP1pWfwQhbDdsBDTMIWNTneH7M7YpkoWtHUI3tjwnQzBb91mOZFbw568JUmvzTuae9EMXBreBwih9f1R0bUPMtuqIDlYGyUqqbU2dmpVjG6lyOYSBVoU/s640/thumb_IMG_4864_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sweet rides<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADQcEMMLXvo1VjdI7V9AQ6XWE9lCV5EvXaDytgQElXtGa0jRzdpzib9C8Oz2u0MwzlYTsA_pXnmPm7J2ssPMy2hbeLNZyhuArHdNJeafJCN2MhB1ZpwX76Bdm4D2kW6SdIo-GjZXfsNM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4676_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhADQcEMMLXvo1VjdI7V9AQ6XWE9lCV5EvXaDytgQElXtGa0jRzdpzib9C8Oz2u0MwzlYTsA_pXnmPm7J2ssPMy2hbeLNZyhuArHdNJeafJCN2MhB1ZpwX76Bdm4D2kW6SdIo-GjZXfsNM/s640/thumb_IMG_4676_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picturesque pagoda with lily pads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAyvUuFWi-aDo_0nnY_IpEd295OyxMGEAfuGFY2P6VfzAQFGUZqzG2I_hNqwpiDtObK_6ljuVujMjTqIGKlpfJgmMfayroRyU7nJkrf_EICFkLHCjvl0ioKplMv_Gq28JW892aTIO-Vc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4679_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXAyvUuFWi-aDo_0nnY_IpEd295OyxMGEAfuGFY2P6VfzAQFGUZqzG2I_hNqwpiDtObK_6ljuVujMjTqIGKlpfJgmMfayroRyU7nJkrf_EICFkLHCjvl0ioKplMv_Gq28JW892aTIO-Vc/s640/thumb_IMG_4679_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNsqeB7W8X8yxX-SksD_X9OO9jPYPbai8NdJymESZ-W22FAPDC1E4Fl5xGt7cRm9VIbLu448noGtOvRT0zi2C93xNvUHNkzKmQ_E6F6yrzi3MrTK42GhmIiHq7Ow-E0foEXYzW49Hgk8/s1600/thumb_IMG_4691_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNsqeB7W8X8yxX-SksD_X9OO9jPYPbai8NdJymESZ-W22FAPDC1E4Fl5xGt7cRm9VIbLu448noGtOvRT0zi2C93xNvUHNkzKmQ_E6F6yrzi3MrTK42GhmIiHq7Ow-E0foEXYzW49Hgk8/s640/thumb_IMG_4691_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More park dancing! This one was couples - the men would invite the women to join, and the man on the right in the gray pants was my absolute fave</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3nsL2pHNJ-F1EFXQh1TU_OIL3kTFhHoOzNF8y1L6Y-TeL50hERxOAsmb9waTA-K89QfBrR-gQcLj1lYm9K0X3L4Qz-yHrU_IC5wOEnxSs21ZdyW261etTaswRWgYE6Z3q7IM6v7laSk/s1600/thumb_IMG_4693_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3nsL2pHNJ-F1EFXQh1TU_OIL3kTFhHoOzNF8y1L6Y-TeL50hERxOAsmb9waTA-K89QfBrR-gQcLj1lYm9K0X3L4Qz-yHrU_IC5wOEnxSs21ZdyW261etTaswRWgYE6Z3q7IM6v7laSk/s640/thumb_IMG_4693_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we rode through a super fancy part of town, with all the luxury brands (nobody is saying Forever 21 is a luxury brand here, btw)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHsW08vo7xJlmF9Is1vugaFeD5ggS2mXEMiFnWpaatjY7V3qBCE-9Tw11YASjVB7ABL1NkJ87VhTYEKnwSgZ_uZ_mQCfOkQEhjafb6_Yrl4d47hSxU8bLEjhp5YCfYAPL4eIz1aG6R_Y/s1600/thumb_IMG_4695_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbHsW08vo7xJlmF9Is1vugaFeD5ggS2mXEMiFnWpaatjY7V3qBCE-9Tw11YASjVB7ABL1NkJ87VhTYEKnwSgZ_uZ_mQCfOkQEhjafb6_Yrl4d47hSxU8bLEjhp5YCfYAPL4eIz1aG6R_Y/s640/thumb_IMG_4695_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse: "Hangzhou is fancy"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdcumAYfCWwgeZPw8wo-bsrPWXVS0cwQO93dr1Uvk6ZNxG1cue_RxkeSJbyA72l-kbMXpg3F-cyTXMTatWMYkiHoq-ATFM6Q4_jtzM3VT37k1TLBt9H8_6oPebJ9JUwBFYWzNovbjBZw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4867_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWdcumAYfCWwgeZPw8wo-bsrPWXVS0cwQO93dr1Uvk6ZNxG1cue_RxkeSJbyA72l-kbMXpg3F-cyTXMTatWMYkiHoq-ATFM6Q4_jtzM3VT37k1TLBt9H8_6oPebJ9JUwBFYWzNovbjBZw/s640/thumb_IMG_4867_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then we found a causeway that cut across the lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfYyxNTCxExvIFdz90UCkM0zJWfXn04MRMQfduL4DqTs4CvgzO8twG07BC8qWQzNG_AG9Q6xTeqPWinGbqiRLKdkwcX5kvinG7HczzlZbGGRTQGNxK2Xq_6leJYbfVdy0V6O11herqoc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4706_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfYyxNTCxExvIFdz90UCkM0zJWfXn04MRMQfduL4DqTs4CvgzO8twG07BC8qWQzNG_AG9Q6xTeqPWinGbqiRLKdkwcX5kvinG7HczzlZbGGRTQGNxK2Xq_6leJYbfVdy0V6O11herqoc/s640/thumb_IMG_4706_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilypad heaven</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0Ry8oMxzKo571uzLNOJDSYMz_b4Iamq2X8cI7TYuCczMdoCHiNRH9aZjncrwq0vuVY4nQLXgKwrXlSwr-A3SksyTnNkqeDDmhCOhzFV8jaAGoPFCQqkqiU5oE4Zm9GYe56hMpi5QQ-w/s1600/thumb_IMG_4858_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF0Ry8oMxzKo571uzLNOJDSYMz_b4Iamq2X8cI7TYuCczMdoCHiNRH9aZjncrwq0vuVY4nQLXgKwrXlSwr-A3SksyTnNkqeDDmhCOhzFV8jaAGoPFCQqkqiU5oE4Zm9GYe56hMpi5QQ-w/s640/thumb_IMG_4858_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">All the different corners of the lake had such different viewpoints and buildings and shops and vibes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8veujn_cPjAmVFpHbs0m_f4rszsp_Nykq781G-qOqMOmyx0sSNTbsvRGC7h21zkhkxQ4d-pSBX7xe9ugCzLpOrh3roueiACZx8X5hxc8iU_JW57XcSLFxXB0PLPauYmhd4F1asBXx9U/s1600/thumb_IMG_4722_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="471" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh8veujn_cPjAmVFpHbs0m_f4rszsp_Nykq781G-qOqMOmyx0sSNTbsvRGC7h21zkhkxQ4d-pSBX7xe9ugCzLpOrh3roueiACZx8X5hxc8iU_JW57XcSLFxXB0PLPauYmhd4F1asBXx9U/s640/thumb_IMG_4722_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then I maybe coerced Jess into dressing up like an emperor and empress and taking photos by the lake. In China, they have these photo ops everywhere - they often have local old-world costumes, which you can choose and put on and take photos by the tourist site you happen to be at. Obviously, I wasn't gonna settle for the princess or courtier or concubine costumes - emperor and empress it is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0acqUW81jUU6hwJpJDE5VyEg2Ahp_DzhUKGHQHvhxIMZRu7MFgUXCVsqocJJerHJZJBA0SM52FKPKtBnasqZXpvODH6zglbHFOX1jt99DJ6NkfJ-e-8Bq2NtAl1SVM_-dk9e5WcNb6Q/s1600/thumb_IMG_4735_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0acqUW81jUU6hwJpJDE5VyEg2Ahp_DzhUKGHQHvhxIMZRu7MFgUXCVsqocJJerHJZJBA0SM52FKPKtBnasqZXpvODH6zglbHFOX1jt99DJ6NkfJ-e-8Bq2NtAl1SVM_-dk9e5WcNb6Q/s640/thumb_IMG_4735_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The lake got prettier as the day got sunnier #poetry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSe3XjYPuVJWpF5CKbqiZZVQD2CDciTXCXybusAVuxq5n0A8rPQxVLTreW0sCxJdtQnphxF7T_J6hiUS66yLM_hA7Pry_gC1ueNi6lIGwiphxbBEMpBKUl9JfNravtg8Ude61Os39NTNA/s1600/thumb_IMG_4855_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSe3XjYPuVJWpF5CKbqiZZVQD2CDciTXCXybusAVuxq5n0A8rPQxVLTreW0sCxJdtQnphxF7T_J6hiUS66yLM_hA7Pry_gC1ueNi6lIGwiphxbBEMpBKUl9JfNravtg8Ude61Os39NTNA/s640/thumb_IMG_4855_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jess took this very artistic photo of the lake in my sunglasses<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBoMXIzDJkEObM6_tlL_FI3t7wD2BOKvf7YyhvzIoRVx9KIRiUN2dZnZUgdfU665JH-FejJ6sWImEWjy7AfF-u8584Z1vzSBt0N_21PDt-D08xO3RtcxixFYyJtDSZeSD-3m9s602m68/s1600/thumb_IMG_4736_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBoMXIzDJkEObM6_tlL_FI3t7wD2BOKvf7YyhvzIoRVx9KIRiUN2dZnZUgdfU665JH-FejJ6sWImEWjy7AfF-u8584Z1vzSBt0N_21PDt-D08xO3RtcxixFYyJtDSZeSD-3m9s602m68/s640/thumb_IMG_4736_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some pagoda that I'm sure is famous for something. (I'm Connie, and I'm a terrific tour guide, I know)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpt-4i9MeAEtECxZaxRammAgnh2JGnZMzhzjOnrjJ0qWnUghPAoMhkosVSneFf95R0K8Wo61kUzxTsnZ7YAV-CxmkVNmFDeYWBJiBE4I0djFdOCb4UEsIImpMZWVcidCBlG5ukhazDjHk/s1600/thumb_IMG_4739_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpt-4i9MeAEtECxZaxRammAgnh2JGnZMzhzjOnrjJ0qWnUghPAoMhkosVSneFf95R0K8Wo61kUzxTsnZ7YAV-CxmkVNmFDeYWBJiBE4I0djFdOCb4UEsIImpMZWVcidCBlG5ukhazDjHk/s640/thumb_IMG_4739_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stationed ourselves near this pagoda to watch the sunset</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuIWY26se9LRqGgHCttM3Y9mjtULeRvwTooo2xNpkNNNgwmk0dZyx4JNqrTdUOagpBkt6AHlNc0BcOLTFkfof5DjrwC7oKXmlUX6Bngx4FRNg0ciQiEeUfdjZAdgorFNPyUXK6R_aWEA/s1600/thumb_IMG_4757_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuIWY26se9LRqGgHCttM3Y9mjtULeRvwTooo2xNpkNNNgwmk0dZyx4JNqrTdUOagpBkt6AHlNc0BcOLTFkfof5DjrwC7oKXmlUX6Bngx4FRNg0ciQiEeUfdjZAdgorFNPyUXK6R_aWEA/s640/thumb_IMG_4757_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Which we knew was an ideal spot to watch the sunset due to the million people with their cameras set up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6z0urf772JDO0eCBPfKVTGo7Yo5ycWJOYKQQX5rPTgjaw4KgcEXtWFLamy8UcGnYZo5THz1vljp4rvQvZcnEjZQyYX2Eg5k0yhsEqaBJDml7Sul4ckTUlDwZtvPwMTjzV9yKTJ8NSvvI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4768_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6z0urf772JDO0eCBPfKVTGo7Yo5ycWJOYKQQX5rPTgjaw4KgcEXtWFLamy8UcGnYZo5THz1vljp4rvQvZcnEjZQyYX2Eg5k0yhsEqaBJDml7Sul4ckTUlDwZtvPwMTjzV9yKTJ8NSvvI/s640/thumb_IMG_4768_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then there was a wedding photoshoot happening (Chinese photoshoots are no. joke. Anywhere remotely stunning, you'll always see tons of brides and grooms doing very involved/intricate/over-the-top photo shoots. WANT.)<br />
And yes, I did take this photo myself with my phone!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YtSPp2fO5di-Kk2ztpN7-1icey7ioPRn3AWAPwf3sXfa8m6zqTzZzeHZZhP2UYttW41XtuavJcSEfOOa5PrQNY9Dqv8YzM-TI8GjariIpTe7qspOidTjGpdsu9PljW3Evd2WK6Z6xQQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4771_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YtSPp2fO5di-Kk2ztpN7-1icey7ioPRn3AWAPwf3sXfa8m6zqTzZzeHZZhP2UYttW41XtuavJcSEfOOa5PrQNY9Dqv8YzM-TI8GjariIpTe7qspOidTjGpdsu9PljW3Evd2WK6Z6xQQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4771_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunning. I'm sure you know by now to prep yourself for numerous sunset shots that may not all be necessary, but I couldn't possibly get rid of.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyubSvfVOHLOme2Uxo6Ql_9Jn67zoY7wzJWsu4fSFRmk5PNbs2jMlEaR6gJfJ5Tv3PcNXCD9roz8r0UkKDlBGAFsdoX2048z9qThHKl2keUXCGv5cgATZyaCmUdNqIUfrkIKMOxS2Ek0k/s1600/thumb_IMG_4773_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyubSvfVOHLOme2Uxo6Ql_9Jn67zoY7wzJWsu4fSFRmk5PNbs2jMlEaR6gJfJ5Tv3PcNXCD9roz8r0UkKDlBGAFsdoX2048z9qThHKl2keUXCGv5cgATZyaCmUdNqIUfrkIKMOxS2Ek0k/s640/thumb_IMG_4773_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqAkc6A4Tj8e2SRagH9IkChAMcaS5YTnQiTnJ8pEcBE5ykYbSw2zQjelFaEfBrHYDGnWCk7VwDEQyNQwAOtbd15TBRuaSWje4iteq6rjMQV_4VR6EclvFwH60-Rn-69ZXGp5jtoa3O7U/s1600/thumb_IMG_4785_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoqAkc6A4Tj8e2SRagH9IkChAMcaS5YTnQiTnJ8pEcBE5ykYbSw2zQjelFaEfBrHYDGnWCk7VwDEQyNQwAOtbd15TBRuaSWje4iteq6rjMQV_4VR6EclvFwH60-Rn-69ZXGp5jtoa3O7U/s640/thumb_IMG_4785_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the sun peeked out for the grand finale. Sunset on West Lake is a must-do, according to CNN WorldTravel, and they were not lying.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkI_V7np8e-5Fk2OBKZIrbPuJt-zsoeu9az_A1KJRWKR0m8fz-KQ4sIr2-6fR3Lg3hqbl56-OyQ0Op04E9yjPZnLtbKTnuaCmWN3_wW60L3Nk4vA1Zl5pSj3DG67BHsLjLFxvFE_VBRFU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4789_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkI_V7np8e-5Fk2OBKZIrbPuJt-zsoeu9az_A1KJRWKR0m8fz-KQ4sIr2-6fR3Lg3hqbl56-OyQ0Op04E9yjPZnLtbKTnuaCmWN3_wW60L3Nk4vA1Zl5pSj3DG67BHsLjLFxvFE_VBRFU/s640/thumb_IMG_4789_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking back to the hostel, and people in the square were still flying kites with the epic sunset as a backdrop</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFDE9jcbHGQF47qJbkgcqJRb535CbRhw4t8Si8w6_ED2RgenlRfzYQD7A1wPIwjskd6BSq71VmN7_XJxeMerWOAZAlMsaYaUL1Ut5G-vYvIVZLvAujto5FHOqb3SiLFjdQW5n2UmLQMw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4791_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFDE9jcbHGQF47qJbkgcqJRb535CbRhw4t8Si8w6_ED2RgenlRfzYQD7A1wPIwjskd6BSq71VmN7_XJxeMerWOAZAlMsaYaUL1Ut5G-vYvIVZLvAujto5FHOqb3SiLFjdQW5n2UmLQMw/s640/thumb_IMG_4791_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had eggplant for dinner, because China loves eggplant and I love eggplant. (Don't worry. We ate more than just eggplant.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ81OJ3U5WPt2gNZQes5TsqMem13xdoVlQwqs3xlhKMqUKBPB2SdgK8nS0xmtYmnIOL3BQM_qk4DuWrJJLZQ1KTsnfvviXEri-S_yMGaADm8Frtm1YXEuGEoqm6HQPLZMvQAsHnbusOek/s1600/thumb_IMG_4853_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ81OJ3U5WPt2gNZQes5TsqMem13xdoVlQwqs3xlhKMqUKBPB2SdgK8nS0xmtYmnIOL3BQM_qk4DuWrJJLZQ1KTsnfvviXEri-S_yMGaADm8Frtm1YXEuGEoqm6HQPLZMvQAsHnbusOek/s640/thumb_IMG_4853_1024.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Topped with a huge head-sized mango dessert. Basically consisted of mango slices, mango juice, cream, icy stuff, and more mango</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsQXkzzLZbMc4xCK3swlmlU43u6xE1Jz7KjUw3mTb7pfpb07fLvPXNMzkPaPpqztSigAGdYlFW22ZeYuWvBQmZTerBrpFTBo15QdJKERFGFL7eNyVY8I4f8iXOfvnCC49fYlZqyG4wWQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4792_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUsQXkzzLZbMc4xCK3swlmlU43u6xE1Jz7KjUw3mTb7pfpb07fLvPXNMzkPaPpqztSigAGdYlFW22ZeYuWvBQmZTerBrpFTBo15QdJKERFGFL7eNyVY8I4f8iXOfvnCC49fYlZqyG4wWQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4792_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we had to leave Hangzhou after a couple days. And I took this photo of the train station to show you that China has these crazy huge modern train stations in every city. HUGE. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>As briefly mentioned above, we had a slight debacle when we first arrived to Hangzhou, as it turned out that our hotel was only for Chinese mainlanders and they didn't realize that we weren't. This turned out to be kind of a major thing, because we learned that many hotels are only targeted at mainlanders - they are often much, much cheaper because hotels in China need a special expensive license to be able to house foreign guests. It's kind of sad really, because you'll find these hotels that are super nice and half the price of the places you've seen, but then most likely they are not for foreign guests. Some websites specify, and some don't, btw, which is how we encountered this mix-up in the first place (dislike you, Ctrip.com!!!)</li>
<li>Uber is super super super popular right now in China (as well as another ride-share app called DD) - they are cheaper than regular cabs, but the government doesn't know how to regulate them and sometimes chooses to crack down on them, as this is a huge problem for the taxis. Anyhow, the ride-sharing option on Uber (called UberPool in the States) here is called the "People's Uber." So Communist, China. Also, it doesn't necessarily group you with people going to same way, as we learned once our cab drove us an hour out of the way to drop off our other UberPool passenger before taking us all the way back to ours. </li>
</ul>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-27031496307223501552016-07-21T04:52:00.001-07:002016-07-21T06:35:51.471-07:00Huangshan, China: This Is What a Magical Chinese Mountain Looks LikeWhen I was talking to my mom on FaceTime from Shanghai, she was like "Seriously, you have to go to Huangshan. If there is one place you have to go to in China, it's Huangshan. It is the most beautiful place you will ever see in your life. Just like a painting."<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I seriously knew nothing about Huangshan, but I found out it's accessible from Shanghai. So I convinced Jesse to come with me, and we set off on our Huangshan adventure.</div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: times;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Huangshan is one of China's "five great peaks" - this is a thing. It's known for its gorgeous granite peaks, which are often depicted in Chinese literature, poetry, and drawings. The mountains extend up to 1,800 meters tall (>6,000 ft) - and are often covered in a beautiful cloud-like mist, giving the impression that the mountains are extending up into the clouds themselves.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34BmFmhsjDXwhLfsdlzofD_APiGPe_Ij0jAx69keNQL_qcO4hjznBx4huFQluacB44R481crswltu0M0FwGkgv5YLqAAHDJLidTOWeWrsR4X6JgjUBMkQXAsXf7rnOjC3mswlU4dgAgE/s1600/thumb_IMG_4578_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34BmFmhsjDXwhLfsdlzofD_APiGPe_Ij0jAx69keNQL_qcO4hjznBx4huFQluacB44R481crswltu0M0FwGkgv5YLqAAHDJLidTOWeWrsR4X6JgjUBMkQXAsXf7rnOjC3mswlU4dgAgE/s640/thumb_IMG_4578_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Magical, misty Huangshan</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You can spend a day (or a couple, really) trekking the intricate paths in and around Huangshan - there are a network of numerous paths you can take, with varying difficulty. The most basic recommended trail, which our hotel provided us, is a full-day, 6-7 hour walk from viewpoint to viewpoint. And this assumes you take the cable car up and down the first base of the mountain. You can seriously spend forever going along these paths.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: times;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>First I heard that Huangshan was 3 hours away from Shanghai. Then it was 5. Well, after we'd gotten on the bus, I really learned that it's about 6.5-7 hours. Oops, sorry Jesse. I may have marketed this foray to you incorrectly. </li>
<li>We rolled into town well past 10pm, through a random series of events where we had booked a rando hotel and then gotten on a rando free van shuttle based on the rando city I noticed our hotel was located in. And then our shuttle driver offered to drop us off at the front door of our hotel. I couldn't believe how well it worked out. Apparently (unbeknownst to us), Huangshan has numerous towns you can stay in to access the mountain, and they're fairly far from each other. It's a miracle we ended up at our hotel at all.</li>
<li>Rolled out the next morning in hotel-provided ponchos (our host guaranteed it was going to rain; it's currently rainy season in all of China) to begin our trek. </li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLM9-FBfsqeEQUk1lFUvdmdhtqVSRbZMuYFXiIP8lK1h5IYDCJ0dOYguPdTP-TNPwyOk6INgpRCNUCh-Dmc8div6qt_feiBxefCf5gXDBoHXiI8DwKWPblkBZsJ1dCk2C5XUn7BQ9ySd0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4595_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLM9-FBfsqeEQUk1lFUvdmdhtqVSRbZMuYFXiIP8lK1h5IYDCJ0dOYguPdTP-TNPwyOk6INgpRCNUCh-Dmc8div6qt_feiBxefCf5gXDBoHXiI8DwKWPblkBZsJ1dCk2C5XUn7BQ9ySd0/s640/thumb_IMG_4595_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We begin our rainy hike in stylish ponchos (Jess said the color of my poncho was the only way he could recognize me amidst the hoards of Chinese tourists)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALZxjJ1jfyo97JEIV-s8QvPmK8j_jdhRLH4H1h7ccDV8eAjUU06zYAO2WSwcOZwgK9iG37UyC4s5DCFEMPvoL0pF7fkn1BGawGgMoydcXisgDk_37MMmZdnYpYItGXCuivIOgj94EOfk/s1600/thumb_IMG_4409_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALZxjJ1jfyo97JEIV-s8QvPmK8j_jdhRLH4H1h7ccDV8eAjUU06zYAO2WSwcOZwgK9iG37UyC4s5DCFEMPvoL0pF7fkn1BGawGgMoydcXisgDk_37MMmZdnYpYItGXCuivIOgj94EOfk/s640/thumb_IMG_4409_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Did you know, according to China, that Mt. Huangshan is "God's favored mountain"? Also it is "praised as 'Fairyland in the World' and 'No. 1 Mountain under Heaven.'" #iloveChinesesigns</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktAMtxgZdbam5VXheaUMRRF7VgM0hSDf4NpLxqXWTuIExeodukKkWX3dF_P3qh-JyszxTZ2WbhnMIcwrxFnnZP9qFIxPDJrCicdwXh5UCSG3R4za11hB7GWOhLlLifedvbv0kMaO5vw8/s1600/thumb_IMG_4417_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktAMtxgZdbam5VXheaUMRRF7VgM0hSDf4NpLxqXWTuIExeodukKkWX3dF_P3qh-JyszxTZ2WbhnMIcwrxFnnZP9qFIxPDJrCicdwXh5UCSG3R4za11hB7GWOhLlLifedvbv0kMaO5vw8/s640/thumb_IMG_4417_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">My mom's most important piece of advice? "Ride the cable car. For the love of God, ride the cable car. Your father and I did not and we almost died and couldn't even enjoy the mountain." #dutifulChinesedaughter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93y7fOoZ2akVakB0y7Tswio_3hz0MGtiI-zGp6TzV_rren4UHCWln1MIefxxkuue00cYseI3c8EQSS_JGOZLxgm4eUNteHYr_I5eJS3jkhLQtooADn5gKJSvfjylWPOdoEWtaRWYZ4s4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4424_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93y7fOoZ2akVakB0y7Tswio_3hz0MGtiI-zGp6TzV_rren4UHCWln1MIefxxkuue00cYseI3c8EQSS_JGOZLxgm4eUNteHYr_I5eJS3jkhLQtooADn5gKJSvfjylWPOdoEWtaRWYZ4s4/s640/thumb_IMG_4424_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I'm not sure if it was because it was lightly raining, but magical mist was everywhere</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Get ready for millions of photos of Huangshan. Keep in mind, again, this is the <i>curated</i> version. For every photo you see, I deleted 5 more so as not to overwhelm.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuChOd-EuqCSLS96LKygBW8pd-zSgAO0EVvy9jUJXbwtcxbynXD17eIWMlRwEciTxfvEVWdHO8Z2wCmCytJu0RYFPN3s5beQJuWvINbz8af4sWduIl-Ad6tPKicI93AOllISRk4b1lF0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4429_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuChOd-EuqCSLS96LKygBW8pd-zSgAO0EVvy9jUJXbwtcxbynXD17eIWMlRwEciTxfvEVWdHO8Z2wCmCytJu0RYFPN3s5beQJuWvINbz8af4sWduIl-Ad6tPKicI93AOllISRk4b1lF0/s640/thumb_IMG_4429_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">At the top of the cable car, the series of pathways extended in every direction for you to walk through.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlpZ_6K2ZhoOuT_JTWQmgdLYJOTwZ1vhlofCMLiFRyTzU0G0SCiNm-NVPX3FX-VlirvUoqhu88HWXBL2CfsoO-DsyTnPolr1yZAbVpBhWGo2JlDWjTo1P0euMbcsjwjkk4OdsPGhBCCY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4611_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtlpZ_6K2ZhoOuT_JTWQmgdLYJOTwZ1vhlofCMLiFRyTzU0G0SCiNm-NVPX3FX-VlirvUoqhu88HWXBL2CfsoO-DsyTnPolr1yZAbVpBhWGo2JlDWjTo1P0euMbcsjwjkk4OdsPGhBCCY/s640/thumb_IMG_4611_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The flat trees and green vegetation that grow out of the rocks only add to the magical effect</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCVMZFHYrws6l0UWsXxgtx9ENhgb5i3ox4oAWQd___X62oyPlzK9yzGdTHAxxAKiHMY6evwQ1jPHeNZ79Hk_XSZruiiMU9uCyAOM0d4HAk9nVhCiBYNVIC98lbRb2bzXzB_urFvR4Y_c/s1600/thumb_IMG_4431_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnCVMZFHYrws6l0UWsXxgtx9ENhgb5i3ox4oAWQd___X62oyPlzK9yzGdTHAxxAKiHMY6evwQ1jPHeNZ79Hk_XSZruiiMU9uCyAOM0d4HAk9nVhCiBYNVIC98lbRb2bzXzB_urFvR4Y_c/s640/thumb_IMG_4431_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7R4-L-KAWYSW3wq3vaF4yU7ilo8DuEyBtXQ_CXCWApTp68X6sn9WF6zQKXG1xEStX4pBN8tr79bG-blqghRE4zEVxx9u8zYIXjmfy_hUcgeebbP1iKnVwIg0oYR6L5WpzV87s1cnsAU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4433_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ7R4-L-KAWYSW3wq3vaF4yU7ilo8DuEyBtXQ_CXCWApTp68X6sn9WF6zQKXG1xEStX4pBN8tr79bG-blqghRE4zEVxx9u8zYIXjmfy_hUcgeebbP1iKnVwIg0oYR6L5WpzV87s1cnsAU/s640/thumb_IMG_4433_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pvrWo56vVDVHX0xvvzcjsL2N7xvFv9hAg95cP-eE0B4bJhHefhICLHQD0B0r0AUPMfyGVYcs51BVDuTDRvCg7X6eH9tkP25yU0sWtC2sGPa6NEmg5GqLE1QdUpNz7A03sqWwb7zmSnM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4435_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8pvrWo56vVDVHX0xvvzcjsL2N7xvFv9hAg95cP-eE0B4bJhHefhICLHQD0B0r0AUPMfyGVYcs51BVDuTDRvCg7X6eH9tkP25yU0sWtC2sGPa6NEmg5GqLE1QdUpNz7A03sqWwb7zmSnM/s640/thumb_IMG_4435_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jess in his raincoat and a very cool tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienMcpzulmwMGsSNSw1EjqeRsiL4f501jS3hOeoWhhZoVy90lsnZXC-4KMcAwBTUuj6fPTJB7BcrBOJQXCXJS4f5K1Tzlak-XTfcerDibmC02gzznb9SOB8p1ekYbeGBSjp6N-FrF7Pto/s1600/thumb_IMG_4600_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEienMcpzulmwMGsSNSw1EjqeRsiL4f501jS3hOeoWhhZoVy90lsnZXC-4KMcAwBTUuj6fPTJB7BcrBOJQXCXJS4f5K1Tzlak-XTfcerDibmC02gzznb9SOB8p1ekYbeGBSjp6N-FrF7Pto/s640/thumb_IMG_4600_1024.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Sometimes it got so foggy that you couldn't see anything at all around you, except for thick, white fog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuph_jpZ9LmloiOGXPRWnOcr6Z5QY6-SSs0QpbsOcCAn-Fbh4FHeYhXnO4bXZfegluROQig_Atwej14t4AzeP6UkmdnuEXMmpBhIoXuK2OQqIqlOmZmA8tNAbDyvqBlfO2lKaZp9POgk0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4438_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuph_jpZ9LmloiOGXPRWnOcr6Z5QY6-SSs0QpbsOcCAn-Fbh4FHeYhXnO4bXZfegluROQig_Atwej14t4AzeP6UkmdnuEXMmpBhIoXuK2OQqIqlOmZmA8tNAbDyvqBlfO2lKaZp9POgk0/s640/thumb_IMG_4438_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then the fog would randomly clear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAt2w8r1lfVLP9ukBMtSewLCv1kwZ-NrEWOTxA7X8ks4K0j8uSSpinXbm0Dzi1iTUO3y3pXm7Pa669eqyCHrNVUOFsmpbn9r-ODFs7rOuHV4jUagJ36jdX0092wbiIJoV93n8aGLWP5U/s1600/thumb_IMG_4439_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAt2w8r1lfVLP9ukBMtSewLCv1kwZ-NrEWOTxA7X8ks4K0j8uSSpinXbm0Dzi1iTUO3y3pXm7Pa669eqyCHrNVUOFsmpbn9r-ODFs7rOuHV4jUagJ36jdX0092wbiIJoV93n8aGLWP5U/s640/thumb_IMG_4439_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The mountain had people who offered to carry you up and down the hundreds of steps in a wooden rickshaw thing on their backs, like an emperor. I personally think I'd feel terrible, but this man clearly did not.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn9dyVoURr6j7WOJB6QsBG_rfWjjJpcLQ-f8EhEr7zyZRwmgsL3YO-wMLMKRXIH0wcE3cy5Dvp4iO9ggawKykpSysx9YtGJU5SjjIqXYG5X07ZR6XOmSn-Iun_Mcuk0bYPqCI6nSZgUA/s1600/thumb_IMG_4445_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn9dyVoURr6j7WOJB6QsBG_rfWjjJpcLQ-f8EhEr7zyZRwmgsL3YO-wMLMKRXIH0wcE3cy5Dvp4iO9ggawKykpSysx9YtGJU5SjjIqXYG5X07ZR6XOmSn-Iun_Mcuk0bYPqCI6nSZgUA/s640/thumb_IMG_4445_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Every five minutes would be a to-die-for view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUJkVk6TW-ydmilnH9S-AA7wW5Twsz8ELiYb1IFFwg9zeajzGD5YbpTlKvZ3rkhyhK5fwMJNRiUfUW3QVBU-zgeAMSwfieNM5mTVAxpbRtkeu14_Dmiu8QoV8MMyyrrxLWNHsTzx3wis/s1600/thumb_IMG_4449_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikUJkVk6TW-ydmilnH9S-AA7wW5Twsz8ELiYb1IFFwg9zeajzGD5YbpTlKvZ3rkhyhK5fwMJNRiUfUW3QVBU-zgeAMSwfieNM5mTVAxpbRtkeu14_Dmiu8QoV8MMyyrrxLWNHsTzx3wis/s640/thumb_IMG_4449_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some of the more-travelled walkways were CRAMMED with tourists. Like, tourists as far as the eye could see. I'm not sure why it looks like there's something stinky going on in this photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo8FCIB4_5RyrICPHF8TtHTXZ401uN0yT7VrAD8G2plhLfAAGkxH2sbcFMC07FGQzZxrsTnvhoXzZnOC9eC0s_cQeVEz6JVCmwh74pc7UookSazSO5KwhyphenhyphenU2MtgVlPNsIJD6KwvW234E/s1600/thumb_IMG_4452_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo8FCIB4_5RyrICPHF8TtHTXZ401uN0yT7VrAD8G2plhLfAAGkxH2sbcFMC07FGQzZxrsTnvhoXzZnOC9eC0s_cQeVEz6JVCmwh74pc7UookSazSO5KwhyphenhyphenU2MtgVlPNsIJD6KwvW234E/s640/thumb_IMG_4452_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Here's cool view of two of the pathways snaking up/down the mountain - and the lines of tourists waiting in both. Like little ants!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsCitzpVCQ7jwMHbGM-HhX8P_Cm8belwLS6Ec0sxEkZgSXcON1QuhJJ9H662xyW94nkI_-gEOqxXzmPzgML2u-sUWAprfhMEdTUwZHWj796X6fCVwXuh01H-xaqycc7WL9MLGP7sA-Ks/s1600/thumb_IMG_4453_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGsCitzpVCQ7jwMHbGM-HhX8P_Cm8belwLS6Ec0sxEkZgSXcON1QuhJJ9H662xyW94nkI_-gEOqxXzmPzgML2u-sUWAprfhMEdTUwZHWj796X6fCVwXuh01H-xaqycc7WL9MLGP7sA-Ks/s640/thumb_IMG_4453_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some of the walkways were incredibly narrow and you had to wait in crowds like this moving at a snail's pace for a long time. Now I see why the trek takes 7 hours....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SaQqHrgAz7z4tEGiBUjVbXlHe_sjU2fSwaBiUj0FI6RSDsCZeGka-gagKqOznwsghZTRX1H6Es6rl3uct5lQAHDNwq8Su8-DrszOJQEEtguxz6CY_wF_Ea35EVpAZz7Vjl69HSj4dis/s1600/thumb_IMG_4454_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_SaQqHrgAz7z4tEGiBUjVbXlHe_sjU2fSwaBiUj0FI6RSDsCZeGka-gagKqOznwsghZTRX1H6Es6rl3uct5lQAHDNwq8Su8-DrszOJQEEtguxz6CY_wF_Ea35EVpAZz7Vjl69HSj4dis/s640/thumb_IMG_4454_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But then, VIEWS. VIEWS. SO WORTH IT.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHL_PYpHGlO1KWh0QyKZrQZVBlh1hkNQoVAbVjOmGq4TqZfnUCzKWGyvcNmzS5jMEAxcHuscIM4gC3LZ6MUApQ5GK-kY-8iqhSAcaIpafPLmMME52A2srVcMod0wGXsSmiD9uJeME3fM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4456_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuHL_PYpHGlO1KWh0QyKZrQZVBlh1hkNQoVAbVjOmGq4TqZfnUCzKWGyvcNmzS5jMEAxcHuscIM4gC3LZ6MUApQ5GK-kY-8iqhSAcaIpafPLmMME52A2srVcMod0wGXsSmiD9uJeME3fM/s640/thumb_IMG_4456_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinu066i0SsUI8p82D5GDwB-WYbuxE4_wUgKJIvZ4Wtqz41YAL2BKMQJMKqMsEBj0h1-DxZBtBfyL3gjXlt1djBbMto3E31A-MgWd0aCOiPjs5rvzLky4FsL8GoN1UviP-xLfIs1J01nL0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4458_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinu066i0SsUI8p82D5GDwB-WYbuxE4_wUgKJIvZ4Wtqz41YAL2BKMQJMKqMsEBj0h1-DxZBtBfyL3gjXlt1djBbMto3E31A-MgWd0aCOiPjs5rvzLky4FsL8GoN1UviP-xLfIs1J01nL0/s640/thumb_IMG_4458_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g5gWWF_8yXhSXZrFDoH6hCJKXmAx8Ki66waYd5NOmjYlBsXDL5dwTa0JUNcnmzhg1a7k0cIl-ZPGCXfgU_vO3Zz5ppBwX_nQiWLPwmTX4BgH1RQQHfaNFuGFOQF_WVdIuT5UVZepVZU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4462_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9g5gWWF_8yXhSXZrFDoH6hCJKXmAx8Ki66waYd5NOmjYlBsXDL5dwTa0JUNcnmzhg1a7k0cIl-ZPGCXfgU_vO3Zz5ppBwX_nQiWLPwmTX4BgH1RQQHfaNFuGFOQF_WVdIuT5UVZepVZU/s640/thumb_IMG_4462_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Seriously, I love Chinese signs. So much.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLJlfMKj3PM-BjbdGfAQwT3orZzJ8N_75ukkWbgOLJXZyNb-s-WXlsC5wTRGGLzWOKsLt7GR9JtEUwQCyYtHu4onei-XeChtm9zwIQPjNcXX3BKXiPR_9rnhu-1MsWOa1bj2Fhg9pbQs/s1600/thumb_IMG_4463_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLJlfMKj3PM-BjbdGfAQwT3orZzJ8N_75ukkWbgOLJXZyNb-s-WXlsC5wTRGGLzWOKsLt7GR9JtEUwQCyYtHu4onei-XeChtm9zwIQPjNcXX3BKXiPR_9rnhu-1MsWOa1bj2Fhg9pbQs/s640/thumb_IMG_4463_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Puff puff puff. So many stairs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZV809QuPcSI3WrtFZYkMJs5u7q5QoMjElaPsJMuUE6HTehIsUWNmvdge1xcWq5sp0tYYPs_uXFCfdst9ZWt4dJgvMYfQetd2sG3CoaQ1BUPV2RihDtlz1DcPzoQsZlyV35sPb_udsicM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4467_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZV809QuPcSI3WrtFZYkMJs5u7q5QoMjElaPsJMuUE6HTehIsUWNmvdge1xcWq5sp0tYYPs_uXFCfdst9ZWt4dJgvMYfQetd2sG3CoaQ1BUPV2RihDtlz1DcPzoQsZlyV35sPb_udsicM/s640/thumb_IMG_4467_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMVFX001wMElqGrguFuBifbpf706zxpw5K3lagAO2rwLUzU2TDB3S6CmGifWaMy67GDKbp4_6dM0BvSx6Pyh7kyH6_clyToXr6_NbEaPeGLJz4mhSkkDhD4LOddoIcT-YOnmdhSb6OoE/s1600/thumb_IMG_4500_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNMVFX001wMElqGrguFuBifbpf706zxpw5K3lagAO2rwLUzU2TDB3S6CmGifWaMy67GDKbp4_6dM0BvSx6Pyh7kyH6_clyToXr6_NbEaPeGLJz4mhSkkDhD4LOddoIcT-YOnmdhSb6OoE/s640/thumb_IMG_4500_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgqRjhfQo3xyD-osG5g_WYbruAvUu-BMW2LGEgTp9Z-j5P4CIEGXiSmfShYPpcEhdbEm9cDHnGHzueiNsAm_1XAXTZ78VG85XoX3x35kfbFPWP0UxJlWCyvWMbcsutZbE4jQ7IGihA8c/s1600/thumb_IMG_4497_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgqRjhfQo3xyD-osG5g_WYbruAvUu-BMW2LGEgTp9Z-j5P4CIEGXiSmfShYPpcEhdbEm9cDHnGHzueiNsAm_1XAXTZ78VG85XoX3x35kfbFPWP0UxJlWCyvWMbcsutZbE4jQ7IGihA8c/s640/thumb_IMG_4497_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">LOOK AT THIS VALLEY</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZDOmudvVPs4a-qaSJjEDl2YETrycGko9mPaAa2dGnO52HRRQI708gdDMtIk10kRhBzqyatQipb3fDM71c3Iu2B0WUq6cTmWb3QY_OCjw9OH8mpxy6zj6qggI_lbgoSXGE7ospnnMGLo/s1600/thumb_IMG_4504_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZDOmudvVPs4a-qaSJjEDl2YETrycGko9mPaAa2dGnO52HRRQI708gdDMtIk10kRhBzqyatQipb3fDM71c3Iu2B0WUq6cTmWb3QY_OCjw9OH8mpxy6zj6qggI_lbgoSXGE7ospnnMGLo/s640/thumb_IMG_4504_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">With views like this, I could write Chinese poetry too</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wWNAvnLzdqs5sJK2hH7kyqw8QRew70JHAHkFFJYOyxOAWBhwMnCkC3TjBUSUdQhDPUJOeKHFeRVdC_Ue7oDS09B2j-eWZf2My2NoUfGvxIMN667Iy4nFHZN77Yrlp4FRE7VRsBClqjI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4519_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wWNAvnLzdqs5sJK2hH7kyqw8QRew70JHAHkFFJYOyxOAWBhwMnCkC3TjBUSUdQhDPUJOeKHFeRVdC_Ue7oDS09B2j-eWZf2My2NoUfGvxIMN667Iy4nFHZN77Yrlp4FRE7VRsBClqjI/s640/thumb_IMG_4519_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jess and his signature jumping pose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji75wtMucbeXxMgKvtgPU1F1AJMPgq3rsi9Fg7USU0_mIGyk2mlm-RjgNmeLv_UIoEjZ4KTJSYHu9qfrIb7kT5l4jOEYcNIayu8VfngaSn0SQ6B_EyO1zEoR75KGXaQ3eH1eaTHvJEKNs/s1600/thumb_IMG_4510_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji75wtMucbeXxMgKvtgPU1F1AJMPgq3rsi9Fg7USU0_mIGyk2mlm-RjgNmeLv_UIoEjZ4KTJSYHu9qfrIb7kT5l4jOEYcNIayu8VfngaSn0SQ6B_EyO1zEoR75KGXaQ3eH1eaTHvJEKNs/s640/thumb_IMG_4510_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">King of the world</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhuAwnEy8HyhZm3hLKaUi-p-qzsprAjdqw0q6U0dcuCNGj-a-5jbDBYu15VSaYPdXRMoU-aku1ZubAItsCZVqOkuQnj32SQA8ZX0cvVM34lss4a535dIxQOcZZLatP3Kt0dkd6E7haIU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4525_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxhuAwnEy8HyhZm3hLKaUi-p-qzsprAjdqw0q6U0dcuCNGj-a-5jbDBYu15VSaYPdXRMoU-aku1ZubAItsCZVqOkuQnj32SQA8ZX0cvVM34lss4a535dIxQOcZZLatP3Kt0dkd6E7haIU/s640/thumb_IMG_4525_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZoFKX9NkpKvxuLynK3b5z4zb3Z9cwNV2UqoRzYKktbHqBrnl4Wx2p95dBdKjtbOXoSzkobBGa94i-hWjfyjoupCW1-DSAWa9z4TWXS4mi-6yymMOnW1OIkPH20BM5LZh-Capa3unJLU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4531_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZoFKX9NkpKvxuLynK3b5z4zb3Z9cwNV2UqoRzYKktbHqBrnl4Wx2p95dBdKjtbOXoSzkobBGa94i-hWjfyjoupCW1-DSAWa9z4TWXS4mi-6yymMOnW1OIkPH20BM5LZh-Capa3unJLU/s640/thumb_IMG_4531_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BgzrC3bQapyPYFSDzzmz8ezr2KCcB9BRRqxNLSyhNOMkGv9GIaJ6nIGMu9lpThJKp85CKnX7B5Rnz9AvfrefQJJJIsApuI_sGGFdMbeUcu2ps0UqdbZaBronfHQ76mecs3xZuqmjqOE/s1600/thumb_IMG_4533_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-BgzrC3bQapyPYFSDzzmz8ezr2KCcB9BRRqxNLSyhNOMkGv9GIaJ6nIGMu9lpThJKp85CKnX7B5Rnz9AvfrefQJJJIsApuI_sGGFdMbeUcu2ps0UqdbZaBronfHQ76mecs3xZuqmjqOE/s640/thumb_IMG_4533_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Magical scattered fog clouds!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzGkpCO9j9zTvNxTZ0Ltk4wPO7XqmBazwq_Bu5zAajDAYuS1nzJstOAVUzTZO-n2pZ9IjO1b0TVpdWYb4WsSWDJ7moyPUs9FpD15Y1dqul53WsiqFacIKlITTT-6efxb4-OMViFElDzQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4538_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUzGkpCO9j9zTvNxTZ0Ltk4wPO7XqmBazwq_Bu5zAajDAYuS1nzJstOAVUzTZO-n2pZ9IjO1b0TVpdWYb4WsSWDJ7moyPUs9FpD15Y1dqul53WsiqFacIKlITTT-6efxb4-OMViFElDzQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4538_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The only way to transport goods up and down the mountain (there are numerous luxury hotels and some stores located along the pathways) is by foot. These men were everywhere, carrying really really heavy looking things on bamboo poles. It was highly impressive.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsEgouPeo-3kkGmDLhGk_jbnM40hZ5lqxajFqmqtkHdaEaFIa5JY8lcPnew0XHRMde4TyeKfCbZ96GctMQMKmYEi8gXsuEJ2FMbJcd-5zMXRq7M6nt65Kzt8l9nPTFn3BxA_Z49mjKYI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4543_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicsEgouPeo-3kkGmDLhGk_jbnM40hZ5lqxajFqmqtkHdaEaFIa5JY8lcPnew0XHRMde4TyeKfCbZ96GctMQMKmYEi8gXsuEJ2FMbJcd-5zMXRq7M6nt65Kzt8l9nPTFn3BxA_Z49mjKYI/s640/thumb_IMG_4543_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">In the early afternoon, the fog really amped it up a notch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZCHMPH09mHdUiTmjtdXy8NJV5Dac0n8XqgBLduOEIIFDHCW1B9mPhsLkOrhgAvv5JGi8H8TO5U89FHG5QMvIDbZF-7w_ffQGUqrtOHD1bbhua7dgeZ8_EPhxwC2ugQoT7h7rznM_Brg/s1600/thumb_IMG_4546_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisZCHMPH09mHdUiTmjtdXy8NJV5Dac0n8XqgBLduOEIIFDHCW1B9mPhsLkOrhgAvv5JGi8H8TO5U89FHG5QMvIDbZF-7w_ffQGUqrtOHD1bbhua7dgeZ8_EPhxwC2ugQoT7h7rznM_Brg/s640/thumb_IMG_4546_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You had to wait around for some of the fog to clear, which would reveal certain mountains, if only for a second</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU4toTpnVFWFPOIqbJENLPVnZBoYQEozbajCzctA4BzHGW4p2o187AyuXP4gNPLNscVbQU_p2SD-4eZquYx7b64PkQnT5E-0unF58I5ElkRAFIoHPYbBBNMkFMcsIpG6WFJ8DLhxDRyI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4549_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIU4toTpnVFWFPOIqbJENLPVnZBoYQEozbajCzctA4BzHGW4p2o187AyuXP4gNPLNscVbQU_p2SD-4eZquYx7b64PkQnT5E-0unF58I5ElkRAFIoHPYbBBNMkFMcsIpG6WFJ8DLhxDRyI/s640/thumb_IMG_4549_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">When it gets too foggy or rainy, the paths up the various mountains get dangerous, so they shut them down. This is one of the viewpoints we were able to get to, but couldn't see anything but half a mountain and fog.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34FCIRyiogczetE0_oQQbDgzjgtZtDjakU_J4y19JPsj9noH4hnq_0bE5Psko-TX8CyY6qQMJZny0XW1ob0BBF1_ieGSXcsakfWPVrhxs1wdZcVEuaqoQAVo39CKd5iFfHa6D_Bm3xWw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4553_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34FCIRyiogczetE0_oQQbDgzjgtZtDjakU_J4y19JPsj9noH4hnq_0bE5Psko-TX8CyY6qQMJZny0XW1ob0BBF1_ieGSXcsakfWPVrhxs1wdZcVEuaqoQAVo39CKd5iFfHa6D_Bm3xWw/s640/thumb_IMG_4553_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Another really amazing viewpoint (allegedly) - all foggy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWqFai9VWksY_oeGr6nzQ3jHVqcfqypDr2Nqxw015AsKJq-gHX5tmArHqk8KIFBR1d2MdVEEN84cdPS8uequ5qnn5oBf6wTfE8LvuTIovBZAK-79_K2M_LYPvafFaUbn-Qx1Vu8_1rV0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4613_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWqFai9VWksY_oeGr6nzQ3jHVqcfqypDr2Nqxw015AsKJq-gHX5tmArHqk8KIFBR1d2MdVEEN84cdPS8uequ5qnn5oBf6wTfE8LvuTIovBZAK-79_K2M_LYPvafFaUbn-Qx1Vu8_1rV0/s640/thumb_IMG_4613_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We waited for the fog to clear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHc5ACVWWPVxRDqIuCHrqM5f0Cw2Zk8IF9BHTSa7ICZoNzOhhuqxHEXRV9FjbIPhVIhqFbJDevrtVX1AdzewyyT27hiFP75a6OP4IJZJw0umkw0RkzJ1RuO3iFqxGI4FpzU6p2Q1b6eI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4557_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipHc5ACVWWPVxRDqIuCHrqM5f0Cw2Zk8IF9BHTSa7ICZoNzOhhuqxHEXRV9FjbIPhVIhqFbJDevrtVX1AdzewyyT27hiFP75a6OP4IJZJw0umkw0RkzJ1RuO3iFqxGI4FpzU6p2Q1b6eI/s640/thumb_IMG_4557_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Which it did slightly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqxs7goSUr-WyGamDjuO3ms6uvUbD2obz2SJ9XQj_e1trzUrLTNsRvvtXoD7a5RpBjQD9Zjdvy0qOm9ddKdVDIEBgNl8tspayymzOkriIAFfbIs2sAIeERweXBGGkOpVDNjJhKMqT8Uc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4571_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqxs7goSUr-WyGamDjuO3ms6uvUbD2obz2SJ9XQj_e1trzUrLTNsRvvtXoD7a5RpBjQD9Zjdvy0qOm9ddKdVDIEBgNl8tspayymzOkriIAFfbIs2sAIeERweXBGGkOpVDNjJhKMqT8Uc/s640/thumb_IMG_4571_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some last shot before heading back down the mountain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlbjACEJqRhguIpjnZS5OFcRiopMyUKO0Z3-qn0FoOK4p9PVGjsq-AyTkFj0gg9lxbHbhovFSFtNb52-SscrfiZi3GrDJyOQhZfNtsxHyafB73B3Fq0uMwl48_nruUwzw5X-t18mwNak/s1600/thumb_IMG_4580_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlbjACEJqRhguIpjnZS5OFcRiopMyUKO0Z3-qn0FoOK4p9PVGjsq-AyTkFj0gg9lxbHbhovFSFtNb52-SscrfiZi3GrDJyOQhZfNtsxHyafB73B3Fq0uMwl48_nruUwzw5X-t18mwNak/s640/thumb_IMG_4580_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cable cars descending into pure fog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPe9nsOSv8KqD-Mmyy64z2ocgi0vmrJXe2IUhjOJAuXZYr6jACits4M1PIGV1PhLtoZsGqqMKJJi8igg3SpaK3HfuAuodqZ8QD689zNCNialMVSWnMXzkd6AIOU_Nxz2usTyKbZwnZluI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4586_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPe9nsOSv8KqD-Mmyy64z2ocgi0vmrJXe2IUhjOJAuXZYr6jACits4M1PIGV1PhLtoZsGqqMKJJi8igg3SpaK3HfuAuodqZ8QD689zNCNialMVSWnMXzkd6AIOU_Nxz2usTyKbZwnZluI/s640/thumb_IMG_4586_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcgDxbl600j-2pwupUvFjQumdveAhMv8RURMonLe1L4WjGbo2ji8R9SC5SmQSX0pLPqk851msu7GlikL3zra9Ef90Lb3iyNmX4HCzltYa6CCxRyX4uX1FBwEyPZAOn_yQJWnzd6OUPHA/s1600/thumb_IMG_4588_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcgDxbl600j-2pwupUvFjQumdveAhMv8RURMonLe1L4WjGbo2ji8R9SC5SmQSX0pLPqk851msu7GlikL3zra9Ef90Lb3iyNmX4HCzltYa6CCxRyX4uX1FBwEyPZAOn_yQJWnzd6OUPHA/s640/thumb_IMG_4588_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaalmDQeKKmQzn_KiuK0joLlERKY2Onb1qXv3HfiJOFxkfMlCZzfAnTKREgjhsOWS20KYDCj1zWOL2EphVuF65YSn1aZdqCOzemhyphenhyphenH9WSesPWpcL0VA_ReQSrV_G9zv-fZKJTSIAlKJws/s1600/thumb_IMG_4593_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaalmDQeKKmQzn_KiuK0joLlERKY2Onb1qXv3HfiJOFxkfMlCZzfAnTKREgjhsOWS20KYDCj1zWOL2EphVuF65YSn1aZdqCOzemhyphenhyphenH9WSesPWpcL0VA_ReQSrV_G9zv-fZKJTSIAlKJws/s640/thumb_IMG_4593_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The views down were some of the most incredible ones; seriously</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAVAv_SInMXMlSQG7c_SvlHjNPcsebzQtrXO10gipGQ_UaOmZMmrOhME2o76ucsnAhdrKEayXwW19MEC2CXtCgiHDIsm_JxhzvUtfIfViVBphgKZZ4mpgzPQazbXLxZdrKANMJw8C5C4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4598_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuAVAv_SInMXMlSQG7c_SvlHjNPcsebzQtrXO10gipGQ_UaOmZMmrOhME2o76ucsnAhdrKEayXwW19MEC2CXtCgiHDIsm_JxhzvUtfIfViVBphgKZZ4mpgzPQazbXLxZdrKANMJw8C5C4/s640/thumb_IMG_4598_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn83yeEn0VCYw8BV5PEow7WXnAc6ylPBEj8mGvUmkSgZHFJIkHrXt2o7x9Dp8qPJjx3P8v_Mte6yGN8a9Axvb4FlRKMVN-vOVVWE69xUdP6iN3hIq45nTuZYhCZHJEElcsiFn60GGyAlQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4597_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn83yeEn0VCYw8BV5PEow7WXnAc6ylPBEj8mGvUmkSgZHFJIkHrXt2o7x9Dp8qPJjx3P8v_Mte6yGN8a9Axvb4FlRKMVN-vOVVWE69xUdP6iN3hIq45nTuZYhCZHJEElcsiFn60GGyAlQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4597_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi476pE80PqbkhIpMYYXUbReAQFkV4PHwgNii_0WlLWUHsaJjUqrePyt1Nk_VwkAW1pUUU8P9ZqrGuhceqy8d19GKDuHPKibybg25ZpZmpKcNN3hdMWjBy9VSKi3N2fEvgIpca-WVdep8U/s1600/thumb_IMG_4602_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi476pE80PqbkhIpMYYXUbReAQFkV4PHwgNii_0WlLWUHsaJjUqrePyt1Nk_VwkAW1pUUU8P9ZqrGuhceqy8d19GKDuHPKibybg25ZpZmpKcNN3hdMWjBy9VSKi3N2fEvgIpca-WVdep8U/s640/thumb_IMG_4602_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">How much do these look like paintings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<ul>
<li>At the base of Huangshan is a series of famous, fancy hot springs. I wouldn't say the hiking was that hard (it was very up and down, and most of the time the paths were fairly flat), but we treated ourselves to them anyhow.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtSFTCaTDzYHF8O5kpPLabNQbJ9VHpvJo8vIRU9LS7MMHsbejwb_nAdWSW80oV69EZ9vqQPtX4QzAXQI0OMKdrLmY7e7hyfqB6McQAK7eVtechiVBYVUunCkcTi_5laOa7KFJjZCIcAI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4594_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqtSFTCaTDzYHF8O5kpPLabNQbJ9VHpvJo8vIRU9LS7MMHsbejwb_nAdWSW80oV69EZ9vqQPtX4QzAXQI0OMKdrLmY7e7hyfqB6McQAK7eVtechiVBYVUunCkcTi_5laOa7KFJjZCIcAI/s640/thumb_IMG_4594_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">HOT SPRINGS I AM SO HAPPY TO SEE YOU</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS2d-wu8C8t6t8Sjz3vzjSQ0HqE2pvpfLSw5nyUZubF-mCHjLAIBkSUbtZEvj4CqeNOSODEMZmIKPbWZhjX0cpmQxFPVkcL2HEbd0WMSsy0584P55nAd2ASQ8Uco9SgRhZalHF89Eo5k/s1600/thumb_IMG_4609_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKS2d-wu8C8t6t8Sjz3vzjSQ0HqE2pvpfLSw5nyUZubF-mCHjLAIBkSUbtZEvj4CqeNOSODEMZmIKPbWZhjX0cpmQxFPVkcL2HEbd0WMSsy0584P55nAd2ASQ8Uco9SgRhZalHF89Eo5k/s640/thumb_IMG_4609_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A quick pano of the super super fancy outdoor hot springs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZk6ZpoSr0zRs98AUc65LQYLIY97IRCRjXfd68NzynuhZU7eiyMpcHosCgnvNoNCLNlhnTjf2Zr0hNLoj4GzExMuWxNtaFb6VwO6aKGdErVv_LYigb19bx5KvojfKconqrd5dl7ebt4U/s1600/thumb_IMG_4610_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyZk6ZpoSr0zRs98AUc65LQYLIY97IRCRjXfd68NzynuhZU7eiyMpcHosCgnvNoNCLNlhnTjf2Zr0hNLoj4GzExMuWxNtaFb6VwO6aKGdErVv_LYigb19bx5KvojfKconqrd5dl7ebt4U/s640/thumb_IMG_4610_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A lot of the pools were themed and infused with different medicinal/good-for-you concoctions. I think this one was Chinese medicine - it said it was good for the heart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrHgM5zAp7O44Pd1uitFmo0rdq6c-WWHolqQwRjMOzxgtZ1ZHdVjvbQCGXUODQJ7kUixLKH3X1Re6jIUB0rJhZD1lecN5rhGPjPFlvM2h-_tq5z0SMljU6wA370FhdKy0U3DJGxfPJXM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4843_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrHgM5zAp7O44Pd1uitFmo0rdq6c-WWHolqQwRjMOzxgtZ1ZHdVjvbQCGXUODQJ7kUixLKH3X1Re6jIUB0rJhZD1lecN5rhGPjPFlvM2h-_tq5z0SMljU6wA370FhdKy0U3DJGxfPJXM/s640/thumb_IMG_4843_1024.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">WINE-INFUSED HOT SPRINGS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHTahXccsg7GLdwJzsoei1nuSj4mFmPrbTrMwGaY92xLN9ptmI0f6qdFEbKPZqCrZJZfQE-gkF7V9XSP5gXWqMvVkOH9XflUTj1RBHDtJlyuWHlGmgHGZ0jM5w6jyHfcgeIIzL9nNJls/s1600/thumb_IMG_4844_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOHTahXccsg7GLdwJzsoei1nuSj4mFmPrbTrMwGaY92xLN9ptmI0f6qdFEbKPZqCrZJZfQE-gkF7V9XSP5gXWqMvVkOH9XflUTj1RBHDtJlyuWHlGmgHGZ0jM5w6jyHfcgeIIzL9nNJls/s640/thumb_IMG_4844_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The wine springs were a disconcerting blood red-color, which did not seem to bother Jess</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_i4EUXTXZuhST_QGvK3arGaNa4RRrCeLJT_VE1ZKbM99DstJWbePaG9aa0pIT7ZxwKz-A3ZVkLNJdN9W7_X59uFo5zOzdhomOtmpBOi3MRdsM6T8TeBqHa4UirJwQvcXTP-G8oWP1Qg/s1600/thumb_IMG_4596_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB_i4EUXTXZuhST_QGvK3arGaNa4RRrCeLJT_VE1ZKbM99DstJWbePaG9aa0pIT7ZxwKz-A3ZVkLNJdN9W7_X59uFo5zOzdhomOtmpBOi3MRdsM6T8TeBqHa4UirJwQvcXTP-G8oWP1Qg/s640/thumb_IMG_4596_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This bath is Vitamin C-infused. I'm not sure what that does for your skin (I don't seem to LOOK any younger here), but whatever</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLe-LO_pvjKPV4Sp7NQKluOSZxqex1PCOcvhq8h28wniuuCjf5n7ZbkcNx0g0voN6FMz84XGFdb27Q96zcy0eU5AFjTPm02mrIkYpxE4lMsqNu6VpsiPYxn1g5rWGaX0L0Z3YVvaQeZQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4604_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLe-LO_pvjKPV4Sp7NQKluOSZxqex1PCOcvhq8h28wniuuCjf5n7ZbkcNx0g0voN6FMz84XGFdb27Q96zcy0eU5AFjTPm02mrIkYpxE4lMsqNu6VpsiPYxn1g5rWGaX0L0Z3YVvaQeZQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4604_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Post dinner, we wandered on down to town to find some dinner</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm2rREE9MtRW6enRBRKGEBnufBYKZh44tFymElthSSNYi6wBbiOcyeSOXDfYbz_G-yJUZrN9ZQDkJKeRbh1m2WzICRRlAFQyCu8GcZZ79Vl4AyOZVGmId3kunPVyTWWoTXBFPNGxa5fU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4605_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm2rREE9MtRW6enRBRKGEBnufBYKZh44tFymElthSSNYi6wBbiOcyeSOXDfYbz_G-yJUZrN9ZQDkJKeRbh1m2WzICRRlAFQyCu8GcZZ79Vl4AyOZVGmId3kunPVyTWWoTXBFPNGxa5fU/s640/thumb_IMG_4605_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And found one of those street-side meat stick stands. You just pick all the skewers you want and they fry it all up into a delicious juicy skewer plate for you. These are one of my favorites</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0ZyO6K0mJbOBLAYMTArln5Y5goItZcXMWb_B-ZRvtlA3Fmp0-05_fGDCLaYFZNB-Rjt6md7fV3GK5tO95RG0j36IfkasDuPxG2p4hyphenhyphencQFLFPVGmWk0pY_qCKTuPTltTXIh8XCGb4hXU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4606_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0ZyO6K0mJbOBLAYMTArln5Y5goItZcXMWb_B-ZRvtlA3Fmp0-05_fGDCLaYFZNB-Rjt6md7fV3GK5tO95RG0j36IfkasDuPxG2p4hyphenhyphencQFLFPVGmWk0pY_qCKTuPTltTXIh8XCGb4hXU/s640/thumb_IMG_4606_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Delicious juicy meat skewer goodness (and a large beer for $1.80!). We got to eat on the street and watch all the goings on. Sometimes I love China.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVRgOwlKmngzoKBMrfU_cyoCPBJLHQ_8vm55jFjdz2545D9aDVXJe8MPUpNMqCOSjl8axcBU7cQGsPx1puxjolIAO1aYQdtrWsj51z7oBmaweanRCPmDvSteb2aLop330SdPeIQGfxNs/s1600/thumb_IMG_4608_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVRgOwlKmngzoKBMrfU_cyoCPBJLHQ_8vm55jFjdz2545D9aDVXJe8MPUpNMqCOSjl8axcBU7cQGsPx1puxjolIAO1aYQdtrWsj51z7oBmaweanRCPmDvSteb2aLop330SdPeIQGfxNs/s640/thumb_IMG_4608_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">My favorite was this (unappetizing-looking, I know) eggplant - they fried it all up, shoved a million garlic cubes into it, and sauced it up real good. Eggplant is amazing here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="font-family: times;">
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">The Hotel:</span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
The <a href="http://www.booking.com/hotel/cn/huangshan-xigu.en-gb.html?aid=357026;label=gog235jc-hotel-XX-cn-huangshanNxigu-unspec-cn-com-L%3Aen-O%3AosSx-B%3Achrome-N%3AXX-S%3Abo-U%3AXX;sid=089002cdadc5f1ccb1233c7e60fb193f;dcid=4;dist=0&sb_price_type=total&type=total&">Xigu Resort</a> came highly recommended on TripAdvisor, and was only $18/night for a twin room. So we booked it, with no idea where it was.<br />
<br />
I think Jess and I might have been the only two guests staying there - which was amazing, because we had the run of the place basically. The owner, a middle-aged Chinese man, made us feel like we were at home. He walked us through step-by-step what to do, he picked us up and drop us off from the bus station whenever we wanted, he took us to the bus station for our tickets, and had breakfast waiting for us every morning. He even let us use his free washing machine on the rooftop of the hotel (though sad side note, it was so humid that none of our clothes dried and by the time we'd arrived at our next destination, they all smelled like swamp. Pure swamp). We had times that he knew we were getting up or leaving or coming, and he'd always make sure he was there. I loved him, his hotel, and both were a huge part of our Huangshan experience. It's places like this that really stand out after so long on the road. Also, $18. #CHINA</div>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-27052206805300188402016-07-18T21:49:00.000-07:002016-07-21T06:36:16.114-07:00Shanghai, China, Part 1: The Cosmopolitan Capital of ChinaNext, we're off to Shanghai!<br />
<br />
By way of introduction to a prominent player in my Shanghai posts - my childhood BFF Catherine worked in Shanghai for a year back in the day: when I attended her wedding last September, I met Jade, one of her close friends/former co-worker who still lives in Shanghai today. Jade and I have kept in touch since then, and when I found out I was gonna be in Shanghai this time, I reached out to her. She ended up being such an integral part of our Shanghai experience - she's seriously the best tour guide, friend, hostess, translator, planner, etc. that you could ever ask for.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VsdQQOVeY149hi3Gs7q54UKMLNzCwTAHiClCYH6GwAxxSiAVxLxSs9EXKCuW6H-zO-ogYRgHYpdEVTp3U8vmBnpXy1ODl0n6iGTaAO_aY8OybS0BBjJZZNiejsVP9fA9O9f3iQlsne4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4361_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0VsdQQOVeY149hi3Gs7q54UKMLNzCwTAHiClCYH6GwAxxSiAVxLxSs9EXKCuW6H-zO-ogYRgHYpdEVTp3U8vmBnpXy1ODl0n6iGTaAO_aY8OybS0BBjJZZNiejsVP9fA9O9f3iQlsne4/s640/thumb_IMG_4361_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's Jade, Parks, and me at the People's Park!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<div>
<div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
Shanghai is known as the super cosmopolitan city in China - it's got the fancy high-rises, tons of shopping, and is generally known to be more westernized and hip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7-s967IQOBjt-f8erMJqA1g-ZWFCfLgajsh3Fpoota_9fN3c9fryJPC8Obu0Vq6GKuTo3teQUbSRxIhhGBQcGYzkji_Vs_UcefPCI-0KaF4X_EUU7atonqCwS41D1Lei_gfMwzh3jx4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4367_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht7-s967IQOBjt-f8erMJqA1g-ZWFCfLgajsh3Fpoota_9fN3c9fryJPC8Obu0Vq6GKuTo3teQUbSRxIhhGBQcGYzkji_Vs_UcefPCI-0KaF4X_EUU7atonqCwS41D1Lei_gfMwzh3jx4/s640/thumb_IMG_4367_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shanghai had high-rise buildings before high-rise buildings were even a thing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Shanghai was opened up to the world earlier than the rest of China, back in the 1840's. As a port city that was governed by the British (under a treaty), it garnered influence and was shaped by its numerous governing bodies (British, French, and Americans). In the 1920's and 30's, its heyday, Shanghai was one of the most happening places to be - it was even called "the Paris of the East." Nowadays, it's one of the most important cultural, economic, and social hubs in China.<br />
<br />
Being in Shanghai just feels super different from the rest of China - there's sections of town that feel super-European, there's tons of ritzy shopping malls with huge brand names, and everything feels much trendier. But tucked away here and there, you can still find glimpses of very-traditional China. It's an amazing city, and I used it as a base to travel around the area for over 2 weeks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu1Eed9kdt5sxsjThq_q1cnqQOg3RScpzWRWRLaDau-wpuskVGBuPsPUEBwq1GHPAGE3yyN0McOR4UYTYVxWq64NFqm1xfrN99ijZ4jdYp68KNBR6cdYjutvaeY5G5E83VKrb8hBP2h0/s1600/thumb_IMG_1225_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcu1Eed9kdt5sxsjThq_q1cnqQOg3RScpzWRWRLaDau-wpuskVGBuPsPUEBwq1GHPAGE3yyN0McOR4UYTYVxWq64NFqm1xfrN99ijZ4jdYp68KNBR6cdYjutvaeY5G5E83VKrb8hBP2h0/s640/thumb_IMG_1225_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh hello, giant fancy shopping mall that we walked into to use their uber-fancy bathrooms</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Despite our 5am delayed arrival into Shanghai (darn you and your ridiculous flight delays, China!), we still managed to haul ourselves out of bed at a decent hour (...does noon count as decent?) to go exploring. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF8NVypZjyEsZ5Q63JmAvaQ32QXR7hpAWVn1x8m2NNTgStjpenMdVbjzzIC-gdW_YskPYYdRdXOCuI4A2uIvNpaMzUe7KUqB_SNGdcrVOFV9JXQ0_xp1d-YnfM31ZqXc_iYsKYZRelXI/s1600/thumb_IMG_1140_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF8NVypZjyEsZ5Q63JmAvaQ32QXR7hpAWVn1x8m2NNTgStjpenMdVbjzzIC-gdW_YskPYYdRdXOCuI4A2uIvNpaMzUe7KUqB_SNGdcrVOFV9JXQ0_xp1d-YnfM31ZqXc_iYsKYZRelXI/s640/thumb_IMG_1140_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First stop was lunch, where we had Shanghai-style dumplings. I kind of love the way this woman is staring at the camera confusedly</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswFVtc17I-RAMmQBTAwqre3cME-kB6XCNJDMUkg5fVQx5ZXgLHPQ1KCu0BfeQJrovbOB15nKHAmwqzF17aex1jYPfw_bSSXLiaLmxgHOb7yi8D9yW-Lw0ze651HArlMJ8BtJekypQr3A/s1600/thumb_IMG_1141_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiswFVtc17I-RAMmQBTAwqre3cME-kB6XCNJDMUkg5fVQx5ZXgLHPQ1KCu0BfeQJrovbOB15nKHAmwqzF17aex1jYPfw_bSSXLiaLmxgHOb7yi8D9yW-Lw0ze651HArlMJ8BtJekypQr3A/s640/thumb_IMG_1141_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shanghai dumplings have a thick wrapper, are usually pan-fried, and have much different fillings than regular dumplings. One of these was definitely spicy crawfish-stuffed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoca-Q6iPZa4bFOsUadqOHU9RvV8bbcbCwNDMxb7G79SijK5nGWbuRXWmR0oSUdYxAUpx-cSS1F4j44elAlnr4YOsR0Uv_lRe4qtymimYzKm3h68pTpppkGTJpPoiZNZ248K7LidJYog/s1600/thumb_IMG_1146_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoca-Q6iPZa4bFOsUadqOHU9RvV8bbcbCwNDMxb7G79SijK5nGWbuRXWmR0oSUdYxAUpx-cSS1F4j44elAlnr4YOsR0Uv_lRe4qtymimYzKm3h68pTpppkGTJpPoiZNZ248K7LidJYog/s640/thumb_IMG_1146_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We walked down Nanjing Road, a super-famous pedestrian street crammed with shopping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5kDNYAmuq5nM2Tz9E0jTDaMq9-C5c1wkyT63VsfppJG6xOqIqepWXU32DvzEukTubTFRdclL_5g-Y4pYYrz3wnKTbR7yvwFH8bP-M11jKrOebNpBEnLVDgXtPB5_Zkj3BiWHGY4vorA/s1600/thumb_IMG_1157_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5kDNYAmuq5nM2Tz9E0jTDaMq9-C5c1wkyT63VsfppJG6xOqIqepWXU32DvzEukTubTFRdclL_5g-Y4pYYrz3wnKTbR7yvwFH8bP-M11jKrOebNpBEnLVDgXtPB5_Zkj3BiWHGY4vorA/s640/thumb_IMG_1157_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stopped by the People's Park, which had excellent propaganda statues like this one</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL5mmdqUWnXgGDmDM9HS3u1dYV16DAEubvVBxqMN5KxhFjuYtq2ZrvQIF9qJcTyGFUzDYFRTsvFfJOE9tNPDdwpIg1bzv_24mvt2DfzV2D3u8A1GZYFdTPcIAGC_NZvZlQhLtUs7ufjM/s1600/thumb_IMG_1169_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrL5mmdqUWnXgGDmDM9HS3u1dYV16DAEubvVBxqMN5KxhFjuYtq2ZrvQIF9qJcTyGFUzDYFRTsvFfJOE9tNPDdwpIg1bzv_24mvt2DfzV2D3u8A1GZYFdTPcIAGC_NZvZlQhLtUs7ufjM/s640/thumb_IMG_1169_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty lilypad garden in the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-5lveWoT1hvNwJ_4nuUAc1zF8J8F_PNJgRF7Yi3naXBNuqOE7Iar-8lmJ6eqLMjZk2fAOXIISJqMZBj__Rm9N7ujg8M4ZlKC8zC5lTGnu1qPhZ6QYK5W9dVfgmpkWYPZ1KgXC6LxPRU/s1600/thumb_IMG_4193_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-5lveWoT1hvNwJ_4nuUAc1zF8J8F_PNJgRF7Yi3naXBNuqOE7Iar-8lmJ6eqLMjZk2fAOXIISJqMZBj__Rm9N7ujg8M4ZlKC8zC5lTGnu1qPhZ6QYK5W9dVfgmpkWYPZ1KgXC6LxPRU/s640/thumb_IMG_4193_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love Chinese parks. They think lilies bring good luck, so you will always see a shiz ton of these in every park/garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp_ZrmpAumyb3TVM2cmvwQbO_oWiNOtisxZmxfT7hTYn-6STx2Gkdokh3tvxu2oY_rWulzvTLc0T7jfIh4iIDB6E3UQVVFjppiao5njY5jjImUrkTluobXFnLINI_M12tpw_AtVJWXVA/s1600/thumb_IMG_4195_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGp_ZrmpAumyb3TVM2cmvwQbO_oWiNOtisxZmxfT7hTYn-6STx2Gkdokh3tvxu2oY_rWulzvTLc0T7jfIh4iIDB6E3UQVVFjppiao5njY5jjImUrkTluobXFnLINI_M12tpw_AtVJWXVA/s640/thumb_IMG_4195_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bunch of old men congregated at the park playing an incredibly loud and animated card game. They seriously loudly sht-talked each other the entire time. It was amazing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQd00ZTIzGSX44wHSbstVWm0Q5xyNi2SEEyq8RSjvNmy6t3irf9HHw2ry6bd8cbITrMiJdsaBHYLpShGdtCUSqx2vh-fTh9E1TOJqYj9MphOoutP6fY0XxTWsPGsknwprx_24cMj7yvc/s1600/thumb_IMG_1175_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHQd00ZTIzGSX44wHSbstVWm0Q5xyNi2SEEyq8RSjvNmy6t3irf9HHw2ry6bd8cbITrMiJdsaBHYLpShGdtCUSqx2vh-fTh9E1TOJqYj9MphOoutP6fY0XxTWsPGsknwprx_24cMj7yvc/s640/thumb_IMG_1175_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then we got tickets to a Shanghai acrobat show - and wandering around before the show, we encountered a little wine store, where you basically had to purchase an entire bottle of wine to be able to sit and drink. Given I don't like reds, Parks and I each got our own bottle. Aggressive. Luckily, Parks ended up taking his half-drunken bottle to the acrobat show, and no one batted an eye when he walked in with it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdSYKBWIilakU-h6JOhI0iUEzNi3fJanNN8s5XGU-my2VxVuOenUKf12QWdRXdAhHyK_y2yrAMXiKSrmXfnRfo40Gu2vIijQfEBxJ8_XN324HsD2XHXC70-cN0zeh4meVj4j9s8dQKwc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4199_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcdSYKBWIilakU-h6JOhI0iUEzNi3fJanNN8s5XGU-my2VxVuOenUKf12QWdRXdAhHyK_y2yrAMXiKSrmXfnRfo40Gu2vIijQfEBxJ8_XN324HsD2XHXC70-cN0zeh4meVj4j9s8dQKwc/s640/thumb_IMG_4199_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were not allowed to take photos of the acrobat show, but I maybe snuck in just one. It was AMAZING.<br />
There were also amazing acts with motorcycles in cages, chair balancing, ribbon hanging, hat tossing, drum rolling, Chinese yo-yos, card tricks, etc. (yeahhh describing what they did isn't nearly as fun as actually watching)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>After the (increds) circus, we headed on down to Yongkang Lu, a super-popular street filled with bars and expats and foreigners, to meet Jade for the first time since arriving in Shanghai!</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWT7KG8oRkPhlJbTb0M2pJUUI3gq_KvI6Hi33-T7-kZHECPYJsqLWwCDBYClcrTF3I1UfocRfx8P95GJ9PLndwEv8VZ9UvT0U7uf_Q8KTO5PjDWeUi2MMiOyVIXPUIzbRe0YLZFcGx3g/s1600/thumb_IMG_1182_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWT7KG8oRkPhlJbTb0M2pJUUI3gq_KvI6Hi33-T7-kZHECPYJsqLWwCDBYClcrTF3I1UfocRfx8P95GJ9PLndwEv8VZ9UvT0U7uf_Q8KTO5PjDWeUi2MMiOyVIXPUIzbRe0YLZFcGx3g/s640/thumb_IMG_1182_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">While waiting, I found a baby kitten wandering the streets. Want.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeHFbDn4mTsWZmHKcwV4uTNDwuBMn6C8AjAfLBZqobVhw1IkYn-BqYzJv22hYWJfk9VbAFHK-tK2sj5w7BNSTJnMezhYZge1zEi6n39kdiYmwge36wZi4NGiAzvTEulFQg56YIgDQsr4/s1600/thumb_IMG_1188_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimeHFbDn4mTsWZmHKcwV4uTNDwuBMn6C8AjAfLBZqobVhw1IkYn-BqYzJv22hYWJfk9VbAFHK-tK2sj5w7BNSTJnMezhYZge1zEi6n39kdiYmwge36wZi4NGiAzvTEulFQg56YIgDQsr4/s640/thumb_IMG_1188_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we met Jade!! Who was the sweetest and brought me the prettiest flowers ever (which I may have accidentally used near the end of the night to <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">unwittingly </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">knock over everything in sight. EVERYthing).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWOFgPcgnJe2kATKEdEKEMemt8HkFW5dYZ8c-stBjPp6pO7JgJiFOQklLHbfXe_VbAjjL0JYzgfprmpEL6uE9xD53yE1RRhpwe9OqGLB34UaQH1YsBsQxnA1vE8QnZNP6ZrUX7PFohdc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4352_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="632" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWOFgPcgnJe2kATKEdEKEMemt8HkFW5dYZ8c-stBjPp6pO7JgJiFOQklLHbfXe_VbAjjL0JYzgfprmpEL6uE9xD53yE1RRhpwe9OqGLB34UaQH1YsBsQxnA1vE8QnZNP6ZrUX7PFohdc/s640/thumb_IMG_4352_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We went to a couple bars</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbm_-MR353jiCzpY27UAPl-j4cc-KTKqSVHi1Eaygj982woN_oc4Ua4OIemCSvmk2hs60LUcEiMUveVyYSob38cO6gDHUT-fSRqrZuH_Vqk9U0Zs7gedCO4c0Q2eZyFyHx6u5pes1T9Q/s1600/thumb_IMG_4356_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCbm_-MR353jiCzpY27UAPl-j4cc-KTKqSVHi1Eaygj982woN_oc4Ua4OIemCSvmk2hs60LUcEiMUveVyYSob38cO6gDHUT-fSRqrZuH_Vqk9U0Zs7gedCO4c0Q2eZyFyHx6u5pes1T9Q/s640/thumb_IMG_4356_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we had 1AM hotpot. Because, why not</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We had an insane itinerary the next day that Jade had mapped out for us, based on what we had said we wanted to do. First on the list was back to the People's Park - it was Saturday, and there is a "marriage market" that takes place there on weekends, where parents desperate to marry off their children sit in a market of sorts, in order to try and find their children a suitable match. Parents start showing up as early as 6AM to get the best places in the park with typewritten ads that outline their child's age, sex, job, salary (seriously), blood type, assets, etc. And they will sit around <i>all day</i>, to try and market their children - either to other parents (if two parents find their children may make a good pair, they may trade their children's photos and further information), or directly with young people themselves. They sit here <i>all weekend.</i> To fully understand it, parents in China are very involved (one might say meddling, even) in their children's lives - and it's a hugely popular thing to constantly be cruising for people to set up their unmarried children with. Especially once their children hit a certain age, around their mid-20s, the panic really sets in because this is seen as being "too old" to be single in China - the meddling increases tenfold. No one wants an unmarried child living at home with them. That is the ultimate failure.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiWO5dpZTI9WlZcjY7ereYZYTV1CB_wGGThu99iNCkg-IVyNE7m7W4ShMN9hdP1wGbIOJdEL-axf3rpChl4jBW0PuqKLxmuGkG-lgH6-09lI9eRUuc5RwObjDh5Sb3Ivwx4qhBvlWTpE/s1600/thumb_IMG_4208_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiWO5dpZTI9WlZcjY7ereYZYTV1CB_wGGThu99iNCkg-IVyNE7m7W4ShMN9hdP1wGbIOJdEL-axf3rpChl4jBW0PuqKLxmuGkG-lgH6-09lI9eRUuc5RwObjDh5Sb3Ivwx4qhBvlWTpE/s640/thumb_IMG_4208_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parents bring umbrellas to attach their flyers to - there are literally hundreds and hundreds of umbrellas that extend all over the park. Many parents station themselves behind their umbrellas, easily accessible for any potentials that may come along, while others will leave contact info. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIr5PyhosKSZAn1v7gePPp6NbY193ZXSESyQOlK-4laDQQXexXPJIBiFjg60gxTM0epF650Wmc4cC77lD5TB-VocT_kWKhggpCOctaKc7jSe9eJZysHnN9a7NZYG_m3MRCPykj-GA0Y4/s1600/thumb_IMG_1199_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIr5PyhosKSZAn1v7gePPp6NbY193ZXSESyQOlK-4laDQQXexXPJIBiFjg60gxTM0epF650Wmc4cC77lD5TB-VocT_kWKhggpCOctaKc7jSe9eJZysHnN9a7NZYG_m3MRCPykj-GA0Y4/s640/thumb_IMG_1199_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the best spots parents vie for are right along the main entrance to the park - Jade says these parents are the ones that get up at the crack of dawn to secure their spots.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQEQWgzYHU1mAtYl3mT8rIZ7Y9UN1QhBTuCxyKzpSWORo4k8BsY2ifZ5VIcKMeMk4kmjGOb0c1sq-hW5Xyuc5mY5tNwkC1p78sGYN98XJO3PlYxQ3TefVRXl7xbIpT0ZtRp7TNeMIIAg/s1600/thumb_IMG_1205_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieQEQWgzYHU1mAtYl3mT8rIZ7Y9UN1QhBTuCxyKzpSWORo4k8BsY2ifZ5VIcKMeMk4kmjGOb0c1sq-hW5Xyuc5mY5tNwkC1p78sGYN98XJO3PlYxQ3TefVRXl7xbIpT0ZtRp7TNeMIIAg/s640/thumb_IMG_1205_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lady has a daughter, born in 1984, 1.75 meters tall (sometimes they even list weight!) - the poster goes on to list her job and her salary (5000 yuan a month)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj746dBXwGvbvMMTaCZNhyphenhyphen3LhTK804i4rb3ZPWqvM0XIU5OrupLgV7Hhvc7Qzk2HzNFY9xjSYKjdvddCylyI1pRi9SVFANYMhPSFWe8urrnMC_1DntQAscpyf2V9mxdGwLU-aQ2ivlhde4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4209_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj746dBXwGvbvMMTaCZNhyphenhyphen3LhTK804i4rb3ZPWqvM0XIU5OrupLgV7Hhvc7Qzk2HzNFY9xjSYKjdvddCylyI1pRi9SVFANYMhPSFWe8urrnMC_1DntQAscpyf2V9mxdGwLU-aQ2ivlhde4/s640/thumb_IMG_4209_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rows of umbrellas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcgVZa5sIK318DULvLzL2eaysknWNnLiVRTizb110PUR22ZHftBkGFBC_5__U0blENVyRqyy9F_j33pwLDaMwktMOHMPYGql73i5hQYvBXuYfvU97XihBpOVsMNkzdT8-AbSjFE2Az3s/s1600/thumb_IMG_1208_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVcgVZa5sIK318DULvLzL2eaysknWNnLiVRTizb110PUR22ZHftBkGFBC_5__U0blENVyRqyy9F_j33pwLDaMwktMOHMPYGql73i5hQYvBXuYfvU97XihBpOVsMNkzdT8-AbSjFE2Az3s/s640/thumb_IMG_1208_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could not stop looking at all the flyers. So much personal information! I've come to realize that there is no such thing as information that is too personal here in China</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPiWO5dpZTI9WlZcjY7ereYZYTV1CB_wGGThu99iNCkg-IVyNE7m7W4ShMN9hdP1wGbIOJdEL-axf3rpChl4jBW0PuqKLxmuGkG-lgH6-09lI9eRUuc5RwObjDh5Sb3Ivwx4qhBvlWTpE/s1600/thumb_IMG_4208_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYJ9QtXbXl7SummPgOUvriqKFWlvSfOUbb5ujKgw4cj0CvcV4OzVfMqobGSpfLSDFAROh339ScGMhO_VwxATS6OxgoH7amEhiwBEScNszRIUxmGCJb7ITDb9Me8jP0rIdJBjrSkoFRC4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4210_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYJ9QtXbXl7SummPgOUvriqKFWlvSfOUbb5ujKgw4cj0CvcV4OzVfMqobGSpfLSDFAROh339ScGMhO_VwxATS6OxgoH7amEhiwBEScNszRIUxmGCJb7ITDb9Me8jP0rIdJBjrSkoFRC4/s640/thumb_IMG_4210_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Most flyers don't have photos (you have to like the credentials first!), but these parents were bold enough to post their daughters' photos in their ads</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>From the People's Park (WILD), we cruised on down Nanjing Road to the Bund, a fancy area of town that sits along the waterfront and houses all the major financial institutions, hotel rooftop bars with amazing views, and a boardwalk.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn60rqrOXIAyCP5YUS9WD_w7HDmWWPTaxhctHqDDxZKro87wk3wy5kqLmMNjzqMsOllcq5RcGCAC0gPuyEJZAHYpE4VYVjhocLwrIt3ZT_xnkCInepvn4E3a3lHYSmPNiPoChQZP8Csw/s1600/thumb_IMG_1226_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGn60rqrOXIAyCP5YUS9WD_w7HDmWWPTaxhctHqDDxZKro87wk3wy5kqLmMNjzqMsOllcq5RcGCAC0gPuyEJZAHYpE4VYVjhocLwrIt3ZT_xnkCInepvn4E3a3lHYSmPNiPoChQZP8Csw/s640/thumb_IMG_1226_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much fancy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Km-5QBePCbmero-IM5DS46fFvH1IOW6LjvVi3uHPK82R8XejISeylJcPr8yal8JuFXNpMykSDj0tuDwVECGJ1ItDnzrzixN8bR6EvPAdYYOfVbG1AD0l0EM4xpp2iQGArjIEfIUu8Y0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4366_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Km-5QBePCbmero-IM5DS46fFvH1IOW6LjvVi3uHPK82R8XejISeylJcPr8yal8JuFXNpMykSDj0tuDwVECGJ1ItDnzrzixN8bR6EvPAdYYOfVbG1AD0l0EM4xpp2iQGArjIEfIUu8Y0/s640/thumb_IMG_4366_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">View across the harbor of new-world fancy Shanghai. Only a couple decades ago, that iconic pink ball tower (the Pearl Tower) was the only high building on that side of the river.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMhvzvOlG-MRimnDKG8e7Sh3eglD38iyjz_428eKYD9Yn7Mu7f_jWsLHk-3jwGznfzxJu7YSgNhJywSs7cdCkrSuSmAzZ001J_1T3X1fUFhiP51lnx7FNyn37wnxLhSlcXgzeYw0USEU/s1600/thumb_IMG_1271_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMhvzvOlG-MRimnDKG8e7Sh3eglD38iyjz_428eKYD9Yn7Mu7f_jWsLHk-3jwGznfzxJu7YSgNhJywSs7cdCkrSuSmAzZ001J_1T3X1fUFhiP51lnx7FNyn37wnxLhSlcXgzeYw0USEU/s640/thumb_IMG_1271_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jade had so many fascinating anecdotes of the buildings on the other side, most of which have come up fairly recently. It's the new hotspot for companies to build their offices.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>After The Bund, next on the itinerary was a visit to the Yu Gardens - a famous garden located near a temple.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17glGSuVGkCo_UWeZfZx2UktSrJBUYECixlyfRVLwqkfYuDSdEMAKavJAPykfsRD-o4mlt3iU9JEkoFKMCfNYyCAaMvW3HtN_eE24aEW9K_7jz5tWVbnvx26i7hxI0RdBQVphHUQwV-s/s1600/thumb_IMG_0312_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj17glGSuVGkCo_UWeZfZx2UktSrJBUYECixlyfRVLwqkfYuDSdEMAKavJAPykfsRD-o4mlt3iU9JEkoFKMCfNYyCAaMvW3HtN_eE24aEW9K_7jz5tWVbnvx26i7hxI0RdBQVphHUQwV-s/s640/thumb_IMG_0312_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Upon arrival to the gardens, we were reminded of why you don't ever sightsee in China on the weekends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3KNu0krUil6PcG-LO1GHX4xrnyLr92Iu7x5aQa21w6QxPgCVul24uhrO9FR-R8cNQcfZ_b2NJEFq0cS2Qui7ArBAw8bDMHCdP1tm3uNBPhZhCrQtJmaWdKeNOQPW_rsyFnxm1RhHTcY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4226_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV3KNu0krUil6PcG-LO1GHX4xrnyLr92Iu7x5aQa21w6QxPgCVul24uhrO9FR-R8cNQcfZ_b2NJEFq0cS2Qui7ArBAw8bDMHCdP1tm3uNBPhZhCrQtJmaWdKeNOQPW_rsyFnxm1RhHTcY/s640/thumb_IMG_4226_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The photo above, and this photo, are of the "Nine-view bridge" - the bridge has nine turns, which all provide a different view of the temple and gardens. All I saw were hoards of Chinese people, tbh, but it's ok because I actually remembered that I'd been here before on my 2001 China trip.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQ7-QFH-cWOWh6sd6W7db7kRoGhNRe8_ltOtJYjrLt8AuoZyCJ7ninwssFgGqTEMZJa1RrWSacUX5rxnCAYl2udcK-aXJjybtAEpATomBbPs02D4ZX3pyvLOJKp_Fr_9sK2EQAxQGR8g/s1600/thumb_IMG_1330_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQ7-QFH-cWOWh6sd6W7db7kRoGhNRe8_ltOtJYjrLt8AuoZyCJ7ninwssFgGqTEMZJa1RrWSacUX5rxnCAYl2udcK-aXJjybtAEpATomBbPs02D4ZX3pyvLOJKp_Fr_9sK2EQAxQGR8g/s640/thumb_IMG_1330_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Is it sad to say that once we entered the part of the gardens where you actually have to pay, the crowds thinned considerably? Chinese people are people after my own heart, honestly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUvruSzQ2M5iB-zt2TKrcxwTCJh_fKsTChDmlsAPEuLTI33fgZFHJAfoG3OohOlq8QM5ps9oVcRFoti40BAlc-lYcSmLkfYTUPQecylFIXijx6SHO7uu15A9pAM_rad4I8jyEFFBSmSg/s1600/thumb_IMG_4232_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBUvruSzQ2M5iB-zt2TKrcxwTCJh_fKsTChDmlsAPEuLTI33fgZFHJAfoG3OohOlq8QM5ps9oVcRFoti40BAlc-lYcSmLkfYTUPQecylFIXijx6SHO7uu15A9pAM_rad4I8jyEFFBSmSg/s640/thumb_IMG_4232_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some of the fancy rooms in the gardens</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7wqekTF8wo6lK-wbfxYjTAUbUrfgqRV859TKFHr47riFUaOMsIA6MZY6pQgalksxJofK-TExpzF81CDfRiymARhm0lIwZF6YIH-mIpQt5MmWfG8GIFK_zbmB0iK4Fd7C2TmzOOJrzNw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4228_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi7wqekTF8wo6lK-wbfxYjTAUbUrfgqRV859TKFHr47riFUaOMsIA6MZY6pQgalksxJofK-TExpzF81CDfRiymARhm0lIwZF6YIH-mIpQt5MmWfG8GIFK_zbmB0iK4Fd7C2TmzOOJrzNw/s640/thumb_IMG_4228_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surprisingly peaceful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrDfwG7LIL01GDbunTObOhJbiesj98ldm-_ForKqzoG0JfXjoBR-Znb1YJmynerb42LdKXNekFH_odpemM6ITgyLwPf0xok-KBfXbHmLUqlXCfR-EaKP6F0n3wj029DOeTGI2DbdRR_8/s1600/thumb_IMG_1342_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrDfwG7LIL01GDbunTObOhJbiesj98ldm-_ForKqzoG0JfXjoBR-Znb1YJmynerb42LdKXNekFH_odpemM6ITgyLwPf0xok-KBfXbHmLUqlXCfR-EaKP6F0n3wj029DOeTGI2DbdRR_8/s640/thumb_IMG_1342_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These chairs are made from twisty trees</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8YGE_kpBIg_KojmWN-vqSPiCKPYIomnfjmE_fr7NOKboXDb0Xs8ehaO_ZxczHs351McIOj_x3MUGLjRKk-qDw6FqiWU7dQHZ5FsykEwOAWSTi_ZoPUHYls7hjrWaDuYvbxPgIFjI5rk/s1600/thumb_IMG_0369_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ8YGE_kpBIg_KojmWN-vqSPiCKPYIomnfjmE_fr7NOKboXDb0Xs8ehaO_ZxczHs351McIOj_x3MUGLjRKk-qDw6FqiWU7dQHZ5FsykEwOAWSTi_ZoPUHYls7hjrWaDuYvbxPgIFjI5rk/s640/thumb_IMG_0369_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">On the way out, Jade bought us admission to an old-timey movie. This was a form of entertainment back in the day, where a narrator tells a story and you pay to look through a lens to see drawings that they animate with optical tricks and such. I didn't understand a word the man was saying. Also, Parks and I are maybe sharing the bench with four other kids under the age of 8.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>As it was a Saturday and was Parker's last night in China before he headed home, we prepped for a big night out. Did I mention that it POURED all night?? Jade says that people compare Shanghai's weather to a woman's feelings - temperamental and extreme, but short and easily changed (is this sexist, part 2). They say this because it'll rain huge, but only for 10 minutes, then it will suddenly stop. Well, this night was not supporting that comparison - it never stopped raining.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2feEemZWlz-RZIp737DbkbT3k-BJXy44WVIRM9GE7-Sfs5rAfUqX18Om8I4l7ErPTVQIkkAZ8UlWqe7yDC392QIbvxotHRDKDtsnPOTmTz_oRorqm0bH3uE2-BMnYQlC_zqd1pD0ZRc/s1600/thumb_IMG_0394_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX2feEemZWlz-RZIp737DbkbT3k-BJXy44WVIRM9GE7-Sfs5rAfUqX18Om8I4l7ErPTVQIkkAZ8UlWqe7yDC392QIbvxotHRDKDtsnPOTmTz_oRorqm0bH3uE2-BMnYQlC_zqd1pD0ZRc/s640/thumb_IMG_0394_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">First, dinner at a trendy Yunnan restaurant that Jade chose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROeLVLddaCqn0RGfCEGonv-Q9RvGn-xHdi6oYdlzwuZbiB-teczLu97b5Ii-Pf8L_bibEMa0bwhtdROC8Sns9avzdPSncACha0gwRfZ3QbSbI4Rs_FjbS-1cNpAb53NwYqEtu4Jd6iLw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4240_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjROeLVLddaCqn0RGfCEGonv-Q9RvGn-xHdi6oYdlzwuZbiB-teczLu97b5Ii-Pf8L_bibEMa0bwhtdROC8Sns9avzdPSncACha0gwRfZ3QbSbI4Rs_FjbS-1cNpAb53NwYqEtu4Jd6iLw/s640/thumb_IMG_4240_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then, we headed to The Bund, to the rooftop bar of the Hyatt - normally, there's an awesome terrace, but it was closed due to the rain. We had to settle for the hazy indoor view of the skyline/The Bund</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYQ6L2LbvwPNCllcWofZmfad-wwstZg3y52iSWloRajPLayxMra1I2N-HVUOz9rsapqv6i9qvGUzv-eNThxcROB-2Sy4Ja19wIYiKFOD2WGTEuBbNuct7Y1bLlUIqNRYp-cdZ-XPsJ-k/s1600/thumb_IMG_4236_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghYQ6L2LbvwPNCllcWofZmfad-wwstZg3y52iSWloRajPLayxMra1I2N-HVUOz9rsapqv6i9qvGUzv-eNThxcROB-2Sy4Ja19wIYiKFOD2WGTEuBbNuct7Y1bLlUIqNRYp-cdZ-XPsJ-k/s640/thumb_IMG_4236_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Still an incredibly pretty view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkQZHPZKmt0-zHQkFMVd1fkdK0nZFJE9YXi326PUmon9OSblaiwVB7L26SpPXnLCOn3fsDJJyLX8cuVBaML0a_ugeR1qoHbKXm5KbDPj3msEqc7YUTxZfrQ7zYm26qZ1ncEhmQJjwztM/s1600/thumb_IMG_1364_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRkQZHPZKmt0-zHQkFMVd1fkdK0nZFJE9YXi326PUmon9OSblaiwVB7L26SpPXnLCOn3fsDJJyLX8cuVBaML0a_ugeR1qoHbKXm5KbDPj3msEqc7YUTxZfrQ7zYm26qZ1ncEhmQJjwztM/s640/thumb_IMG_1364_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not gonna say that Parker looks right at home in the Hyatt, but....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Jade then insisted we go across the river to check out a series of raised outdoor walkways that wind between the buildings. If you've ever seen the movie "Her" (you know, when Joaquin Phoenix falls in love with his computer), it was filmed here - with the outdoor walkways simulating a futuristic LA.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGza2JG8Zu71B9sl_MKGCQphtxTHmufRKC-egxo9e4JHrZh8jczNwABTI9oAgZeNAfHo-bqfHMj4azFsEF1WTF_qEMTbzp4IEUPMoN6-Bckq-p24RXHx_tEEKrBHEjiHg09bZGHnIHVcE/s1600/thumb_IMG_1376_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGza2JG8Zu71B9sl_MKGCQphtxTHmufRKC-egxo9e4JHrZh8jczNwABTI9oAgZeNAfHo-bqfHMj4azFsEF1WTF_qEMTbzp4IEUPMoN6-Bckq-p24RXHx_tEEKrBHEjiHg09bZGHnIHVcE/s640/thumb_IMG_1376_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hello from the fancy outdoor walkways! The rain slowed to a mist for a hot second, leading to these super magical misty photos</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5bP9ASncJIyvQZoVcJH-AsJ0LEbb0ky3otZ8BZYiNHX3ppyRfq3meQNsvwoOyqoJy6cTE87N6ADF9qz5xNJee8lTPFlz5mSHdLZC70Y8HaC73BuuWR8QL2WxJoltl3pDT5CeMOF8NGU/s1600/thumb_IMG_1382_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij5bP9ASncJIyvQZoVcJH-AsJ0LEbb0ky3otZ8BZYiNHX3ppyRfq3meQNsvwoOyqoJy6cTE87N6ADF9qz5xNJee8lTPFlz5mSHdLZC70Y8HaC73BuuWR8QL2WxJoltl3pDT5CeMOF8NGU/s640/thumb_IMG_1382_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A misty Pearl Tower and its surrounding buildings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwqFQWt9I5P57HSLVyOklDBg_bmZq0Pa7qppG_yH5I4cvmlRSapU3YAhoMFoqza5TWWMJpYpB9XhYLyqNIyk3LBStRE-iv4iol-Yp-3p3YTa3o4B7VHTesdp3PoiStwlpSmKSDYPHEcw/s1600/thumb_IMG_0434_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwqFQWt9I5P57HSLVyOklDBg_bmZq0Pa7qppG_yH5I4cvmlRSapU3YAhoMFoqza5TWWMJpYpB9XhYLyqNIyk3LBStRE-iv4iol-Yp-3p3YTa3o4B7VHTesdp3PoiStwlpSmKSDYPHEcw/s640/thumb_IMG_0434_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We are in futuristic LA!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjgdXCaoHxrD9GlfdBqFYtkEyV2f2aPkMPOj33oC6mC1tzEY2wZejY_hNu9-oF-ynyL0DEozdQsf5Ld_xfuLEaCXWDzBjJGIhp0aYuJ9PFfpa0ZwaSy9xpiEhrRhnGeu6o4TMQl-Nbdc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4248_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyjgdXCaoHxrD9GlfdBqFYtkEyV2f2aPkMPOj33oC6mC1tzEY2wZejY_hNu9-oF-ynyL0DEozdQsf5Ld_xfuLEaCXWDzBjJGIhp0aYuJ9PFfpa0ZwaSy9xpiEhrRhnGeu6o4TMQl-Nbdc/s640/thumb_IMG_4248_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A terrible pano</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDVI7fCrfDmrLzn_Di4BjCAraqdKeANwTwxlHrWDOqfLyiOqxCZ1GIEkK_OCiwWVy0gFSKGN3H3MtAOYcIfCNqCcEPyKriKShC2X6jRQ_DC-7GoLK0JND6i2TVVejtvd8CEJhPaNjpOQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_4249_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDVI7fCrfDmrLzn_Di4BjCAraqdKeANwTwxlHrWDOqfLyiOqxCZ1GIEkK_OCiwWVy0gFSKGN3H3MtAOYcIfCNqCcEPyKriKShC2X6jRQ_DC-7GoLK0JND6i2TVVejtvd8CEJhPaNjpOQ/s640/thumb_IMG_4249_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking up at all the fancy new buildings</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyRwfZJZOxJazimbm4A79Cpl-43ilF4TOGdMFmhRYgehVqjnP169Xr-RmxQC1skSWuYiFRInnyxAgxmIfXstJkoLXhW1imILOHqHYF79IL_bCLX2_NMDKCLJQamOvrGGPnESX4fbHICM/s1600/thumb_IMG_4368_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijyRwfZJZOxJazimbm4A79Cpl-43ilF4TOGdMFmhRYgehVqjnP169Xr-RmxQC1skSWuYiFRInnyxAgxmIfXstJkoLXhW1imILOHqHYF79IL_bCLX2_NMDKCLJQamOvrGGPnESX4fbHICM/s640/thumb_IMG_4368_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ended the night at The Shelter, an underground club Parker had heard about and wanted to go to - it's in an underground bunker, so it's pretty eerie, but also kind of a cool setting. I swear that Jade was there and that Jesse came and joined as well, but I have no photos because I possibly dipped out early. Because I'm decrepit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Parker's last day in China - we took it easy and went to visit the 1933 Slaughterhouse. It's a former slaughterhouse (surprise!) that they've now repurposed into fancy shopping and retail.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IETQhm10oZg1gp7ehv-rPmonUxz567q7pnbRTjKv4Oqxx73Pw1nv-6bZb2ZpEtbzeiFFUE3Ty-quLST9lpXXJWRlKF2nNdPhXFCbKQWE3TK2IwA3GE6_6Yz2VMYQ3DCtN1NhxFE0srI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4253_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IETQhm10oZg1gp7ehv-rPmonUxz567q7pnbRTjKv4Oqxx73Pw1nv-6bZb2ZpEtbzeiFFUE3Ty-quLST9lpXXJWRlKF2nNdPhXFCbKQWE3TK2IwA3GE6_6Yz2VMYQ3DCtN1NhxFE0srI/s640/thumb_IMG_4253_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the building. It's actually quick pretty and art deco-looking for a slaughterhouse</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nYPW_2TtfYoPHEHIDrY0qPeunTpTTowzmEEBiTBTCxin4JZU6CN2hQZ0PAzdFA0qypfuOwSnS-2dV2hnnpw3a2begcx0qCJMclJs64eF9DIW_Mr_n9C8-VRopXTC9jd6RRhUDtBIWUo/s1600/thumb_IMG_4252_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9nYPW_2TtfYoPHEHIDrY0qPeunTpTTowzmEEBiTBTCxin4JZU6CN2hQZ0PAzdFA0qypfuOwSnS-2dV2hnnpw3a2begcx0qCJMclJs64eF9DIW_Mr_n9C8-VRopXTC9jd6RRhUDtBIWUo/s640/thumb_IMG_4252_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the slaughterhouse, a series of winding concrete pathways</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Parker left for the airport afterwards as it was the end of his two-week China vacay, and I left my fancy life staying in pretty hotels. Moving to a hostel was the saddest moment ever. Especially as I walked into the hostel room and was immediately accosted by a Chinese girl who wanted to know every pertinent, prying detail of my life and didn't hold back at letting me know hers. Seriously, all I did was walk into the room to drop off my bag, and I walked out 10 minutes later knowing that she recently had a skin disease and really wanted to know if it was true that American guys like Asian girls better and hey, do all Americans sleep around? (I told her yes and yes, of course. Just kidding.)</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvBTDeLk0KTCwB2HW2l038RltvXF5acYxFxBrLQNSWCiWTLHShxQ7vy0RGK46XT9COCeWJSViZ82E3iF-kj71ZHlWjTnpwqqv5SHKWxKDfoKuUaYEWBwa7qgKY0B5ZHbWN4wusIN1Zk0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4332_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcvBTDeLk0KTCwB2HW2l038RltvXF5acYxFxBrLQNSWCiWTLHShxQ7vy0RGK46XT9COCeWJSViZ82E3iF-kj71ZHlWjTnpwqqv5SHKWxKDfoKuUaYEWBwa7qgKY0B5ZHbWN4wusIN1Zk0/s640/thumb_IMG_4332_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went with Jade later that evening to a little jazz bar she loves - it was really, really lovely. I need to go to jazz bars more often.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li>As I mentioned above, Jesse had arrived in Shanghai! He ended his teaching contract in Beijing and was headed back to Australia - so had an extra week or two free to travel around before going home. Shanghai has recently opened its own Disneyland (June 16th), which Jess really wanted to check out - he's only been once in his entire life as a child (I wish I could say the same for myself.....in my defense, we used to have annual work conferences in Florida, what else was I supposed to do while I was there except go to Disney every year??). So I was a good friend and accompanied him to Disney.
</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2w56Cqm0Y8BcpwUgIyJ2sl3U61Er-uOCQBF-LZdEPI6wTx-xfsKaHCbWe4KitZBwXWiLiSL4p6OTJ1rng548vvKJRIHAN9y6Flf-LU2c-tDi6rk_JDLjrg7sbVW5r3y2qGd60O9QIO0/s1600/thumb_IMG_4377_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2w56Cqm0Y8BcpwUgIyJ2sl3U61Er-uOCQBF-LZdEPI6wTx-xfsKaHCbWe4KitZBwXWiLiSL4p6OTJ1rng548vvKJRIHAN9y6Flf-LU2c-tDi6rk_JDLjrg7sbVW5r3y2qGd60O9QIO0/s640/thumb_IMG_4377_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We are at Disney!! Pooh is excited. I had to basically explain every episode of Winnie the Pooh to Jess before we got on the ride, because he apparently didn't have a childhood. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6Plgz54cyfaILScGJbKwa-u-aVBxn_EPSV1DxRyN7JuWsr4t0JmYursyLeEzzS-ZesOYcQbU8JNqId2w26ZLNV1N21wkjJIXibPnrTx3WiFjOvrvm-c3iVcqi4FVIqFHhmkjisge6i4/s1600/thumb_IMG_4376_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl6Plgz54cyfaILScGJbKwa-u-aVBxn_EPSV1DxRyN7JuWsr4t0JmYursyLeEzzS-ZesOYcQbU8JNqId2w26ZLNV1N21wkjJIXibPnrTx3WiFjOvrvm-c3iVcqi4FVIqFHhmkjisge6i4/s640/thumb_IMG_4376_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm not sure if China is ready for Disney yet. See all the previous posts, where I mentioned that they don't seem to know how lines work. Seriously, even when you're standing in line - if you're not blocking the entire passageway, they'll attempt to weasel past you when the line starts moving. It's not a rude thing, they just don't seem to know the foremost rule of lines.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFyEGGZpor3wxbrjGMRJR2D6m0HjU31kHcZjTFg-8UJUqVkQdTPIO7u0YeKhtCownyhXJZRTA-Oqp69OMmMwypy_8c1nYb47rVhuXg1mDqnEmNOKhgGiHVk4BUtIr7GojZO2-V8OS0FE/s1600/thumb_IMG_4373_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFyEGGZpor3wxbrjGMRJR2D6m0HjU31kHcZjTFg-8UJUqVkQdTPIO7u0YeKhtCownyhXJZRTA-Oqp69OMmMwypy_8c1nYb47rVhuXg1mDqnEmNOKhgGiHVk4BUtIr7GojZO2-V8OS0FE/s640/thumb_IMG_4373_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jesse had made me watch the Star Wars movie while we were in Africa - but I forgot all the finer points. I think I forgot if the First Order was good or bad, which Jess could not get over.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHimN7tILwn1-SML6h2xOPtLBT3xpXtOk_sXVP9Xf41sq5oDqg-zkHPoGr_fs6HiSbYtMx6IY22oMkCksyTdSe_x9_-5kw6aNJv8tIMLC53Dp4wleLIJ9D6GQJAyodetjSUNdyPAMWZfY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4381_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHimN7tILwn1-SML6h2xOPtLBT3xpXtOk_sXVP9Xf41sq5oDqg-zkHPoGr_fs6HiSbYtMx6IY22oMkCksyTdSe_x9_-5kw6aNJv8tIMLC53Dp4wleLIJ9D6GQJAyodetjSUNdyPAMWZfY/s640/thumb_IMG_4381_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The princess castle in Shanghai Disney is apparently the largest one ever. Because China has to do everything bigger and better, obvs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwecQ6ywrBAVVp5lWwtk3nus3ULoLvKJaOSOpSrqhwQpLcKIWNQxim0KFKHioO-uQpsuTRMhhewSNn-ojDzzxIN5CTo3Q3q6ZzG5lxP6y2Akf3Vnmph-aMmdwE2DhcicdHZeO6EJ8Jskc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4384_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwecQ6ywrBAVVp5lWwtk3nus3ULoLvKJaOSOpSrqhwQpLcKIWNQxim0KFKHioO-uQpsuTRMhhewSNn-ojDzzxIN5CTo3Q3q6ZzG5lxP6y2Akf3Vnmph-aMmdwE2DhcicdHZeO6EJ8Jskc/s640/thumb_IMG_4384_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know what was bigger and better?? The evening fireworks show. It was seriously, seriously magical, and I may have shed a tear.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hO_p8NEtejiMSEGW2KIaYu6XlJvwEJBZXdZeSWEwexlvcrbQ6rQFEMemS_gRh74aHh6-R_FjbHyKOQJ1WJOEWjHVq8QTmrphFHwhUxj9VCGnT0tYiiJgGtI6eeI27w8hr_CjZDdtLIc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4396_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hO_p8NEtejiMSEGW2KIaYu6XlJvwEJBZXdZeSWEwexlvcrbQ6rQFEMemS_gRh74aHh6-R_FjbHyKOQJ1WJOEWjHVq8QTmrphFHwhUxj9VCGnT0tYiiJgGtI6eeI27w8hr_CjZDdtLIc/s640/thumb_IMG_4396_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bye, Disney!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>As China has been on this crazy rapid growth trajectory, there is this overwhelming sense that new is better. It's incredibly common to see old blocks of apartments or cities completely razed into piles of rubble, with new construction and new buildings constantly being built. There was a city that Parks and I drove by in Yangshuo that no kidding, looked like the entire city had been knocked down to be completely rebuilt. It's kind of a shame.</li>
<li>Did you know, China's one-child policy changed about a year ago? It's especially evident at Disney, but I've noticed (as a huge generalization) that families that only have one child heap all their hopes and dreams and effort and attention into their one child, and their child can do no wrong - even when it's screaming and running up and down the subway car like a maniac.</li>
<li>That personal bubble that exists in the US? Nonexistent here. You will get used to people constantly poking their nose into your business - and it's not rude, it's because they're generally curious and want to know about you. It's quite common to meet someone and ask their salary, or other such questions that we would see as invasive in the States. I walked into another hostel room in Shanghai, and one of the girls goes "why is your bag so large?". Someone I didn't even know. But she wasn't being rude, she was being curious. I've learned the difference. Kind of.</li>
<li>On that note, the number of times I've been told that I look "healthy" here.....maybe a million. I've now learned that "healthy" means both "incredibly dark" and/or fat. Because Chinese girls are TINY (Jade says most of them are on diets and it's quite common for girls to skip dinner altogether most days......all I ask is, where is my innate Chinese willpower on these fronts??), and they are obsessed with being white. I'm sure I look like a complete heathen to them, because I'm a million times darker than they are, and they can spot instantly that I'm not one of them. And maybe also because I don't carry around an umbrella to shield the sun like they do. I definitely get at least one comment on my skin color daily. Sorry, mom.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-48383346051967211362016-07-16T06:56:00.001-07:002016-07-16T09:25:12.634-07:00Yangshuo, China: A Million Amazing MountainsIf you think Guilin had beautiful karst mountains (now that I have learned the word 'karst', I can't stop using it), Yangshuo is the epicenter of them. <br />
<br />
From Guilin, we cruised down the nearby Li River to the city of Yangshuo - a smaller, more mountain-filled (<i>more</i> mountains!?! YES INDEED), outdoor mecca. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div><div><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span></div></div><div>Yangshuo is a city in Southwestern China - it's only an hour from Guilin by car, and is super popular with both tourists and backpackers because of its insanely beautiful landscapes. If you came to China wanting to see the gorgeous craggy mountains, Yangshuo is where it's at - Guilin is more of a jumping-off point. A Li River cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo is kind of a must-do in life, at some point.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBGfwgDuc-zkWjxxTUwKtMr1Klo-yXbFHqwBOonogUaF7t1p_zIMjncUFQPvnG8CgBPMTl7BDZfHFZs6htzn9cdcXia4VHvOZORXoXVkdKqghZpRoIKVb_Nyi3kzy-NWz-hPlV5n-nqM/s1600/thumb_IMG_0743_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBGfwgDuc-zkWjxxTUwKtMr1Klo-yXbFHqwBOonogUaF7t1p_zIMjncUFQPvnG8CgBPMTl7BDZfHFZs6htzn9cdcXia4VHvOZORXoXVkdKqghZpRoIKVb_Nyi3kzy-NWz-hPlV5n-nqM/s640/thumb_IMG_0743_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cruising down the Li River</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
There's tons of outdoor activities you can do in Yangshuo - from cruising on the Li River, to biking, hiking, swimming, climbing, etc. Parks and I spent a couple days in Yangshuo doing all the outdoor things.</div><div><br />
<br />
<br />
<div><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span></div><div><ul><li>Enjoyed a lovely 4-hour air-conditioned cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo - along with half of China. These river cruises are now so popular that there is literally an assembly-line of boats cruising down the river, one-by-one, at any given time. But once you do it, you see why. The entire way is completely, spectacularly breathtaking.</li>
</ul><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmaTC4Syrf_cpKmAFsCFXTzIb4L_MzfJyN6BiChlc8fQEjN02oAtdLsxILsXz72bMQPwQIQxc1fbeXQoGNKOj9kWOY0ZFrKbTNS3NVzFQkrxkHA_v7uD9_Q2W9gdVF3hKXegUm7pbe5E/s1600/thumb_IMG_0636_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmaTC4Syrf_cpKmAFsCFXTzIb4L_MzfJyN6BiChlc8fQEjN02oAtdLsxILsXz72bMQPwQIQxc1fbeXQoGNKOj9kWOY0ZFrKbTNS3NVzFQkrxkHA_v7uD9_Q2W9gdVF3hKXegUm7pbe5E/s640/thumb_IMG_0636_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is literally the landscape the entire time. There are about 5-10 "famous sights" to see on the way, i.e. particular mountains that they've decided are better than the others - but I almost preferred the ones that weren't famous, because there were far less people jostling for photos and it was all gorgeous, either way</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFy6kwiDoBZOVSJB6vbUj-pVuCrYIRbyItZw3MaxlW70VihID_1gs7i9QodABqeq4TNzU0PhnEUTRJyGNPnRjs4_BB50HepxWQa7G184arhp2oZDoOATKp67g1kFUrCWn9qV2mUyWAY4/s1600/thumb_IMG_0649_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDFy6kwiDoBZOVSJB6vbUj-pVuCrYIRbyItZw3MaxlW70VihID_1gs7i9QodABqeq4TNzU0PhnEUTRJyGNPnRjs4_BB50HepxWQa7G184arhp2oZDoOATKp67g1kFUrCWn9qV2mUyWAY4/s640/thumb_IMG_0649_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Assembly line of boats</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tmM3pCMoREGRHZ5hLGFtESL8MTCdoyTQEVi4S416HN4IRSapVDmIDZwYJyZXPRZlNsT5mNrmY_1mTXS0h1WA8UcPp_G7vLkuemIvFeLIJ7ZO3FwyMp6sklfHLmBq1wWwgkcleTStQs0/s1600/thumb_IMG_0659_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3tmM3pCMoREGRHZ5hLGFtESL8MTCdoyTQEVi4S416HN4IRSapVDmIDZwYJyZXPRZlNsT5mNrmY_1mTXS0h1WA8UcPp_G7vLkuemIvFeLIJ7ZO3FwyMp6sklfHLmBq1wWwgkcleTStQs0/s640/thumb_IMG_0659_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can't stop taking photos. And you're scared to go inside and sit in your fancy air-conditioned seat, because you're so afraid you'll miss something. I think Parker and I only managed to make it to our actual seats for the last hour of the cruise, when all the famous sights had passed and the temp soared past 100 degrees.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckVhL_fpGxWtEY5FJuyIeeCb1ZEzNnmheG-F0lJS16r226Lv1PtGLhgRjE3VGuxz6GykeOQMkDxCgP8ZKb5hDN1bMWmQfzV5DjiqE-Rt-rtY6n-COLM3Qf3Nxob4GJAKeoP9duT-8r0w/s1600/thumb_IMG_0703_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgckVhL_fpGxWtEY5FJuyIeeCb1ZEzNnmheG-F0lJS16r226Lv1PtGLhgRjE3VGuxz6GykeOQMkDxCgP8ZKb5hDN1bMWmQfzV5DjiqE-Rt-rtY6n-COLM3Qf3Nxob4GJAKeoP9duT-8r0w/s640/thumb_IMG_0703_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is a mountain that looks like a sideways face, which Parker is uncannily demonstrating.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei2UZ4TkHDTCK6ua7rGcEbdeQWTu9OhIeJ4MduzZhz4oZbXm5JHlhodvP7G-MvdHFwG1CGsr2k0WDV-9tJl4bcLrhf_EC_PF2RTOkCuAetnE0dx1OO8-qQz6WThTByxcdYpOtTAwaEIM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3849_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjei2UZ4TkHDTCK6ua7rGcEbdeQWTu9OhIeJ4MduzZhz4oZbXm5JHlhodvP7G-MvdHFwG1CGsr2k0WDV-9tJl4bcLrhf_EC_PF2RTOkCuAetnE0dx1OO8-qQz6WThTByxcdYpOtTAwaEIM/s640/thumb_IMG_3849_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is one of the famous mountains, called "Nine Horse Mountain" - it is supposed to have nine horses that appear in the huge rock face, in both black and white. I can maaaaaaybe see one?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGQthxouWj75O3csuS__cFtiuoqMowvOt4Dw6G1pNg-R-D6OJJkUhBtV_3xbD4aRiKpxiTRJPf4-7-VNqXGp6H3dUtZ8B11d3e2axpYBWCD0qNtmpweLP4XZDagje8GvHV5BnT0p0Hds/s1600/thumb_IMG_0705_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrGQthxouWj75O3csuS__cFtiuoqMowvOt4Dw6G1pNg-R-D6OJJkUhBtV_3xbD4aRiKpxiTRJPf4-7-VNqXGp6H3dUtZ8B11d3e2axpYBWCD0qNtmpweLP4XZDagje8GvHV5BnT0p0Hds/s640/thumb_IMG_0705_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO__5PslnxSnnD-AT__pw82wjj25EtGItSAfaSwdVWQqftjn-4h7fonxlBTq501ulJu9Rg-_pXYO9npute3uXBlFZ-eC6qgQNPAJu5S6238qKxhtYp41HMCvPgI2JXRLb7OsTQjRtXd0/s1600/thumb_IMG_3834_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHO__5PslnxSnnD-AT__pw82wjj25EtGItSAfaSwdVWQqftjn-4h7fonxlBTq501ulJu9Rg-_pXYO9npute3uXBlFZ-eC6qgQNPAJu5S6238qKxhtYp41HMCvPgI2JXRLb7OsTQjRtXd0/s640/thumb_IMG_3834_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is another mountain I liked on the left, which is supposed to be shaped like Hello Kitty's head (sans bow).</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hs2SOQh1SAzuuhhmCQP6lp_SPvaXZVH7IH9DiyIW_jhx5VVSM9WoSYu0dgMnkaN9fv5vlz-GxVFNn-2zAM_Aa7AI-v-W2bAEGauvkJvjOSN2BuXlMCuykI-3_Fj0TMMSxwCG1bdR-YM/s1600/thumb_IMG_0744_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_hs2SOQh1SAzuuhhmCQP6lp_SPvaXZVH7IH9DiyIW_jhx5VVSM9WoSYu0dgMnkaN9fv5vlz-GxVFNn-2zAM_Aa7AI-v-W2bAEGauvkJvjOSN2BuXlMCuykI-3_Fj0TMMSxwCG1bdR-YM/s640/thumb_IMG_0744_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The most famous viewpoint of all, which you will see explained in the next photo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8kt3OSArBpmTSwvd886JhZGIYnFwv3KhVhX3I-abDK54UHS67rQCr0o1gyIWWsjI5kQUUiJBI3UuTFT7Lnysej3ocG8FqyGwRvVFlLid5jTYIosrn4iIJFX-vbKrprxKjnG6C7UOzvE/s1600/thumb_IMG_0752_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8kt3OSArBpmTSwvd886JhZGIYnFwv3KhVhX3I-abDK54UHS67rQCr0o1gyIWWsjI5kQUUiJBI3UuTFT7Lnysej3ocG8FqyGwRvVFlLid5jTYIosrn4iIJFX-vbKrprxKjnG6C7UOzvE/s640/thumb_IMG_0752_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's the same view that is on the back of the Chinese 20-yuan note!!! <br />
(I will fail to mention that neither of us had a 20-yuan note, and I may have creepily accosted a Chinese woman to borrow her 20-yuan note for this photo)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQbFNq1DXnPE3Ytd4KSczFXBtKbuDwR7FmsVk1gXMSDMFSN3OvYJhxGAglP92sZ1ewOLLxlUQhAfma84Hg3oCAP1HfIeVQPS1pInvCF-sezk5fEH1ecQeEBOZXriyF3KvPltZuStfXiU/s1600/thumb_IMG_0755_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHQbFNq1DXnPE3Ytd4KSczFXBtKbuDwR7FmsVk1gXMSDMFSN3OvYJhxGAglP92sZ1ewOLLxlUQhAfma84Hg3oCAP1HfIeVQPS1pInvCF-sezk5fEH1ecQeEBOZXriyF3KvPltZuStfXiU/s640/thumb_IMG_0755_1024.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;">We <3 mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN-QSON7fkQRqXwPXKb6_Lrh8ueCtU-Nt21a0x0BFz7-KH8WOWWzlsQDkci4ROP1pURy6NyhxFRGTtKo-u8GQ208kPjGd2-yrhcJTFJUomo9W8VIOZGuuCvpoR12bYlwni_fXmxQfNz0/s1600/thumb_IMG_3858_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaN-QSON7fkQRqXwPXKb6_Lrh8ueCtU-Nt21a0x0BFz7-KH8WOWWzlsQDkci4ROP1pURy6NyhxFRGTtKo-u8GQ208kPjGd2-yrhcJTFJUomo9W8VIOZGuuCvpoR12bYlwni_fXmxQfNz0/s640/thumb_IMG_3858_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">FINE WE'LL GO INSIDE IF THERE'S LUNCH. Especially when it comes in adorable themed boxes!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvZHd_UJM9zMCXO8VqUbw7R1xqT9s-yq5zTXlN-My3Wkcq-xpyXzB1NPII7OljfzueukRYIbxWLwEqXYlFpEsddzClPUuq6JRmqmmwG4_3xAkUlupv0fWIJRKBTYB6zaIvHHpqQNBAEc/s1600/thumb_IMG_3860_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwvZHd_UJM9zMCXO8VqUbw7R1xqT9s-yq5zTXlN-My3Wkcq-xpyXzB1NPII7OljfzueukRYIbxWLwEqXYlFpEsddzClPUuq6JRmqmmwG4_3xAkUlupv0fWIJRKBTYB6zaIvHHpqQNBAEc/s640/thumb_IMG_3860_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Inside, there were good views too. Like this woman who couldn't even remove her selfie stick from her phone before talking on it</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>And before we knew it, we had cruised right into Yangshuo! Parks had booked us some adorable boutique hotel out in the middle of the sticks, so we cabbed it out there.</li>
</ul><br />
<div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKJN6YahkJPhjWhEA3kBERuntkPtdA168FGV95eI-AdwlOtLPKikqFK72VA9q0qlh1zjXsldWUfPcBwQ4n4q2PIX7vkEls3zYAjsCKcAUUq2CkG1FoEa41uIF53CdQO8geK1Ed85AmoI/s1600/thumb_IMG_0778_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqKJN6YahkJPhjWhEA3kBERuntkPtdA168FGV95eI-AdwlOtLPKikqFK72VA9q0qlh1zjXsldWUfPcBwQ4n4q2PIX7vkEls3zYAjsCKcAUUq2CkG1FoEa41uIF53CdQO8geK1Ed85AmoI/s640/thumb_IMG_0778_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The adorable lobby of our new hotel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2BPRV53auaT3hL6G_mRZINONFRWx4GsMcFP8sTnc3dXbmsCwS29kft9WOGzThHXgltCB1y31ZmHCsA-LiJX4iIpYguhqm6LI8KF4ZjCeL_rA1VBPNXvrmboAg1CDzeslB6to1gVlNd4/s1600/thumb_IMG_0772_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ2BPRV53auaT3hL6G_mRZINONFRWx4GsMcFP8sTnc3dXbmsCwS29kft9WOGzThHXgltCB1y31ZmHCsA-LiJX4iIpYguhqm6LI8KF4ZjCeL_rA1VBPNXvrmboAg1CDzeslB6to1gVlNd4/s640/thumb_IMG_0772_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our room had a fancy wooden bathtub in it, which I promised myself I'd use at least once, as a personal hot tub. And then it took like, an hour to fill the thing up. Do you see how deep the thing is?! The best laid plans, sometimes...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I_JhOy76bhv6Oxpv14bS2_PnEeaKtymv6vl7KuLtJZ9qSFUkKzswZPBsExVCYfrTvRN7pS9DPVzBa9Hlmd_hDvAdK2B_CqgSXTTSy6KiULsGqwTlV9FlyvxY1KW1ERHgCE1pBK7ZcmY/s1600/thumb_IMG_0863_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8I_JhOy76bhv6Oxpv14bS2_PnEeaKtymv6vl7KuLtJZ9qSFUkKzswZPBsExVCYfrTvRN7pS9DPVzBa9Hlmd_hDvAdK2B_CqgSXTTSy6KiULsGqwTlV9FlyvxY1KW1ERHgCE1pBK7ZcmY/s640/thumb_IMG_0863_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">View of the mountains from the dining room</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5J9YARrNozsT09-tqwSFABITDIZ6BB-9ESRGNMWP_jmMoMh9ljP43SbTlooGol8vZecyQJQhL29rrVbJCiCwcQ2ZapebZwUKpLI_8tlYOvM1PCw1dltxLZoAJF5Ar6p_coAfcke5GIo/s1600/thumb_IMG_0869_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5J9YARrNozsT09-tqwSFABITDIZ6BB-9ESRGNMWP_jmMoMh9ljP43SbTlooGol8vZecyQJQhL29rrVbJCiCwcQ2ZapebZwUKpLI_8tlYOvM1PCw1dltxLZoAJF5Ar6p_coAfcke5GIo/s640/thumb_IMG_0869_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then there was a lovely rooftop! With a lovely view! I loved our hotel so much</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>That evening, we went on a brief tour outing to watch cormorant fishing! In case you don't know, there is this amazing bird called a cormorant - they're water birds, and they dive underwater to catch fish. Some of the local farmers here fish by using their own cormorants. It doesn't sound very nice, but they achieve this by tying a rope around the birds' necks so they can't swallow the fish they dive and catch. The cormorants are trained, so that after cruising around the river, the fishermen basically take each cormorant, turn them upside down, and dump all the fish from the cormorants' throats into their own baskets. Voila. A basket of fish.</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebEYY2gK34LJ-_0mXNkpGStZk-GZTXfbVImbbFR9UEbfyDfNqP96GOdmUTiq_p-UqHFDS3Gzq6G94HiXoGShm05lk7kyyg8Dx1nhf2ufNlASgV0NDhb-dePRm3hWF-9NZoxIf6W1tIIs/s1600/thumb_IMG_0786_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebEYY2gK34LJ-_0mXNkpGStZk-GZTXfbVImbbFR9UEbfyDfNqP96GOdmUTiq_p-UqHFDS3Gzq6G94HiXoGShm05lk7kyyg8Dx1nhf2ufNlASgV0NDhb-dePRm3hWF-9NZoxIf6W1tIIs/s640/thumb_IMG_0786_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A fisherman and his cormorants on his raft</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-jjlUzsANW7QzjL-bkyhrfaoGxjH1RrhGhm22ZopLdwjaInGqBKgDzRnDBwdxN1eq734AzqQdsNgGDXMp_Lurz_YkQqP2Uv5163x79rzGwuC4V0DMuSRODFfyJKpkHwXgPYCfjZQpp4/s1600/thumb_IMG_0813_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig-jjlUzsANW7QzjL-bkyhrfaoGxjH1RrhGhm22ZopLdwjaInGqBKgDzRnDBwdxN1eq734AzqQdsNgGDXMp_Lurz_YkQqP2Uv5163x79rzGwuC4V0DMuSRODFfyJKpkHwXgPYCfjZQpp4/s640/thumb_IMG_0813_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a terrible photo I tried to take of the cormorant fishing. Cormorants are super smart. They hang out on the raft and alternate diving into the water to catch fish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPKNvPBT-AqGoN0RFl5tnEmX-AZEpKCcYARkFBkzF2ecwvyBjFPRgaiwNwAFMWCIgLd8H0A4zAt-m5SskLg0Kmlyp9NgYW1Phl_a_dCbJRnrPOIj1ozrfRuYNRAPiFFFRNRYdyek65xU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3993_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZPKNvPBT-AqGoN0RFl5tnEmX-AZEpKCcYARkFBkzF2ecwvyBjFPRgaiwNwAFMWCIgLd8H0A4zAt-m5SskLg0Kmlyp9NgYW1Phl_a_dCbJRnrPOIj1ozrfRuYNRAPiFFFRNRYdyek65xU/s640/thumb_IMG_3993_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cormorants cruising for fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrXLid0zbUocBqyoB6XGiOZPVVulcBHZT36q1AGiIkH0O_fxkbGHX-sripfc1Gdb_w6Y9OM1_JJRunZSQA4LdT46OAN7bLCHsKjLUkKOgZFhL1HJHMLOOOFKT4t2X0wMJ-FoNQpChYuA/s1600/thumb_IMG_4006_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrXLid0zbUocBqyoB6XGiOZPVVulcBHZT36q1AGiIkH0O_fxkbGHX-sripfc1Gdb_w6Y9OM1_JJRunZSQA4LdT46OAN7bLCHsKjLUkKOgZFhL1HJHMLOOOFKT4t2X0wMJ-FoNQpChYuA/s640/thumb_IMG_4006_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We followed alongside the fisherman in our own little speedboat. It was so, so cool</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbKodb07yts1c6zXNF70G9FjBYWr8AoBISsz_FNv0ZLbsM33H4fc34SThHfw5Xppm7BTxQTRjwJB_jVgeyecVO58_B09wmtiwQwbN-QhaHdEUBjZyC_2qSPJ7pLbht2Ju1qxLno45nJ8/s1600/thumb_IMG_4012_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYbKodb07yts1c6zXNF70G9FjBYWr8AoBISsz_FNv0ZLbsM33H4fc34SThHfw5Xppm7BTxQTRjwJB_jVgeyecVO58_B09wmtiwQwbN-QhaHdEUBjZyC_2qSPJ7pLbht2Ju1qxLno45nJ8/s640/thumb_IMG_4012_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then we got back to shore - here is another terrible photo of the fisherman dumping each cormorant over to empty them of all the fish. It's crazy how many they store in there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl3SF2h3VFXO905CPa0XHP6tvLtE3hPY9K-27gv2jxMAzcDned468cuSa51iY3XM19zxElbDs-mgs4B2JAsv-2PInz0mgcPjpU9cPWg8SvvJvDMc8_wiSBmUMrVxGDYsLU5D2QKTA-k8/s1600/thumb_IMG_0827_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl3SF2h3VFXO905CPa0XHP6tvLtE3hPY9K-27gv2jxMAzcDned468cuSa51iY3XM19zxElbDs-mgs4B2JAsv-2PInz0mgcPjpU9cPWg8SvvJvDMc8_wiSBmUMrVxGDYsLU5D2QKTA-k8/s640/thumb_IMG_0827_1024.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640"></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">And then we were allowed to take photos with the cormorants on our arms. Which was terribly difficult in the dark.</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFofSRIY7voHS4bmrSfz8VmtLM9ZA9PMeQfhL_ZrDxfVlPjUFkvZKori4kKsOsTBW2XdnQ8MqlpvtsEp-BmxwN5Gs920Jw8Cwm0IhUQW_O0O2aG4dSbC_8a5h7nmz8IoHUCAoVSk327M/s1600/thumb_IMG_0831_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMFofSRIY7voHS4bmrSfz8VmtLM9ZA9PMeQfhL_ZrDxfVlPjUFkvZKori4kKsOsTBW2XdnQ8MqlpvtsEp-BmxwN5Gs920Jw8Cwm0IhUQW_O0O2aG4dSbC_8a5h7nmz8IoHUCAoVSk327M/s640/thumb_IMG_0831_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Parks and his cormorant</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3mxhIC-GdA-1mE2Cex4nTDIZV75Zg2z8u58wcKpnnPjU-zz1qsojIDbTOgxq7Wlklnw80UUm57NLlx4K9NgRRV-1ItgGuO8Wyc9ocBHlXm3ErhpjMo3d2ygIZseCucOwVq1EiPrBhLw/s1600/thumb_IMG_4020_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3mxhIC-GdA-1mE2Cex4nTDIZV75Zg2z8u58wcKpnnPjU-zz1qsojIDbTOgxq7Wlklnw80UUm57NLlx4K9NgRRV-1ItgGuO8Wyc9ocBHlXm3ErhpjMo3d2ygIZseCucOwVq1EiPrBhLw/s640/thumb_IMG_4020_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Later that evening, we were dropped back downtown to a popular area called West Street. Where we proceeded to go to a fish spa. We were supposed to only have 20 minutes, but I think the lady liked having us (read: Parker, a white person) sitting in the front and advertising her business, so she let us stay for well over an hour. And she sold beers. It was a good life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZQ8QOgogQObgpjdcDipzfeZwS1qx1anNTaM9FNJnBSU_WTSFskpDpuCsX9xynHHiym5getTdJdS8cBnHXxIiPSITbdoGIM8uRw9jHw8NR1QQ227sWfsKNkg7xykKOCwN1TSsE0crCIU/s1600/thumb_IMG_0860_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzZQ8QOgogQObgpjdcDipzfeZwS1qx1anNTaM9FNJnBSU_WTSFskpDpuCsX9xynHHiym5getTdJdS8cBnHXxIiPSITbdoGIM8uRw9jHw8NR1QQ227sWfsKNkg7xykKOCwN1TSsE0crCIU/s640/thumb_IMG_0860_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we went to an incredibly strange club (there's TONS on West Street) where there were various performances on this tiny stage with thumping music, from girl dancers to boy dancers to a strange man karaoke-ing poignant love songs</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>Day 2, we rented bikes from our hotel and biked a couple miles through Yangshuo, and up the river to go bamboo rafting.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcJicd5Emx8lH2AIjyP9GJhSs-Dn9KXoo-C8WYFgbuiVZp8UYHI7UbXvD215ZuCL98ilgcFLlqepTnzOSmGUSpJh8WXBFhMFVsfe2G5r53TDAxwYdkwN1K_p3EmlBjkIgoLjNBN7dYxg/s1600/thumb_IMG_0876_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZcJicd5Emx8lH2AIjyP9GJhSs-Dn9KXoo-C8WYFgbuiVZp8UYHI7UbXvD215ZuCL98ilgcFLlqepTnzOSmGUSpJh8WXBFhMFVsfe2G5r53TDAxwYdkwN1K_p3EmlBjkIgoLjNBN7dYxg/s640/thumb_IMG_0876_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biking in Yangshuo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgJO2wBT6ZTlQ9cBSpWb6Nyu6bw7FbAKOjhqIynLP1HDDdakNbicbwmp2wG6G5gwuE-QoJoouiYFlFAn0OIx8X_Ry1YQKh8q57tWqahFZmkE31OQpcuBMkJUCfWPiLSPKCEB311OnEEQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0881_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBgJO2wBT6ZTlQ9cBSpWb6Nyu6bw7FbAKOjhqIynLP1HDDdakNbicbwmp2wG6G5gwuE-QoJoouiYFlFAn0OIx8X_Ry1YQKh8q57tWqahFZmkE31OQpcuBMkJUCfWPiLSPKCEB311OnEEQ/s640/thumb_IMG_0881_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parks paid more for his fancy mountain bike, while I opted for the cheaper cruiser option - which came complete with a fancy yellow basket and a child's seat in the rear. Good, that'll make it easier for me to steal an adorable small Chinese child, if need be.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCspB_8LROG-3z9jBRfV-N5uec8QSq6rRy1vu4rBoZsO_ePWsJS-gI6qqGkCJJCbcVPn0QSCUrkVT1K7XhYlfv5JDfeXGNC4G-0akBOWNmNjuxE7nj2n90evljf2-Nlbduof2842YmGSQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0891_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCspB_8LROG-3z9jBRfV-N5uec8QSq6rRy1vu4rBoZsO_ePWsJS-gI6qqGkCJJCbcVPn0QSCUrkVT1K7XhYlfv5JDfeXGNC4G-0akBOWNmNjuxE7nj2n90evljf2-Nlbduof2842YmGSQ/s640/thumb_IMG_0891_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our views on the entire ride. These mountains are EVERYwhere you look here.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwva-NNzFWfZH95yWR9nGpwCZEaxSZ3Y8gNb8nSq-AXpuI9EtyJubFKgSXp5VSj85GerUNj8HK60Sp4NYz-XzCDnTYNhSlbM6wf7vvkyQsxdMMEI747E-7RX7YfErvzcIBVIpbxQJAVQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0897_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqwva-NNzFWfZH95yWR9nGpwCZEaxSZ3Y8gNb8nSq-AXpuI9EtyJubFKgSXp5VSj85GerUNj8HK60Sp4NYz-XzCDnTYNhSlbM6wf7vvkyQsxdMMEI747E-7RX7YfErvzcIBVIpbxQJAVQ/s640/thumb_IMG_0897_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bike ride was through small neighborhoods and small country roads, which I loved.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrOR0y1RfjQi69ryLWD1q1VTKNS7LWY0y8sd_0z9aVF6q-47os0SwT47Cqe5q3IAtM3cvQFbl7UHA-p6MYx6_4Ph5zKeGpaeyWeN1XYT7h2IMgsLu-EH1Tmaxo-NXv-GxdwjpzMb3AQ8/s1600/thumb_IMG_0908_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrOR0y1RfjQi69ryLWD1q1VTKNS7LWY0y8sd_0z9aVF6q-47os0SwT47Cqe5q3IAtM3cvQFbl7UHA-p6MYx6_4Ph5zKeGpaeyWeN1XYT7h2IMgsLu-EH1Tmaxo-NXv-GxdwjpzMb3AQ8/s640/thumb_IMG_0908_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we reached the bamboo rafting embarking point! <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Weeeeee</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjSKzpOm7LaLTtdJwKDGmZHXMwYj3VIiatA4tIklh_aA8FFGuQbPqcQ8sT03f9xjl2YORI2eTBP3P82qsfCyQJ71bueNAxOvM7KAMxvhGMSskzXjn45ka2Q3njegPxRtU9SB7nzw5Fss/s1600/thumb_IMG_0911_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjSKzpOm7LaLTtdJwKDGmZHXMwYj3VIiatA4tIklh_aA8FFGuQbPqcQ8sT03f9xjl2YORI2eTBP3P82qsfCyQJ71bueNAxOvM7KAMxvhGMSskzXjn45ka2Q3njegPxRtU9SB7nzw5Fss/s640/thumb_IMG_0911_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was our super-nice bamboo rower, who I'm sure loves wearing this outfit to work every day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuWzcFFM_gLpvf3R3tq9Sl17ChDHEKVL6RJdZ2ibXZsEaSCcj3BfnAXpDS5LTMWTFd7XwW3zHzwKaSJjzbQhRn_k5N9LbcPFUZ5U2UIXYxT8ozACIRlNsHM3t87yjWVJn-b5zfeqcqJ4/s1600/thumb_IMG_0922_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYuWzcFFM_gLpvf3R3tq9Sl17ChDHEKVL6RJdZ2ibXZsEaSCcj3BfnAXpDS5LTMWTFd7XwW3zHzwKaSJjzbQhRn_k5N9LbcPFUZ5U2UIXYxT8ozACIRlNsHM3t87yjWVJn-b5zfeqcqJ4/s640/thumb_IMG_0922_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had a nice setup under an umbrella - we cruised under bridges, over mini waterfall things, past snack stands, etc. It was so, so relaxing and lovely and great.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>Near the end of our 2-hour rafting journey, our rower asked if we wanted photos taken. I think I responded "SURE" the same time Parker went "No." </li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rbm4UEvzCtfeOD3x3Glgv9vlqPCn16zt1vaEI0t9rdAkD5GWD_BMevurbGc68-hN-gngSDRbI3ncsjCr7l2Y-3iQlA46eqeV8KPTLNxER9-5C0Avmgc7EmzKDAt9Bf2ibJpg1uvWVec/s1600/DSC_2519.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Rbm4UEvzCtfeOD3x3Glgv9vlqPCn16zt1vaEI0t9rdAkD5GWD_BMevurbGc68-hN-gngSDRbI3ncsjCr7l2Y-3iQlA46eqeV8KPTLNxER9-5C0Avmgc7EmzKDAt9Bf2ibJpg1uvWVec/s640/DSC_2519.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But the photos turned out the greatest! They caught us going over a mini-waterfall, which was awesome. There were about 9 of these on the entire journey, and they're the greatest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEq9Crx7HQrRmtQ7UiogGlBMXOrzNsO42XRW0elKAy6mh2tHjA9NsI45wWCiWpx8MsK7zk8GyjiG1xrlm_MRikMRcofEB2U8iQp9btnMCi8zI8gxBZBz667uoicOVV8S7gNj6rzVi-GU/s1600/DSC_2524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVEq9Crx7HQrRmtQ7UiogGlBMXOrzNsO42XRW0elKAy6mh2tHjA9NsI45wWCiWpx8MsK7zk8GyjiG1xrlm_MRikMRcofEB2U8iQp9btnMCi8zI8gxBZBz667uoicOVV8S7gNj6rzVi-GU/s640/DSC_2524.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then the photog turned it into a photo shoot, where he'd yell out poses for us to do</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJkvJsvW8PQQ8FFbVYw2rWbV5jCB-OdD1SLRgz1f9d_3V4gOKmtlq304QvoX1meuJyp8_XTOgN9e7EnCA1HOux7yPdpB4nNTleWj_DrYoxJyZmzTPy7zPT1rB3LN1gWzAU45WU7s_W-8/s1600/DSC_2528.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJkvJsvW8PQQ8FFbVYw2rWbV5jCB-OdD1SLRgz1f9d_3V4gOKmtlq304QvoX1meuJyp8_XTOgN9e7EnCA1HOux7yPdpB4nNTleWj_DrYoxJyZmzTPy7zPT1rB3LN1gWzAU45WU7s_W-8/s1600/DSC_2528.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Make a heart with your arms!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYgmttX5kSOxMY_yfAuT875hqOx4YOf7Rm1SIYLPVUNxTUiKBgS1R8vgEyAdP4kc7VnFQqLbKJ8iU2tVQWPgbq4mmvvDS4ZIQCJum9skcRqCpKMZCB_qIEWWb4dp3zjclxnZDSnYmsn4/s1600/DSC_2531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYgmttX5kSOxMY_yfAuT875hqOx4YOf7Rm1SIYLPVUNxTUiKBgS1R8vgEyAdP4kc7VnFQqLbKJ8iU2tVQWPgbq4mmvvDS4ZIQCJum9skcRqCpKMZCB_qIEWWb4dp3zjclxnZDSnYmsn4/s640/DSC_2531.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Splash each other with water!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNJSZm0gJ8ShD_i65ACO6JLzG_bBHGld9McwXcmVhRUR40StI7az_DxhbJ0ojWpj6KFl3GYNcKn_oX9jizUa70x98jVi5fww1LEohSFwR-O6nPJ__R9qoLsO5mCst_EwGOXsvBrqym04/s1600/DSC_2536.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYNJSZm0gJ8ShD_i65ACO6JLzG_bBHGld9McwXcmVhRUR40StI7az_DxhbJ0ojWpj6KFl3GYNcKn_oX9jizUa70x98jVi5fww1LEohSFwR-O6nPJ__R9qoLsO5mCst_EwGOXsvBrqym04/s640/DSC_2536.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"STAND UP"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA9AnAaVuZRFObxxH3UwYIblkREXsFQ3477hJp5GV6-HBiUeOhDRGEyK1phplutA2gF0tk1blw4Qc08cNBw38dwZeeDPgQOw8Te2KPJdeh_e4sw5AJBJAHgRu8OU3gxHQMrB70RaL-AQ/s1600/DSC_2539.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtA9AnAaVuZRFObxxH3UwYIblkREXsFQ3477hJp5GV6-HBiUeOhDRGEyK1phplutA2gF0tk1blw4Qc08cNBw38dwZeeDPgQOw8Te2KPJdeh_e4sw5AJBJAHgRu8OU3gxHQMrB70RaL-AQ/s1600/DSC_2539.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Kick your foot up!"</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPRjrRSnyQ7qPNEmD78uP_XJGo3u18nVJGlFYW5Ikk4WrRG4yd7tFYul0top442SmwDihU4pnnbS89bgAQa6LAKJzecnt05e1L9e55P_dpdTTLueUMb7SWjjmlT5WT7JgBTbeZTbnjk8/s1600/DSC_2541.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoPRjrRSnyQ7qPNEmD78uP_XJGo3u18nVJGlFYW5Ikk4WrRG4yd7tFYul0top442SmwDihU4pnnbS89bgAQa6LAKJzecnt05e1L9e55P_dpdTTLueUMb7SWjjmlT5WT7JgBTbeZTbnjk8/s640/DSC_2541.JPG" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Do a cute yelling pose!" (I'm paraphrasing his Chinese here....)<br />
There were a bunch of other poses which I didn't include because I'm not sure this needs to be a post filled with us doing poses on a bamboo raft. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>That evening, we went on a walk near our hotel in search of a pretty view to watch the sunset.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjzFxiKk2Dmeg9R0SUHI6WC72RhSMq1ll0-cB85Wcuw2yDyX3kAX1xjpmP2bRaZxOmew_Nouq_NgqhxmRmJOtn3NE53KvovQiEhPY782QQU89C7oko2qCsWXafvyJ4bJ3q7_uarQLGeQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0979_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjzFxiKk2Dmeg9R0SUHI6WC72RhSMq1ll0-cB85Wcuw2yDyX3kAX1xjpmP2bRaZxOmew_Nouq_NgqhxmRmJOtn3NE53KvovQiEhPY782QQU89C7oko2qCsWXafvyJ4bJ3q7_uarQLGeQ/s640/thumb_IMG_0979_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't find one (I think our hotel missed the fact that we wanted to have a vantage point of the sunset, and just thought we wanted to take a walk during sunset - leading to their recommendation to take a walk along this very ordinary road)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN0qUWaxxUj7YbqdutidWLuD6E6OLJszu88-QalPCdBJ9SD2wULBIq4fKkyLzBWr3SRd8krtpldqJUckJOv8ug9GRXDbh3WP6ey64zaFXEIjLJSILuATO_NSDUIviojycrKwz3lN2pJg/s1600/thumb_IMG_0984_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXN0qUWaxxUj7YbqdutidWLuD6E6OLJszu88-QalPCdBJ9SD2wULBIq4fKkyLzBWr3SRd8krtpldqJUckJOv8ug9GRXDbh3WP6ey64zaFXEIjLJSILuATO_NSDUIviojycrKwz3lN2pJg/s640/thumb_IMG_0984_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So we headed back to the hotel, got a bottle of wine, and went to go watch the sunset from the roof.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJw6qltepxqT1iXq71tQrP7_jimoOZV58sFLpOzLf2JkaPJT1nvmwN_99_9QXkuxdf0nTivdlLcVr9FR3CDR0ZZoyj2lF-By2Nm33TDU2DCGtL-AP9z0SyV1yceknKr43Dw47IQLF5iQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_1016_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJw6qltepxqT1iXq71tQrP7_jimoOZV58sFLpOzLf2JkaPJT1nvmwN_99_9QXkuxdf0nTivdlLcVr9FR3CDR0ZZoyj2lF-By2Nm33TDU2DCGtL-AP9z0SyV1yceknKr43Dw47IQLF5iQ/s640/thumb_IMG_1016_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">It downpoured right before sunset, but that ending up leading to gorgeous hazy skies</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0_7lBI8V3H_-CFfPFMBY1cz7xhRu8hZo-c1mu8D7OOWcSqJBv8aPyxD6oQtDJ-vkoatriH7t0Liwx3CTDYgxjshZbd7mySDOPaLUZw7uZFSHo6xWA0xbnXn6vxC_uQ7TRlZkqOiI9wQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_1011_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy0_7lBI8V3H_-CFfPFMBY1cz7xhRu8hZo-c1mu8D7OOWcSqJBv8aPyxD6oQtDJ-vkoatriH7t0Liwx3CTDYgxjshZbd7mySDOPaLUZw7uZFSHo6xWA0xbnXn6vxC_uQ7TRlZkqOiI9wQ/s640/thumb_IMG_1011_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SUCH PRETTY SKIES</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QcmM7ZbdtqUFRV9Ik25TXuyJvPE5NtAIZgEpMvM7DsITjfIDs24D3f5-4cV6DcevGt2lpyyl_K5Kedqm6dfvMjhbKupZq87lENz57aouNSX2lHBURSzQae2iNsQdCjkuJSZ7x0eLu4U/s1600/thumb_IMG_1024_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QcmM7ZbdtqUFRV9Ik25TXuyJvPE5NtAIZgEpMvM7DsITjfIDs24D3f5-4cV6DcevGt2lpyyl_K5Kedqm6dfvMjhbKupZq87lENz57aouNSX2lHBURSzQae2iNsQdCjkuJSZ7x0eLu4U/s640/thumb_IMG_1024_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And because of the rain, we were the only people on the roof deck! Except for the adorable hotel lady who took our photo, of course.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>Day 3, we started off by going to the <u>Moon Water Cave</u> - it's a cave much like the others in China (very cool, lit up with tons of neon lights and descriptions of shapes you can see in the rocks, etc.) - but this one Parker wanted to hit up, because the tour ends in a mud bath, and then a hot springs area. </li>
</ul><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIeYFvHld9ePb1YLTBGAJkJ-Q4hqQhxPJIjC2ttuzzPdP4GSIl0N0bIhHy6-gfDbImW5uEHQ-He966q7RhUt-nKyyMOb9etHP2rMTZ6xcs7HpFva0wJn1FjogXX4uVQJ6POSAiT3yCSM/s1600/110617164823750.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIeYFvHld9ePb1YLTBGAJkJ-Q4hqQhxPJIjC2ttuzzPdP4GSIl0N0bIhHy6-gfDbImW5uEHQ-He966q7RhUt-nKyyMOb9etHP2rMTZ6xcs7HpFva0wJn1FjogXX4uVQJ6POSAiT3yCSM/s640/110617164823750.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't bring our cameras in, but here are photos from the internet. Yo, the mud cave part was slightly creepy - it was like watery, cold, questionable runny mud. Or like sitting in weird brown-colored water. They (of course) had a photo man to take photos of you, as well as mini-slide things and such. The people claim the mud here has healing properties (of course x2. If it's one thing Chinese people also like, it's healing properties). Later on, we watched as a man refilled the "mud pool" using a hose.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER6_tp4WHwGBq6JfehP0vmJ2A_UKikiF7xS5CXQh9hN78xpu7pezuOAibMrTpfn90g_XgWugIU5UtM37qzukLZ4LV6_nbKeY-JZfH6MJO3RmcLe52cDXRTyJKOWA1JGIacTzzaurrZqk/s1600/140526172735_8341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="468" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjER6_tp4WHwGBq6JfehP0vmJ2A_UKikiF7xS5CXQh9hN78xpu7pezuOAibMrTpfn90g_XgWugIU5UtM37qzukLZ4LV6_nbKeY-JZfH6MJO3RmcLe52cDXRTyJKOWA1JGIacTzzaurrZqk/s640/140526172735_8341.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then after the mud pool is the hot springs! All the pools are different temps, and it's kind of cool and eerie getting to sit in them inside a cave. There was a point where Parks and I were the only ones in one of the baths, and Chinese tourists would come traipsing through taking photos without realizing we were lying motionless in the baths, and so when they finally noticed us, they would FREAK. It was kind of amazing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>We had a flight back out of Guilin late that evening, so our hotel hired us a car to take us - and on the way, we requested he stop at one of the most famous/gorgeous viewpoints over Yangshuo. It was a quick 15 minute "hike" to the top.</li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFe5_tbSPPC3wA58Jp8ixHJUmRCgBA3z60S3U8_7_RTSAnYs9V4_bmJkfweCVExbfK02XJJwszMpEfyWQiNLa943-IpBFp1iqfU7Y6pvCbbEKz7q8LvXiX5U2FF_D-9xJZ58C6oYjoeQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_1066_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFe5_tbSPPC3wA58Jp8ixHJUmRCgBA3z60S3U8_7_RTSAnYs9V4_bmJkfweCVExbfK02XJJwszMpEfyWQiNLa943-IpBFp1iqfU7Y6pvCbbEKz7q8LvXiX5U2FF_D-9xJZ58C6oYjoeQ/s640/thumb_IMG_1066_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this, THIS was the view from the top. Are you dying. Do bears eat salmon. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO41vCGeXimUN4NY-j9ih52lT3p1lSFNZJMv-EuceN1mgnJpkMsyDOUJ5OLs5mw0Bg5Am1-TyImwYllKcZYIh4wNlHUASLORmmf1P8APW3ZVefjHVqXuu8tSnmgDwFDTIwo_6xvvVQ0h8/s1600/thumb_IMG_1099_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO41vCGeXimUN4NY-j9ih52lT3p1lSFNZJMv-EuceN1mgnJpkMsyDOUJ5OLs5mw0Bg5Am1-TyImwYllKcZYIh4wNlHUASLORmmf1P8APW3ZVefjHVqXuu8tSnmgDwFDTIwo_6xvvVQ0h8/s640/thumb_IMG_1099_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dreammmmmmmm status</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhHzUz7ASJK9F8QN_f9_8Odoh8TvSBicZ5qimaJrm4oz2xisoSjDrk1nN_SsDl-p6wHnNrEE52fqb71cJBnuZywmel1bjqwYFst2SODzh9XUle4xbBfiO-hjKELg53_A0WffY6Dy5lfA/s1600/thumb_IMG_1074_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijhHzUz7ASJK9F8QN_f9_8Odoh8TvSBicZ5qimaJrm4oz2xisoSjDrk1nN_SsDl-p6wHnNrEE52fqb71cJBnuZywmel1bjqwYFst2SODzh9XUle4xbBfiO-hjKELg53_A0WffY6Dy5lfA/s640/thumb_IMG_1074_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got there just before it started raining as well. I could seriously stare at this view forever. FOREVER.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEEEWrnPETJJdlV-GqEsh8wXJdt4hsx7YerSt88Mj5dcz_RL6kz5Q1gZwNojrsFbN8-ezqMCacpN1_eYp78pGzLqfzEO08V8rr6ItiJiUFE8Y4Qu4tnlBK171nBXW0-ABs2ShyphenhyphencSWwEY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4029_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEEEWrnPETJJdlV-GqEsh8wXJdt4hsx7YerSt88Mj5dcz_RL6kz5Q1gZwNojrsFbN8-ezqMCacpN1_eYp78pGzLqfzEO08V8rr6ItiJiUFE8Y4Qu4tnlBK171nBXW0-ABs2ShyphenhyphencSWwEY/s640/thumb_IMG_4029_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">YANGSHUO I LOVE YOU</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>We sprinted back down the mountain as it started to rain - and our driver headed towards the airport.</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw8ReSLdM5dWz96ntGXW71fQ6Usr2NhgP7opKvWHjD-uRyJk28OMl5sbfki9s5XuUxErsasd0HCijT7hk3X-becbuMBL3AQ2QdlwpCHEvy2XyXc2BlxmaPTK_fZ_XD10mfqlkrcAwMAY/s1600/thumb_IMG_4046_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimw8ReSLdM5dWz96ntGXW71fQ6Usr2NhgP7opKvWHjD-uRyJk28OMl5sbfki9s5XuUxErsasd0HCijT7hk3X-becbuMBL3AQ2QdlwpCHEvy2XyXc2BlxmaPTK_fZ_XD10mfqlkrcAwMAY/s640/thumb_IMG_4046_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And on the way, he stopped by the road again - for THIS VIEW. SO MANY VIEWS</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCa5IVNiJ7bbClod9nsGa0X73NYzeSpUOxerFF8bPFylOSm5SipGAhfG4mOB_II-7CEpSrVKU0l2scnEaWLrHB5M3ekO6TcTjp9GUIO73Hmtrl8tVsX20fbWg1Bovf7SNbZAugZdb77A/s1600/thumb_IMG_4042_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvCa5IVNiJ7bbClod9nsGa0X73NYzeSpUOxerFF8bPFylOSm5SipGAhfG4mOB_II-7CEpSrVKU0l2scnEaWLrHB5M3ekO6TcTjp9GUIO73Hmtrl8tVsX20fbWg1Bovf7SNbZAugZdb77A/s640/thumb_IMG_4042_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If this view was a person, I'd marry it</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY6m5Zxi4YO6lQT4YGKrgh-3kt74c6AE_HnsKuzPRZ2dO8GEEft2gMSc9Vj_YnCvnUPlfFFR6y3pv4MkJAfjid7B-PNsWtknNbASUKqaMLt4kd_d4FtpLYgEElT0bZkJE55kySyOmfCc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4187_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizY6m5Zxi4YO6lQT4YGKrgh-3kt74c6AE_HnsKuzPRZ2dO8GEEft2gMSc9Vj_YnCvnUPlfFFR6y3pv4MkJAfjid7B-PNsWtknNbASUKqaMLt4kd_d4FtpLYgEElT0bZkJE55kySyOmfCc/s640/thumb_IMG_4187_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But then we got to the airport - and were faced with a 4-hour delay to our 10:30pm flight. It was pure misery. Well, maybe more for Parker, because we were exhausted and he couldn't find anywhere to sleep (you do not, I repeat, NOT lay or sit on the floor anywhere in China). He tried to engineer his own bed, exhibit A above, but I don't think it worked. Meanwhile, he claimed I snoozed on the seat beside him peacefully until we finally boarded around 1AM. Oops.<br />
Off to Shanghai!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div><br />
<br />
</div><div><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div><div><ul><li>In China, they colloquially call all women 美女 (mei nu), which means "pretty girl", and all men 帥哥 (shuai ge), which means "handsome brother." That's how they yell at you and get your attention and call you 24/7. It's funny because in Taiwan, you call all the ladies "小姐" (xiao jie), which means "Miss" - but in China, that's what they call prostitutes. So you do not call women that, EVER. Jesse apparently learned this mistake firsthand.</li>
<li>Addresses in China are not that helpful - especially in the larger cities, the numbers will change and not be in order, and the roads are inconsistent. Having cross streets is the #1 most helpful information to have when giving location information to a taxi driver.</li>
<li>Yangshuo is the prettiest. This is a fact.</li>
</ul></div>Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-20060724889775034952016-07-14T06:16:00.001-07:002016-07-16T09:06:35.711-07:00Guilin, China: Neon Caves, Longji Rice Terraces & Long-Haired LadiesFancy China trip continued as we headed to the Southern city of Guilin. I'd been to this city with my dad on our "Let's-try-not-to-get-SARS trip" in 2003, and while I don't remember a ton about the place, the beauty of it stuck with me. So it was added to our itinerary.<br>
<div>
<br>
<br></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span></div>
<div>
Guilin is a city in southwestern China - it's known for its beautiful karst mountains. I don't know what karst is, but I keep seeing it on all the descriptions of the mtns, so it must mean something nature or beauty-related. Basically, those super-tall, super-thin, craggy, green-covered stone mountains you see in old Chinese paintings and drawings? Those are in Guilin.<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc70x0-wvbZqOsz1K_glEVl-4WO8-hvLFMLnoHS5_SLmRBuMMUjxtNpUZJHjWDrwLsszVxpWRHi3-89KGbCeJo3FgD1-GbfY7hS6q3HH09uyXtxpHDBDVEX5_aNeivDUVNi1VEtNGF5eE/s1600/thumb_IMG_0225_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc70x0-wvbZqOsz1K_glEVl-4WO8-hvLFMLnoHS5_SLmRBuMMUjxtNpUZJHjWDrwLsszVxpWRHi3-89KGbCeJo3FgD1-GbfY7hS6q3HH09uyXtxpHDBDVEX5_aNeivDUVNi1VEtNGF5eE/s640/thumb_IMG_0225_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our first glimpse at Guilin's mountains</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlcl65WhopmbAd7mDg7gqKHhGyw6gjvNn575J3k8iN689WpBIzRBkRh9__LgZ_WNcqvf6dfrphEesm8SiWGIZ6j8lNPJfuVZGv8ea_x9KSWap9xpNYvwOp9w_jq8v-Z1T12O53U9cTRQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0376_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXlcl65WhopmbAd7mDg7gqKHhGyw6gjvNn575J3k8iN689WpBIzRBkRh9__LgZ_WNcqvf6dfrphEesm8SiWGIZ6j8lNPJfuVZGv8ea_x9KSWap9xpNYvwOp9w_jq8v-Z1T12O53U9cTRQ/s640/thumb_IMG_0376_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Sun & the Moon Pagodas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
Guilin is a great jumping-off point to sail down the Li River as well, for even more magnificent views. In fact, the view of Guilin from the Li River adorns the back of the 20-yuan note in China. The city is huge in tourism, as it was one of the first places to develop tourism in the 50's (and because of that, certain bits are outrageously overpriced) - but even with the crazy amount of huge ugly buildings and tourist-targeted sprawl that has come along in the past couple decades, I still found Guilin to be a great time.<br>
<br>
<br></div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br>
<ul>
<li>Arrived in Guilin and was whisked away to our hotel in the back of an air-conditioning-challenged van. </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty1Jx3SD3NA_6NrDFa2x-8stWo5b87j616aZDHeRhwx0xgqZ4uMv5kzCIazNePEgNdsFahl1r1O9wRR7JyryqieW_kKRplzKwmq3rb8pxXwk9nV6CuwsNxVbW-op9Xs6HxRPIETtofZA/s1600/thumb_IMG_0215_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhty1Jx3SD3NA_6NrDFa2x-8stWo5b87j616aZDHeRhwx0xgqZ4uMv5kzCIazNePEgNdsFahl1r1O9wRR7JyryqieW_kKRplzKwmq3rb8pxXwk9nV6CuwsNxVbW-op9Xs6HxRPIETtofZA/s640/thumb_IMG_0215_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But it was ok because this was our hotel. #Parker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<ul>
<li>After settling in, we spent the afternoon heading out to a nearby cave, called the Reed Flute Cave. Something you'll learn about China is that they are not so much about natural beauty - they love lighting the shiz out of natural sights and scenery like blinged-out Christmas trees - with snazzy neon lights and flashy shows and such. I wish I could say I hated it, but I think Vegas is absolutely beautiful in its own right too (you know, how they created this flashy neon oasis in the middle of the desert...it's amazing, is it not?? I use the term "oasis" loosely). So I can't hate on it. I think colored lights are pretty too.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-09q0x2vt6pG9uiDhg89O_ajgGPq9CLM_IMxe2JWsLnqu15o9v84xyoQt_xw9CfEs1WJCg3O4-kH5FutRkfQrZ8eoddVbD37kTzQs0Z6Hk-ZFaMgZDeKtqPZa-ZMLH0DzF9gqUPP0hA/s1600/thumb_IMG_0237_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-09q0x2vt6pG9uiDhg89O_ajgGPq9CLM_IMxe2JWsLnqu15o9v84xyoQt_xw9CfEs1WJCg3O4-kH5FutRkfQrZ8eoddVbD37kTzQs0Z6Hk-ZFaMgZDeKtqPZa-ZMLH0DzF9gqUPP0hA/s640/thumb_IMG_0237_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here is the super-blinged out Reed Flute Cave!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIHA454DRS67sdrnboxBRwV2HVgxbSN9Q5hKrMCi9aBZp9Mjm2h3RJLvB1pvPtJky67Ap37lBhnjzB9DS9vp-_0FvZzAa9JTCp8-y0lmJs-7v3aDUSLswQ-3GDjwib-DDVdtPdbg7V7s/s1600/thumb_IMG_0267_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIHA454DRS67sdrnboxBRwV2HVgxbSN9Q5hKrMCi9aBZp9Mjm2h3RJLvB1pvPtJky67Ap37lBhnjzB9DS9vp-_0FvZzAa9JTCp8-y0lmJs-7v3aDUSLswQ-3GDjwib-DDVdtPdbg7V7s/s640/thumb_IMG_0267_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a free guide included with the entrance ticket, but she only spoke Chinese. Seriously though, it was not a great loss because the entire tour was basically her saying things like "Doesn't this rock look like a monkey eating a peach!" And other related "Doesn't this rock look like...." kind of statements. I think she spent an entire 2 minutes actually explaining stalactites/stalagmites/science-y things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSUQFI129Gs4PeG-SJxVMZCj_3Umt4qXT7SxyA7oGtyFFbUzQXZI72n1kqsXKgKexxIcBr2DopXA6EADl2fVLB2nGxwcy4z8G5DlGZ35R4INNMlTGKKL2waBz0vktKTfXF1l2giH8o4E/s1600/thumb_IMG_0288_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSUQFI129Gs4PeG-SJxVMZCj_3Umt4qXT7SxyA7oGtyFFbUzQXZI72n1kqsXKgKexxIcBr2DopXA6EADl2fVLB2nGxwcy4z8G5DlGZ35R4INNMlTGKKL2waBz0vktKTfXF1l2giH8o4E/s640/thumb_IMG_0288_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You know who probably appreciated the cave tour the most? Poor Parker had to live with my bastardized translations of the tour guide. "She said something about clouds, but I don't know what."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody></tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR0SmDvJ0j-4X9Cin-e4XPLJ6zgqMMtsFCeFG91HZnBexq_qF-M7TymsxfU_Yuzy-hZ44TBrFiLY4stW4uimBRffIiM2IuW-SE3XhoinKZd4kwy8IFUJFcacE6yFnkrmg1ylUmsZ715k/s1600/thumb_IMG_3759_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwR0SmDvJ0j-4X9Cin-e4XPLJ6zgqMMtsFCeFG91HZnBexq_qF-M7TymsxfU_Yuzy-hZ44TBrFiLY4stW4uimBRffIiM2IuW-SE3XhoinKZd4kwy8IFUJFcacE6yFnkrmg1ylUmsZ715k/s640/thumb_IMG_3759_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I LOVE COLORS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQekaBTOmJnzLVG46MUxjvMEwrzgAl8oZLaV-4brdrXUa-apiKU4iwASAIZRlyElZeCF0y_elNrJ3tIM-_G7tROe_tmIQTPKTQb5VHs9-GlS4QkijcjXH2LZlS-7wrHMRHdKVoTaYITZQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3762_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQekaBTOmJnzLVG46MUxjvMEwrzgAl8oZLaV-4brdrXUa-apiKU4iwASAIZRlyElZeCF0y_elNrJ3tIM-_G7tROe_tmIQTPKTQb5VHs9-GlS4QkijcjXH2LZlS-7wrHMRHdKVoTaYITZQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3762_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"These rocks look like bean sprouts! That's why we call this formation "the multi-colored vegetable garden from heaven." I'm paraphrasing. Heavily.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXo8YEPa1eHQYzY1bZNladhd6s3j2cp416rxGYdgtr9jrcPRxFd9iOfGZD5hyphenhyphenFRmxM9Ed8WyyRazkMru8enGihOWjnWAIob3yEszDFdtZFZ0u4hzr4KoOZvOSZeJO40YPiVW7EhKbrqs/s1600/thumb_IMG_3766_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXo8YEPa1eHQYzY1bZNladhd6s3j2cp416rxGYdgtr9jrcPRxFd9iOfGZD5hyphenhyphenFRmxM9Ed8WyyRazkMru8enGihOWjnWAIob3yEszDFdtZFZ0u4hzr4KoOZvOSZeJO40YPiVW7EhKbrqs/s640/thumb_IMG_3766_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A giant pool of water with reflecting blue-lit rocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_q-o00k4X1zNI9zBKtlp2J3oEidnCUtP06t1_jKEYrA-MP5F1bPneNJQrtvoWaYqXzN3pLD-wYUy9n3UGQieR9QxR5UwK7oPSwgKBnc2rVK0t7NmYhznK9wReKUDgYR-Bf_HFMuTMTnY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3773_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_q-o00k4X1zNI9zBKtlp2J3oEidnCUtP06t1_jKEYrA-MP5F1bPneNJQrtvoWaYqXzN3pLD-wYUy9n3UGQieR9QxR5UwK7oPSwgKBnc2rVK0t7NmYhznK9wReKUDgYR-Bf_HFMuTMTnY/s640/thumb_IMG_3773_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">....which they used to play a very random film of dancers dancing to Swan Lake</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOQ2lJSSWtcVQxsGdXqB3eG8XnU9vF8YAdvMUorvFqbxauAIgndXU9dX0drTxs1ieDs-xMQZq6yDMJWO8D_vGnnhIp4kC78lq8xe0AyM0Ki1dnDyKm7eH6Nc5J1kcF43BBE_CVk93E-g/s1600/thumb_IMG_3774_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivOQ2lJSSWtcVQxsGdXqB3eG8XnU9vF8YAdvMUorvFqbxauAIgndXU9dX0drTxs1ieDs-xMQZq6yDMJWO8D_vGnnhIp4kC78lq8xe0AyM0Ki1dnDyKm7eH6Nc5J1kcF43BBE_CVk93E-g/s640/thumb_IMG_3774_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then there was this very sad part of the cave where they had tons of very sad turtles that they claimed were very very old and lucky and then they let all the handsy aggressive kids touch them, and then they would drape the turtles with charms and amulets and sell them saying they were now lucky, and lots of the people blindly bought them. The entire room made me and Parks a little sad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><ul>
<li>After the cave, we went on an evening stroll near our hotel to the nearby lake, which has a view of the Sun & Moon Pagodas (fun fact; Guilin lights up all its pagodas and bridges at night - you can take a boat tour that shows you all of them, but the boat tour is exorbitantly expensive: by Chinese standards, anyhow).</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnuvslz0GngcnyJmE5IJcc_Y9LyZCAThwhO7ky3UsHCr-HxvtYoxijGTwh6pq7wOGhEgNXqb6PZbv6WXmBLOm7OOY25oXcp1-Phi6oMTrATCCTFN0gXYEBCjf_yx_4oEzkzOLwxKdj-M/s1600/thumb_IMG_0347_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnuvslz0GngcnyJmE5IJcc_Y9LyZCAThwhO7ky3UsHCr-HxvtYoxijGTwh6pq7wOGhEgNXqb6PZbv6WXmBLOm7OOY25oXcp1-Phi6oMTrATCCTFN0gXYEBCjf_yx_4oEzkzOLwxKdj-M/s640/thumb_IMG_0347_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Sun & Moon pagodas - so pretty! They even have a floodlight near the lake so you can take well-lit photos. Thanks, China!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Yyrg0E4IZT-W2o5VRVMt-MNEPOvxQ1P8tRXXxmsobTcs2M738X1EDTVvtz962rEWwQ1gukMbiWbfx2Nl91iBZBcx01Ewgf_Y8MhyphenhyphengUZxRSmLhC8_VeIHJGcUmTJTDZJH32kFOupH61c/s1600/thumb_IMG_0362_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8Yyrg0E4IZT-W2o5VRVMt-MNEPOvxQ1P8tRXXxmsobTcs2M738X1EDTVvtz962rEWwQ1gukMbiWbfx2Nl91iBZBcx01Ewgf_Y8MhyphenhyphengUZxRSmLhC8_VeIHJGcUmTJTDZJH32kFOupH61c/s640/thumb_IMG_0362_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the pagodas</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudZDLqvFIMGRhXBtshZjLK1pndyV-Tdjc6v0QaK0eIyjtBPhP2m2kn8udmrBtuUvC7vk3H2KzsPoUibQRCbQzBNDkzOqE39pEj2J85LMhmNQTevKVGm_egdvL-v5UZpV5shWXwxSh1AA/s1600/thumb_IMG_3779_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhudZDLqvFIMGRhXBtshZjLK1pndyV-Tdjc6v0QaK0eIyjtBPhP2m2kn8udmrBtuUvC7vk3H2KzsPoUibQRCbQzBNDkzOqE39pEj2J85LMhmNQTevKVGm_egdvL-v5UZpV5shWXwxSh1AA/s640/thumb_IMG_3779_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Post dinner at a ridiculous restaurant we randomly passed by that happened to be STUFFED to the brim with people, I had to take this photo because I like that it has an appropriate typo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><ul>
<li>Next morning was an early AM wakeup call - we had signed up to take a tour out to the <u>Longsheng/Longji Rice Terraces</u>. It's about a 2-hour trip from Guilin.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMrasNpPfATNc0bNFfYtMzXcNScRdMb03YdxfHWKryoiOU2XKWJ8Y7rYQGAFidtA9OoNCebXpcSjRLEr5TcS9wynnoGmZV58y4EWnafe_zNdJd97quZebnQD8IVcIq2LKuCICf5vNHRY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3782_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKMrasNpPfATNc0bNFfYtMzXcNScRdMb03YdxfHWKryoiOU2XKWJ8Y7rYQGAFidtA9OoNCebXpcSjRLEr5TcS9wynnoGmZV58y4EWnafe_zNdJd97quZebnQD8IVcIq2LKuCICf5vNHRY/s640/thumb_IMG_3782_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the mountains from the top floor of our hotel, where breakfast is served. Not a bad view.<br>
To the right is a famous rock formation called "Elephant Trunk Hill," which they also charge an exorbitant fee to go and visit. I'll take the free view from our hotel, thx.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><ul>
<li>Crammed on a tour bus full of 30 other Chinese tourists (another fun fact: when they claim a tour is both "Chinese & English," they basically use Chinese the entire time for the entire tour, and only will repeat themselves briefly in English for the logistics). Our tour guide was explaining all these fascinating anecdotes and history and traditions in Chinese, and then after 2 hours of this, would outline logistical info - adding onto the end in English, "Bus stops now. Come back at 2." And that would be it.</li>
<li>Our first stop on the way to the rice terraces was to a traditional minority long-haired village called Ping'an. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pNgIiAGkHq5GAadCEg0eiqvJCcKf-aqKwtMg6zxZXLJEPUOR09d6I8T-isym5BAZ-P6knmTrZIx9wz58lvZiT3R7ns3g8tD2zOqvArYObwsn0Tk-SlRv9GF6JIy1Ak3G4rpDqQlPl_Q/s640/thumb_IMG_0410_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village of Ping'an</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pNgIiAGkHq5GAadCEg0eiqvJCcKf-aqKwtMg6zxZXLJEPUOR09d6I8T-isym5BAZ-P6knmTrZIx9wz58lvZiT3R7ns3g8tD2zOqvArYObwsn0Tk-SlRv9GF6JIy1Ak3G4rpDqQlPl_Q/s1600/thumb_IMG_0410_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3pNgIiAGkHq5GAadCEg0eiqvJCcKf-aqKwtMg6zxZXLJEPUOR09d6I8T-isym5BAZ-P6knmTrZIx9wz58lvZiT3R7ns3g8tD2zOqvArYObwsn0Tk-SlRv9GF6JIy1Ak3G4rpDqQlPl_Q/s1600/thumb_IMG_0410_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0nr7lkxK_SCUD7OixhiJzneOqHmN8mRtuBUTD5gF7VGmVz9Dt4lSkR3EA8QLnbZPhtwR9bqn-1mQcYECMO7z6nyTxM3pE9ffA_5VhiQ_KX5YaVLS9RqbtKLl0ggvrbCvCW2BN_MhLkc/s1600/thumb_IMG_0424_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO0nr7lkxK_SCUD7OixhiJzneOqHmN8mRtuBUTD5gF7VGmVz9Dt4lSkR3EA8QLnbZPhtwR9bqn-1mQcYECMO7z6nyTxM3pE9ffA_5VhiQ_KX5YaVLS9RqbtKLl0ggvrbCvCW2BN_MhLkc/s640/thumb_IMG_0424_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The long-haired village women of Ping'an. They did a dance for us. Definite dog and pony show for the tourists, but I can't say I wasn't fascinated.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pagalVfrTJnMZVxNJtZBNxPH2lOsc02ITZf-iNBzH0nAEXsIvvuniDZekKcW-OMb-6QzYhrBWG0pwP9dvm4ZRiLUrmG9-041RKgGRjfP36ck_AsJgCJy905eOai5M67vO-0bKlIArgM/s640/thumb_IMG_3787_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The village is called a long-haired village because......all the ladies have crazy long hair!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pagalVfrTJnMZVxNJtZBNxPH2lOsc02ITZf-iNBzH0nAEXsIvvuniDZekKcW-OMb-6QzYhrBWG0pwP9dvm4ZRiLUrmG9-041RKgGRjfP36ck_AsJgCJy905eOai5M67vO-0bKlIArgM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3787_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pagalVfrTJnMZVxNJtZBNxPH2lOsc02ITZf-iNBzH0nAEXsIvvuniDZekKcW-OMb-6QzYhrBWG0pwP9dvm4ZRiLUrmG9-041RKgGRjfP36ck_AsJgCJy905eOai5M67vO-0bKlIArgM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3787_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWk7f4lH0wrNzx4ljlRcygOpZUOsWPbLxFU_YfKeaJAODQkhyphenhyphenZsaYP1mUVy_tQF_QbNmoXkfBU95pIEYdZyIRyShFKbErE5MxMoTRqWd7ayoIxWSA0mMjIfCSae0QaIhIAdhWsPE9QNg/s1600/thumb_IMG_3792_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVWk7f4lH0wrNzx4ljlRcygOpZUOsWPbLxFU_YfKeaJAODQkhyphenhyphenZsaYP1mUVy_tQF_QbNmoXkfBU95pIEYdZyIRyShFKbErE5MxMoTRqWd7ayoIxWSA0mMjIfCSae0QaIhIAdhWsPE9QNg/s640/thumb_IMG_3792_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ladies of the village spend their entire lives growing out their hair - only cutting it once in their teens.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYmTid2EKlSWAd-HY_kq16XkPfuTIF-rrIfozpJNVDH-9eMoGGUqfGxJz4ecD8GM0Vs4Gj4ZpOY9iZqtC7kQ7hiByC44DuymjP-urPJm6jGX49_xWY7Vtem-c0JE2YTVDKSD45XZWHnY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3794_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYmTid2EKlSWAd-HY_kq16XkPfuTIF-rrIfozpJNVDH-9eMoGGUqfGxJz4ecD8GM0Vs4Gj4ZpOY9iZqtC7kQ7hiByC44DuymjP-urPJm6jGX49_xWY7Vtem-c0JE2YTVDKSD45XZWHnY/s640/thumb_IMG_3794_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here are some of the younger, unmarried girls with their locks of hair from their first haircut.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BDXXzk3fMoEEpt_xpPRN8vANfqWRbhHXO9in0WgKarVY6EGArl8zSo20OSoBjXy5mTcw6TMRyXAAv98r1fKtmigBCcUCMoPi7hIIPeF5PtXXYSSQllvU38CPvtBcxCoE_fjaCmn3_SU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3798_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3BDXXzk3fMoEEpt_xpPRN8vANfqWRbhHXO9in0WgKarVY6EGArl8zSo20OSoBjXy5mTcw6TMRyXAAv98r1fKtmigBCcUCMoPi7hIIPeF5PtXXYSSQllvU38CPvtBcxCoE_fjaCmn3_SU/s640/thumb_IMG_3798_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The women then take their naturally long hair to knot it into a hairstyle at the top of their head - it requires no hair ties or clips or anything, they just use the hair to knot itself like a hat on their heads. Unmarried and married women wear different hairstyles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCPgYrfOv_fD3rGl52lHORL-_8Bx2IUnEHFk9kQLiQ2Bh66LJGKhl8JFEiYiwhZIY57nur9t0hqi0Hb9xB4inwiMylhZ49gxyXbmo-K0W2dETkO8nCiKkP4WL80ttuHitLK81J4nCvIo/s1600/thumb_IMG_0446_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFCPgYrfOv_fD3rGl52lHORL-_8Bx2IUnEHFk9kQLiQ2Bh66LJGKhl8JFEiYiwhZIY57nur9t0hqi0Hb9xB4inwiMylhZ49gxyXbmo-K0W2dETkO8nCiKkP4WL80ttuHitLK81J4nCvIo/s640/thumb_IMG_0446_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parks and one of the long-haired ladies of Ping'an</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquOKmtFg89x-TYAW-EJ_xWGkVlcsBay0las9ooVM1IcoNFEMGtBkSCVJqIhFhRSm07Fb1cKTAFR86wzAx8OWkRerefnKqepxt5-HwuBT9-POX89tj5grnZ5EKFzTFxZ_O25apAiqu8n8/s1600/thumb_IMG_0468_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgquOKmtFg89x-TYAW-EJ_xWGkVlcsBay0las9ooVM1IcoNFEMGtBkSCVJqIhFhRSm07Fb1cKTAFR86wzAx8OWkRerefnKqepxt5-HwuBT9-POX89tj5grnZ5EKFzTFxZ_O25apAiqu8n8/s640/thumb_IMG_0468_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then they called for six male volunteers. And then made them participate in a wedding ceremony with the local unmarried women. Fun fact, Parker is now married to some woman in the middle of China.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><ul>
<li>After leaving Ping'an, we stopped for lunch in the village near the rice terraces.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfvMpDPpzXnddvSMmvIRKlC35U-xOwDBI1vqZVMt87ZqUjUC9aAcuBQ0fXa8iJpKxtOTHfA9njiNNXu3veAU3GmZ4L4Kl2PtAZAg9Yvnv-LlHjdY8SDYa7kdv9W-ejHjreG9an9FEstU/s1600/thumb_IMG_0484_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfvMpDPpzXnddvSMmvIRKlC35U-xOwDBI1vqZVMt87ZqUjUC9aAcuBQ0fXa8iJpKxtOTHfA9njiNNXu3veAU3GmZ4L4Kl2PtAZAg9Yvnv-LlHjdY8SDYa7kdv9W-ejHjreG9an9FEstU/s640/thumb_IMG_0484_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Lunch spot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DUEQsg9KSy9RuSVRfn-JqayP-jS2Lg84CifiKYwS9LK3Y6wnpxcFTWrJMhSaoq3z5UubnZMzobQa9XzuA8LCIHYC_fcTsqfItfsPfY6mO6vZ0UW-BxxOCvrBU8s7VDedlz1bNzZm_FI/s1600/thumb_IMG_0490_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-DUEQsg9KSy9RuSVRfn-JqayP-jS2Lg84CifiKYwS9LK3Y6wnpxcFTWrJMhSaoq3z5UubnZMzobQa9XzuA8LCIHYC_fcTsqfItfsPfY6mO6vZ0UW-BxxOCvrBU8s7VDedlz1bNzZm_FI/s640/thumb_IMG_0490_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Their specialty is a sticky rice that is cooked in bamboo<br>
<div>
<br></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbKvjd6pX-SKEbvBb2UldgKIWuQ0X7dTsBI2_veXG6661PqEzlLbxMZpQ9Uhud6Ax2jaJhwZIdul07w5as8vYfkz93eQnKTOlePhMGfkKxv3WReCNxAB2FX1OsEIxiH8FDHOVgy56yvs/s1600/thumb_IMG_3804_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglbKvjd6pX-SKEbvBb2UldgKIWuQ0X7dTsBI2_veXG6661PqEzlLbxMZpQ9Uhud6Ax2jaJhwZIdul07w5as8vYfkz93eQnKTOlePhMGfkKxv3WReCNxAB2FX1OsEIxiH8FDHOVgy56yvs/s640/thumb_IMG_3804_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And they have to hammer open the bamboo to serve the rice. Delish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br><ul>
<li>After lunch, we finally reached the grand finale - the rice terraces themselves! Longji, of Longji Rice Terraces, means "Dragon's backbone" - because the tiers look like a dragon's back scales.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; clear: both; color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
</div>
<br>
<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-family: Times; letter-spacing: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; orphans: auto; padding: 6px; text-align: center; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIbjtvxUS3vCvkR_FRJdGHBINCPW3k9VY1WP6KwORy83mdcgU0EzHRgJ6otJa2Lr03ImyNl8j1SxLlRWk8DI2AeU_2HJu_cbpz7Q-k1UnESADEmd5BcXHkv_xSoye4IST_yvUf5hBWnU/s1600/thumb_IMG_0504_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLIbjtvxUS3vCvkR_FRJdGHBINCPW3k9VY1WP6KwORy83mdcgU0EzHRgJ6otJa2Lr03ImyNl8j1SxLlRWk8DI2AeU_2HJu_cbpz7Q-k1UnESADEmd5BcXHkv_xSoye4IST_yvUf5hBWnU/s640/thumb_IMG_0504_1024.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="640"></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">And no matter how many photos you've seen, the terraces are still breathtaking</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QFjzBeATGuSO6eDvze8Dk2mu9MpE3VMqO0U6ryervOyfi2c783PCJFrTi1Gx-NaK1QydoSk-zosFICpXXZDVSdgU0R9wRbkUORPHwS1ZqjmM2PNrdRgqjcqjrm4wZtVP2eGLeUQx0WY/s1600/thumb_IMG_0510_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5QFjzBeATGuSO6eDvze8Dk2mu9MpE3VMqO0U6ryervOyfi2c783PCJFrTi1Gx-NaK1QydoSk-zosFICpXXZDVSdgU0R9wRbkUORPHwS1ZqjmM2PNrdRgqjcqjrm4wZtVP2eGLeUQx0WY/s640/thumb_IMG_0510_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhA8TcsmnrKS7KRuluDEzC5-gC4RcxSFT0pt51XgyJ8yTt15tonxPtdUfPNmies2hZvLZfrPqfUNKf2ZQuD9A3ETtVcAAACDlVJcSpjr9moJB7TSZCj1uNSMd1dQ3JscQA1qCHq435Rg/s1600/thumb_IMG_3812_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhA8TcsmnrKS7KRuluDEzC5-gC4RcxSFT0pt51XgyJ8yTt15tonxPtdUfPNmies2hZvLZfrPqfUNKf2ZQuD9A3ETtVcAAACDlVJcSpjr9moJB7TSZCj1uNSMd1dQ3JscQA1qCHq435Rg/s640/thumb_IMG_3812_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">These rice terraces, still in use today, are over 650 years old!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpts2Bl2SQiapg29Y0khbdppKxwXNq5P69Gu1tOWbblIydJpvNEI_voEFT3tsSVCCT__fDZ86xsv6P2cgQrCdt0Aqr31Nx5pCmcvEM3k30FOp8BJ4_MJJaBYc_se0J9C4qFOaIOqCZIxk/s1600/thumb_IMG_3801_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpts2Bl2SQiapg29Y0khbdppKxwXNq5P69Gu1tOWbblIydJpvNEI_voEFT3tsSVCCT__fDZ86xsv6P2cgQrCdt0Aqr31Nx5pCmcvEM3k30FOp8BJ4_MJJaBYc_se0J9C4qFOaIOqCZIxk/s640/thumb_IMG_3801_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some fun facts about the rice terraces, in case you'd like to read more</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuHK8xfOciA62hH1Lc9Mq3g2gxo-obyW1AYTc1fB9ihLTKyg23_G1AldpqfDoqvjNGMkDktDVJliIrAOvjEVoaGSK0BLFD6qtamViJ1VY5HODA2HR-5pKm0-OPxKUXRjjw05HjWilf0I/s1600/thumb_IMG_3815_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDuHK8xfOciA62hH1Lc9Mq3g2gxo-obyW1AYTc1fB9ihLTKyg23_G1AldpqfDoqvjNGMkDktDVJliIrAOvjEVoaGSK0BLFD6qtamViJ1VY5HODA2HR-5pKm0-OPxKUXRjjw05HjWilf0I/s640/thumb_IMG_3815_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I renew my vote for rice being the prettiest crop ever</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKzM7fxIcQmiYsPZtISYECIpuCN_jaPC0GcTZ5_CkkuADHw7OG0zRlwXLsmRN7JChiyrfsmnX-DM0fQ5f14j8KQzEt3mwLYwurEVQ-LHQY0llr4d2L4qLS_AMyMp6ACu6jfLQbwYQDjg/s1600/thumb_IMG_0550_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIKzM7fxIcQmiYsPZtISYECIpuCN_jaPC0GcTZ5_CkkuADHw7OG0zRlwXLsmRN7JChiyrfsmnX-DM0fQ5f14j8KQzEt3mwLYwurEVQ-LHQY0llr4d2L4qLS_AMyMp6ACu6jfLQbwYQDjg/s640/thumb_IMG_0550_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then we hiked to the top of a hill and had amazing views over all the fields. Also, did you notice there is a magical dragonfly in the top corner of this photo!?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWxR2LQrdEWWQWz6bIktvnaCV12-npnWI85bpa5Nuae45pTFzBDVIO5mbdq8pGyXcRbHlHMUoIpDwaPTMy4fEy4-DXSSX4ntTbhxgghcP4tIakz9c_tZWRK0yMiUwCA8mqXx0KDPOcHQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_0573_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixWxR2LQrdEWWQWz6bIktvnaCV12-npnWI85bpa5Nuae45pTFzBDVIO5mbdq8pGyXcRbHlHMUoIpDwaPTMy4fEy4-DXSSX4ntTbhxgghcP4tIakz9c_tZWRK0yMiUwCA8mqXx0KDPOcHQ/s640/thumb_IMG_0573_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then Parker forced us to go off-roading. We ended up trekking through these sketchy-ass cow paths and had to balance walking on the edges of the terraces - but how pretty is this view!?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2c159NT7O2A_oltvTpVuDyZsdp0KYrd67pNUI-pj9uhzx8d5f-xeh0Qok1uyRp05AP07FNVcipIoFkKMLeWU3YlepEw_3awcEpn1tKyFpV8oIYvumlGvJPoow96WQr2jUuBRJTdTG2w/s1600/thumb_IMG_0498_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil2c159NT7O2A_oltvTpVuDyZsdp0KYrd67pNUI-pj9uhzx8d5f-xeh0Qok1uyRp05AP07FNVcipIoFkKMLeWU3YlepEw_3awcEpn1tKyFpV8oIYvumlGvJPoow96WQr2jUuBRJTdTG2w/s640/thumb_IMG_0498_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">The rice terraces were amazing - even despite the long trek, crazy heat, and the fact that the winding mountain road and the bus barreling round its corners on the way back caused someone to vom all over the bus. Parks almost had to add himself to that list.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZdR4crXreW6FXXKugy-Z9c4X6uEYs9Ar8quNHtx5-Qlhit2YqB48Fq_sC3FUj2qL0st1EblJCO_0aFl9vUq3tOVj87xbKxg86W307_ZS54uuqG0NNNwjkixXAD-sIbALXO1mgzKAIbc/s1600/thumb_IMG_3822_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZdR4crXreW6FXXKugy-Z9c4X6uEYs9Ar8quNHtx5-Qlhit2YqB48Fq_sC3FUj2qL0st1EblJCO_0aFl9vUq3tOVj87xbKxg86W307_ZS54uuqG0NNNwjkixXAD-sIbALXO1mgzKAIbc/s640/thumb_IMG_3822_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">To top off our last Guilin night, we found a small little restaurant tucked away down an alley that had amazing hotpot. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span></div><div>
<ul>
<li>In the long-haired minority villages (there are a handful), it's a fact that no matter how old the women get - their hair never gets gray or white. It stays thick and black their entire lives. It's like a magical phenomena.</li>
<li>The longest hair in the villages exceeds 2 meters. The women grow it out because it's believed to bring luck, longevity and good fortune. Also, they work their old hair from their first haircut into their intricate hairstyles on their head.</li>
<li>Apparently when they court men in these villages, they show their interest by pinching men on their butts. Some people in our group got a big kick out of this.</li>
<li>The rice in this area of China is rumored to be the best rice of all time. It tasted delicious to me, but I always like rice. So...</li>
</ul>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br></div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-55821423037928161932016-07-10T23:49:00.000-07:002016-07-12T19:03:47.040-07:00Chengdu, China: PANDAS. ALL PANDAS.Since Parker's joined my trip, I've renamed my China trip as "My fancy China trip." Not staying in hostels for a hot minute has reminded me a little of a former life I used to live. #dramatic<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBL9517aPVpvc4Yc4R8lSiHSjFBFsBbZp4CfhaxsRyN-dCaEMtSVtG6w7eJJ5GiCODs_hg1dBSe38F1CckPTiVTzgL8ocFcmXc2p2AZZA824DO8KCIQ6dF0ncF0qJvz1F9e-SEYrmtoE/s1600/thumb_IMG_0202_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEBL9517aPVpvc4Yc4R8lSiHSjFBFsBbZp4CfhaxsRyN-dCaEMtSVtG6w7eJJ5GiCODs_hg1dBSe38F1CckPTiVTzgL8ocFcmXc2p2AZZA824DO8KCIQ6dF0ncF0qJvz1F9e-SEYrmtoE/s640/thumb_IMG_0202_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our fancy Chengdu hotel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
Anyhow, from Xi'an, it was onto the city of Chengdu!<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br>
</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br>
Chengdu is a city in the center of China, and it is all about pandas. Seriously. Only pandas. I'm not sure if any of you recognized the name, but it's where the Giant Panda Breeding Center is - and appropriately, every single thing in the city of Chengdu is panda-themed. Their post offices are even called the "Panda Post." Again, if there's one thing Asians love, it's a good theme.<br>
<br>
Central China is also known for its spicy cuisine, which Parker was excited for, while I was obviously excited for PANDAS. Chengdu didn't disappoint, and I don't know what I was expecting, but let me tell you that the Giant Panda Breeding Center is basically just a zoo crammed to the brim with pandas. Like, imagine a zoo where every enclosure is full of pandas. I'm sure there's breeding and science-y stuff going on too, but we sure didn't see it.<br>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHscA5v_LX8vEx9KIihzRYLgF-r5k_TXnTtYPrf2kVigMG7P1SVmSz07C0PsTDOPoxA5SglIewJNTHRsJX7QwesjCVrSEHkXDNRb3MJm9cf76cwzQmsH1v4lEhxuIMqFnY4FW33FWX_k/s1600/thumb_IMG_3670_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfHscA5v_LX8vEx9KIihzRYLgF-r5k_TXnTtYPrf2kVigMG7P1SVmSz07C0PsTDOPoxA5SglIewJNTHRsJX7QwesjCVrSEHkXDNRb3MJm9cf76cwzQmsH1v4lEhxuIMqFnY4FW33FWX_k/s640/thumb_IMG_3670_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HI PANDA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<br>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br>
<ul>
<li>Flew from Xi'an to Chengdu, checked into our fancy hotel (byeeeeee hostels), and then headed to a part of town with a couple fancy pedestrian streets that translate to the "Wide & Narrow Alleys" (宽窄巷子; Chinese to English translation is about as literal as it gets here). These streets were filled with snack foods, entertainment, and more shops.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4yD5XZHEUh07152qKYqkZdCiuuhADYD8VgOpfWMTWf3yYOU9HJGsOWRhCrU_3NkEfmV43Dfbmbwrpjho9zEH72PiFkiHnNh2F3bI-f-UH-Grrtrhg2JQrl-9oF-H5lSPocRHP0ooMxI/s1600/thumb_IMG_9867_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp4yD5XZHEUh07152qKYqkZdCiuuhADYD8VgOpfWMTWf3yYOU9HJGsOWRhCrU_3NkEfmV43Dfbmbwrpjho9zEH72PiFkiHnNh2F3bI-f-UH-Grrtrhg2JQrl-9oF-H5lSPocRHP0ooMxI/s640/thumb_IMG_9867_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Chinese people sure know how to pose. Pose credit goes to the older lady who posed here right before me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMwXwjnMSoDyPAqyHXL1XfXger4lzsL4G5M-qh4lP4jdibtfkTkfJFDqDfVFZe0Y6kZysPGYih2mrYG5yjMO1tXCIetkrd8UKX5BmFmGl_lkVpJwOipSK_QbNLWQqK4BBLyhfFaq_vQA/s1600/thumb_IMG_3561_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfMwXwjnMSoDyPAqyHXL1XfXger4lzsL4G5M-qh4lP4jdibtfkTkfJFDqDfVFZe0Y6kZysPGYih2mrYG5yjMO1tXCIetkrd8UKX5BmFmGl_lkVpJwOipSK_QbNLWQqK4BBLyhfFaq_vQA/s640/thumb_IMG_3561_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A nice fuzzy shot of the streets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PlY021D2CDLnnCcTl7lETWbTfOwelvjq-XSrI7T2ww0QomxP5LukviFS-tDkh33_mGlGHokWTQ84iFG9nj3mLvTgV6RPJ4hlV2nuFOL6wXXLUDgc7YRZOvr8-g-OTXg68O62dVut7cw/s1600/thumb_IMG_9881_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PlY021D2CDLnnCcTl7lETWbTfOwelvjq-XSrI7T2ww0QomxP5LukviFS-tDkh33_mGlGHokWTQ84iFG9nj3mLvTgV6RPJ4hlV2nuFOL6wXXLUDgc7YRZOvr8-g-OTXg68O62dVut7cw/s640/thumb_IMG_9881_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">An array of the snack options - I believe these are rabbit heads?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZ6UFlh5puczSBwNyiUlg0ZPhQXolFpyeXNf67ikuj4E1T7DQDLtH_xd4fvNyETvBUnPsUpIGGLb1UGN4C_8dp4vnitYzmur8ALZo9MvHcOvVSx047dqX5WO2JXkZP0BLm8irE-qEtU4/s1600/thumb_IMG_9873_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZ6UFlh5puczSBwNyiUlg0ZPhQXolFpyeXNf67ikuj4E1T7DQDLtH_xd4fvNyETvBUnPsUpIGGLb1UGN4C_8dp4vnitYzmur8ALZo9MvHcOvVSx047dqX5WO2JXkZP0BLm8irE-qEtU4/s640/thumb_IMG_9873_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then we immediately got to snacking</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZMxlH54tyUdR_wDPG81k3FsXfow4QyZIvCxuN_jX6Rn5w-4-YpJwT1iufFq-ukvODZCv8fHUFP7R-XHwRY5chkDXG7ykjaearai-OYvk3H5zjvllKWfkT7a6DlZ8TTXF51Hn7ddOMGA/s1600/thumb_IMG_9953_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZMxlH54tyUdR_wDPG81k3FsXfow4QyZIvCxuN_jX6Rn5w-4-YpJwT1iufFq-ukvODZCv8fHUFP7R-XHwRY5chkDXG7ykjaearai-OYvk3H5zjvllKWfkT7a6DlZ8TTXF51Hn7ddOMGA/s640/thumb_IMG_9953_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">These are some spicy cold noodles that are supposed to be known here. "Cold" may be aggressive, it was more "room temperature."</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc2yMYqg3LoQonvzuedMTQihVskHK9pBCinahHp8LYLTyenJhBwuK1EOdnUNX2W3xWEh_lZIbikXp47Gk8H3mY6QelizfkEaxWSfs0wLadm2C15XKppIzN0BpFvW-X-1d5xYcuA8SXhk/s1600/thumb_IMG_0024_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjc2yMYqg3LoQonvzuedMTQihVskHK9pBCinahHp8LYLTyenJhBwuK1EOdnUNX2W3xWEh_lZIbikXp47Gk8H3mY6QelizfkEaxWSfs0wLadm2C15XKppIzN0BpFvW-X-1d5xYcuA8SXhk/s640/thumb_IMG_0024_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Snacks snacks snacks. China is not so good for the waistline. Also, we've uncovered a pattern on snack streets - where Parker chooses all the meat sticks/main courses to snack on, and I only seem to like dessert and beverage items. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhM8zxUgCpoPg7ROS0W6MIKNCjTRDuw6Q9JmjyvAgkWNxy6kuYClhFcgx63BkMcGOnZWdklSVPg3ToiKOjiWxlRVb5P0ZI2mcKLnCP0hXV2CKdaeWgE0Ffhrl_0mWun64dkl0tKWbPME/s1600/thumb_IMG_9917_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhM8zxUgCpoPg7ROS0W6MIKNCjTRDuw6Q9JmjyvAgkWNxy6kuYClhFcgx63BkMcGOnZWdklSVPg3ToiKOjiWxlRVb5P0ZI2mcKLnCP0hXV2CKdaeWgE0Ffhrl_0mWun64dkl0tKWbPME/s640/thumb_IMG_9917_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then we had a beer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8nZquZ59C8G6A6nCGOB7r-wIJDEGxGj6gMxrY1zaY0aZMDOSjHwHpS_8L3pOivQpJyBu6r2-0eruWNEsmj-VF1CWU1KCoqjkY9JFlABm1uG2ZoEobFKK4U_0alA2SuE9FHG5BCzM8To/s1600/thumb_IMG_9901_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ8nZquZ59C8G6A6nCGOB7r-wIJDEGxGj6gMxrY1zaY0aZMDOSjHwHpS_8L3pOivQpJyBu6r2-0eruWNEsmj-VF1CWU1KCoqjkY9JFlABm1uG2ZoEobFKK4U_0alA2SuE9FHG5BCzM8To/s640/thumb_IMG_9901_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we had fancy tea at a teahouse garden</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrTVN4KFKQ27DFGGJikRyGlySz12B9_SZIqlInzPOGrMGQAMFIEJ6Dms13le-b_OVO-x4Rl83E-gp-d6rkDkKwYNYAJNPEeaPZztbyej-NKS9xuVcR2KGaM8YZZGf8Xmb7opn_Lj9vc0/s1600/thumb_IMG_3557_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQrTVN4KFKQ27DFGGJikRyGlySz12B9_SZIqlInzPOGrMGQAMFIEJ6Dms13le-b_OVO-x4Rl83E-gp-d6rkDkKwYNYAJNPEeaPZztbyej-NKS9xuVcR2KGaM8YZZGf8Xmb7opn_Lj9vc0/s640/thumb_IMG_3557_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our fancy teas, green tea and chrysanthemum. I also looked up how to drink tea properly - you're supposed to hold the saucer with one hand, then use the other one to hold the cap on the tea at an angle so that you're not slurping up the tea debris.<br>
<div>
<br></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRMdk0itEQVQmfjVjPWYf-FWyjpwH3zh6PoDbuzYevo-UTNK13xGR1Vq76MdCGjsm4Vq91o-4xerLPVmHScstA668_ljex4IP7jpOgHmTqscMK9IyRnDjrPhez1UQHzQSMUtXupnBY-M/s1600/thumb_IMG_9915_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRMdk0itEQVQmfjVjPWYf-FWyjpwH3zh6PoDbuzYevo-UTNK13xGR1Vq76MdCGjsm4Vq91o-4xerLPVmHScstA668_ljex4IP7jpOgHmTqscMK9IyRnDjrPhez1UQHzQSMUtXupnBY-M/s640/thumb_IMG_9915_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we bought panda postcards and mailed them by Panda Post</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuCPF4HErmiV5Bjm_awFJHEN8vFvrr0dIGek0MprtdPALPz67lJibnadNVBuumFJ8QsTo3aleAe2hFZSBq5FYeiCYyIL21CAbWDSsljFQefWXZOyneFZivDvXLNqowIdzofYmJBzSXPE/s1600/thumb_IMG_9976_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUuCPF4HErmiV5Bjm_awFJHEN8vFvrr0dIGek0MprtdPALPz67lJibnadNVBuumFJ8QsTo3aleAe2hFZSBq5FYeiCYyIL21CAbWDSsljFQefWXZOyneFZivDvXLNqowIdzofYmJBzSXPE/s640/thumb_IMG_9976_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we stumbled across a restaurant with a snazzy lobby that everyone and their mom was taking photos of, so we joined the party.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdfwve1nx6YXfmN2JeQzoPH8jifosqR48K1f2apfThNuKaiMDGPQV7FpFlZiJ8M23sxODe1CoNY8sMeZ6bYSu8VSNhGv885ZNLj8T5y1j9UfwFFxBMYZruUqIIOFpdiUB_n6b6Dq36ys/s1600/thumb_IMG_3642_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZdfwve1nx6YXfmN2JeQzoPH8jifosqR48K1f2apfThNuKaiMDGPQV7FpFlZiJ8M23sxODe1CoNY8sMeZ6bYSu8VSNhGv885ZNLj8T5y1j9UfwFFxBMYZruUqIIOFpdiUB_n6b6Dq36ys/s640/thumb_IMG_3642_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fancy Starbucks, 2nd installment</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4L0OL8jBAHpXFR6QJAdyVBFdnI0krULzoQecgNlcUyxAaQbVlYSeTm-gh1K1xYSBxxZvgto09vacIyIrXqYQX6lGo5NCyHO7MPfmtLz3EP-lNVpCvEX5Pl38ygey96k55lh5B9sDYxs/s640/thumb_IMG_3645_1024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From there, we walked over to the People's Park - in China, you will always see groups of older women doing synchronized dancing. It's a community thing. I could seriously watch this all day. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4L0OL8jBAHpXFR6QJAdyVBFdnI0krULzoQecgNlcUyxAaQbVlYSeTm-gh1K1xYSBxxZvgto09vacIyIrXqYQX6lGo5NCyHO7MPfmtLz3EP-lNVpCvEX5Pl38ygey96k55lh5B9sDYxs/s1600/thumb_IMG_3645_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4L0OL8jBAHpXFR6QJAdyVBFdnI0krULzoQecgNlcUyxAaQbVlYSeTm-gh1K1xYSBxxZvgto09vacIyIrXqYQX6lGo5NCyHO7MPfmtLz3EP-lNVpCvEX5Pl38ygey96k55lh5B9sDYxs/s1600/thumb_IMG_3645_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOq_4xjZQ54Av4fGnj4P8oGWVO07xiSAyJ2ORuQpbXWS5B5UcSLFb3HQBzzkOHi1m4vb7T5PuVwmvs2hjUx02Ozl_naetfFQCkyy-3mb7j1AN4HNThJYoTgAfGDTMm_clpBj2pOlCJsf0/s1600/thumb_IMG_3648_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOq_4xjZQ54Av4fGnj4P8oGWVO07xiSAyJ2ORuQpbXWS5B5UcSLFb3HQBzzkOHi1m4vb7T5PuVwmvs2hjUx02Ozl_naetfFQCkyy-3mb7j1AN4HNThJYoTgAfGDTMm_clpBj2pOlCJsf0/s640/thumb_IMG_3648_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I happened to catch Parker walking by, but what I was really trying to take a photo of was this woman who is wearing a fanny pack/waist belt with a built-in platform for her baby to stand on. Amazing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RW-Cm1R0Lpq3d1eqzbAqgIp0tpvzEAheFFGW3JlvMnkGUFY4MzdcgJSeRpFUzp5Hc0tG3aOG3aHiJ5ctxK1wPy8YV5Uzwi4vd3IhUlPEEmg_0HTE1lelTpjBiU5EsZZmzc9THowmTQc/s1600/thumb_IMG_3651_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9RW-Cm1R0Lpq3d1eqzbAqgIp0tpvzEAheFFGW3JlvMnkGUFY4MzdcgJSeRpFUzp5Hc0tG3aOG3aHiJ5ctxK1wPy8YV5Uzwi4vd3IhUlPEEmg_0HTE1lelTpjBiU5EsZZmzc9THowmTQc/s640/thumb_IMG_3651_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Later that evening, we were walking along the river near our hotel in search of a drink when we found a crazy waterside club/bar with a super long line outside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGI276X_4Agu2Zrere0Bn_9ld0bM4xMe_-mzOHH_NpLMjjJV3fiHg15ISnY33dUmtEQnfPaQcCcst-XfBLCBk_5Jm7QHux8jPuuGiHqPjx91CGPpbLDZ0xpsT88q1uyNMfbxJoJt8K_Y/s1600/thumb_IMG_3650_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGI276X_4Agu2Zrere0Bn_9ld0bM4xMe_-mzOHH_NpLMjjJV3fiHg15ISnY33dUmtEQnfPaQcCcst-XfBLCBk_5Jm7QHux8jPuuGiHqPjx91CGPpbLDZ0xpsT88q1uyNMfbxJoJt8K_Y/s640/thumb_IMG_3650_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We maybe skipped the line and wandered in (WHEN IN CHINA) and were seated at the bar anyway. Every table seemed to be playing a series of crazy drinking games involving tons and tons of shots. Even the people who seemed to be on dates had trays of shots on their table. This bar does not play.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM72ZGKJhF6nknsd9zRG7-CFfROC-1Kjcrpby-6j0elAirX47SBajBEq_AZvx7kA4Pq-1P_b7MKIQxyKTIQ4P_97w9cGRbLeISknHSlkbFTGDkWDEdb3aTIs9E5DBcNN6ovKN28eoffAM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3654_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM72ZGKJhF6nknsd9zRG7-CFfROC-1Kjcrpby-6j0elAirX47SBajBEq_AZvx7kA4Pq-1P_b7MKIQxyKTIQ4P_97w9cGRbLeISknHSlkbFTGDkWDEdb3aTIs9E5DBcNN6ovKN28eoffAM/s640/thumb_IMG_3654_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Post drinks, we wandered by a street guy doing henna tattoos, which he claimed would "last for weeks" (spoiler alert: they didn't). Parker and I made an agreement that we would choose each other's tattoos (without being able to see what it was beforehand), and where they would be placed on each other. I maybe made Parker get his on his chest.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7GMuIY1FemEfV_KjDv6Uy6JG_TkN8zD381XNJ5iJ1YLNSdBHzgat7rFhLMMkEraYkCi2UCVIxvVBUO4BagxnodUTTzGoYhhYwo6sc_x_lBbNkiZKf10rWMlvrzF7lTJ34TPA6acWWBc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4912_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG7GMuIY1FemEfV_KjDv6Uy6JG_TkN8zD381XNJ5iJ1YLNSdBHzgat7rFhLMMkEraYkCi2UCVIxvVBUO4BagxnodUTTzGoYhhYwo6sc_x_lBbNkiZKf10rWMlvrzF7lTJ34TPA6acWWBc/s640/thumb_IMG_4912_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our new tats. Parker's says "Too fast to live, too young to die" in Gothic font, and mine is a big gun that says "kill you" (Parker said it made him think of me immediately. Thanks, Parks).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlo33xQZx_4-hVCmGapfjN1imI2hDhIV5zHFaTc3H7p2NEi7TMPr2dbrPO_-g5dNhUjhgz1IjAvHHapBh7G_OA9_mzgkMnTUZzZ84iddm6ixqACxNKAXd6E3shyphenhyphenPXk2WHy1s8paTUNBM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3658_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFlo33xQZx_4-hVCmGapfjN1imI2hDhIV5zHFaTc3H7p2NEi7TMPr2dbrPO_-g5dNhUjhgz1IjAvHHapBh7G_OA9_mzgkMnTUZzZ84iddm6ixqACxNKAXd6E3shyphenhyphenPXk2WHy1s8paTUNBM/s640/thumb_IMG_3658_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">There were tons and tons of raucous outdoor bars filled with people by the waterfront. It was an awesome atmosphere. If only we didn't have to get up early for the pandas....</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Next day, panda day! You're supposed to get to the center early, because the pandas are apparently more active in the morning when it is less hot. Luckily, we went on a fairly overcast day, so it wasn't ridiculously warm.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<ul>
</ul>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cYi7nFJnDja45ADmm-IzTK8Ft17QjT89sKB0jmTu-9R8fQhAv1ZBVr5bIjTcxnOWw8whBfNBoFHyD-AKaSNdhxYstoAgZl0mdV9aDv7FRKPW9exL7-G1FC0wKj3s56eHAyqdeqw5_Fo/s1600/thumb_IMG_3701_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cYi7nFJnDja45ADmm-IzTK8Ft17QjT89sKB0jmTu-9R8fQhAv1ZBVr5bIjTcxnOWw8whBfNBoFHyD-AKaSNdhxYstoAgZl0mdV9aDv7FRKPW9exL7-G1FC0wKj3s56eHAyqdeqw5_Fo/s640/thumb_IMG_3701_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They should really work on making the name less of a mouthful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrP8zp9gBocAuE9wBRNLUs5lH6R7kH-dj-kze9pqOGopyWg7L43Fr-qjL_sEsAV2CiKdIQb3V0-xx4O4kqqNyCQ0vXV5iWdUseD4Isw120fdRC6AfN6LtOSarqutMpwS8BegpeCEm6GMg/s1600/thumb_IMG_0146_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrP8zp9gBocAuE9wBRNLUs5lH6R7kH-dj-kze9pqOGopyWg7L43Fr-qjL_sEsAV2CiKdIQb3V0-xx4O4kqqNyCQ0vXV5iWdUseD4Isw120fdRC6AfN6LtOSarqutMpwS8BegpeCEm6GMg/s640/thumb_IMG_0146_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the building is shaped like a giant panda!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br style="text-align: start;"></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EJFMSJQWs7PTPne8NbyEbGe_GmwCtwShtyQR4P2t8TGeFhw8DqXE7DOeRKzKA6bEQ0p069lr9aZfRgtzXWv_FaO_NSvuE331qV78tEVVBx1yrlCwNa8jjz34e3P66_NtzdmX_z7Nd9k/s1600/thumb_IMG_0039_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EJFMSJQWs7PTPne8NbyEbGe_GmwCtwShtyQR4P2t8TGeFhw8DqXE7DOeRKzKA6bEQ0p069lr9aZfRgtzXWv_FaO_NSvuE331qV78tEVVBx1yrlCwNa8jjz34e3P66_NtzdmX_z7Nd9k/s640/thumb_IMG_0039_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our first panda sighting! He seemed a little sad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDK-dLf62FKWvmEzrfEkBNUxOaGSXGiZ45kTZrwr1seKuqi6nQLXPDywN3hAYiSgHsTVEMHyq0h9y7X9UaUN72I8YgLQnRIqVbn1IHGkaYVla7RVWlPuVElp5zUoVY8iVDhFiuJ7uZeo/s1600/thumb_IMG_0047_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDK-dLf62FKWvmEzrfEkBNUxOaGSXGiZ45kTZrwr1seKuqi6nQLXPDywN3hAYiSgHsTVEMHyq0h9y7X9UaUN72I8YgLQnRIqVbn1IHGkaYVla7RVWlPuVElp5zUoVY8iVDhFiuJ7uZeo/s640/thumb_IMG_0047_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The pandas we saw kept trying to claw their way indoors. I think that's where they get fed, maybe? It really was like a giant zoo. And similar to zoos, the whole thing made me a little sad for the pandas.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w68_KXJvrCAqAky_0iYLJhEGFKvjFel2EUR2jxGfrYADUGplsF39nUvY7KcLtysytYNYstAGY_YeaFGZyKx92eprzb0yjFo3YJqV57vCW7I663qwnJCodGurmCpzSRBUSk7kZwSUAtE/s1600/thumb_IMG_0085_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-w68_KXJvrCAqAky_0iYLJhEGFKvjFel2EUR2jxGfrYADUGplsF39nUvY7KcLtysytYNYstAGY_YeaFGZyKx92eprzb0yjFo3YJqV57vCW7I663qwnJCodGurmCpzSRBUSk7kZwSUAtE/s640/thumb_IMG_0085_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I swear this panda is staring right into our souls.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br style="text-align: start;"></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-fuAU5TuboSeu54hUb0pf0B6cKK1nxUlf673MHr5UYkexKY8jvOKA6_y1sBRTLmMAdcEBnZ4oJ7wjmrjKpuSturnr7UGujIdfMZz6I_hfV0vp0kIFINpq48ge5tC7gRWBtSMeLD0BbI/s1600/thumb_IMG_3690_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK-fuAU5TuboSeu54hUb0pf0B6cKK1nxUlf673MHr5UYkexKY8jvOKA6_y1sBRTLmMAdcEBnZ4oJ7wjmrjKpuSturnr7UGujIdfMZz6I_hfV0vp0kIFINpq48ge5tC7gRWBtSMeLD0BbI/s640/thumb_IMG_3690_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pandas don't really do much, besides lay around.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHuUgfyax86QmGGo90B6mJbdVnktRidh4e_OvJ9iklwEKOpd21Ipvy27087Zj3Oic6ntLl6OHXWRiJwCqc9F-1JAlaE7KFciTHwnKPJ7ByKpaWAlL6OxTPekuLFy5PntBF1OFSFZKCnU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3698_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBHuUgfyax86QmGGo90B6mJbdVnktRidh4e_OvJ9iklwEKOpd21Ipvy27087Zj3Oic6ntLl6OHXWRiJwCqc9F-1JAlaE7KFciTHwnKPJ7ByKpaWAlL6OxTPekuLFy5PntBF1OFSFZKCnU/s640/thumb_IMG_3698_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">*sigh*</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2J6jozZ3X9OomjKs4kqZdo9eaNPRB5NxodUjJRhBOEjP3f9XUqqtCouGUgQW1UzDh5DcQZ40uARBrjSo9cTvEAx3UnXfNAKbEHl57rPuzyUTfRiIs5Vri7c4RzH700W9jE0xm5024Cg/s1600/thumb_IMG_3689_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2J6jozZ3X9OomjKs4kqZdo9eaNPRB5NxodUjJRhBOEjP3f9XUqqtCouGUgQW1UzDh5DcQZ40uARBrjSo9cTvEAx3UnXfNAKbEHl57rPuzyUTfRiIs5Vri7c4RzH700W9jE0xm5024Cg/s640/thumb_IMG_3689_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Panda friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw3zABiKdxKE0DMeRzC1vCzcaUZmKe1XdFaq_Q422KA6dZIcqT16JL9e8ph7FQnciawNPksWf39P-AhZkA-Vjr0nV1InTJR87ZJiQuz2kVsxLlvtmO1btSQUvE2oaxtVlgx51YEENpdc/s1600/thumb_IMG_3691_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmw3zABiKdxKE0DMeRzC1vCzcaUZmKe1XdFaq_Q422KA6dZIcqT16JL9e8ph7FQnciawNPksWf39P-AhZkA-Vjr0nV1InTJR87ZJiQuz2kVsxLlvtmO1btSQUvE2oaxtVlgx51YEENpdc/s640/thumb_IMG_3691_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I cannot understand how this is comfortable</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<ul>
<li>And then there was a long line to see some of the panda babies. Except people in China don't seem to know how to use lines. Nevertheless, we finally got inside.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihTKc-MmfvkaQXxT6hZf_ySVQMxmB1NNWigkNeK98vaF5VUJznYgNTvYjqhssFkKsuN9AOZezK-PlK19LaJvDRPLaqP2aIb2MFGO-n4YKwFB3ECqYl7sADgHK6v79Aeey-0wZD6GLoYA/s1600/thumb_IMG_3677_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgihTKc-MmfvkaQXxT6hZf_ySVQMxmB1NNWigkNeK98vaF5VUJznYgNTvYjqhssFkKsuN9AOZezK-PlK19LaJvDRPLaqP2aIb2MFGO-n4YKwFB3ECqYl7sADgHK6v79Aeey-0wZD6GLoYA/s640/thumb_IMG_3677_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eeeeeeep a panda baby!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy9RiwW2qP8Pewbg_6Hu7oHLV5p98YF8Eu9jEwDJPBP54T9v3oc39GNs_Eoxh9rYdDnShXYk_QQn36PgE5IomeENgKUwPVlVVt1tY0GiIqtTOYg0wpsnLh5onxkpmD-hb9vY6OsOyWug/s1600/thumb_IMG_0070_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGy9RiwW2qP8Pewbg_6Hu7oHLV5p98YF8Eu9jEwDJPBP54T9v3oc39GNs_Eoxh9rYdDnShXYk_QQn36PgE5IomeENgKUwPVlVVt1tY0GiIqtTOYg0wpsnLh5onxkpmD-hb9vY6OsOyWug/s640/thumb_IMG_0070_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">EAT THIS NOW<br>
Ok, maybe she's just gently bottle-feeding the baby panda...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSAg5KkqIsPbcLtNG4VeNg2TnbyleXZkcwvxjsRL3VZZtZrAFPih2KhCKzesCgsRzuddFtrTxBfUpDA7UYwwfrMoTlLt6TbnitFIkj8Gv0rRvDUeFKz8zoCt2Xze1oZnEoHI2E2QlUQ0/s1600/thumb_IMG_3678_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvSAg5KkqIsPbcLtNG4VeNg2TnbyleXZkcwvxjsRL3VZZtZrAFPih2KhCKzesCgsRzuddFtrTxBfUpDA7UYwwfrMoTlLt6TbnitFIkj8Gv0rRvDUeFKz8zoCt2Xze1oZnEoHI2E2QlUQ0/s640/thumb_IMG_3678_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh man, pandas are ugly when they're little.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVhEKxA-a_AZnIgD99dIaRGyQhE2Y9WPSEYGi1TFE7fkserX5tU32hKry8e1Z0IcEGPI9zG8JjBQH-PyxsBWhwbtWd8GDRllrLgqDYs0X0ke3Ei0uzHZsl7xhgPwaoQNnxCoMbFza3nA/s1600/thumb_IMG_3679_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQVhEKxA-a_AZnIgD99dIaRGyQhE2Y9WPSEYGi1TFE7fkserX5tU32hKry8e1Z0IcEGPI9zG8JjBQH-PyxsBWhwbtWd8GDRllrLgqDYs0X0ke3Ei0uzHZsl7xhgPwaoQNnxCoMbFza3nA/s640/thumb_IMG_3679_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a super super newborn baby pands. Even more pink and rat-looking.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHYo_k0OC9eo_hnpm-IjXJm3iVjQyLPz1jNW3cIRZrJy1tfM8zzkgXr1V-uk-mB2xBreb2QL4En5U7NU6f0N1bPvt6LNXVG2ukFrBgu9QY9eHI4zc2d8jQKDy8dTZdOV0vhCTCSiT8aM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3693_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqHYo_k0OC9eo_hnpm-IjXJm3iVjQyLPz1jNW3cIRZrJy1tfM8zzkgXr1V-uk-mB2xBreb2QL4En5U7NU6f0N1bPvt6LNXVG2ukFrBgu9QY9eHI4zc2d8jQKDy8dTZdOV0vhCTCSiT8aM/s640/thumb_IMG_3693_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But then, we came to a part that didn't make us sad - red pandas!! They had this huge enclosure where it seemed like they could roam freely - and you could walk in and out of it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePLROM36DvTA4IhFZxrdhO2I_zkbeq2dQOei9a7f3m9DAef0VH9QlqOa7eV_53tadjI5BMQLkHzIpHuno1jhStYFx_NV0s8evyQXYQJf_mmazTKQer9lkPZBLeUMl8jmkzfqEcJoewak/s1600/thumb_IMG_3696_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePLROM36DvTA4IhFZxrdhO2I_zkbeq2dQOei9a7f3m9DAef0VH9QlqOa7eV_53tadjI5BMQLkHzIpHuno1jhStYFx_NV0s8evyQXYQJf_mmazTKQer9lkPZBLeUMl8jmkzfqEcJoewak/s640/thumb_IMG_3696_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I AM OBSESSED WITH THE FACIAL EXPRESSION OF THIS RED PANDA.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhjooXPhpiPLPGV0cPIuWXT0Dm6ZWwNS-oAUUtX7ZpbxHtd1CBaXtG2Aa3OkPjgTux7BaWXPCXrOjAO5sb6lzVIDUqbixuUlvdf6xXw-2BdmDaiKlQsyPYL2wuQETDHrEV3bO92EnZMk/s1600/thumb_IMG_0127_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmhjooXPhpiPLPGV0cPIuWXT0Dm6ZWwNS-oAUUtX7ZpbxHtd1CBaXtG2Aa3OkPjgTux7BaWXPCXrOjAO5sb6lzVIDUqbixuUlvdf6xXw-2BdmDaiKlQsyPYL2wuQETDHrEV3bO92EnZMk/s640/thumb_IMG_0127_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">There was also a pond with tons of huge fish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGxZb9M5RgAmtKOmsSEFAyxGqkFr1mE9jrIXyZonir9TTLnhx3245v-XGpuavpZpVi_X7Oz-t25Pq_w8Z9l0aVEW38VhNbC2rN_arSul61q5ifz_GKuxfcY9PHiH7SruVzOUSY0diXTw/s1600/thumb_IMG_0111_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVGxZb9M5RgAmtKOmsSEFAyxGqkFr1mE9jrIXyZonir9TTLnhx3245v-XGpuavpZpVi_X7Oz-t25Pq_w8Z9l0aVEW38VhNbC2rN_arSul61q5ifz_GKuxfcY9PHiH7SruVzOUSY0diXTw/s640/thumb_IMG_0111_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And to top it all off, there was a cafe inside the zoo where stuffed pandas were sitting in the chairs. Like, you could have a drink/coffee/snack with a stuffed panda. I want to be disdainful of this idea.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<ul>
<li>Pandas are great, and I loved getting to see so many of them - but if zoos make you sad, you're probably not going to fall head over heels for the breeding facility. Did you know, Parker doesn't even really like pandas. Monster.</li>
<li>From the panda park, we headed to another bustling pedestrian street called Jinli Street - there is seriously one (or a couple!) of these in every Chinese city. They're always full of shops and eats and tourists, and the buildings are always laid out in a "I look old but am actually very new" kind of style. I love these streets.</li>
</ul>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6PTn2WSTP51ShOV8dB5vufNtM8lCa-qx5o4OitmJbTpGPvGAwMYcht6h8gHCaD245TX3KKf2xsPmYSn8SHlEFpNAcIu99xi5wyJ6ZmNt0HSpRqJIlQZJWlYcWNkoLaHhFBuzUAHHn9g/s1600/thumb_IMG_3702_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6PTn2WSTP51ShOV8dB5vufNtM8lCa-qx5o4OitmJbTpGPvGAwMYcht6h8gHCaD245TX3KKf2xsPmYSn8SHlEFpNAcIu99xi5wyJ6ZmNt0HSpRqJIlQZJWlYcWNkoLaHhFBuzUAHHn9g/s640/thumb_IMG_3702_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But first, a lunch of spicy mapo tofu!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94-uk_D3S9UYPYSGUT1jr6IV0IblryallDZRvwPm0wr-0GHVSahpkMSfdav35ES4jAnTpo6lXOcb3DPKCZ1I61QSG_xFKgsKYH3HEHvA9C1eN4P3hKelPBHPzAmuWj_eW70x6bUaeicM/s1600/thumb_IMG_0148_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94-uk_D3S9UYPYSGUT1jr6IV0IblryallDZRvwPm0wr-0GHVSahpkMSfdav35ES4jAnTpo6lXOcb3DPKCZ1I61QSG_xFKgsKYH3HEHvA9C1eN4P3hKelPBHPzAmuWj_eW70x6bUaeicM/s640/thumb_IMG_0148_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jinli Pedestrian Street, complete with Fancy Starbucks, Installment #3.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qK6fd2vu6ti2diu5Zo-YEPd-WBDciLPZuvybGci5w0X_HjhIzZaKgyVjwowBeWh-2FRNIEeDXpQwCnwKPU2ni_sr3oOz8W9npweJjlueFamiK1zdS95jgseENVGgOKpjCzQFmCOL6nE/s1600/thumb_IMG_0157_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2qK6fd2vu6ti2diu5Zo-YEPd-WBDciLPZuvybGci5w0X_HjhIzZaKgyVjwowBeWh-2FRNIEeDXpQwCnwKPU2ni_sr3oOz8W9npweJjlueFamiK1zdS95jgseENVGgOKpjCzQFmCOL6nE/s640/thumb_IMG_0157_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">All Chinese tourists</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXbNyM2DkuIwrFZp92N2IUcU8jhtfdeqvQM3tzj12xmvlq2zszOV_1j9jR3FRLshuif7lTsyzCKCx9SIfBrbPxF_FmsKdLB-MTQyBOrlYkLJM2PKkUgg-uBNTWpC_VqtBaZ_-8nJc6-8/s1600/thumb_IMG_0158_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXbNyM2DkuIwrFZp92N2IUcU8jhtfdeqvQM3tzj12xmvlq2zszOV_1j9jR3FRLshuif7lTsyzCKCx9SIfBrbPxF_FmsKdLB-MTQyBOrlYkLJM2PKkUgg-uBNTWpC_VqtBaZ_-8nJc6-8/s640/thumb_IMG_0158_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Stinky durian fruit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8_B4ZFh4P-2673v5LXscxar3m8BFRDZmWcz1kUVVr6bp9ANT26ygkozOV_v9Q4tZiF85MUV2ntaLcTlhWitrH7PqMWXP2871bki-wSCDb9Dl3v32VmAUXikg9f-X9gLcHdLxKwAz9FI/s1600/thumb_IMG_0169_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU8_B4ZFh4P-2673v5LXscxar3m8BFRDZmWcz1kUVVr6bp9ANT26ygkozOV_v9Q4tZiF85MUV2ntaLcTlhWitrH7PqMWXP2871bki-wSCDb9Dl3v32VmAUXikg9f-X9gLcHdLxKwAz9FI/s640/thumb_IMG_0169_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I think these are cooked pigeons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrLdJUvPW1S8fI4eSwHhjy0Ntdo5qMLebK7vRlHKSMgqbbgQoEZN2vXIZPzv7CKSshqcJ3jiMr3P_OabXtYUOdpKpuhC1le428JsGtjgtIfinrM5rbDkeSjgMzKxG7WFYhEhgH1BfU4k/s1600/thumb_IMG_0154_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSrLdJUvPW1S8fI4eSwHhjy0Ntdo5qMLebK7vRlHKSMgqbbgQoEZN2vXIZPzv7CKSshqcJ3jiMr3P_OabXtYUOdpKpuhC1le428JsGtjgtIfinrM5rbDkeSjgMzKxG7WFYhEhgH1BfU4k/s640/thumb_IMG_0154_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Parker bought a giant fancy painting from this man, who basically looks like the most authentic Chinese artist ever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEx1AN3o8A6Z1-TLVCVl_DVBNiGXE4czJHH2bL4gVQxAz-w-w_7hDSWXV9ej2Dl1nUkWg6lLFtIOcfEQ48Vf8WRqjUI7dpF4oKEEOTgIQI9bLsH8bWwhOLFpdouLUoeRHiTjYD3-8DagY/s1600/thumb_IMG_0173_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEx1AN3o8A6Z1-TLVCVl_DVBNiGXE4czJHH2bL4gVQxAz-w-w_7hDSWXV9ej2Dl1nUkWg6lLFtIOcfEQ48Vf8WRqjUI7dpF4oKEEOTgIQI9bLsH8bWwhOLFpdouLUoeRHiTjYD3-8DagY/s640/thumb_IMG_0173_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A pretty lake near the street</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRMsNzSq2Zn8V4Vq2zuRA8-tTQMHHQY3Wjfg1guVvl8UfM7oe1slVjbNcM7rX4RN5ybOd6uaQdqo1vLr3gUCjAOSidHFVLDa-t_kAsTHbWVYrsdPDBQidhIAhIN15bxrjct1WeKZhuOA/s1600/thumb_IMG_0180_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRMsNzSq2Zn8V4Vq2zuRA8-tTQMHHQY3Wjfg1guVvl8UfM7oe1slVjbNcM7rX4RN5ybOd6uaQdqo1vLr3gUCjAOSidHFVLDa-t_kAsTHbWVYrsdPDBQidhIAhIN15bxrjct1WeKZhuOA/s640/thumb_IMG_0180_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Eggs stuffed with rice</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<ul>
<li>In the cab home from Jinli, we noticed a "hair & scalp treatment" place near our hotel - so we ventured over there in hopes that we could get our hair washed. Getting your hair washed is a thing in Asia, btw - I think I described it in my Taiwan blog, but basically someone washes your hair and puts lots of amazing products in it, and then massages your scalp and neck, and then styles your hair. It's usually very cheap and incredibly amazing. I like it when people touch my head. Anyhow. The salon did do hair washing - not only that, they did this thing where they soaked our hair/head in Chinese medicine before washing, claiming we'd get all these health benefits and the best night's sleep ever (seriously, I did sleep like a rock that night). It was AMAZE.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI8CLft_7ocIBQ6sF739SQvFS6Wy-n5uO8fiu2CVNlDxMOZrmbkFPe7b7Z0lMJYZqc27ju1qj419PVf3CW1vWzzPkmrw-TUl7Uu71Lux0aViPkQyhZ4PjqS9nVbnj5ftp93ZVvmSjG7M/s1600/thumb_IMG_3706_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUI8CLft_7ocIBQ6sF739SQvFS6Wy-n5uO8fiu2CVNlDxMOZrmbkFPe7b7Z0lMJYZqc27ju1qj419PVf3CW1vWzzPkmrw-TUl7Uu71Lux0aViPkQyhZ4PjqS9nVbnj5ftp93ZVvmSjG7M/s640/thumb_IMG_3706_1024.jpg" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When styling our hair, they asked Parker how he'd like to do his. He told one of the hair guys that he wanted his hair to look just like his. So the guy is meticulously styling Parker's hair like his own. It took a long time. I can't believe this guy does this every day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebY7_FisyIx1kcyiUpEaYRByBanD3JSYDkNWqYPRMFOyx6-COM6-xb9jhUdeuxT-8nLzMhD9ETMNyYqUCX7BcIT4vHs2S3S72SL6bNX-TUvUzKGE1QDV49JoiH-GRmIr6KPukoD2387o/s1600/thumb_IMG_3708_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgebY7_FisyIx1kcyiUpEaYRByBanD3JSYDkNWqYPRMFOyx6-COM6-xb9jhUdeuxT-8nLzMhD9ETMNyYqUCX7BcIT4vHs2S3S72SL6bNX-TUvUzKGE1QDV49JoiH-GRmIr6KPukoD2387o/s640/thumb_IMG_3708_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parker and his hair muse. I loved it. I told Parker he looked just like Johnny Bravo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVi35J6zys5AT4yo3XplaptwwAvnCT-JjZOWSBWKSkSGrRMYN4BTlkIcEIHyAOdD5234fq0XG2Y2cyZqUJP3jqiu-UHyt4pJ4O1pf3emnXCAIZbljO45Z5N4sdqkFAoJlrc-EyooFa74U/s1600/thumb_IMG_0188_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVi35J6zys5AT4yo3XplaptwwAvnCT-JjZOWSBWKSkSGrRMYN4BTlkIcEIHyAOdD5234fq0XG2Y2cyZqUJP3jqiu-UHyt4pJ4O1pf3emnXCAIZbljO45Z5N4sdqkFAoJlrc-EyooFa74U/s640/thumb_IMG_0188_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">With our new hair and scalps full of Chinese medicine, we headed over to have hotpot for dinner - which Chengdu is known for</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoY18hSOrsrZRlonFpMLDgQoE3RTi7LzpdF7liqGBMJ2H4rVBvF0dJC1DjRnMCCodV_XYbhqJRY6jwCptmZAQtLnekkFhjL4T2-kUjA2EvyOqEKWFpV2DsFVwqy54qPbgzVFd1IW1EmY/s1600/thumb_IMG_0197_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoY18hSOrsrZRlonFpMLDgQoE3RTi7LzpdF7liqGBMJ2H4rVBvF0dJC1DjRnMCCodV_XYbhqJRY6jwCptmZAQtLnekkFhjL4T2-kUjA2EvyOqEKWFpV2DsFVwqy54qPbgzVFd1IW1EmY/s640/thumb_IMG_0197_1024.jpg" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I think you can tell which side is Parker's (spicy), and which side is mind (bland). Great last meal in Chengdu.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br>
<ul>
<li>All popcorn in China is kettle corn. Don't order popcorn thinking it will be a delicious salty treat, because it will be sweet. You've been warned.</li>
<li>There are only about 1,600 pandas left in the wild. They're not too great at breeding, plus their habitat keeps getting destroyed.</li>
<li>Visiting a sight on a weekend vs. a weekday makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE in China. On weekdays, major sights will see tons of Chinese tourists. On weekends, it's like the world is ending, with 100x the volume. Seriously. </li>
</ul>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-78393706251566061002016-07-10T23:23:00.003-07:002016-07-10T23:23:53.987-07:00Xi'an, China: Terracotta Warriors and the Muslim QuarterFrom Beijing, Parker and I headed to the city of Xi'an - home to the famous Terracotta Warriors and one of China's four ancient capitals. It's about 5 hours from Beijing by high-speed train, but who wants to waste half a day on a train, when you can just take a slow overnight 12-hour train instead and wake up the next morning already at your destination?? This girl (I am pointing at myself, FYI). Parker has no idea what he's in for.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Xi'an is the capital of the Shaanxi province in the Northwest - it's one of the oldest cities in China, sits on one end of the infamous Silk Road trading route, and is the burial place of the Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of China (and the one credited for uniting all of China) ~200 B.C. His mausoleum and burial place in Xi'an is the reason for the Terracotta Warriors that reside there now.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Dv-ywP9oDA3VzCnnibJtxeczPDfslkB0RyTexrQ3qufy8BO-ADKYuBayNzgZsD12rhCGCKN5au6M_aWUdMKSEwDRJTCbPNjgYXobQ5etYU5d-xMdU3fw4ZShhFldZdqXdQ_C_8P1maA/s1600/thumb_IMG_3518_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Dv-ywP9oDA3VzCnnibJtxeczPDfslkB0RyTexrQ3qufy8BO-ADKYuBayNzgZsD12rhCGCKN5au6M_aWUdMKSEwDRJTCbPNjgYXobQ5etYU5d-xMdU3fw4ZShhFldZdqXdQ_C_8P1maA/s640/thumb_IMG_3518_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Xi'an's Drum Tower, which was used to signal time back in the day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Terracotta Warriors are <i>insane</i>. They were built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang in preparation for his mausoleum from the moment he took rule, as it was believed they would animate in the afterlife and he would have an entire army to accompany him after he passed away. It's believed there are over 8,000 warriors (possibly with more to be discovered), each with their own particular details, features and faces, and archaeologists think over 720k workers were involved with the construction of the warriors and the tombs over a period of three decades. To ensure maximum secrecy, the Emperor killed every worker who was involved in the building of his tomb, which is why the workers often carved their own faces into the warriors they were building. In fact, the tombs remained unknown until 2,000 years after the Emperor's death, in 1974 - when a farmer discovered one of the underground pits when trying to dig a well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvoToKD1ScFMKXDCuSfnfLTRF_Lk3noX1OdSxHi26p3-Ho7NIevqprmuwX59ufvN71birOK2AxVuDnrUzdkf47o4x2Me9zkCjOGc7aK_zvxQYFHxjqyKMnmS3IYlEIKwpC3UuEc_WPpA/s1600/thumb_IMG_3487_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdvoToKD1ScFMKXDCuSfnfLTRF_Lk3noX1OdSxHi26p3-Ho7NIevqprmuwX59ufvN71birOK2AxVuDnrUzdkf47o4x2Me9zkCjOGc7aK_zvxQYFHxjqyKMnmS3IYlEIKwpC3UuEc_WPpA/s640/thumb_IMG_3487_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Terracotta Army!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrjuF5leqsoj_uusTyhFgSkVXTe1uw7MkctwaximW73O33MrJaVSq1CxU5Fx7lgE9hFDrb9FJTzvFOkAoqs8X_ddK9L-92GKw3V5ex2JeImYC6kHGPy8VwQGmptZ9K1WqX2ImPOfow5I/s1600/thumb_IMG_9957_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIrjuF5leqsoj_uusTyhFgSkVXTe1uw7MkctwaximW73O33MrJaVSq1CxU5Fx7lgE9hFDrb9FJTzvFOkAoqs8X_ddK9L-92GKw3V5ex2JeImYC6kHGPy8VwQGmptZ9K1WqX2ImPOfow5I/s640/thumb_IMG_9957_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The scale is seriously beyond belief</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today, the Terracotta Army is visible in 3 large vaults, and is the largest burial complex in the world (~20 square miles). The scale is completely unbelievable, and excavations remain ongoing. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Taking the overnight train from Beijing to Xi'an was an experience. First off, the railway station.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dW0DLSAVtxmYCJ84_VA3tTdLhbIl7GbK6Ks4Ip7fGh7JYYEu0ZwDPLBdXimqjPo9JSiipJfmn61v6d_ij3S3NxIOuypWgSRY6fZvkLLbY4jFwexhr97rcgNGVrKU4kJraiCZ2Jqd5Bg/s1600/thumb_IMG_3418_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2dW0DLSAVtxmYCJ84_VA3tTdLhbIl7GbK6Ks4Ip7fGh7JYYEu0ZwDPLBdXimqjPo9JSiipJfmn61v6d_ij3S3NxIOuypWgSRY6fZvkLLbY4jFwexhr97rcgNGVrKU4kJraiCZ2Jqd5Bg/s640/thumb_IMG_3418_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Railway stations in China are massive - but pretty legit, with tons of restaurants and such.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHmjF_ULpumRMllqVbjCeXfjLwDRDyFB03_GhLYyABcTmV2n2eyJvEMmhVpGwr-UDyj2Ax1YC2GaoBKJtRomFTKjGVJHMhJkJABOBxde4nQq4mts8fAMmsE_f6KVv0Eo1zcvAy_nMUZ0/s1600/thumb_IMG_3430_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHmjF_ULpumRMllqVbjCeXfjLwDRDyFB03_GhLYyABcTmV2n2eyJvEMmhVpGwr-UDyj2Ax1YC2GaoBKJtRomFTKjGVJHMhJkJABOBxde4nQq4mts8fAMmsE_f6KVv0Eo1zcvAy_nMUZ0/s640/thumb_IMG_3430_1024.jpg" width="545" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But then they're full of people like this man - barefoot, stretched out with their feet on the chairs, nomming noisily, etc. We saw a man with his shirt off and getting his back scratched by another man. Both barefoot. People also just spit on the floor wherever they please. #China</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>And then for the trains themselves: There are 3 choices of sleepers in the overnight trains: hard, soft, and luxury. Hard sleepers involve 6 beds to a room (some poor soul has to sleep in the middle bunk between two people), soft sleepers have 4 beds, and luxury have 2 beds and private bathrooms. I thought I was doing us a fancy favor by booking a soft sleeper, but I think Parker thought differently.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFUMvmqu6DZUjk1J7CHiXn_Zwx2r_RiQnG7e_0H7wNfWFdQTVwBDa7ucv-K4LG5EEegx2AllvdDCsroIPjxF9p1i-hObbi4OEy3LJIom2Al4KLOBCreZ12tFuJqKP7uwsLgBINYUHoiQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3432_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFUMvmqu6DZUjk1J7CHiXn_Zwx2r_RiQnG7e_0H7wNfWFdQTVwBDa7ucv-K4LG5EEegx2AllvdDCsroIPjxF9p1i-hObbi4OEy3LJIom2Al4KLOBCreZ12tFuJqKP7uwsLgBINYUHoiQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3432_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our soft sleeper room. Before sleeping, people from the top bunks hang out on the lower bunks - like, the lady and man we shared a room with didn't know each other, but it was fine that the lady sat on the man's bed next to him to hang out before bed. She was all sitting on his bed with her bare feet propped up and such. #China<br />
Both were actually great people - which we were relieved by, seeing some of the choices of the other people in the other cabins (i.e. old pot-bellied shirtless men with questionable hygiene, etc.) - they both chatted to us, asked us lots of questions, told us about Xi'an, etc. And the man kept sharing his food with us. I really loved it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5CNSzLSMt2nojnO4G6fEW-yqaX2bJT6ckV1G5zn7NnBuilyXLG9ThQpFqXD76sO2TZSqhb0ervUGb6fBy1xctknISjRFZWIt_tEorHCFQoxvWrcUa3cR1oiuqh3XtyiDEkZZQEOP_34/s1600/thumb_IMG_9619_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB5CNSzLSMt2nojnO4G6fEW-yqaX2bJT6ckV1G5zn7NnBuilyXLG9ThQpFqXD76sO2TZSqhb0ervUGb6fBy1xctknISjRFZWIt_tEorHCFQoxvWrcUa3cR1oiuqh3XtyiDEkZZQEOP_34/s640/thumb_IMG_9619_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hanging out on the train!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Thank God I know Parker, thank God he had a bottom bunk, and thank God he didn't mind me lounging all over it before bed.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We arrived in Xi'an by 8:30 the next morning - I'd gotten a pretty comfortable night's sleep; Parker, on the other hand, had been eaten alive by some kind of insect. Oops. We were met at the train station by a lady from our hostel, and immediately ushered onto their tour out to see the Terracotta Army. Forgive my lack of showering in these next couple photos.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jh_lNKJYATCD_mQkU_q7NF7v62OOSbAU-Dkl9tvw4wlrJ3pO5c8ic7FqtTEw1Dc2ALHfuMs5eGLBaLCp60cyH7hlSC3CQ1NxhcgM8A2qPiN-SlFVx4xg_xymTZIv9qo1VcLoAxA1sDc/s1600/thumb_IMG_3436_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jh_lNKJYATCD_mQkU_q7NF7v62OOSbAU-Dkl9tvw4wlrJ3pO5c8ic7FqtTEw1Dc2ALHfuMs5eGLBaLCp60cyH7hlSC3CQ1NxhcgM8A2qPiN-SlFVx4xg_xymTZIv9qo1VcLoAxA1sDc/s640/thumb_IMG_3436_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our first stop on the tour was to the actual tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang - that tiny green mountain in the back. It remains un-excavated to this day, as there is debate on how best to do it and if we have the right technology. Legend has it that the Emperor outfitted his tomb with crazy defenses and arrows and booby-traps (think Indiana Jones-style), along with rivers of liquid mercury, which was believed back them to promote immortality. Today, scientists have probed into the ground to test the soil, and samples have come back showing mercury levels at 100x higher than normal, lending some credence to these legends.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Our second stop was to Pit/Vault 2, which houses archers, chariots, mixed forces, and cavalry army figures. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM6GWLi6N1vRGKMZRdLGvbwtUwhj5OebBP0CgJKWuYiLl5frLCtcdtoh08EGuTS9dDFeJ4BaDb0p5yp1fIkEwkYy_gjvkMIQmZL66KWKPYPuA5oJoYezmeG9aKDqVvN0G__j2qt51EIg/s1600/thumb_IMG_3442_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDM6GWLi6N1vRGKMZRdLGvbwtUwhj5OebBP0CgJKWuYiLl5frLCtcdtoh08EGuTS9dDFeJ4BaDb0p5yp1fIkEwkYy_gjvkMIQmZL66KWKPYPuA5oJoYezmeG9aKDqVvN0G__j2qt51EIg/s640/thumb_IMG_3442_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This diagram at the top shows how the Terracotta Army was organized (and how it remained undiscovered for so long) - into deep passageways surrounded by thick walls, then covered on top with a roof, then earth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKYi-voCjpe5lCdjts9BJRxoINjaFs9bcIe-VZoTjXrf_n7XBY-G_yLYtMT4vbwjOaUuJid3z6EZzS_cO13eLhPwR25sihNWkgRSxNAUKcpdDFMPG8B8Tk5GtJPrLTsOvVqwmPaQEQts/s1600/thumb_IMG_3438_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiKYi-voCjpe5lCdjts9BJRxoINjaFs9bcIe-VZoTjXrf_n7XBY-G_yLYtMT4vbwjOaUuJid3z6EZzS_cO13eLhPwR25sihNWkgRSxNAUKcpdDFMPG8B8Tk5GtJPrLTsOvVqwmPaQEQts/s640/thumb_IMG_3438_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vault 2 was a hot mess. Excavations remain ongoing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPMsdHDqIZVbs3pBU9UQqTMiJjZ97UsK3FGu9SmzYxuj5dEn_HbOoj7RkdT5znAAgIAkq0djkrDnLJa7vy2O5KAFgJF1v0k3aC_n59HZ1keuRRzzKd3UZ3SMVUyP-t3PbauFeRgTQ_YI/s1600/thumb_IMG_3452_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEPMsdHDqIZVbs3pBU9UQqTMiJjZ97UsK3FGu9SmzYxuj5dEn_HbOoj7RkdT5znAAgIAkq0djkrDnLJa7vy2O5KAFgJF1v0k3aC_n59HZ1keuRRzzKd3UZ3SMVUyP-t3PbauFeRgTQ_YI/s640/thumb_IMG_3452_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is the kneeling archer, the first statue that was discovered. He was originally holding a crossbow.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOr32MzhGI9e3teq6WmapX3PpTlf20GCfjpa60ga_7oE6vzi0AOpN5JQfq_CrMyYy3mt5XHGF8ppMRFoslWclr6D1lYT4kJU-y48_7KIzs8i-tEHksfJJNh-hsXu6bl26FiEegccRG54/s1600/thumb_IMG_3440_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqOr32MzhGI9e3teq6WmapX3PpTlf20GCfjpa60ga_7oE6vzi0AOpN5JQfq_CrMyYy3mt5XHGF8ppMRFoslWclr6D1lYT4kJU-y48_7KIzs8i-tEHksfJJNh-hsXu6bl26FiEegccRG54/s640/thumb_IMG_3440_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a calvary officer. The weaponry found with the warriors were real bronze weapons of the time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrMqHoXxFYIsgEDUtiNowdEareddd8EFtJHo-LO640MY81od7N-lmw-C0rDHgRkdAo1mV5eau4HSmNA4Wtlznmriid7zXrO3BvOVk5X_5NfEuPwoOtEUNdWWqt4H8JBP9HUdxJCRdtgU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3444_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrMqHoXxFYIsgEDUtiNowdEareddd8EFtJHo-LO640MY81od7N-lmw-C0rDHgRkdAo1mV5eau4HSmNA4Wtlznmriid7zXrO3BvOVk5X_5NfEuPwoOtEUNdWWqt4H8JBP9HUdxJCRdtgU/s640/thumb_IMG_3444_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a high-ranking officer, which you can tell by his style of dress, what he's wearing, and his armor and decorative bows.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeZhD5U15GQb5rHltHuiwxAX8DahdRqoW_7gswwQQLIP_d3laVPrLCN22JxEfHj4fsG8sdw20DsgBQGEeeodGXxY2sjeQ54Vhz3MJBl85cT4Vw2KAr1jBbuaH4JaiKZNKAOeQgbn3nAY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3445_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCeZhD5U15GQb5rHltHuiwxAX8DahdRqoW_7gswwQQLIP_d3laVPrLCN22JxEfHj4fsG8sdw20DsgBQGEeeodGXxY2sjeQ54Vhz3MJBl85cT4Vw2KAr1jBbuaH4JaiKZNKAOeQgbn3nAY/s640/thumb_IMG_3445_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Insane tread detail on the bottom of a shoe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxZzBTo0bcaNk9SlEIxrXCfMkIXkbGf1UFR7-i3f_LTJSm-r1tpBLc6zHyFFt7bnAPzjPnJPmM2r1XAsy0Wz9QLm4j9jSTvL3VVNQmR2tTAxmk0TDnLRBtzAlCWnXVG1r8U7Tl60CNCk/s1600/thumb_IMG_3446_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYxZzBTo0bcaNk9SlEIxrXCfMkIXkbGf1UFR7-i3f_LTJSm-r1tpBLc6zHyFFt7bnAPzjPnJPmM2r1XAsy0Wz9QLm4j9jSTvL3VVNQmR2tTAxmk0TDnLRBtzAlCWnXVG1r8U7Tl60CNCk/s640/thumb_IMG_3446_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at this hairstyle. THEY WERE ALL DIFFERENT. I think the level of and differences in detail are what blew me away the most.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrY2J56ztz0SNgKFPjfFqnBP31FKT8Fresokv0934xRAicB3w-SyaiXCZwdnRUN4DWEGtw5Yr6uRTJcEkZ6Re_Rk0pp62JBkJa5elXsXLWjIl96ak9KVp7ixorwvxVlLypM42aUmYapf4/s1600/thumb_IMG_3448_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrY2J56ztz0SNgKFPjfFqnBP31FKT8Fresokv0934xRAicB3w-SyaiXCZwdnRUN4DWEGtw5Yr6uRTJcEkZ6Re_Rk0pp62JBkJa5elXsXLWjIl96ak9KVp7ixorwvxVlLypM42aUmYapf4/s640/thumb_IMG_3448_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is still SO MUCH to be excavated. Look how hot mess this pit is.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0qPBq7AVKCjEPrvxup1_K4n9dHEXamFmCebsCoe-vqpChtNVsbbP7PEUxqG6zn7zKLkne9U__ElKLdqmAzBJ3Ub87kCtkoJpwoVjZrQeQDFpxh4nT-BYRYDqRhk1Btsj92_bEO8u0YQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3441_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0qPBq7AVKCjEPrvxup1_K4n9dHEXamFmCebsCoe-vqpChtNVsbbP7PEUxqG6zn7zKLkne9U__ElKLdqmAzBJ3Ub87kCtkoJpwoVjZrQeQDFpxh4nT-BYRYDqRhk1Btsj92_bEO8u0YQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3441_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The signboards had information like this on them. They made me laugh. 'How amazing it is!'<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhvJF0o9JVESPM8QzENdnI85ACEsv4T0qXTW5EwOMbUFKZEeMcs6Lqw8AsfC0uqdwt-VpsjA_NYkzWXJDMeSHIbSMtB-yvvXioKJyJm6bxoAnUiKHOdUN9rGLoD6OLDG-Ke8uf_IQExw/s1600/thumb_IMG_3454_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuhvJF0o9JVESPM8QzENdnI85ACEsv4T0qXTW5EwOMbUFKZEeMcs6Lqw8AsfC0uqdwt-VpsjA_NYkzWXJDMeSHIbSMtB-yvvXioKJyJm6bxoAnUiKHOdUN9rGLoD6OLDG-Ke8uf_IQExw/s640/thumb_IMG_3454_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pieces of warriors everywhere</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc_xqtPSEccIpW9hDR1n5xnwlTb7icUgnlqpYUQg4gscZyXJocy6DLYMBgV8XJ5Zyaewfl_-qwIprD4ABniMo8nZpnKUEJKoox0-YJikWOvHom18Uv_b4jc53ZXFHZsBagcWXKK_krNw/s1600/thumb_IMG_3491_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc_xqtPSEccIpW9hDR1n5xnwlTb7icUgnlqpYUQg4gscZyXJocy6DLYMBgV8XJ5Zyaewfl_-qwIprD4ABniMo8nZpnKUEJKoox0-YJikWOvHom18Uv_b4jc53ZXFHZsBagcWXKK_krNw/s640/thumb_IMG_3491_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Next was Pit 3, which was the command center of the Terracotta Army - this pit is small, but filled with the most high-ranking officers and officials. Many of these warriors don't have heads because they remain unfinished.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgZBFzUdQlX931Z8pgahhXlBlh3bYvVYWS7ZkrjPiGRL5lMKK247gWFXFqGWFMguRq28YfyNTaHRO8e1-uIqe6b53FT3axMEHTLiPhr4PYghXA8qmIpHJ1of232iOMUzXWz8NCZROeZQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3459_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrgZBFzUdQlX931Z8pgahhXlBlh3bYvVYWS7ZkrjPiGRL5lMKK247gWFXFqGWFMguRq28YfyNTaHRO8e1-uIqe6b53FT3axMEHTLiPhr4PYghXA8qmIpHJ1of232iOMUzXWz8NCZROeZQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3459_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then there was a photo opp with some fake Terracotta Warriors. YES PLEASE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcZxOtNAk7E5TfxgXP95Z82zDI31AVR0fcowLOWI9Xz2vcksxIRTpGExxK7BQ3ZO0eUJkrNDReIvVSVKwfFwkTJFZTyQmPCa4XrUhxhOkP5D-mfWHDqt5Bo1T9rNdn1JKLk2vSLRu8lU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3476_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcZxOtNAk7E5TfxgXP95Z82zDI31AVR0fcowLOWI9Xz2vcksxIRTpGExxK7BQ3ZO0eUJkrNDReIvVSVKwfFwkTJFZTyQmPCa4XrUhxhOkP5D-mfWHDqt5Bo1T9rNdn1JKLk2vSLRu8lU/s640/thumb_IMG_3476_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parker and I are kneeling archers, obvs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVYd_LkrsQjx608f5Tchq04h1YbkREqXY7hsueYXKVgz73L_QD3b-CoadtOR6RIcjqpabZ_tRf696iKLDX0rBGe1nxkZOwQ4Gdljw8JA7tIdphFaCPSdCXqNST7VggzDavqvJC0Aflcs/s1600/thumb_IMG_3496_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVYd_LkrsQjx608f5Tchq04h1YbkREqXY7hsueYXKVgz73L_QD3b-CoadtOR6RIcjqpabZ_tRf696iKLDX0rBGe1nxkZOwQ4Gdljw8JA7tIdphFaCPSdCXqNST7VggzDavqvJC0Aflcs/s640/thumb_IMG_3496_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Last of all was Pit 1 - the largest and most impressive one of all (and the one that's gone through the most excavation work!) </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CJHGXkZm3EZwrmZQB484Ok2dVXYyrf4oq2gcHOMV8Zaq8cYmVlvVS6QZqa4_2w95Sc9A12eI_6qSYtUHQr4EwfIdX98TfqpJ_k-4Zc-Wq-N-ZHQO9Vxoe3mr3rMEehT73ERN_QHu2Yk/s1600/thumb_IMG_3505_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8CJHGXkZm3EZwrmZQB484Ok2dVXYyrf4oq2gcHOMV8Zaq8cYmVlvVS6QZqa4_2w95Sc9A12eI_6qSYtUHQr4EwfIdX98TfqpJ_k-4Zc-Wq-N-ZHQO9Vxoe3mr3rMEehT73ERN_QHu2Yk/s640/thumb_IMG_3505_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Looking over the over 2,000 warriors that are in Pit 1 - it's seriously amazing in a way I can't describe.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget8QRAbOL65LdOo_LeZGZ8PMx8EsBCiagPIn1b82LEKnKqAck9hhEPv6DcFPFp9agfSMiz6bq5qB0bTy-z99XCd9gedY6oSZCubnE8vzEe3MQMFwDrPD52ZAcJS4IrwPv4EISLCprKn8/s1600/thumb_IMG_3504_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEget8QRAbOL65LdOo_LeZGZ8PMx8EsBCiagPIn1b82LEKnKqAck9hhEPv6DcFPFp9agfSMiz6bq5qB0bTy-z99XCd9gedY6oSZCubnE8vzEe3MQMFwDrPD52ZAcJS4IrwPv4EISLCprKn8/s640/thumb_IMG_3504_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwP3YCcKzls02fIIMsh5V_TnHFXDCr75bh1jJyNzm9hI9TwVYgKzvtF1PNDPR9kHJC2n3s2UJZutIWDr3asHGofRRkCcX2JjVJA984xIprM_w98uWh4Dp8DnqGURyh6hxqhBD0CPAuHQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3506_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwP3YCcKzls02fIIMsh5V_TnHFXDCr75bh1jJyNzm9hI9TwVYgKzvtF1PNDPR9kHJC2n3s2UJZutIWDr3asHGofRRkCcX2JjVJA984xIprM_w98uWh4Dp8DnqGURyh6hxqhBD0CPAuHQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3506_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Terracotta Warriors were originally brightly painted and colored as well - but they've lost the color due to poor excavation techniques and with time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><ul>
<li>The Terracotta Warriors were amazing - it's seriously incredible to me what people can accomplish (you know, if they have unlimited power and use slaves and flagrantly commit shocking human rights violations/kill whoever they want). The scale of Emperor Qin Shi Huang's vision and mausoleum is beyond belief until you actually see it for yourself. </li>
<li>After our tour, Parks and I regrouped at our hostel and then headed out for dinner in Xi'an's Muslim Quarter - a lively, bustling market full of food stalls, shopping, and entertainment.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcE-NqqKZL78iVt2bKTkhGyxdhkOw8CenbsbyE7UDZj0IwXMncgYTz9DaHztbO9SPdfgJ0hXdJ9wahw9GBq9wqat704nkUCeNVKhLZ_Ou-D_0y52Ot_U_2AuRikb-p8mxZXtxbbDePoOI/s1600/thumb_IMG_9705_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcE-NqqKZL78iVt2bKTkhGyxdhkOw8CenbsbyE7UDZj0IwXMncgYTz9DaHztbO9SPdfgJ0hXdJ9wahw9GBq9wqat704nkUCeNVKhLZ_Ou-D_0y52Ot_U_2AuRikb-p8mxZXtxbbDePoOI/s640/thumb_IMG_9705_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">On the way to the Muslim Quarter - the Bell Tower by day! Also, I love the expressions of the boys sucking on popsicles in the back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Z58t474Cr9p3lHWfGtnSUG7fV9MTFUg7NMbWuOIPG-0kulVljjUxpfzuEXWKk36YU4G6dS9HJw2HRuTxZgXsQrwAh05YJ5V6XQ5Jz4-Uywa1HC2MqDm9ilXlZYFrfJx8yNcMzhN8M_Q/s1600/thumb_IMG_3511_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Z58t474Cr9p3lHWfGtnSUG7fV9MTFUg7NMbWuOIPG-0kulVljjUxpfzuEXWKk36YU4G6dS9HJw2HRuTxZgXsQrwAh05YJ5V6XQ5Jz4-Uywa1HC2MqDm9ilXlZYFrfJx8yNcMzhN8M_Q/s640/thumb_IMG_3511_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Xi'an's Muslim Quarter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJJTPfWuc5y056F_0WdoOAfZMRSbyqklm6ybe1Qu9r7hqten-UczdJHMdFef444ZdlPThfmsBnCAPWJGw3lTZUl_YI2itFmDH0h60k0xird4zGBgjlV5Q2ysX5iqchjUklJi9lFu8PSI/s1600/thumb_IMG_3512_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJJTPfWuc5y056F_0WdoOAfZMRSbyqklm6ybe1Qu9r7hqten-UczdJHMdFef444ZdlPThfmsBnCAPWJGw3lTZUl_YI2itFmDH0h60k0xird4zGBgjlV5Q2ysX5iqchjUklJi9lFu8PSI/s640/thumb_IMG_3512_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This man is stretching candy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqgSdn-rKe7PAZV01iT97Bwd6xE5ZZuulLmZXC9HcJXvxj2HMG3G0WkPwL5Hd8AiBSn70iPVVXZzTDdSGNk2Z8s_drqbZNmZGiteLvyiZJ7TldI47kkqK8S6-7jQ66OYawa70VfTZ2YY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3513_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNqgSdn-rKe7PAZV01iT97Bwd6xE5ZZuulLmZXC9HcJXvxj2HMG3G0WkPwL5Hd8AiBSn70iPVVXZzTDdSGNk2Z8s_drqbZNmZGiteLvyiZJ7TldI47kkqK8S6-7jQ66OYawa70VfTZ2YY/s640/thumb_IMG_3513_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lamb. They really like lamb in the Muslim Quarter. They seriously had lamb skewers of everything. I think that is a bloody lamb bod </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgvuwfta86t3kouCgQs47Qx2jfrf-Xjw1XEKhVjI2lFEvzuHL4IiVw4NUfIgfdTTdyU_Pkz4b1O43E5NtDwwcmkxjJXuSC-8eV8cPV-llQ7K2mTxxT3HCB1wUAXiY0Oz53cnqofcf5L8/s1600/thumb_IMG_9724_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgvuwfta86t3kouCgQs47Qx2jfrf-Xjw1XEKhVjI2lFEvzuHL4IiVw4NUfIgfdTTdyU_Pkz4b1O43E5NtDwwcmkxjJXuSC-8eV8cPV-llQ7K2mTxxT3HCB1wUAXiY0Oz53cnqofcf5L8/s640/thumb_IMG_9724_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You know who else likes lamb? Parker.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ohXM964rUSYvdLnprmsCT_8aYSfGtWzWdTWzbMcSn7YjnOE8ZLTteZDzX9tVOQw0TQRPdPVgHvq4JnUd60mr_SjzlcyKdOKIpvf1RA7vA4yNZ6AsNIQ78kvRqWOaeNW6DAx21aJIUoY/s1600/thumb_IMG_9747_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ohXM964rUSYvdLnprmsCT_8aYSfGtWzWdTWzbMcSn7YjnOE8ZLTteZDzX9tVOQw0TQRPdPVgHvq4JnUd60mr_SjzlcyKdOKIpvf1RA7vA4yNZ6AsNIQ78kvRqWOaeNW6DAx21aJIUoY/s640/thumb_IMG_9747_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">DID ANYONE ELSE KNOW THIS IS WHAT SUNFLOWER SEEDS LOOK LIKE??! MIND. BLOWN.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfFEUJ0wHaSeTsr5z4fE0OiTzE_irEjSwVmf_pkfAOjowayjo7L1jtCagFdffcJm_fySXVLgUNUAnZwQ5RlgquQaqJ04i0KuGgzydUi_KFdM_lL8CePQCGKFmR1Atc9BfRosNedx3CpQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3514_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOfFEUJ0wHaSeTsr5z4fE0OiTzE_irEjSwVmf_pkfAOjowayjo7L1jtCagFdffcJm_fySXVLgUNUAnZwQ5RlgquQaqJ04i0KuGgzydUi_KFdM_lL8CePQCGKFmR1Atc9BfRosNedx3CpQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3514_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These men are half-heartedly pounding a type of crumbly candy, which we ate and did not enjoy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMtK3tKBL3ML6CVswLzxP6qwP5DRhxGb8C_wJCDF4dGhpbco_aAWkIt1jwXVmRWdp2NyW_vEfxcP1LpE2ms-_GGn7dApvzy2XXyKt_yEW5zv6Kfpa1XVOTI4RCiTkb1gHIH1g96tvTxk/s1600/thumb_IMG_9751_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyMtK3tKBL3ML6CVswLzxP6qwP5DRhxGb8C_wJCDF4dGhpbco_aAWkIt1jwXVmRWdp2NyW_vEfxcP1LpE2ms-_GGn7dApvzy2XXyKt_yEW5zv6Kfpa1XVOTI4RCiTkb1gHIH1g96tvTxk/s640/thumb_IMG_9751_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then I found a stand where a woman will paint your face onto a type of snack/candy. Uhhhhh no-brainer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5GVXigMKADBWDDlglE8FgMHIu9FaCKWe1pMyhPHfXxB5vMChwrY2plXWziG99J9vGy-vi07_7jY8c3ic5AWVI-MFVrolOgn9VaXSW8UqzMzUXd_CfVMUK2AB0M7MRTL2XES7b8Ic3U8/s1600/thumb_IMG_9755_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR5GVXigMKADBWDDlglE8FgMHIu9FaCKWe1pMyhPHfXxB5vMChwrY2plXWziG99J9vGy-vi07_7jY8c3ic5AWVI-MFVrolOgn9VaXSW8UqzMzUXd_CfVMUK2AB0M7MRTL2XES7b8Ic3U8/s640/thumb_IMG_9755_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is me and my snack doppleganger. I was trying to imitate the coy expression, but my snack doppleganger seems to be doing a better job.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN829UXAa9Kt4F_CCN6xL8znwHbDBaEBrRYiCOu3kh6BwE9UblgOl7zKdFk6OiPxOdvc5mQGtJV3liAtZ-ME3LTAEx663092pzd6hcKRYEzlSYeI9zUV8qdeXfzqU8-zAcI3Q5i30Y2-g/s1600/thumb_IMG_9757_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN829UXAa9Kt4F_CCN6xL8znwHbDBaEBrRYiCOu3kh6BwE9UblgOl7zKdFk6OiPxOdvc5mQGtJV3liAtZ-ME3LTAEx663092pzd6hcKRYEzlSYeI9zUV8qdeXfzqU8-zAcI3Q5i30Y2-g/s640/thumb_IMG_9757_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So then I ate her.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPbAyo6czWqkaP6SHo97bja7oP53jc2k6pSb5r_CROtyNjVMSODMblqh_U1dcQFPykXy6yBaFZRIb_OJ6o0els_ieaX95XoM7RVpg0KbF0I943DpE1YpKrAoTSa2aiY4HCI-fr725hG8/s1600/thumb_IMG_9720_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRPbAyo6czWqkaP6SHo97bja7oP53jc2k6pSb5r_CROtyNjVMSODMblqh_U1dcQFPykXy6yBaFZRIb_OJ6o0els_ieaX95XoM7RVpg0KbF0I943DpE1YpKrAoTSa2aiY4HCI-fr725hG8/s640/thumb_IMG_9720_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Seriously, lamb skeletons hanging everywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxowhbzMiwFdcVRsG91icxUArUJYd2Kn5-escmwH65UUpkJ-wO8b0X3HmO2fW9z5lmFT9US6eP8lxYOWLeqJ4279pAqtpRDsWt93CsB9lyYsTCHbzssb3MyvKIH5Xj8URCtITMZXKoh3g/s1600/thumb_IMG_9762_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxowhbzMiwFdcVRsG91icxUArUJYd2Kn5-escmwH65UUpkJ-wO8b0X3HmO2fW9z5lmFT9US6eP8lxYOWLeqJ4279pAqtpRDsWt93CsB9lyYsTCHbzssb3MyvKIH5Xj8URCtITMZXKoh3g/s640/thumb_IMG_9762_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And spices. Parker likes spices. The Muslim Quarter was great fun.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V5_9X1oFPXYvB4wmWnQmv_PY24Q5wuc_OAlzgiugGHd_G8FIDjKAD_xQLaBkmEdcU-4PA4IJmfU0cQaTd7yF6kXkaHsadHIt1YlSsFq342OiumGKYI_zw_W07f40NRwo3GBr7tdC3yo/s1600/thumb_IMG_9773_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V5_9X1oFPXYvB4wmWnQmv_PY24Q5wuc_OAlzgiugGHd_G8FIDjKAD_xQLaBkmEdcU-4PA4IJmfU0cQaTd7yF6kXkaHsadHIt1YlSsFq342OiumGKYI_zw_W07f40NRwo3GBr7tdC3yo/s640/thumb_IMG_9773_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DRUM TOWER</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevSYZi6EPaNEGfR8P1G8t6_FP3__acQfRrk3QPjJTPN_HjtaMu86uqgoMxnE22NEn_rqJkDbUPK4En6mpszjsIXSVKDGWDDzlncRVKyXTe00W_8RkzWRsPzkHtB3zJ6gd4X7up91-lN4/s1600/thumb_IMG_9785_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhevSYZi6EPaNEGfR8P1G8t6_FP3__acQfRrk3QPjJTPN_HjtaMu86uqgoMxnE22NEn_rqJkDbUPK4En6mpszjsIXSVKDGWDDzlncRVKyXTe00W_8RkzWRsPzkHtB3zJ6gd4X7up91-lN4/s640/thumb_IMG_9785_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">BELL TOWER (Chinese people looooove lighting things up with brightly colored lights at night. Approve.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><ul>
<li>That evening, I'd heard about this light/fountain show at one of the famous pagodas (ok ok, I'd heard about a <i>free</i> light/fountain show at one of the famous pagodas) - so we hauled ourselves over to the Big Goose Pagoda to go watch it.</li>
</ul>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7F1I32jitJG4KTpO_r6M-4ICmZINlgNNXGru4pEchzXEpjHSY4dCinXsR9sQIMVDOw_aIqGDPFLG31bojW60Xq3DZFBpz5KTUGNn_dJlo-MLsAU2jgJvvlaoofvbmLiXllJZGfEumCU/s1600/thumb_IMG_9825_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs7F1I32jitJG4KTpO_r6M-4ICmZINlgNNXGru4pEchzXEpjHSY4dCinXsR9sQIMVDOw_aIqGDPFLG31bojW60Xq3DZFBpz5KTUGNn_dJlo-MLsAU2jgJvvlaoofvbmLiXllJZGfEumCU/s640/thumb_IMG_9825_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnh5M5bTC0UCiBITcbcSpRNj1C_a9mIE1WTGKffdid63Q7Qm4NO3lG6BUzc2u8IHD0vioMgIbRVjG9Kg0WGIYdIFt4NFJjpQomDQoQOQP2nSAK2Hge1YPYOT08Y8h3YHmq5VxRpCV0PU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3529_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmnh5M5bTC0UCiBITcbcSpRNj1C_a9mIE1WTGKffdid63Q7Qm4NO3lG6BUzc2u8IHD0vioMgIbRVjG9Kg0WGIYdIFt4NFJjpQomDQoQOQP2nSAK2Hge1YPYOT08Y8h3YHmq5VxRpCV0PU/s640/thumb_IMG_3529_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">It was no Bellagio fountain show, but it was pretty nonetheless. Especially if you like being crammed between hundreds of sweaty Chinese bodies all holding up their cameras to film the entire thing. No really, I did like it though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldQwcF8fpukzVQ7rnU4jMyEQ3CpMiirWHeeF7hrtgNy2CHUcTvr8j4DLPHfYfgJPkeQslJBz1aiBw3cpyFkqmFIdgN9LbsUEpyRpWi59fimH31K1Mnh4vJEzC9hvc1CNjYZN9EeRRmdM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3537_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhldQwcF8fpukzVQ7rnU4jMyEQ3CpMiirWHeeF7hrtgNy2CHUcTvr8j4DLPHfYfgJPkeQslJBz1aiBw3cpyFkqmFIdgN9LbsUEpyRpWi59fimH31K1Mnh4vJEzC9hvc1CNjYZN9EeRRmdM/s640/thumb_IMG_3537_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahhhh, Big Goose Pagoda, you are pretty. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><ul>
<li>The next day, we had grand plans to bike the Xi'an city walls (they are huuuuge and are only a fraction of the size they used to be! A great activity is apparently renting a bike and riding it along the top of the walls and seeing the whole city that way) - but we were foiled by nonstop RAIN. SO MUCH RAIN. </li>
</ul>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb3xQYBeH_paL1b8ilSFFEgIWyHbtzOYxj0Sul2DezUQxvl7ae0E08d2xw0zDsBj-kc_F_8IjDxi8e6Sw7hncgtYpLTNlK4cCN1IKIV6Y9gJmzE0bpiDeruT9Dq2G33-wmjxOzaiGmAw/s1600/thumb_IMG_3547_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmb3xQYBeH_paL1b8ilSFFEgIWyHbtzOYxj0Sul2DezUQxvl7ae0E08d2xw0zDsBj-kc_F_8IjDxi8e6Sw7hncgtYpLTNlK4cCN1IKIV6Y9gJmzE0bpiDeruT9Dq2G33-wmjxOzaiGmAw/s640/thumb_IMG_3547_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So what did we do? Traipse around the entire city until we randomly stumbled upon this place - which was this strange, incredibly fancy spa that gave us our own room for 10 hours and robes and let us get all these massages and treatments and such for a steal.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFM9x5EFPLu33veIPfkzN69gyhcial3HjAbaXrVhGZ2DTQZWq-HVZGiKNo5DQGigfDutfsjYI8qovwEhdsG574pW__WhhdsXq1TXaUq2iDQ3M2xFOM7khFIGVtT5mtoB_C1he2pWuu1I/s1600/thumb_IMG_9934_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGFM9x5EFPLu33veIPfkzN69gyhcial3HjAbaXrVhGZ2DTQZWq-HVZGiKNo5DQGigfDutfsjYI8qovwEhdsG574pW__WhhdsXq1TXaUq2iDQ3M2xFOM7khFIGVtT5mtoB_C1he2pWuu1I/s640/thumb_IMG_9934_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Parks and I are in our free, stylish silk pajamas. We got our ears cleaned (a big thing here, and it felt like you were about to get an eardrum punctured), and Parker had a lady masseuse whose massages were like pure torture, and my masseuse and I made fun of how wimpy Parker was until we switched masseuses at the very end, and his lady put me through the most pain I've ever felt in my life. I'm sorry I made fun of you, Parker.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yhufO_Lh6gZvMUvQeXS57M-SPQiDCxftW4tDeOnhpeopG4wVu_Wzoo6qQT9TP-O5uG5VSoZgHnOJcjyVD7tk6YFQq24vsPeg2JDtzg9S289C9xz6ocmLQq5LKKkVIA7Yn8eNRAqg_7c/s1600/thumb_IMG_3550_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6yhufO_Lh6gZvMUvQeXS57M-SPQiDCxftW4tDeOnhpeopG4wVu_Wzoo6qQT9TP-O5uG5VSoZgHnOJcjyVD7tk6YFQq24vsPeg2JDtzg9S289C9xz6ocmLQq5LKKkVIA7Yn8eNRAqg_7c/s640/thumb_IMG_3550_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Our super-fancy spa also had FREE FOOD. These were maybe some of the most delicious noodles ever. AMAZE.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL5njn5eH9FO17W4aBgTACf_v_UslcA6TEUZQ10Uqc9bVHDnl5Gnxasm8fzJtPl1gUWldQqPIHXPZ2jJci5z1-G5oGegQ7tgm5di_HiV8mNBDgOYHwKW3U5PR2qsBpth8aa-YklzDpxM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3545_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifL5njn5eH9FO17W4aBgTACf_v_UslcA6TEUZQ10Uqc9bVHDnl5Gnxasm8fzJtPl1gUWldQqPIHXPZ2jJci5z1-G5oGegQ7tgm5di_HiV8mNBDgOYHwKW3U5PR2qsBpth8aa-YklzDpxM/s640/thumb_IMG_3545_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And to top off the Xi'an post, here is our hostel cat. Named Sheldon. Who again, may be the same kind of cat Taylor has!?! (ARE YOU A SCOTTISH FOLD LIKE MEREDITH??) (Not apologizing for that reference - if you know, you know)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-85717392102270495992016-07-07T20:27:00.002-07:002016-07-07T20:27:35.417-07:00Beijing, China, Part 2: The Great Wall of CHINAOur last day in Beijing, Parker and I headed to the awe-inspiring, ridiculously-breathtaking GREAT WALL OF CHINA.<br />
<br />
The Great Wall is huge, obviously - and there are many parts of it you can choose to visit. Naturally, some parts of the Wall that are closest and most accessible to Beijing are often very developed, crowded, and extremely touristy. I've visited one of these areas before - it was awesome getting to see it, but I remember the Wall being crowded with vendors and people selling all sorts of touristy gimmicks. Parker was dedicated to going to see parts of the Wall that were further away and much less crowded - which is how we ended up buying a tour to see the Great Wall at Jinshanling. I'm so glad he did, because it was TOTALLY worth it. There were almost no other people at this section of the Wall besides our group, extremely few vendors (and I was glad for the ones that were there because they were selling life-saving water), and the views from this section were completely breathtaking. BREATHTAKING, I SAY.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Yes, Jinshanling has much more baller portions of the Great Wall, but that means it was a 2.5 hour drive out there from our hotel in Beijing = 7:00AM hotel pickup.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsi_PmLtTDWPZ0O_OQ80sAgvqxRJGnbQkTnAAImsw7A1MaTNY52svrR9Pj81yftn5VGtx8z8vZlSTg64IFyAHxkcZPm2rWJGEHujd9Qh4Vrao_0n685E_ozyOibRtR4xEUWC1uGuVaeo/s1600/thumb_IMG_9469_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGsi_PmLtTDWPZ0O_OQ80sAgvqxRJGnbQkTnAAImsw7A1MaTNY52svrR9Pj81yftn5VGtx8z8vZlSTg64IFyAHxkcZPm2rWJGEHujd9Qh4Vrao_0n685E_ozyOibRtR4xEUWC1uGuVaeo/s640/thumb_IMG_9469_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Luckily, Parker got up early to grab us breakfast because he has a passion for street carts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeII_02ui_CuAVcfWMktL1yrHt0RQgSuZRTfG3VJKRbRR8Hq7F4VRj_tLmjKa9RayfZ099Sw6D2Z01hI4ytZ1jlMPpfdxK-nmKif6DgGoILCz4ApFkXJbCaomsSJgq_n2Rg7RWWq2YuM/s1600/thumb_IMG_9471_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOeII_02ui_CuAVcfWMktL1yrHt0RQgSuZRTfG3VJKRbRR8Hq7F4VRj_tLmjKa9RayfZ099Sw6D2Z01hI4ytZ1jlMPpfdxK-nmKif6DgGoILCz4ApFkXJbCaomsSJgq_n2Rg7RWWq2YuM/s640/thumb_IMG_9471_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This delicious dough/egg/burrito/omelette thing saved my life, because later on the bus, the guide announces to the entire bus: "Breakfast is included for all of you! Oh wait, except for the people from [insert our hotel name here] - you guys are the only ones that don't have breakfast included." Yep, just me and Parker. <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">WHY.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjml5liZDxDxTu3MkRQM5mKMwXTwFhsJFgh-lXLiP6WB0KqCKTUztqAzQALZNYTwZUCxn3HTUzAeDZ9NqvgR5j7HUcqFlvx844KKV-yODPKp439hdzG3sqiMnNHj7ycDZKT0bYb0ySTl7o/s1600/thumb_IMG_3132_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjml5liZDxDxTu3MkRQM5mKMwXTwFhsJFgh-lXLiP6WB0KqCKTUztqAzQALZNYTwZUCxn3HTUzAeDZ9NqvgR5j7HUcqFlvx844KKV-yODPKp439hdzG3sqiMnNHj7ycDZKT0bYb0ySTl7o/s640/thumb_IMG_3132_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we arrived at Jinshanling! Sans free breakfast.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cZ771K-wwn1H5qcbYoHQO02rEwFoLd9b7_7NUS8fK9UbbVyTyQpjuM2x8YH7SeDozMYGKWwOLbpzarlge6ZAH3pZjDBnLpHRYA8eJ0Lt5jvFvjyT2hsgPF4zsVLRaiBfG_Nf3tPXWrw/s1600/thumb_IMG_9490_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8cZ771K-wwn1H5qcbYoHQO02rEwFoLd9b7_7NUS8fK9UbbVyTyQpjuM2x8YH7SeDozMYGKWwOLbpzarlge6ZAH3pZjDBnLpHRYA8eJ0Lt5jvFvjyT2hsgPF4zsVLRaiBfG_Nf3tPXWrw/s640/thumb_IMG_9490_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The first portion of the hike was on parts of the wall that have been completely restored</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjZ5FkKboug1dNaQvkbQqPL6AbTaYkA14maNrxWh7r2MbRp7AFYZRFfDYtlNw2Ky5xpzcw6hvkYFyYr4GXnGGcb8OGohMnGZdqxpCMIUCeOMiXisDJJC1Nx_oqYkUlv8tJhps01WsX_Y/s1600/thumb_IMG_9578_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKjZ5FkKboug1dNaQvkbQqPL6AbTaYkA14maNrxWh7r2MbRp7AFYZRFfDYtlNw2Ky5xpzcw6hvkYFyYr4GXnGGcb8OGohMnGZdqxpCMIUCeOMiXisDJJC1Nx_oqYkUlv8tJhps01WsX_Y/s640/thumb_IMG_9578_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'll let a lot of these photos speak for themselves - it was so, so beautiful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHzHZWutu6rTgegUxtoAtAC1xCk2Xw1qqnSZGo-lRe_LEPzwz6f4Kt2ggfwaQVz5vTdwT7uyeiwAu5YGzz0llinb9ZwWCFiSyj4Xl0wkPAYqwCyXTdZrJ6bftAkbiThTCaqpVb6BpUns/s1600/thumb_IMG_9557_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRHzHZWutu6rTgegUxtoAtAC1xCk2Xw1qqnSZGo-lRe_LEPzwz6f4Kt2ggfwaQVz5vTdwT7uyeiwAu5YGzz0llinb9ZwWCFiSyj4Xl0wkPAYqwCyXTdZrJ6bftAkbiThTCaqpVb6BpUns/s640/thumb_IMG_9557_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwWx2o1ZwV2QMDVJW1sqQfLgv3G5ESwLCnKJhU8mQOAlegKTzYppqkRBOipKuh2IKXLDGl6rXPSRPD39hIqc_DgfUk5xtgycIhr6c2lpgdlPJ9wlB8LD4OfW1PXQKZM3AIM7eXxUL8Ak/s1600/thumb_IMG_3146_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwwWx2o1ZwV2QMDVJW1sqQfLgv3G5ESwLCnKJhU8mQOAlegKTzYppqkRBOipKuh2IKXLDGl6rXPSRPD39hIqc_DgfUk5xtgycIhr6c2lpgdlPJ9wlB8LD4OfW1PXQKZM3AIM7eXxUL8Ak/s640/thumb_IMG_3146_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">One of my favorite parts is that you can see a watchtower on every peak in the distance</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRYSJ08VWzzKI2vPCcPCcdO0CRKZ6UYu10L-W01y2PC_4hhuPlzu2Ht4F_D6zviZ0ctmOC7FweuCYhDbNo-UAxV0xIZiBq1xvM_ZLw5bOJRcCGcF4h7QSpVtlARlbI92GxxY32xyQVoM/s1600/thumb_IMG_9518_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRYSJ08VWzzKI2vPCcPCcdO0CRKZ6UYu10L-W01y2PC_4hhuPlzu2Ht4F_D6zviZ0ctmOC7FweuCYhDbNo-UAxV0xIZiBq1xvM_ZLw5bOJRcCGcF4h7QSpVtlARlbI92GxxY32xyQVoM/s640/thumb_IMG_9518_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Some of the hikes up to the watchtowers were no joke - especially in the million degree heat. But it was amazing when you'd reach one, and it'd be cool and shady and have beautiful views</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIfWcNBPmxCunfnTIPmJ1X2L3nmZqrh-eDFhJ1258znP0GFfs60N-q-iZesdRH3WPr98OSQAxbV_VTaIOlq7ydILvq1lm8DQj1r4_VFcd5pHpnTt6L_IPfYtP-S3iBIRoVJ0A_ccmMcU/s1600/thumb_IMG_9524_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIfWcNBPmxCunfnTIPmJ1X2L3nmZqrh-eDFhJ1258znP0GFfs60N-q-iZesdRH3WPr98OSQAxbV_VTaIOlq7ydILvq1lm8DQj1r4_VFcd5pHpnTt6L_IPfYtP-S3iBIRoVJ0A_ccmMcU/s640/thumb_IMG_9524_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Great Wall is over 21,000 km long - or >13,000 miles. Construction on it started as early as 700 B.C., and it was added to and fortified by many succeeding emperors and dynasties.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM781Vl5YjSTqCAJDjhV1xphyphenhyphen3AOd85n4DEWnNNV-2wsiFtPa3kh1kC_Tfi-ft0vqHdnhAJfwvZWHYwPSNAS9f9xgBhJTATyFSqj_FycgQU8Ggkk6vebttGQjSORTfBBFtKNxswAlr2w/s1600/thumb_IMG_9539_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpM781Vl5YjSTqCAJDjhV1xphyphenhyphen3AOd85n4DEWnNNV-2wsiFtPa3kh1kC_Tfi-ft0vqHdnhAJfwvZWHYwPSNAS9f9xgBhJTATyFSqj_FycgQU8Ggkk6vebttGQjSORTfBBFtKNxswAlr2w/s640/thumb_IMG_9539_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3XbH4let2qz6YIMslnA8l_aAe7qvCgV6wmtGKAT-JzX4oy4aVts94sVpP_iDUukZ15PrQs_ZMYsI0ZSEV1U3FYmU0iecCEUQwIaSwAe2TCHYl-dXQE371OK5dZZ1GlOPvsB01FlwAPY/s1600/thumb_IMG_9508_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3XbH4let2qz6YIMslnA8l_aAe7qvCgV6wmtGKAT-JzX4oy4aVts94sVpP_iDUukZ15PrQs_ZMYsI0ZSEV1U3FYmU0iecCEUQwIaSwAe2TCHYl-dXQE371OK5dZZ1GlOPvsB01FlwAPY/s640/thumb_IMG_9508_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Photos. So, so many photos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSIMAxHHlDI776h9Y5yv-d_NLOUG3GIWvGbxPDPkvQN_CjjpgsLtLrl1N8n_Svh6Psfym46qpwbTxKDUUd5VLN-2kG5xo7gidOLWEkJYnD9goQbE9Hi5mbYx6VOelOSXWlgkelp4fyt4/s1600/thumb_IMG_9510_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMSIMAxHHlDI776h9Y5yv-d_NLOUG3GIWvGbxPDPkvQN_CjjpgsLtLrl1N8n_Svh6Psfym46qpwbTxKDUUd5VLN-2kG5xo7gidOLWEkJYnD9goQbE9Hi5mbYx6VOelOSXWlgkelp4fyt4/s640/thumb_IMG_9510_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And blissfully few people. This entire hike took about 4 hours.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13OqB-grhZNkyZtmuKxyNnGq9yKYkFoDRCZbBYW9Bk5gaX3_l3jjjB98Rtys23cnEUDE4S8yxqVtjVokzTSndSr8XBnd0cIMJzBUD9EGB6RwCqoc4JR_4jRS079RIbjtFKPHdqKzKmek/s1600/thumb_IMG_9572_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13OqB-grhZNkyZtmuKxyNnGq9yKYkFoDRCZbBYW9Bk5gaX3_l3jjjB98Rtys23cnEUDE4S8yxqVtjVokzTSndSr8XBnd0cIMJzBUD9EGB6RwCqoc4JR_4jRS079RIbjtFKPHdqKzKmek/s640/thumb_IMG_9572_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">As you kept walking, the restored parts of the wall gave way to more rough, crumbly parts that were unrestored.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X_SP2fsrZDmw5c-qyqpBNzv7-W98vRhNtQdtMEo9jGnlZXHV3FuC3NQ1O7xHzziBEDtLaunk1Oqay4DpviSkY-kVsH9D_w81lSiSUiKYNnh8Lo10O9NTF_gqFXkqvlWbASuk0otzoN4/s1600/thumb_IMG_9547_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6X_SP2fsrZDmw5c-qyqpBNzv7-W98vRhNtQdtMEo9jGnlZXHV3FuC3NQ1O7xHzziBEDtLaunk1Oqay4DpviSkY-kVsH9D_w81lSiSUiKYNnh8Lo10O9NTF_gqFXkqvlWbASuk0otzoN4/s640/thumb_IMG_9547_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPVR13uYNuM3fAxO8ly0q52IpZeuhqUldYQXofiOFxujThwTqSYZqf7FWvkl7imCrWyVCFfOgUdlf2z2wyeIdFYnRZcoXU9wfVF1noNCKsDyNlHoRsRauWlkko3NBNh1JL_v5yOdxPbA/s1600/thumb_IMG_3161_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzPVR13uYNuM3fAxO8ly0q52IpZeuhqUldYQXofiOFxujThwTqSYZqf7FWvkl7imCrWyVCFfOgUdlf2z2wyeIdFYnRZcoXU9wfVF1noNCKsDyNlHoRsRauWlkko3NBNh1JL_v5yOdxPbA/s640/thumb_IMG_3161_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love the look of some of the unrestored watchtowers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zFaJUjDxjdKsWPT3KhyphenhyphenU7JhM5750TnMb90UxgkuJbp69oe4OkgRUry4orJz6TDrGI11JNsQ8y3femswFtdhwBzYYtCTy22TXUOOmDW5pCA_M4QOMwu72pRB9jBadlSNR6To0lJ0342M/s1600/thumb_IMG_9540_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zFaJUjDxjdKsWPT3KhyphenhyphenU7JhM5750TnMb90UxgkuJbp69oe4OkgRUry4orJz6TDrGI11JNsQ8y3femswFtdhwBzYYtCTy22TXUOOmDW5pCA_M4QOMwu72pRB9jBadlSNR6To0lJ0342M/s640/thumb_IMG_9540_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This part of the wall is called Simatai - constructed during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx9kfKGusOkS1XsKuNNb7KGmudxklSl6r3396O2lHULxQfpyScSOY-4sIoPD-jlNyLzdPPezkU50cLQWoVD3XX53f7wj4BzjEuNrwvoAf87i4ddf6va63rD03vMFMdWMG_HeYp7u_05c/s1600/thumb_IMG_9541_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSx9kfKGusOkS1XsKuNNb7KGmudxklSl6r3396O2lHULxQfpyScSOY-4sIoPD-jlNyLzdPPezkU50cLQWoVD3XX53f7wj4BzjEuNrwvoAf87i4ddf6va63rD03vMFMdWMG_HeYp7u_05c/s640/thumb_IMG_9541_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Standing in the ruins of one of the watchtowers in Simatai</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI_Ka-nk4I9X30YQ6KxrE050wP_ymzGXk4d4mRPnAroDfM0h5vNWjSAjGB7pxKwBRhjcUD3bpt7rPKtc2r4189t19hmOl3Lmp0sdfIqHeOECLo3yvwyEmtjsan-RJuI8BNPHhOWWk3gI/s1600/thumb_IMG_9546_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEI_Ka-nk4I9X30YQ6KxrE050wP_ymzGXk4d4mRPnAroDfM0h5vNWjSAjGB7pxKwBRhjcUD3bpt7rPKtc2r4189t19hmOl3Lmp0sdfIqHeOECLo3yvwyEmtjsan-RJuI8BNPHhOWWk3gI/s640/thumb_IMG_9546_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Yj6VP-tYlXp3htwGKYnRr4bnGPzgQ_8wazy4-sf4uAYcmpJkO0WxA_nH2F1XvDbdUFfdHiWJkjKf85ht1VVdturdKujtXcHaCkfAatU4kpP667R1TE3LdbJs2bp2CJPRcui7l10t5s/s1600/thumb_IMG_9592_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE3Yj6VP-tYlXp3htwGKYnRr4bnGPzgQ_8wazy4-sf4uAYcmpJkO0WxA_nH2F1XvDbdUFfdHiWJkjKf85ht1VVdturdKujtXcHaCkfAatU4kpP667R1TE3LdbJs2bp2CJPRcui7l10t5s/s640/thumb_IMG_9592_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">These signs are amazing. FIRE IS HEARTLESS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXfgWpybMTYMukU0WY0d1zoWLwZi-cQUqq7fEfS1GtELSqfyzGJJMc1d1YDYEN4RWwbS4ztj2NTPggj5nF5Dt1nVmGJ2rgWldXmiEk5B2jh5jgDbk4_IhHKqpZ-4qJZtCL9h2G8Bwy-o/s1600/thumb_IMG_9595_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXfgWpybMTYMukU0WY0d1zoWLwZi-cQUqq7fEfS1GtELSqfyzGJJMc1d1YDYEN4RWwbS4ztj2NTPggj5nF5Dt1nVmGJ2rgWldXmiEk5B2jh5jgDbk4_IhHKqpZ-4qJZtCL9h2G8Bwy-o/s640/thumb_IMG_9595_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And the grand finale near the end of our hike - the parts of the Great Wall that have been retaken by nature. So, so cool to see</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HBiWkT-21sRni82_hYlmPZShIn1J8-D3g6iLP_8MNpnLlX7AwX6gxmA-edHNuqlf2Rrvduuh9A9BikcagLpKE9QJaD5qD7VyDMeU-VJWf3CknFrLMQP30I18fM8fnmghUamUGsXaEmY/s1600/thumb_IMG_9604_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0HBiWkT-21sRni82_hYlmPZShIn1J8-D3g6iLP_8MNpnLlX7AwX6gxmA-edHNuqlf2Rrvduuh9A9BikcagLpKE9QJaD5qD7VyDMeU-VJWf3CknFrLMQP30I18fM8fnmghUamUGsXaEmY/s640/thumb_IMG_9604_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Parker on very crumbly wall bits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs8-DStBRQmZkh2px2LJK6PxSPTaCLlhLWsQdwWSWiHDRFGDl5K_uCiGwc0_NJSRS0oKXbbz-yXKECYSHIU_j6_wWcHr208ZPilF-v60qccWCQmrk1DTbMYPcep1dPBwscTI4SyA6FZg/s1600/thumb_IMG_9591_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs8-DStBRQmZkh2px2LJK6PxSPTaCLlhLWsQdwWSWiHDRFGDl5K_uCiGwc0_NJSRS0oKXbbz-yXKECYSHIU_j6_wWcHr208ZPilF-v60qccWCQmrk1DTbMYPcep1dPBwscTI4SyA6FZg/s640/thumb_IMG_9591_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And bushes are growing through the wall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6J7HI567f7ya8iguNEZvBqxMDC1YcVenQwZaR5hbvn8SkN6A_fYuQBanG0VkA_SxfQVXDw5YUKb3iVzNQPkJlo0VHFuN2q47KFswJX-m8MkmwFewsB3vHwmGW2EqIZwfQn5dF6v-W8FY/s1600/thumb_IMG_9594_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6J7HI567f7ya8iguNEZvBqxMDC1YcVenQwZaR5hbvn8SkN6A_fYuQBanG0VkA_SxfQVXDw5YUKb3iVzNQPkJlo0VHFuN2q47KFswJX-m8MkmwFewsB3vHwmGW2EqIZwfQn5dF6v-W8FY/s640/thumb_IMG_9594_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">GIANT BUSHES</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMFT6jmeIsfxY7duVbIaFph41pA8qvErSlik8uNncgYmUoclImPiSHJ4kwOUphGvJkxV_Qfn0qjo4ZjcHmE2VZdGCDUTPoezKzsWiR-wPZ9-Z25LwfxISlaOELhdXAdr3TzmA-mFvLUU/s1600/thumb_IMG_9587_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbMFT6jmeIsfxY7duVbIaFph41pA8qvErSlik8uNncgYmUoclImPiSHJ4kwOUphGvJkxV_Qfn0qjo4ZjcHmE2VZdGCDUTPoezKzsWiR-wPZ9-Z25LwfxISlaOELhdXAdr3TzmA-mFvLUU/s640/thumb_IMG_9587_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc6NvZ70395Ey3YWgjqGKxlVrBXPuLgq4xm-bmAPuP8uWG4V1edfzmxfXABTxZ8x1EqqgIQ703_lfMCwAz1ROjZV9ejmERZ58ODCBYB58dKvYeq3TXE34osQEV-x24nB-uTNEvVr3yek/s1600/thumb_IMG_3164_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHc6NvZ70395Ey3YWgjqGKxlVrBXPuLgq4xm-bmAPuP8uWG4V1edfzmxfXABTxZ8x1EqqgIQ703_lfMCwAz1ROjZV9ejmERZ58ODCBYB58dKvYeq3TXE34osQEV-x24nB-uTNEvVr3yek/s640/thumb_IMG_3164_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggrxwepr69ihArnXlj8ZCst6Bg6267YJW-5a8ftW0PuBf_RRpDs5v_F3owuhXnpJ0rgnjR_SWoZ75oZIeRS2daW_nAMfs6hXCukH-4SmeFVuYF5WLP79EgdcKu8zRcq0A-VzJKriwnHE/s1600/thumb_IMG_9597_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgggrxwepr69ihArnXlj8ZCst6Bg6267YJW-5a8ftW0PuBf_RRpDs5v_F3owuhXnpJ0rgnjR_SWoZ75oZIeRS2daW_nAMfs6hXCukH-4SmeFVuYF5WLP79EgdcKu8zRcq0A-VzJKriwnHE/s640/thumb_IMG_9597_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">One last view of the wall before the end of our hike</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>It was sweaty city, and incredibly, incredibly hot - but one of the most amazing things ever. Getting to see the restored sections was totally amazing, as you could easily envision the Great Wall and how it looked at its peak back in the day: a towering, intimidating blockade of stone. And then being able to visit the parts that have been slowly overtaken by nature, which is also incredibly beautiful in itself. The best part was not having to fight with throngs of people (by contrast, the most visited part of the Great Wall - Badaling - can have up to 70,000 people/day in the peak season). There were so many parts of the wall that we just had to ourselves, which was such an incredible treat. </li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>The Great Wall used to be constructed by bricks pasted together with rice flour. This is amazing. You have no idea how amazing this is.</li>
<li>While the Great Wall was constructed to prevent foreign invaders, it never actually worked that effectively. It was probably more effective psychologically to outsiders - a symbol of China's incredible strength.</li>
<li>During Emperor Qin's reign (247-220 B.C., he was one of the most famous emperors of all time), there was a point where almost 20% of the entire population of China was working on the wall. I'm sure I don't need to say this, but lots of people died.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-80351877789098156302016-07-05T08:29:00.002-07:002016-07-05T08:29:56.131-07:00Beijing, China, Part 1: China is a Different PlanetI just realized that I went the wrong way in Asia. Japan -> Korea -> China was probably not the route to take, as the facilities, cleanliness level, amenities, and atmosphere slowly devolved into a big ol' hot mess. Here I was getting used to beautifully clean toilets with heated seats and a plethora of fancy hand soaps and lovely smells, and now I have to adjust myself to just a hole in the ground. Ok, I'm being dramatic. China's toilets aren't just a hole in the ground.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlnX136ZglubIhFMEm-KCMUeuOaaw_wMQLFrVL1B94tQTwNNJKyZbyd2Iu3FaCMqR8E6K3rPFL_jsdGf645_lY28myLpHNaoHeE6qXBRZrzEwyGFTXjO_n7Oi7DZPNm1qy21idZ0G_WM/s1600/thumb_IMG_3036_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPlnX136ZglubIhFMEm-KCMUeuOaaw_wMQLFrVL1B94tQTwNNJKyZbyd2Iu3FaCMqR8E6K3rPFL_jsdGf645_lY28myLpHNaoHeE6qXBRZrzEwyGFTXjO_n7Oi7DZPNm1qy21idZ0G_WM/s640/thumb_IMG_3036_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">........THEY'RE SIX HOLES IN THE GROUND</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Fine, I'm being dramatic again maybe. But seriously, what are you supposed to do in the above bathroom?? Chat with the other women awkwardly squatting around you??<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anyhow! I was excited to add China to my itinerary since it's the motherland of my motherland. Like OG. Not to mention the fact that it's so fast-changing, and I'm sure that there are still so, so many undiscovered (by the average backpacker) gems tucked around the country. Plus, I'll take any excuse to brush up on my jenky Chinese skills. I just wanted to see it all. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I've been to China twice before - once on a tour group with my family and a bunch of family friends when I was 16, and once when I was 18 and my dad took me on our first (and only) father-daughter trip during the SARS outbreak because "everything is so cheap there right now!!" Considering it's been 13 years since I'd last been to Mainland China, I had zero idea what to expect. First stop, Beijing!</div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Beijing is obvs the capital of China, and everyone always talks about how smoggy and dirty and drab it is. Not to mention it's got like, 6 zillion people crammed into it (Ok that number is more accurately ~>20 million). Seriously, the last time I was in Beijing (IN 2001 LEAVE ME ALONE), the sky was a lovely smoggy yellow-gray every day. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDG3Zu8iGZusM-erZllJ0URwhkkie4hATfyNejCsmoEsHh4NXRvVwmbo3wCwAjJxvso6XIllRsvceC4B4PzUmvTokH0SK4g7MOc9EPkP8RjGQSK0_BbY323JiO0dqaVlyyyoylAMfPDY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3035_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqDG3Zu8iGZusM-erZllJ0URwhkkie4hATfyNejCsmoEsHh4NXRvVwmbo3wCwAjJxvso6XIllRsvceC4B4PzUmvTokH0SK4g7MOc9EPkP8RjGQSK0_BbY323JiO0dqaVlyyyoylAMfPDY/s640/thumb_IMG_3035_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Narrow <i>hutong</i> alleys of Beijing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
But Beijing surprised me this time. There are definitely some parts you could never conceivably call "lovely," and it definitely has its rough edges (as does all of China), but there are some absolutely uniquely charming, interesting, and fascinating corners of this city that I am so glad I got to experience. Beijing today is constantly changing, and involves such a blend of old and new - you'll find so many glimpses of the old world in the narrow <i>hutong</i> alleys, where old men in wife beaters still sit outside their homes on stoops and raucously chat with their neighbors - but a block down the road, you'll find gleaming new mega-malls with all the latest designer brands. Getting to see how much the city has morphed was one of the most interesting things I've gotten to experience.<br />
<div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Arrived in Beijing from Seoul and met up with one of my previously-featured blog co-stars - Jesse! You know, Aussie Jesse from Africa - we volunteered in the villages of Uganda, road-tripped through the sand dunes of Namibia, drank wine in South African wine country, hitchhiked across Botswana, and swam in the pools above Victoria Falls in Zambia together. And now we're meeting in China! How crazy is this world, when you think about it.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh9Zs3hjFQC-TPl_pVXGeHqseaO1iwF1FRp4J_LAx7fWxaArbcBiTbwe5bswf6JFQzAHhN_3Wsm2FtPdWldranWJXQdI6cb9NbYR-o9YzLsLKrHHEG7O6U6Nbbm8f85mAy7BNliybMJI/s1600/thumb_IMG_4400_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmh9Zs3hjFQC-TPl_pVXGeHqseaO1iwF1FRp4J_LAx7fWxaArbcBiTbwe5bswf6JFQzAHhN_3Wsm2FtPdWldranWJXQdI6cb9NbYR-o9YzLsLKrHHEG7O6U6Nbbm8f85mAy7BNliybMJI/s640/thumb_IMG_4400_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">It's Jesse!<br />
Post our African adventures, Jesse had moved to Beijing to take up a teaching job - and was kind enough to show me around the city and let me crash with him for a couple days.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Dtu_in0H9BfxPL46Z40jAzKEuIUcJZpOHFLPJXcm2M5g-YbcLnKy2DPmlmpe6HXLIhImzJZUQoWk37xwpVzAulY6el_6DBI0RVrqBijnMcoZUtWBZh59mEcOYuyx6HPg3Bn_KDcXLj8/s1600/thumb_IMG_4399_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Dtu_in0H9BfxPL46Z40jAzKEuIUcJZpOHFLPJXcm2M5g-YbcLnKy2DPmlmpe6HXLIhImzJZUQoWk37xwpVzAulY6el_6DBI0RVrqBijnMcoZUtWBZh59mEcOYuyx6HPg3Bn_KDcXLj8/s640/thumb_IMG_4399_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">He lives in a super-traditional <i>hutong</i> neighborhood, but there's super-trendy spots tucked in here and there - such as this video game bar with all the old school video games you could ever want. A lot of the original Super Mario cheats came back to me, weirdly enough (I shudder to think what else this brain space could have been used for over the years).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfVFg2vcOqyb_nO5P8-Kr5nY3Gg9S_zuiOsZAVkzj_sm4xxiBB0N-ZyyNZWxH_-Hdg9q0lvVcOHdrXn9UWavAl9YH8GGhXe_40D1O9pmukjP7D29G3mB-egKoJuRjDs_PlS0uu5dVXAE/s1600/thumb_IMG_3032_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBfVFg2vcOqyb_nO5P8-Kr5nY3Gg9S_zuiOsZAVkzj_sm4xxiBB0N-ZyyNZWxH_-Hdg9q0lvVcOHdrXn9UWavAl9YH8GGhXe_40D1O9pmukjP7D29G3mB-egKoJuRjDs_PlS0uu5dVXAE/s640/thumb_IMG_3032_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And the sunset was still super-lovely from the top of the bar (smog??)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR2MotgEvF-h34MZ4lOLMrstLk_4Qu4MaiUIo5X_w924-dI2yHRCD6W5ansUlXCjva2Da6pA0JlGmURtC4aAzvDW6zBu_G3n488SuqokGwXwpdlC8F-fNE2aIWQ0RAPL0RQW6eCgMiH8/s1600/thumb_IMG_3040_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjR2MotgEvF-h34MZ4lOLMrstLk_4Qu4MaiUIo5X_w924-dI2yHRCD6W5ansUlXCjva2Da6pA0JlGmURtC4aAzvDW6zBu_G3n488SuqokGwXwpdlC8F-fNE2aIWQ0RAPL0RQW6eCgMiH8/s640/thumb_IMG_3040_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We went out for a drink later that evening in an area called Houhai - lots of bars and nightlife framed by a big lake, and crammed to the gills with people.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day, we went sightseeing at the Summer Palace - the former royal summer home of Chinese emperors and empresses and concubines, and their retreat from the oppressive summer heat in the Forbidden City. It was originally built in 1750, reconstructed in 1886 after it was destroyed, and is now a huge preserved park, where you can wander the vast (read: VAST) oasis-like grounds filled with leafy retreats, temples, former castles, lakes, monuments, etc. </li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LAL9I0GbxUxhNxOJOdR2okwil_QZMdWCesKf7kE2EDZJD3vs1IrGf0MT8ccl-naxvGFZ0yE38bTlB1hjNsPK4r3QftHaR77qB_GOipKG_GB6l7Un3qxM8ICdSlqkQwPWrHVEI2-yBGQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3074_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_LAL9I0GbxUxhNxOJOdR2okwil_QZMdWCesKf7kE2EDZJD3vs1IrGf0MT8ccl-naxvGFZ0yE38bTlB1hjNsPK4r3QftHaR77qB_GOipKG_GB6l7Un3qxM8ICdSlqkQwPWrHVEI2-yBGQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3074_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">You know what you have to prep for in China? HUGE CHINESE TOUR GROUPS everywhere. Especially on weekends, when they increase tenfold. It's like the Great Serengeti Migration. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfCix9SxxDiEv-_ZnCuAgXEuJZUzPqF9_kz9hvYwM7yXe1te8H84R5Ww5_zWFPUlZJvM9o6JxJ9ETxUgS_O_IgBCF-yHrdyg2qqXWqUtQE-0W7A3Z8duc55ZkEsdc9xaK8Ya063CfS2A/s1600/thumb_IMG_3075_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKfCix9SxxDiEv-_ZnCuAgXEuJZUzPqF9_kz9hvYwM7yXe1te8H84R5Ww5_zWFPUlZJvM9o6JxJ9ETxUgS_O_IgBCF-yHrdyg2qqXWqUtQE-0W7A3Z8duc55ZkEsdc9xaK8Ya063CfS2A/s640/thumb_IMG_3075_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">SO MANY PEOPLE</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wLlBhXdnPP4OOhSHfPulslUbRDvdZsZ1Vg3tCHSDNSfJs4iwuTFNnSEvJi52_LtvMq-b5gGDRToPHpCRFIAnsKy2MiKzmimBr0kwK1YyLC1MhK0XTi_x-g20uCFn1Eil-38LpS9hUY0/s1600/thumb_IMG_3046_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5wLlBhXdnPP4OOhSHfPulslUbRDvdZsZ1Vg3tCHSDNSfJs4iwuTFNnSEvJi52_LtvMq-b5gGDRToPHpCRFIAnsKy2MiKzmimBr0kwK1YyLC1MhK0XTi_x-g20uCFn1Eil-38LpS9hUY0/s640/thumb_IMG_3046_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A good thing about the Summer Palace though, is that it is so HUGE that there are plenty of areas that are far less congested and, one might even say, peaceful-ish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPk_MsRc_0MEbCYbeGO2bq1IbRJ6-eBSGWiTJkxFV696nBG_8jwxeSGXAG6XH6FauLuViaQYKNJXmzwKgOJlO6WoPJ4sJnsD_RdA0ysqUBqv0UIqGZlAlRuqZCgZZIeFfpYw0-OPcCh4/s1600/thumb_IMG_3048_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcPk_MsRc_0MEbCYbeGO2bq1IbRJ6-eBSGWiTJkxFV696nBG_8jwxeSGXAG6XH6FauLuViaQYKNJXmzwKgOJlO6WoPJ4sJnsD_RdA0ysqUBqv0UIqGZlAlRuqZCgZZIeFfpYw0-OPcCh4/s640/thumb_IMG_3048_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A pretty pagoda</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_GPXzraQhvWv7W6MmaPDMRXRKUCMn2U_ESBIb8iF7IhrOsf1oxvxzgUnIylW8C1PEr40n99XeNOnWGnMhx3_AC519rjwxZX7vLpowQGHxM00Ku7T9Yve_IOxZc9JAa_K3LwUX7mnr4E/s1600/thumb_IMG_3054_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6_GPXzraQhvWv7W6MmaPDMRXRKUCMn2U_ESBIb8iF7IhrOsf1oxvxzgUnIylW8C1PEr40n99XeNOnWGnMhx3_AC519rjwxZX7vLpowQGHxM00Ku7T9Yve_IOxZc9JAa_K3LwUX7mnr4E/s640/thumb_IMG_3054_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">One of my absolute favorite parts was these tranquility gardens called the Gardens of Harmonious Interests (all the sights in the Summer Palace had ridiculous names, like "Peaceful Harmony of the Three Perfect Essences Temple", or something like that)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5xvkOb8k7YygnSbj-YxpGI93b3QyYSdv4T6cFczKRn4fBn115SNFIxKKfLhx5c_8xKoNSNJdivx_hWQbF2CAZklMOHQCaIW8mKQFvJg9qelMZDvm5ObYe0r7IK4gb35NunHhu8W7f2M/s1600/thumb_IMG_3056_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz5xvkOb8k7YygnSbj-YxpGI93b3QyYSdv4T6cFczKRn4fBn115SNFIxKKfLhx5c_8xKoNSNJdivx_hWQbF2CAZklMOHQCaIW8mKQFvJg9qelMZDvm5ObYe0r7IK4gb35NunHhu8W7f2M/s640/thumb_IMG_3056_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This would def be my hangout spot if I was a concubine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc__hhyV2EdenCPjL7drIn_ujXfPVWmxlQUvQ7WfeE25mFmRLaDvuWGhdpfLCE-P-Imm4OZniGSxqqEOJbBAerTZ6cYljLHeURCazYcBCj8w7CZaLBiKCcBPGJyhwKEaN4newIkWGiLo/s1600/thumb_IMG_3059_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMc__hhyV2EdenCPjL7drIn_ujXfPVWmxlQUvQ7WfeE25mFmRLaDvuWGhdpfLCE-P-Imm4OZniGSxqqEOJbBAerTZ6cYljLHeURCazYcBCj8w7CZaLBiKCcBPGJyhwKEaN4newIkWGiLo/s640/thumb_IMG_3059_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">So many water lilies!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0O11BWnEzUeO7YeqNnN0TQHK0K1aU9dJDIaET7J9Dh17YUABl9XR-CwySPW2Zcz2g6aBr-VW2kllJZqX2bq1gEJGmZbjHd9epDbs9bnUI2yfFhY9duZgS0Sf7H_n0y7oc4Ipl0vJBYI/s1600/thumb_IMG_3064_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0O11BWnEzUeO7YeqNnN0TQHK0K1aU9dJDIaET7J9Dh17YUABl9XR-CwySPW2Zcz2g6aBr-VW2kllJZqX2bq1gEJGmZbjHd9epDbs9bnUI2yfFhY9duZgS0Sf7H_n0y7oc4Ipl0vJBYI/s640/thumb_IMG_3064_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Seriously, who would have known that 5 months later, we'd be in China together?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdESgH7Fo31WnonRXrAT1awENUT3gsYjka99EUev3lD-hioXEC8nlaHE5aKje4Ao4YjfMs_d4ei5rRzBRLbgoMdGJXo1FN3jAAvJjwrYo815dUl1aI3iXRSUB_OEg5mXxjDwXVGWtpuoc/s1600/thumb_IMG_4401_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdESgH7Fo31WnonRXrAT1awENUT3gsYjka99EUev3lD-hioXEC8nlaHE5aKje4Ao4YjfMs_d4ei5rRzBRLbgoMdGJXo1FN3jAAvJjwrYo815dUl1aI3iXRSUB_OEg5mXxjDwXVGWtpuoc/s640/thumb_IMG_4401_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And this is the most famous pagoda in the entire complex, called the Tower of Buddhist Incense. The lady before me posed exactly like this (you can still see her behind me in the black and white), and I was inspired.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQMQPx_ejXj1z_K9uq6erBQ_nj0zbg5Xw5OeysJgep4lyGdw1z26ucFhpyJLLFdcGCJUlSqIPm2J3l73qrzFjkveXW4Yv9TAAkPCo5pH4RZuXeTlQ1UWsTk9eS_1xTALtL7_61w_8k80/s1600/thumb_IMG_3081_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQMQPx_ejXj1z_K9uq6erBQ_nj0zbg5Xw5OeysJgep4lyGdw1z26ucFhpyJLLFdcGCJUlSqIPm2J3l73qrzFjkveXW4Yv9TAAkPCo5pH4RZuXeTlQ1UWsTk9eS_1xTALtL7_61w_8k80/s640/thumb_IMG_3081_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">3/4 of the Summer Palace grounds is this huge lake - view is courtesy of the top of the pagoda.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbs5nqF3lVLdoI-kDj0DIQnisgAgmSubogP7-_HBTba3qoJa9oobzyF1DvOfmBVZY2HhqBd11WU2U8aKALu5i9yj7LKTp1YtHLJ3TFED0SNSxbgZXpk2VeQtt-2rfWIPg_b0a3RP3loc/s1600/thumb_IMG_3086_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbs5nqF3lVLdoI-kDj0DIQnisgAgmSubogP7-_HBTba3qoJa9oobzyF1DvOfmBVZY2HhqBd11WU2U8aKALu5i9yj7LKTp1YtHLJ3TFED0SNSxbgZXpk2VeQtt-2rfWIPg_b0a3RP3loc/s640/thumb_IMG_3086_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Little waterways and shops in the grounds</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc9UYcdA8WQ14cnJ77VqeRUCb1_dajr3JkgUdM5nQS9ZJsNbvWMfJ162lzVWoO-wFC-x5jb4Tdgiy0FCPbCFuaGESWAuA2AnIabJKsD6WNrzU5EZYc6aku-eQv5NOmaa1dv5gMxikwec/s1600/thumb_IMG_3088_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmc9UYcdA8WQ14cnJ77VqeRUCb1_dajr3JkgUdM5nQS9ZJsNbvWMfJ162lzVWoO-wFC-x5jb4Tdgiy0FCPbCFuaGESWAuA2AnIabJKsD6WNrzU5EZYc6aku-eQv5NOmaa1dv5gMxikwec/s640/thumb_IMG_3088_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">I like waterside things</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>We spent an entire day at the Summer Palace, and I'd say we maybe only saw about....20% of the entire thing? This place is insane. It was also balls hot, so that may have contributed to a slower speed.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKZhPV0_dP_Y44Kj-YPdjMDmQ8H-z7MlpP_gcDODjWnMOFKTMqls19ywdQa7gxn_7hjgnLwnITK-SaRMoefjjUKDQXIOC-WSInePSBlv6UaLxquhJIRVlHutJiOne_FpG8GYvUAJFzWY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3091_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKZhPV0_dP_Y44Kj-YPdjMDmQ8H-z7MlpP_gcDODjWnMOFKTMqls19ywdQa7gxn_7hjgnLwnITK-SaRMoefjjUKDQXIOC-WSInePSBlv6UaLxquhJIRVlHutJiOne_FpG8GYvUAJFzWY/s640/thumb_IMG_3091_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">For dinner, we went to a super local beef noodle joint near Jesse's apartment. I love places like that - super tiny, local places with only stools and folding tables. The noodles were hand-cut, the soup was delicious, the beer was cold, and the entire thing was only $2.<br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">Also, the menu on the wall was only in Chinese - luckily, "beef" and "noodles" are two of the words I'm very proficient at reading.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIotdH79lKi7El05zE9jSeTvxkkYKV21HFEl1_5Yzdy83o8UlC13U4CMS7XB4rjMi-o50WpWGGaveGaPR2lSz7u4E5e631CETGJla4Q-C0vxs9U2MCb5kBOtpM9s687NuUupYuTFIH14/s1600/thumb_IMG_3093_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyIotdH79lKi7El05zE9jSeTvxkkYKV21HFEl1_5Yzdy83o8UlC13U4CMS7XB4rjMi-o50WpWGGaveGaPR2lSz7u4E5e631CETGJla4Q-C0vxs9U2MCb5kBOtpM9s687NuUupYuTFIH14/s640/thumb_IMG_3093_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then out for a drink with some of Jesse's fellow teacher friends in an area called Sanlintun. All I can say about Sanlintun is that it is an interesting combo of super-fancy mega malls, upscale expat bars, and seedy strip clubs. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqYi1hfgE8I0HDZhh-li8pfH06HclpUHKB0RTPd6hid_uLjapB-PO2bLPMXPYFESTvWVoNw46aSsIdd6mXOS8FmpmYIMNkg58PfNU9ipSXXlXtxMqlurtaMG658gid1IXRCSzOhnRZbU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3103_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqYi1hfgE8I0HDZhh-li8pfH06HclpUHKB0RTPd6hid_uLjapB-PO2bLPMXPYFESTvWVoNw46aSsIdd6mXOS8FmpmYIMNkg58PfNU9ipSXXlXtxMqlurtaMG658gid1IXRCSzOhnRZbU/s640/thumb_IMG_3103_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">But in Sanlintun, the strippers dance in the windows! What is the incentive to go inside and pay for a drink when you can just enjoy a free show outside....?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>Next day, I managed to get dragged on a run. Jesse is part of a group in Beijing called the Hash House Harriers (it's a worldwide org that does these social runs that combine running and drinking; their cutesy cult tagline is that they are a "drinking group with a running problem"). Their runs (called "hashes") are done weekly by their various member clubs around the world (strangely enough, I've randomly heard about the NYC one when I lived there), and involve a kind of scavenger hunt to find the trail, with various beer stops along the way. The group was doing a big run for charity on the Sunday I was in town called the "Red Dress Run," which is exactly what it sounds like. </li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK7E5ffNvfcz5hM4BlLOqS0uAJOfQ3bwZOY09R7qdpXb96_u4l-UXQ-MDVSF6VVGSIfuUHpFNG5k8EQSEWRKTi9SJlbaFpY_TcKW8EIAnOX02zgvB6mn_yUytGLGDT2BuF_o1EM8MrME/s1600/thumb_IMG_4403_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmK7E5ffNvfcz5hM4BlLOqS0uAJOfQ3bwZOY09R7qdpXb96_u4l-UXQ-MDVSF6VVGSIfuUHpFNG5k8EQSEWRKTi9SJlbaFpY_TcKW8EIAnOX02zgvB6mn_yUytGLGDT2BuF_o1EM8MrME/s640/thumb_IMG_4403_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Group shot of the Red Dress Run! Running 10k in 100 degree weather is something else, let me tell you.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>After the run, I headed back to my hotel - which I'd checked into that day because I was meeting up with a friend from home.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h88ULdvCRh2CFVcdaapI8htYP9UvR4-VVBXJc8BVt-XPULyOKUseGivESfDj7FhIeVx6xuDFTmHVmqVy3kTpwdNjJn7FOOQhkyOzG_xiqdSe-NNruNiv3lf857RLFC3nT2lFh9MzzKU/s1600/thumb_IMG_9445_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1h88ULdvCRh2CFVcdaapI8htYP9UvR4-VVBXJc8BVt-XPULyOKUseGivESfDj7FhIeVx6xuDFTmHVmqVy3kTpwdNjJn7FOOQhkyOzG_xiqdSe-NNruNiv3lf857RLFC3nT2lFh9MzzKU/s640/thumb_IMG_9445_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is Parker! To the left, that is. The other one is obviously Jess.<br />
Parker went to my high school in CO, but now lives in LA doing fancy lawyer things - he came to China to join me on my trip for 2 weeks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyGf-nUxwXvbvehKLeFEeijC4NZLOQ4TkzEvVUKzH1F8aluOdpcNW74JcSEp-XuDWzAQI2TjaPxKN-VqfH1JXgNXgi6p1qH4WWGzUYH1pXi65tVbeg6X-ogfNpeQ-lGECFOpmmQCAccc/s1600/thumb_IMG_3105_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyGf-nUxwXvbvehKLeFEeijC4NZLOQ4TkzEvVUKzH1F8aluOdpcNW74JcSEp-XuDWzAQI2TjaPxKN-VqfH1JXgNXgi6p1qH4WWGzUYH1pXi65tVbeg6X-ogfNpeQ-lGECFOpmmQCAccc/s640/thumb_IMG_3105_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Jess, Parker and I went to a nearby restaurant for Peking duck. Which this chef is artfully preparing for us. Or the table next to us. We maybe took these photos thinking it was our duck, and then he served it to the table next to us.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T0Ju0EHBsk7urb2WRpA8Sr-icu2GuzFsGWdUOpMPaTXCNY3Nhdgfb293VjGXvfSR7MdVGWW001M0BQbxidpcFoAX2AT1vqpeqW7pUU1aLDFMNJSIBNPzd7_kf-BOWvGCXRCO6gDc6c0/s1600/thumb_IMG_9289_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4T0Ju0EHBsk7urb2WRpA8Sr-icu2GuzFsGWdUOpMPaTXCNY3Nhdgfb293VjGXvfSR7MdVGWW001M0BQbxidpcFoAX2AT1vqpeqW7pUU1aLDFMNJSIBNPzd7_kf-BOWvGCXRCO6gDc6c0/s640/thumb_IMG_9289_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then our duck arrived!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWk5aEaM99sGzmNPVG_gpsJmbvcJxv-8wTK7MWCPlsHvS7hOO6sm_LwN4cuYDOJwVsgU665g4qTnPyymAMpDiDPS4FUXRgJrUfPEgO1Q616B1LdBrCZDEMcRGg23XMJ2Fn7lK4QO7JOw/s1600/thumb_IMG_9293_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyWk5aEaM99sGzmNPVG_gpsJmbvcJxv-8wTK7MWCPlsHvS7hOO6sm_LwN4cuYDOJwVsgU665g4qTnPyymAMpDiDPS4FUXRgJrUfPEgO1Q616B1LdBrCZDEMcRGg23XMJ2Fn7lK4QO7JOw/s640/thumb_IMG_9293_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then we maybe ate a bunch of the duck before they actually brought out the duck wrappers. Oops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<ul>
<li>The next day, Jess had to go to work (noob), so Parker and I traipsed out to the Forbidden City/Tianamen Square.</li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmWv4VP_BT90W41RPHWrinu0g5WB-H7i-W52grB-ZFwzs1YBNFxT1CcFhNVZt_FvRg30kQJvXctrYUXHcNa8PiGuOFJSztOmTQszkQlh5m6xEXh20tIeU-ZZeXlB2CZ7GCzH1svWIRDw/s1600/thumb_IMG_9392_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmWv4VP_BT90W41RPHWrinu0g5WB-H7i-W52grB-ZFwzs1YBNFxT1CcFhNVZt_FvRg30kQJvXctrYUXHcNa8PiGuOFJSztOmTQszkQlh5m6xEXh20tIeU-ZZeXlB2CZ7GCzH1svWIRDw/s640/thumb_IMG_9392_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Here is Tianamen Square! So much history here (much of it very sad) - from where Mao proclaimed the People's Republic of China in 1949, to the events in 1989 when the government violently put down student protests and established their control.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSYONGpWAPzvVEknhayhuioAG-RrDuKZIoni416OSMPa6Ud21cN0YJVMlJnwxZVGzROy2FbpHSUv4Uff_JtOUS06qddmcymRsKds-8hKwiboyYXLD0NTSw8uv0HefD-7alEz7JzQbneY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3120_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJSYONGpWAPzvVEknhayhuioAG-RrDuKZIoni416OSMPa6Ud21cN0YJVMlJnwxZVGzROy2FbpHSUv4Uff_JtOUS06qddmcymRsKds-8hKwiboyYXLD0NTSw8uv0HefD-7alEz7JzQbneY/s1600/thumb_IMG_3120_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhwtBbTZAq4zrK1JzzrVuhJ5VL3lmIJUJcoTo5uvjdWW8ohZLcrRAHLG0JvRaAP4hLeQA-AdGgFHhsjBjBIAK2B7eR8S8qgjRKpK8IMjmgE2x2byCUNra-ga9VN9ELBqpklPH48fnCxo/s1600/thumb_IMG_3123_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxhwtBbTZAq4zrK1JzzrVuhJ5VL3lmIJUJcoTo5uvjdWW8ohZLcrRAHLG0JvRaAP4hLeQA-AdGgFHhsjBjBIAK2B7eR8S8qgjRKpK8IMjmgE2x2byCUNra-ga9VN9ELBqpklPH48fnCxo/s640/thumb_IMG_3123_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is Mao's Mausoleum (...the Mao-soleum?) - every day, they put his preserved body on display for a couple hours for people to come see. As you can see, the gates were closed the day we went because apparently everything is closed on Mondays. No Mao-body to see :(</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhQquPnfm3fovOjN_AXfjp0_x5VY3ojWmFTiSLTr0gQSgoOvB5t0Q-lh5F19i5KruxwERGdc8GX2rSYOu8rgrHKMT72sMUpZeETWLsiSCr6xBsM-Bn5B02XECq6qzSrA67OUG-6Gs1ow/s1600/thumb_IMG_3122_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhQquPnfm3fovOjN_AXfjp0_x5VY3ojWmFTiSLTr0gQSgoOvB5t0Q-lh5F19i5KruxwERGdc8GX2rSYOu8rgrHKMT72sMUpZeETWLsiSCr6xBsM-Bn5B02XECq6qzSrA67OUG-6Gs1ow/s640/thumb_IMG_3122_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Two Parkers in Tianamen Square, presenting the Forbidden City.<br />
On an unrelated note, not sure if you can see it, but there are TONS of video cameras on the light pole behind right Parker. There were so many cameras EVERYwhere in Tianamen Square that it was disconcerting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: times; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: times; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2T8xbSWIS1HoAaUVhyB6BhpNxvG2bL2RIFvsWYadOcmmzS6i1tDH_Bfi3OpByJLC0Bb6vjXdQI4oz1VzLwc4tgczusd9jV7XEKgv3Zv1xNsDspjgdn-lnkKW0jkyw3QoM_UNSJX0vlg/s1600/thumb_IMG_9407_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX2T8xbSWIS1HoAaUVhyB6BhpNxvG2bL2RIFvsWYadOcmmzS6i1tDH_Bfi3OpByJLC0Bb6vjXdQI4oz1VzLwc4tgczusd9jV7XEKgv3Zv1xNsDspjgdn-lnkKW0jkyw3QoM_UNSJX0vlg/s640/thumb_IMG_9407_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And then we made our way over to the Forbidden City</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgho8IICXqLX7HZNiFYytlRjFtVJzox4eB-EFQr8kONijXdMrmbpAqTSe9xhT_ut0rkSCgNzwRLj6Q7E3CRKjEg3AomdSvfzQyBkYVhRhqzSmf7NRCqYBWiQ2hPgnkRpMRDBZoOkHy-e68/s1600/thumb_IMG_9410_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgho8IICXqLX7HZNiFYytlRjFtVJzox4eB-EFQr8kONijXdMrmbpAqTSe9xhT_ut0rkSCgNzwRLj6Q7E3CRKjEg3AomdSvfzQyBkYVhRhqzSmf7NRCqYBWiQ2hPgnkRpMRDBZoOkHy-e68/s640/thumb_IMG_9410_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">It was ridiculously hot and sunny, so I bought myself an umbrella hat. Don't be jelly.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGtt1Cw9tsF6MfayFM5aD-g4dhZGsPVteCO7pJe2eiSwbxw3lJiHsCKLTtrPSEmFbvpa1pO56EztOqW9Rb1mTVD96kxIWbNUt_sTftMxF2XaKlRjlmwSH9YH2CqjowYBaijBp_enf2Rs/s1600/thumb_IMG_9414_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGtt1Cw9tsF6MfayFM5aD-g4dhZGsPVteCO7pJe2eiSwbxw3lJiHsCKLTtrPSEmFbvpa1pO56EztOqW9Rb1mTVD96kxIWbNUt_sTftMxF2XaKlRjlmwSH9YH2CqjowYBaijBp_enf2Rs/s640/thumb_IMG_9414_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This super-famous painting of Mao was damaged during the student protests, but was miraculously replaced by the next day in pristine condition.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1a5B4gjtm4gPVFgA1oZyQbMNUlvGoCdqU4cF4skA9qmzjADFoV7G05UnmomcSKL17I5QL6R_lh47sio5ZoyNsJlTb5WSw0PJLVq2GUt5vMT03trzLbZBiGyYaQXHveWU5-Zh6-UtqLg/s1600/thumb_IMG_3126_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik1a5B4gjtm4gPVFgA1oZyQbMNUlvGoCdqU4cF4skA9qmzjADFoV7G05UnmomcSKL17I5QL6R_lh47sio5ZoyNsJlTb5WSw0PJLVq2GUt5vMT03trzLbZBiGyYaQXHveWU5-Zh6-UtqLg/s640/thumb_IMG_3126_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Soldiers marching. It looks hot. They need umbrella hats.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJZ7sJeOlZktwNVtXMq4_1aNsP4VqeP2LvFDl76wKa2o-PMjXF5DleOz2jfB5YzDtsu_UCEM96coXLN7lEKg2rkdwcO2UoUrQ9jalocmBWzYIZua1gnuKkjaIQn1eua_qyG74AfbWigQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_9420_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLJZ7sJeOlZktwNVtXMq4_1aNsP4VqeP2LvFDl76wKa2o-PMjXF5DleOz2jfB5YzDtsu_UCEM96coXLN7lEKg2rkdwcO2UoUrQ9jalocmBWzYIZua1gnuKkjaIQn1eua_qyG74AfbWigQ/s640/thumb_IMG_9420_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">AND THEN THE FORBIDDEN CITY WAS CLOSED. WE ARE SAD.<br />
Note to self and others: nothing official is open on Mondays in China.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumDPLXWaNuSUHHNw3ys0-4_YGteJQeSOYnCfzIKQRZS02hejKHKkdYzITTDyDh5CNU8PYI3pq3upFlfFoTLDW4eg2-G_x76KPd8oyNCA_O28cMl_8QGGJx-CiH893ZJ37yWHsqzGjVeE/s1600/thumb_IMG_3127_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumDPLXWaNuSUHHNw3ys0-4_YGteJQeSOYnCfzIKQRZS02hejKHKkdYzITTDyDh5CNU8PYI3pq3upFlfFoTLDW4eg2-G_x76KPd8oyNCA_O28cMl_8QGGJx-CiH893ZJ37yWHsqzGjVeE/s640/thumb_IMG_3127_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We recovered by heading into and wandering a busy pedestrian section of the <i>hutongs </i>called South Luogu Lane, filled with adorable shops and stores and cafes and bars. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEzRJ06n5dz42OAduFf9CBqcAKyY_CLE01G1-IVYjeIPmN_EIK54Ph7H5JA8uR9tgI2sLuZYOJOeiX_e4GmHtnD6gs2oprsZ9rsV4B_DVKDLOi0_1aZG8oyEbJTYxB0bGsmbpAgW8EEo/s1600/thumb_IMG_9434_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEzRJ06n5dz42OAduFf9CBqcAKyY_CLE01G1-IVYjeIPmN_EIK54Ph7H5JA8uR9tgI2sLuZYOJOeiX_e4GmHtnD6gs2oprsZ9rsV4B_DVKDLOi0_1aZG8oyEbJTYxB0bGsmbpAgW8EEo/s640/thumb_IMG_9434_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fancy Starbucks: First installment of tons</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILLjyWRAuM0TWXrxmJ-zKPQ9IRRIUvdemfkjog9HJhiGDMgjy5WhaU6gsTgzJj7oVKjDUNwP-cCAyTuoz7yz6T4LPQDRct0xX_Db2VdxmzbB3kYp1nPvj_s0cqrBj9PW4NbJ3Ulap1Pc/s1600/thumb_IMG_9442_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILLjyWRAuM0TWXrxmJ-zKPQ9IRRIUvdemfkjog9HJhiGDMgjy5WhaU6gsTgzJj7oVKjDUNwP-cCAyTuoz7yz6T4LPQDRct0xX_Db2VdxmzbB3kYp1nPvj_s0cqrBj9PW4NbJ3Ulap1Pc/s640/thumb_IMG_9442_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Fancy fruit popsicles, which I purchased everywhere we went</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiW8PWz4tbIZXsmnQE9Sh2AO86oR9As75xd4XX0OYIaWn0uTx9yr6fGCNKjkwTuZz-F7uS0B_YimFGlCScZh1nuS9WrVA7HzklVyVFkSUocJctI52jw-VvwqVitoTqWbX-eDoAqoACgI/s1600/thumb_IMG_9439_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiW8PWz4tbIZXsmnQE9Sh2AO86oR9As75xd4XX0OYIaWn0uTx9yr6fGCNKjkwTuZz-F7uS0B_YimFGlCScZh1nuS9WrVA7HzklVyVFkSUocJctI52jw-VvwqVitoTqWbX-eDoAqoACgI/s640/thumb_IMG_9439_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Parker found my next dream car. I do love good gas mileage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANgs3Cg3PpSA3-unoksnUQDkdnp0UAaPFukbdq5dYjgI8PXMS2dnyAytK565rMvmBzvI4ImOrB0oCJO08LYyEzUQlHus9dWCcFnTr-m2Odh20PNcN2TF4m7SOUS4Ll4Scn3uNykogIbA/s1600/thumb_IMG_9449_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgANgs3Cg3PpSA3-unoksnUQDkdnp0UAaPFukbdq5dYjgI8PXMS2dnyAytK565rMvmBzvI4ImOrB0oCJO08LYyEzUQlHus9dWCcFnTr-m2Odh20PNcN2TF4m7SOUS4Ll4Scn3uNykogIbA/s640/thumb_IMG_9449_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then Jess (not pictured) met up with us after he got off from work, and we grabbed a drink at a neighborhood rooftop bar.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ_LV6_XlHgSMugKk-7oyM53vxCG8j2Pyq5P_GLt4iYAlKEa854tQhkqX5mhlSoi7uPoiZwLNhE8FiJb9nAIJdSiggwCF707BPNQs4IhoN4ZEXn9Kgd96Al2RFA7Ayy6A2v3ZBlV767k/s1600/thumb_IMG_9451_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqQ_LV6_XlHgSMugKk-7oyM53vxCG8j2Pyq5P_GLt4iYAlKEa854tQhkqX5mhlSoi7uPoiZwLNhE8FiJb9nAIJdSiggwCF707BPNQs4IhoN4ZEXn9Kgd96Al2RFA7Ayy6A2v3ZBlV767k/s640/thumb_IMG_9451_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Then headed into a part of town that has tons of street snacks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRk5E08xkEe65xgQKQEnwgAB-IYAsib2yoYmysOrJPe36duBUcyfsUI9Po4Z9txxlFucAfkA3GAvfdYOPdm1_vijCEYu1Rp8H5eI9S59v_BxkbNV_DRgEvECQQXN2bAPSP1ywHnWyCKU/s1600/thumb_IMG_9452_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRk5E08xkEe65xgQKQEnwgAB-IYAsib2yoYmysOrJPe36duBUcyfsUI9Po4Z9txxlFucAfkA3GAvfdYOPdm1_vijCEYu1Rp8H5eI9S59v_BxkbNV_DRgEvECQQXN2bAPSP1ywHnWyCKU/s640/thumb_IMG_9452_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Skewers of questionable things</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr0zPy18Udz64k0M79EjorcujnuhWviMa78Oqgo_yNQS4EDTnWfHbZ5N1KnAIPu4UIuDVd0x-Pfb1EqvNFeEUOJ4MhNPuioxeLPUsVR8C9B-fcOKSEQjdA1m9BkcLyDni7CTeJFfnYUw/s1600/thumb_IMG_9463_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdr0zPy18Udz64k0M79EjorcujnuhWviMa78Oqgo_yNQS4EDTnWfHbZ5N1KnAIPu4UIuDVd0x-Pfb1EqvNFeEUOJ4MhNPuioxeLPUsVR8C9B-fcOKSEQjdA1m9BkcLyDni7CTeJFfnYUw/s640/thumb_IMG_9463_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">We topped off the night having dinner at a street BBQ place near our hotel. Love these skewers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOU2gjCtxOKAP3NkKmTWFzaIOJML33Urr3CZE_JbQyKHYFm7pYFW8G0hjOcCAYGL4DD3xZLB3CC6LkLqObYYe5T1QPW8HIK_BdcNpBmPD0WU9UdfETcb1sPdPhXwQ2e8ZqFAMZcvGkpE/s1600/thumb_IMG_3131_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWOU2gjCtxOKAP3NkKmTWFzaIOJML33Urr3CZE_JbQyKHYFm7pYFW8G0hjOcCAYGL4DD3xZLB3CC6LkLqObYYe5T1QPW8HIK_BdcNpBmPD0WU9UdfETcb1sPdPhXwQ2e8ZqFAMZcvGkpE/s640/thumb_IMG_3131_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">And here it begins, where everyone in China assumes I'm the dutiful little Chinese translator for the white men. The waitress at this resty kept serving Parker, then Jess, then back to Parker, then Jess again - until Jess asked her why she kept skipping over me. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Many of the rumors you hear about China are true: there is a definite lack of what we consider public decorum. It sounds terrible - but honestly, it's just a part of the society and it's something you have to adjust to. It's actually slightly amusing a lot of the time.</li>
<ul>
<li>People are hawking loogies and spitting everywhere you go (even indoors on the floor!), </li>
<li>They love to wait in lines but I'm not exactly sure why, as all the rules of lines go out the window because they blatantly line-cut and shove (you have to protect your space!)</li>
<li>If you don't understand Chinese, you have no idea if people are talking to each other or yelling angrily at each other, because the decibel level starts at a minimum of "very high" and their normal voices seem to have a natural "full of anger" tone to them.</li>
<li>Kids pee/sometimes poo in the street. And to make this convenient for them, many of them have huge crotch holes in their pants, so you see a lot of naked butts running around.</li>
</ul>
<li>A specific Beijing phenomenon is when a lot of the men get hot, they roll up their shirt, exposing their stomachs, and roll out and about in public like that - which is jokingly referred to as the "Beijing bikini."</li>
<ul>
</ul>
</ul>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEtF9lifvkiEH6phzNQsePp05JgiFzim5KzG9pWkOQDQz7WIZ58pJFHFs-_dXokeMyGdnf7gdCXvd6CzbSw0-LzpsPbsj42eg6qSLSUhM4tPAkgkY_Ijn0BqQsn3EcHnSBcNf41V7560/s1600/thumb_IMG_9464_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYEtF9lifvkiEH6phzNQsePp05JgiFzim5KzG9pWkOQDQz7WIZ58pJFHFs-_dXokeMyGdnf7gdCXvd6CzbSw0-LzpsPbsj42eg6qSLSUhM4tPAkgkY_Ijn0BqQsn3EcHnSBcNf41V7560/s640/thumb_IMG_9464_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Parker and Jess are modeling the Beijing bikini</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><ul></ul>
</div>
<ul>
<li>There are tons of people in China, and you will see tourists wherever you go - but there is a definite, noticeable lack of white tourists, as most of the tourists you see will be Chinese. Even in a big city like Beijing, both Jess and Parker had people very blatantly take photos of them. </li>
<li>I think this might be partly the reason for the above bullet point, but it's also pretty hard to get around here if you don't speak Chinese. Like, even more than I thought it would be. Even in hotels where they claim to speak English, or on tours - they will be able to speak "tourist English" or "hotel English" or "Starbucks English," but not really be fluent and able to converse otherwise. Dear Mom and Dad - thank you so, so, so much for my (shoddy, yet surprisingly capable) Chinese language skills. I owe you guys a million.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-34281439724042083972016-07-03T09:36:00.002-07:002016-07-03T09:37:55.248-07:00Travel Tips: Japanese Eats; or What To Eat in Japan Oops, I meant to write this post on Japanese eats before Seoul, but now I'm just going to awkwardly stick it in here and pretend it belongs. <br />
<br />
As you saw, eating was a huge part of my trip to Japan (as it should be - Japanese food is the BEST). In fact, it was so important that I thought I'd write a separate post about it, because there are so many amazing, delicious things to nom here. Not to mention that sometimes people don't realize the wide range that Japanese cuisine covers, in addition to just sushi.<br />
<br />
In no particular order, here we gooooo:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">1. Ramen/Soba:</span><br />
Nobody does noodles as delicious as the Japanese. There's even specialties and varieties of ramen and soba that are dependent by region, with different noodles, broth, ingredients, etc. It's truly an art form. <br />
<br />
I've even been in one of those restaurants in Japan where you sit in singular cubicles, so you can truly focus on the ramen in front of you and its flavors, vs. having to speak to your friends & getting distracted by other things. Those things are not OK when your attention is supposed to be 100% focused on ramen, obviously.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK77h9btCdz_T2-2UxhomhZ4cvc0ue9ixRXqgiDRiHos2t1xvpPj1on4COQGj8q1gBj2mTxKFN5FrPc9euJZAR-88247eR82lMcoVwdlg7-DTMNStgRYRejsvVMabOK2B3yxmrAqkiH0/s1600/thumb_IMG_2663_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVK77h9btCdz_T2-2UxhomhZ4cvc0ue9ixRXqgiDRiHos2t1xvpPj1on4COQGj8q1gBj2mTxKFN5FrPc9euJZAR-88247eR82lMcoVwdlg7-DTMNStgRYRejsvVMabOK2B3yxmrAqkiH0/s640/thumb_IMG_2663_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RAMEN. Complete with pork belly, scallions, bamboo shoots, and a soy sauce-based broth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAS3AlIu8Zw-i9e_ZAD0itNu0ihK4S0l8PAnTQcPFiZmJGdYjfzdpJHe51hazj-Hg0hfiIbKkOp9v6oFOf38DlFJ-JmK4VrHQxSCZa-NVQ_TP0MLMMavNAx5OrXtGIePSaz-TuAJM4xOQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_2754_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAS3AlIu8Zw-i9e_ZAD0itNu0ihK4S0l8PAnTQcPFiZmJGdYjfzdpJHe51hazj-Hg0hfiIbKkOp9v6oFOf38DlFJ-JmK4VrHQxSCZa-NVQ_TP0MLMMavNAx5OrXtGIePSaz-TuAJM4xOQ/s640/thumb_IMG_2754_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure you've seen this duck soba featured before, but DELISH.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY2zSl8-t-j8B64VdxHHVurw1w1Zb1PQ2yBDNOxQNGfJwy82eDR8UeW2c5da1vIbarRjwxfe2ZlFSwNEgL24rB-bJtZMLRD0iaCkBblywiZp-ZDvSLjM69TrdLzdXgVgPN5RSiwQxsgQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_2844_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMY2zSl8-t-j8B64VdxHHVurw1w1Zb1PQ2yBDNOxQNGfJwy82eDR8UeW2c5da1vIbarRjwxfe2ZlFSwNEgL24rB-bJtZMLRD0iaCkBblywiZp-ZDvSLjM69TrdLzdXgVgPN5RSiwQxsgQ/s640/thumb_IMG_2844_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is a form of cold soba called <i>zaru soba</i> (perfect for summer when it's a zillion degrees outside) - you get the cold noodles separate, which you dunk into the soba sauce and shovel into your mouth. It's incredibly delish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">2. Tempura:</span><br />
Tempura, when done right (i.e. when it has a light, flaky crust), is life-changing. If you go to an actual tempura restaurant, you can do it up real fancy. I went to one when I was in Tokyo, and it involved multiple courses (veggies were served separate from the seafood), and various methods of dippage (different kinds of flavored salts, sauces, and flavors). It was amazing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nXav_dQLGZlZoI1fYaibmTX57WPnbqJu1MX54Nddk-CsJuuw0fLKBN4s1TWIZZgSHmxA2NNBqD42QfS_WQg_fLUmyw6CKPpeHtoiJTGjMUkgQ39RcCx4qNwHBWp05EXIxri3hJoeePQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_2235_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nXav_dQLGZlZoI1fYaibmTX57WPnbqJu1MX54Nddk-CsJuuw0fLKBN4s1TWIZZgSHmxA2NNBqD42QfS_WQg_fLUmyw6CKPpeHtoiJTGjMUkgQ39RcCx4qNwHBWp05EXIxri3hJoeePQ/s640/thumb_IMG_2235_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First course of tempura with my favorite, shrimp! Meant to be dipped into the tempura sauce with ground radish on the right.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUNlKl1fpdxVvnTC7Z3jay2op7YGg97w8FTNTFAne9-9nZQXmCxut60I5G5Y1urceFw3WeJ6GmcFrCY9_4PjLIXMgFlMCUr9HzUmzuSXb7DiKmfhhFsSxVJPI_MP2xJAOElpwyiSrBFU/s1600/thumb_IMG_1987_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCUNlKl1fpdxVvnTC7Z3jay2op7YGg97w8FTNTFAne9-9nZQXmCxut60I5G5Y1urceFw3WeJ6GmcFrCY9_4PjLIXMgFlMCUr9HzUmzuSXb7DiKmfhhFsSxVJPI_MP2xJAOElpwyiSrBFU/s640/thumb_IMG_1987_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Veggie tempura course! Often includes potato, some kind of cucumber, etc. I dipped these in a wasabi salt and it was the best.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">3. Okonomiyaki:</span><br />
<i>Okonomiyaki</i> is like a Japanese pancake, but savory. These are one of my faves, and ingredients vary by location, but they are usually filled with a mixture of wheat batter, octopus, cabbage, ginger, pork, mayo, and sweet sauce. There are these great restaurants you can go to, where they cook them on a hibachi in front of you, or some where you can even cook your own.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR39VwrsE0Wa442NMV9LL2AFmDoQPaw0zOA41rn0KYEDBVuG-lpOrUba_-s9oqGx_kXFCyouRiIDPS1_uSMp2OEPILmQCkWG24ucuDeRWn7Z-598eBoEAa7Tp0rv5WUDLMV1CnENNeNIQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_2380_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR39VwrsE0Wa442NMV9LL2AFmDoQPaw0zOA41rn0KYEDBVuG-lpOrUba_-s9oqGx_kXFCyouRiIDPS1_uSMp2OEPILmQCkWG24ucuDeRWn7Z-598eBoEAa7Tp0rv5WUDLMV1CnENNeNIQ/s640/thumb_IMG_2380_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark, Kate and I went to an <i>okonomiyaki </i>resty in Tokyo. But the man cooked it for us. Because we clearly had zero idea what to do.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJv8DqJGIhmS69V6pfqsrinXYszF7mMvcFoMJ-xAvgYL84_LB8IUJSlvbOGelM1Ivt1HTNPHUTig4Tp0UTuQ9FrMemp-m45Ldw_PJZAaKPsd6cblWW3tJ5kUUgcei52OlSqNPGMKwuIk/s1600/thumb_IMG_2381_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDJv8DqJGIhmS69V6pfqsrinXYszF7mMvcFoMJ-xAvgYL84_LB8IUJSlvbOGelM1Ivt1HTNPHUTig4Tp0UTuQ9FrMemp-m45Ldw_PJZAaKPsd6cblWW3tJ5kUUgcei52OlSqNPGMKwuIk/s640/thumb_IMG_2381_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our little individual <i>okonomiyakis</i> cooking (see, you can have different ingredients!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHpGDl7ISseDGBP820WompB92FEhNhsiLFMeAarnrpEbYBx-H3LhGOPr2acJzEkAB7ap7BkAsqKoompjDZE5DI-WzGpYb7V6WYQQG7noyo4WneduZ_D5e56_kSdmObVTxrEW-Aa4QuOs/s1600/thumb_IMG_2382_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHpGDl7ISseDGBP820WompB92FEhNhsiLFMeAarnrpEbYBx-H3LhGOPr2acJzEkAB7ap7BkAsqKoompjDZE5DI-WzGpYb7V6WYQQG7noyo4WneduZ_D5e56_kSdmObVTxrEW-Aa4QuOs/s640/thumb_IMG_2382_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Complete with Pikachu fans to keep us cool (sold. This place is sold)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FDFDR7U_UXpFoZkbTXvZQV4yGU8IA2yAocMKsuvjXlSSRU2sVS8H660e4StRO9XCK04_VIXhN2wavyS3j02Nur-xzEXH0NmUSNrOkurSUt8R-APnUELClwt_8AIuT9Fo8h8M2RzLkHU/s1600/thumb_IMG_2385_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FDFDR7U_UXpFoZkbTXvZQV4yGU8IA2yAocMKsuvjXlSSRU2sVS8H660e4StRO9XCK04_VIXhN2wavyS3j02Nur-xzEXH0NmUSNrOkurSUt8R-APnUELClwt_8AIuT9Fo8h8M2RzLkHU/s640/thumb_IMG_2385_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finished product - with a healthy drizzle of mayo. Which I could totally eat out of the bottle, confession. Japanese mayo tastes noticeably different than regular mayo - a little sweeter and creamier.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">4. Food Stalls:</span><br />
Ok, so this doesn't count as one particular food item, but somewhere along the way, you will absolutely run across Japanese food stalls - whether outside a tourist attraction, or in a small street food festival, or at a community event, etc. They often have the same delicious staples: <i>yakisoba</i> (fried noodles), <i>takoyaki </i>(octopus dough balls?? How do I make these sound as delicious as they are???),<i> okonomiyaki</i> (see above), <i>yakiniku </i>(meat on sticks), etc. etc. And DESSERTS.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaWhe4RHxztOoqT1C9k03tWSOeEK1fn1Ig6SuitGTOkeh5NO_nXrIWI7YUjpRv1fBFTxQZ1MfsdgtNTwr7VaPpVXvtc2i5NUOLB9Gr-h0D_WyIPkFLUwON1yvGETLfcrCKardipDfUis/s1600/thumb_IMG_2263_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeaWhe4RHxztOoqT1C9k03tWSOeEK1fn1Ig6SuitGTOkeh5NO_nXrIWI7YUjpRv1fBFTxQZ1MfsdgtNTwr7VaPpVXvtc2i5NUOLB9Gr-h0D_WyIPkFLUwON1yvGETLfcrCKardipDfUis/s640/thumb_IMG_2263_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lovely little street festival we ran across in Tokyo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTrzTH5xxbx8RkMYJSF0tYvqKw_aTPm7x00aL_hHvXa3HOit_yX6iLfmyDq6iIr1qT6s3dj-ljos9qaexWP0rDvpYNsis9ayOD8CxIEHt0pldPKD6imHOXYhWowoQtSVkLXEErPml8SU/s1600/thumb_IMG_2258_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmTrzTH5xxbx8RkMYJSF0tYvqKw_aTPm7x00aL_hHvXa3HOit_yX6iLfmyDq6iIr1qT6s3dj-ljos9qaexWP0rDvpYNsis9ayOD8CxIEHt0pldPKD6imHOXYhWowoQtSVkLXEErPml8SU/s640/thumb_IMG_2258_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Takoyaki</i>! Delicious little balls of octopus, ginger, green onion, batter, a special sweet sauce, and mayoooo. Like <i>okonomiyaki</i>, but in baby ball form</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsj2uB1FuD7NZW0XWnh54KkjlWcVqpp95HOqoSjhZ803XgzUM0-jLWDKzPwUFUWEPXm-LVQRyQAwoax8_jhVWJyllVo8a6w3GgapfchzrNTJ-wn59EvERRwdzBm_RzQeC5ahzU6NHmHE/s1600/thumb_IMG_2265_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsj2uB1FuD7NZW0XWnh54KkjlWcVqpp95HOqoSjhZ803XgzUM0-jLWDKzPwUFUWEPXm-LVQRyQAwoax8_jhVWJyllVo8a6w3GgapfchzrNTJ-wn59EvERRwdzBm_RzQeC5ahzU6NHmHE/s640/thumb_IMG_2265_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is the<i> okonomiyaki </i>stall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8BKWqPRhgQ8qu9sWXA0a9nozAU4ofrc1uw5KRwz8P87VOD3A_8l6Y51OHNhTKwCz6owTt04J6el1czqfm3RspejAJM-L_7fSpJhgXMgoJtQ6vmIr0NbtyLIraiNbFrnmVgtqXkRIwKs/s1600/thumb_IMG_2262_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie8BKWqPRhgQ8qu9sWXA0a9nozAU4ofrc1uw5KRwz8P87VOD3A_8l6Y51OHNhTKwCz6owTt04J6el1czqfm3RspejAJM-L_7fSpJhgXMgoJtQ6vmIr0NbtyLIraiNbFrnmVgtqXkRIwKs/s640/thumb_IMG_2262_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A man making animal shaped lollies out of sugar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsCyLEBFcopqTEsMCVKFLyzgmtsAsev85ttdfoUtZbsL-T9M_2JrrUQju9mY5x3Sg2pw-vB-QAi8fPaIVLIYrsvVWOuXrtrQU72KVSlDNNcaaMa5Di0XiSj3NACWs5ZzN1miRR2aHsds/s1600/thumb_IMG_2694_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEsCyLEBFcopqTEsMCVKFLyzgmtsAsev85ttdfoUtZbsL-T9M_2JrrUQju9mY5x3Sg2pw-vB-QAi8fPaIVLIYrsvVWOuXrtrQU72KVSlDNNcaaMa5Di0XiSj3NACWs5ZzN1miRR2aHsds/s640/thumb_IMG_2694_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">A mountain of <i>yakisoba</i> and its mayo topping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">5. Japanese Curry:</span><br />
Have you ever had Japanese curry? Because you need to. It's much less thick, and browner (am I selling this properly), but it has a very particular taste to it. They usually pour it over rice like a sauce, and it usually involves potatoes and meat as well, with a side of pickled ginger. I love it. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ66f5Ua_DTOtT-ai1Ck6bIlhM4RSi9LIIrZ5kLPfJAiHQ6wWQzk9nlUqiOD4viHb7Lis7SV_XSxvSC0JI0P4RZSJ51-yfvjgTZt0sPuROkjZ1sZQ6bVY8K5Q7DHdBCTwNA5xJ2lhIajY/s1600/thumb_IMG_2366_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ66f5Ua_DTOtT-ai1Ck6bIlhM4RSi9LIIrZ5kLPfJAiHQ6wWQzk9nlUqiOD4viHb7Lis7SV_XSxvSC0JI0P4RZSJ51-yfvjgTZt0sPuROkjZ1sZQ6bVY8K5Q7DHdBCTwNA5xJ2lhIajY/s640/thumb_IMG_2366_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japanese <i>kare!</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">6. Sushi:</span><br />
Of course. The main star. Japan is obviously the king of sushi, from the ultra-expensive swanky tasting menus in Tokyo's most intimate sushi bars, to the local cheap, quick, and easy conveyor belt sushi joints. You can find the gamut of sushi everywhere, it's super available, and yes, it is more delish here than back home.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWuSuaKnJrl_uZ-BBuanaw4DlUt7aMQPDok7XvYqFrZjM-J9qkyYVCEjZgWVyJj-e_bWtrD7ASAI1O4N3bn37gNPUgyMqu-YI7ssn2ybCor2yy_IJp-RHKtv7p1TLGNim9xL8YdWRfAI/s1600/thumb_IMG_2391_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNWuSuaKnJrl_uZ-BBuanaw4DlUt7aMQPDok7XvYqFrZjM-J9qkyYVCEjZgWVyJj-e_bWtrD7ASAI1O4N3bn37gNPUgyMqu-YI7ssn2ybCor2yy_IJp-RHKtv7p1TLGNim9xL8YdWRfAI/s640/thumb_IMG_2391_1024.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An amazing <i>chirashi </i>bowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75GjEmMky9hokNuUDS9ksVR8AwR9JtsgT9V5D8Lzgv8KPPjTbZ4Qu_wOcCzdP7F1aJTeQGHP_zSdL4q6LqAqWJVCu0_VGcO0ye3W6HLhY86dpivz18AZcE3V3ETjk34XoePX1cmJ8b1c/s1600/thumb_IMG_2433_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi75GjEmMky9hokNuUDS9ksVR8AwR9JtsgT9V5D8Lzgv8KPPjTbZ4Qu_wOcCzdP7F1aJTeQGHP_zSdL4q6LqAqWJVCu0_VGcO0ye3W6HLhY86dpivz18AZcE3V3ETjk34XoePX1cmJ8b1c/s640/thumb_IMG_2433_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My <i>omakase </i>sushi tasting at the Tsukiji Fish Market - sushi at its simplest, and most delicious</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Co9nq573u3yV9XdGdlivTON_ku54UF5mUBlvPbYcqAGZ6h2bd44ljKZ38lDnJtf0EtVJS0d0cIqULdmLodouXR3JWBClFBcydkl-VxTsWDJP9bXa6Kjo6ANATX11mqYRvT4BsyqhsWo/s1600/thumb_IMG_2810_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Co9nq573u3yV9XdGdlivTON_ku54UF5mUBlvPbYcqAGZ6h2bd44ljKZ38lDnJtf0EtVJS0d0cIqULdmLodouXR3JWBClFBcydkl-VxTsWDJP9bXa6Kjo6ANATX11mqYRvT4BsyqhsWo/s640/thumb_IMG_2810_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kaiten sushi! Which is conveyor belt sushi. They usually just charge you by plate, and most have the option of you being able to order specific items from the sushi chef that they will send you directly through the conveyor, in case you're iffy about how long the sushi's been chilling on the belt (I never am, though maybe I should be....?)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">7. Tonkatsu:</span><br />
Lightly tempura deep-fried pork cutlets. Sometimes topped with an egg. And a side of cabbage. And then dipped in a special <i>tonkatsu</i> sauce (they have special sauces for everything here!).<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9D8rHW_79jaCcRSIts78pBI1EHrp-SWMi6dz3Ntry2mLS62qQ58g1ElGs__7rBrvABn5IoZBHf4gtVgcvpbrlDya8AL8KYUYpaUuW1heT1zbAXmG3H7g0Uv1eFXqyR-AV2Sbs1E0qyo/s1600/thumb_IMG_2271_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9D8rHW_79jaCcRSIts78pBI1EHrp-SWMi6dz3Ntry2mLS62qQ58g1ElGs__7rBrvABn5IoZBHf4gtVgcvpbrlDya8AL8KYUYpaUuW1heT1zbAXmG3H7g0Uv1eFXqyR-AV2Sbs1E0qyo/s640/thumb_IMG_2271_1024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Add caption</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">8. Japanese Desserts:</span><br />
Yo. I know I keep gushing over every item, but Japanese desserts are on another LEVEL. These are the main culprit for making me fat when I studied abroad. And in the 2.5 weeks I was in Japan this time around too. You all know who to blame.<br />
<br />
I think it's because there's so much variety, they're usually very light, and nothing is too sweet (I hate the oversaturated sweetness you get in a lot of the American desserts). Japanese cakes are light, fluffy, and decorated/presented so beautifully that you think there's no way they can be that bad for you. Red bean desserts are delish. Green tea ice cream rules my life. And the other things they come up with, man....<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiF3z2TciavZmoRco2t1GsbRdqW80Wm7rCGvxcT4E6ZFNm63i9pmMcu0MC3gUpqRWhi9QqBZXrMYHNoEl2GcLsNIsi2WjQklwFwSyH9jc5tYVvZQcND7FoDj_tywIgzylNeaL18JJFQA/s1600/thumb_IMG_1892_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWiF3z2TciavZmoRco2t1GsbRdqW80Wm7rCGvxcT4E6ZFNm63i9pmMcu0MC3gUpqRWhi9QqBZXrMYHNoEl2GcLsNIsi2WjQklwFwSyH9jc5tYVvZQcND7FoDj_tywIgzylNeaL18JJFQA/s640/thumb_IMG_1892_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This strawberry cream puff was epic</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVt3-CYXYJUSY5zlgjpBO4y3c5i0Ov7CSYplSrqNF5VhWukhZq2ds4FtuiS568NlLpdbSTUzz8rK53SUi0kOlJv23x2YuvnnJEPFXckCh_okNnHh2iUv5-98GxJP1jIfHuKw_C4KmdEY/s1600/thumb_IMG_2252_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVt3-CYXYJUSY5zlgjpBO4y3c5i0Ov7CSYplSrqNF5VhWukhZq2ds4FtuiS568NlLpdbSTUzz8rK53SUi0kOlJv23x2YuvnnJEPFXckCh_okNnHh2iUv5-98GxJP1jIfHuKw_C4KmdEY/s640/thumb_IMG_2252_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DO YOU SEE THIS WINDOW OF EPIC DESSERTS?!! I may have walked by, and then dragged Karim back later to sample one of the ridiculous ice cream parfaits</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_u0q6mR5kZrvfXg6T59ZMmzlYUBbzURnL3oBVOz8vqHbBHftP_Tlshjiy6J_X5jJUxmMLWorz44j_kboTHIJU80kqFVTJOJhDi8iZWlxcpt-fOg_G5OCHIsQv_0dPx-81uxqslBMTCo/s1600/thumb_IMG_2268_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_u0q6mR5kZrvfXg6T59ZMmzlYUBbzURnL3oBVOz8vqHbBHftP_Tlshjiy6J_X5jJUxmMLWorz44j_kboTHIJU80kqFVTJOJhDi8iZWlxcpt-fOg_G5OCHIsQv_0dPx-81uxqslBMTCo/s640/thumb_IMG_2268_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is said green tea ice cream parfait. Perfection.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY5BjGETZpXZUgdwwYP3WQusOOuM7m3YxYllUBJ7sJNxfwsF4-jFP39Gyc59JH9LqdztfKW_2snD484D2VuYkHVknbD2i9Qd4FWZdbtXdvuIsUoyQujd_b_3zqdqS5krOY5mbtbxsnxE/s1600/thumb_IMG_2408_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY5BjGETZpXZUgdwwYP3WQusOOuM7m3YxYllUBJ7sJNxfwsF4-jFP39Gyc59JH9LqdztfKW_2snD484D2VuYkHVknbD2i9Qd4FWZdbtXdvuIsUoyQujd_b_3zqdqS5krOY5mbtbxsnxE/s640/thumb_IMG_2408_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An epic wall of crepes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcGHispHYAMmBVBIPeVshXG45oWyxVFSPbYgmHnhdXFz5jHuHwYmNg2ObJyiCL-2wzW2mb8ybNtBm-dcOGpfdrO9uvgFHuAVMdqMP-QroYdM3CVtSIE1kvawlOjbdZhfyilVMU5zWLi0/s1600/thumb_IMG_2409_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcGHispHYAMmBVBIPeVshXG45oWyxVFSPbYgmHnhdXFz5jHuHwYmNg2ObJyiCL-2wzW2mb8ybNtBm-dcOGpfdrO9uvgFHuAVMdqMP-QroYdM3CVtSIE1kvawlOjbdZhfyilVMU5zWLi0/s640/thumb_IMG_2409_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">K8 and our dessert crepe we couldn't resist having in the middle of the afternoon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">9. Other:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Contrary to belief, I was not running around Japan taking photos of every thing I was eating (ok lies. I was.) But there were things I def missed taking photos of that are more than mention-worthy. In fact, these are some other must-eats I haven't mentioned yet: <i>sukiyaki</i> (Japanese hotpot), Japanese BBQ (they marinate the meat and it's AMAZE), <i>karage</i> chicken (fried chicken), shabu-shabu (I don't know how this differs from <i>sukiyaki</i>, tbh), and so much more! There are so many more foods that are region-specific, or variations on the items I've already mentioned. You could seriously eat your way through Japan. Also, go get yourself some <i>udon</i>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oKaKWo-eS3BocBEiYZNq0D6oBM7caF5PEvOQwL6gjHX2oEnj_AIz9VYqulYGTBo0_513MfUN9ixyyiVlqG8cZrE3iF6P2gMdvM7fHCYs2_n2uUJEmwHxox1JGrRexeqA_VwgPL68bb4/s1600/thumb_IMG_2417_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oKaKWo-eS3BocBEiYZNq0D6oBM7caF5PEvOQwL6gjHX2oEnj_AIz9VYqulYGTBo0_513MfUN9ixyyiVlqG8cZrE3iF6P2gMdvM7fHCYs2_n2uUJEmwHxox1JGrRexeqA_VwgPL68bb4/s640/thumb_IMG_2417_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And gyoza! Though I'm fairly certain these were originally stolen from the Chinese.....<br />
But that doesn't make them any less tasty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Eating Rules of the Day:</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>Again, no eating and walking. It's rude. But yes, it is also torture to be holding something delicious and not being able to eat it while you're walking. The struggle is real.</li>
<li>No passing items between chopsticks. Also rude. You have to put it on the plate first, if you're trying to get a food item to someone else.</li>
<li>It is bad form to stick your chopsticks standing up in your rice, as this symbolizes what you do at a grave - and it's bad juju.</li>
</ul>
</div>
Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2686276966213000083.post-44321919254999687902016-06-28T20:51:00.001-07:002016-06-28T20:53:17.563-07:00Seoul, South Korea: This Place Really Likes to PartyNext up on my "to tackle" list in Asia was China - though when browsing airfare, I noticed it would be relatively the same price to fly to China even if I stopped in Seoul a couple of days. I've never been to Korea before. Why not?<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;"><br />
</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">What It's All About:</span><br />
Seoul is the epicenter of Korea - think big Asian megacity full of shopping, bars, restaurants, nightlife, and beauty stores. The beauty stores, in particular, were on every block and were kind of a major problem for me. Did you know that Koreans have a 10-step skincare process?!<br />
<br />
I stayed in the Hongdae neighborhood of Seoul - it's a university town, so it's super vibrant and hectic - crammed with hundreds upon hundreds of cafes and bars and such.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh723aqm7WrDWSnrETPV6WPa3L_o8v6rZAAqECYylCk07f8SEfiyhyxDpDArhoXU_nJFHoIMrckC39ZlvyPuIBA_CKONzzWjapQkmatxKrquuAplkbvDb62fxttg4fFmfjR0eFcRh8vmnI/s1600/thumb_IMG_2953_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh723aqm7WrDWSnrETPV6WPa3L_o8v6rZAAqECYylCk07f8SEfiyhyxDpDArhoXU_nJFHoIMrckC39ZlvyPuIBA_CKONzzWjapQkmatxKrquuAplkbvDb62fxttg4fFmfjR0eFcRh8vmnI/s640/thumb_IMG_2953_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking the streets of Hongdae</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Cliffnotes of the Day:</span><br />
<ul><li>I spent three days in Seoul and stayed pretty low-key - I wasn't in a rush to go see all of Korea or anything (though if I was, I definitely would have checked out Busan or the DMZ or Jeju Island). I just wanted to get a feel of the city, so I made no set plans and let things happen. Here is the photo summary of my couple days in Korea.</li>
</ul><span style="font-family: "times";"><br />
</span> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI16VzUE0KW5noGvWOgEeSPlB8uVLjA0RFbXk0VdEwdxSG515cQyyqqWtP78H1djTChNzUTCP4LYC8xXZ_e-ncF023VpsQlB9Zxf5LhtjKxL0iWgCtEMUf6R-o6pEbpJOOVFXwoTr8qHE/s1600/thumb_IMG_2962_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI16VzUE0KW5noGvWOgEeSPlB8uVLjA0RFbXk0VdEwdxSG515cQyyqqWtP78H1djTChNzUTCP4LYC8xXZ_e-ncF023VpsQlB9Zxf5LhtjKxL0iWgCtEMUf6R-o6pEbpJOOVFXwoTr8qHE/s640/thumb_IMG_2962_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grabbed Korean BBQ (a must!) with a hostel roomie at a very local place (i.e. no English menu. We had the people at our hostel write down names of dishes we should try and just showed them to the restaurant). Also fun fact, this BBQ was all pork! I was under the impression that all the KBBQ I've tried has mostly been beef, but maybe that's just in the States so that people who don't know what they're doing don't poison themselves.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<ul><li>I also failed to get a photo, but I managed to meet up with Laine - a friend I'd met in a rando bus station in Malacca, Malaysia (refer to said blog post if interested) - we'd spent a couple days hanging out, along with my friend Kat, in Malacca last October. And I found out she'd recently moved to Seoul from the US, so I reached out to her and we managed to meet up for coffee/chatting. It was so great getting to see her and catch up - old travel friends are the best!</li>
</ul><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-srEHboH6OoAv1dCSyjUA7gxtKlHvNrqUCzc5J_kD4znu9cegqeR6uzIS2chkaieFrrjpUXdRXB4DX3U_0L9mQa_VzplxJA0aOP7Ad4dZzwlmWrjTGvNJ-EOl4mVGjlwnHJBoeGI9dO4/s1600/thumb_IMG_2963_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-srEHboH6OoAv1dCSyjUA7gxtKlHvNrqUCzc5J_kD4znu9cegqeR6uzIS2chkaieFrrjpUXdRXB4DX3U_0L9mQa_VzplxJA0aOP7Ad4dZzwlmWrjTGvNJ-EOl4mVGjlwnHJBoeGI9dO4/s640/thumb_IMG_2963_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hongdae is very happening at night. Seriously, just neon lights everywhere.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LIDqk1N3AtoJ9lg9ET6G7omnFtRJrVeSFiH8gg9BS6umV8OywkjaebRfR-5ri2DaAd_SDmQycg4m_hKjbp3PGKcvqr9EZ0TAYlfuZGowC5xk68xNcXzlRTnOSXAvNNOjl39W4SklUk0/s1600/thumb_IMG_2965_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LIDqk1N3AtoJ9lg9ET6G7omnFtRJrVeSFiH8gg9BS6umV8OywkjaebRfR-5ri2DaAd_SDmQycg4m_hKjbp3PGKcvqr9EZ0TAYlfuZGowC5xk68xNcXzlRTnOSXAvNNOjl39W4SklUk0/s640/thumb_IMG_2965_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then I met a bunch of people at my hostel in separate groups of 1's and 2's, and we all came together and went out for a drink. Or all night. Such a prime example of hostel life.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5IaJSD579OMSYnkwxyCNGXA4WEVJ7t-JMTjpGRnJEx6dy4NEPhWsQA1TmAaHMU8pqPT4eLLZ8WglwOjkeSjAdcgQHA99yfVx8ZIybBqdnUPKaIp4mkNVq7die1YDIz1Y5aFO-tR50Yk/s1600/thumb_IMG_2966_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho5IaJSD579OMSYnkwxyCNGXA4WEVJ7t-JMTjpGRnJEx6dy4NEPhWsQA1TmAaHMU8pqPT4eLLZ8WglwOjkeSjAdcgQHA99yfVx8ZIybBqdnUPKaIp4mkNVq7die1YDIz1Y5aFO-tR50Yk/s640/thumb_IMG_2966_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben (US), Dave (US/Taiwan), and Ahmed (Switzerland)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUCQHcF9yEBCuK_1yry1bUgocfp80WAjYcs1Cb25yaXVRJTdmiICGNlBSDtu0TdQd-KSJRv5VdVgOpB5wu4PwCAbenb7Y7SO9sD9DKTX6OS9ChiJzaBYCQ_rMngALm8VFAg595rUupnQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_2976_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhUCQHcF9yEBCuK_1yry1bUgocfp80WAjYcs1Cb25yaXVRJTdmiICGNlBSDtu0TdQd-KSJRv5VdVgOpB5wu4PwCAbenb7Y7SO9sD9DKTX6OS9ChiJzaBYCQ_rMngALm8VFAg595rUupnQ/s640/thumb_IMG_2976_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walked down to the Gyeongbokgung Palace with some hostel friends</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBVjyr6UhPvLERBv3MJeUKQPhOYzYyVam8aIQnfjJfmP11eNMUrDbjwE_ITg8d1CckFMGHFw8bvbh6wwXsR1aFSGf7q7OcOGZps4Q3IkUCW4YW7z_R0Q6P4y1WcHg62Fz6_kmmpvmrlo/s1600/thumb_IMG_2979_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbBVjyr6UhPvLERBv3MJeUKQPhOYzYyVam8aIQnfjJfmP11eNMUrDbjwE_ITg8d1CckFMGHFw8bvbh6wwXsR1aFSGf7q7OcOGZps4Q3IkUCW4YW7z_R0Q6P4y1WcHg62Fz6_kmmpvmrlo/s640/thumb_IMG_2979_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">There's a huge buildup with tons of increasingly important statues</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDBULFkUFX2rX0I1IBECq0UU14NhhLvnZXL76nxpNgdQZg0VYMXp4C-gmw5kY9unCG67XN5fad6fE0x6LKnmQgGlLou_qzdYUhFzoAvBkDykDJ4m45mi0m7t2GiU0CHIEX9E9wkKSkRI/s1600/thumb_IMG_2982_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidDBULFkUFX2rX0I1IBECq0UU14NhhLvnZXL76nxpNgdQZg0VYMXp4C-gmw5kY9unCG67XN5fad6fE0x6LKnmQgGlLou_qzdYUhFzoAvBkDykDJ4m45mi0m7t2GiU0CHIEX9E9wkKSkRI/s640/thumb_IMG_2982_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's the palace!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwOgVu97fbpVLCaa_SUdZI0V0koNVHyEtt6pWUeTBgGg5BYoVcpZVkOawQe6gFLA9ombYgEjozyFWnnAcVkkVzq6goxsLq3-YUle5kV7BTCoC70HXQ1Jn4o3dhSs_lnQvDzU-R0lhAqE/s1600/thumb_IMG_2983_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwOgVu97fbpVLCaa_SUdZI0V0koNVHyEtt6pWUeTBgGg5BYoVcpZVkOawQe6gFLA9ombYgEjozyFWnnAcVkkVzq6goxsLq3-YUle5kV7BTCoC70HXQ1Jn4o3dhSs_lnQvDzU-R0lhAqE/s640/thumb_IMG_2983_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like all the details</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1WxeycnWmA9Y3paZ_vwckHssrxpZPAmkRmBOsenlutBt8019-jwjI6iHsNBPkiqpjBxHDf2tMGmExYsK1VUbZldklDFTZkgZV3gu1mmet2SNrdi2ZihETgffOad58uv3UQd_mF9p9Dc/s1600/thumb_IMG_2985_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi1WxeycnWmA9Y3paZ_vwckHssrxpZPAmkRmBOsenlutBt8019-jwjI6iHsNBPkiqpjBxHDf2tMGmExYsK1VUbZldklDFTZkgZV3gu1mmet2SNrdi2ZihETgffOad58uv3UQd_mF9p9Dc/s640/thumb_IMG_2985_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything was destroyed by the Japanese, so everything was fairly recently reconstructed</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoAW4k1ChB5CAKG4Er99obo1l5sog-dnBDm_4Lqg7RlLpvqZVodou1w2y08uWRJTQQctlCu8mvMZsmKLClSWlcPZrDPYxeN7AFMQXkyyQBkrm5GLGs73vqcDJShTuB2HSLFNhbovS06U/s1600/thumb_IMG_2987_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoAW4k1ChB5CAKG4Er99obo1l5sog-dnBDm_4Lqg7RlLpvqZVodou1w2y08uWRJTQQctlCu8mvMZsmKLClSWlcPZrDPYxeN7AFMQXkyyQBkrm5GLGs73vqcDJShTuB2HSLFNhbovS06U/s640/thumb_IMG_2987_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deets deets deets</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzJFuz545VAN5b5OTUVLcPIjA7EJRqDuwHF1y97i09VY6gzHZ8xl6Wk4BIYz5X1CDO2t2ugF_D3RSMIWRWUeyK6s_-GsD2F_-NbbVUUXQbukyreyuyvkdILlpuar_FgNF6sGAeshY4d0/s1600/thumb_IMG_2989_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzJFuz545VAN5b5OTUVLcPIjA7EJRqDuwHF1y97i09VY6gzHZ8xl6Wk4BIYz5X1CDO2t2ugF_D3RSMIWRWUeyK6s_-GsD2F_-NbbVUUXQbukyreyuyvkdILlpuar_FgNF6sGAeshY4d0/s640/thumb_IMG_2989_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">This is some kind of throne chair. I can't say I knew exactly what was going on at this palace.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWNG2gj-jpLRbN-_1hPri58-BqJIpukmEMssyTnF2zTjDJTwx6PVykuFdMfTvs8sSOqrBKiZ55ug9RMu5Fx95CelrbY0U_gAfvdLyH67KwSX2V0_8M0Lf2xu5PFOajSA9bB6tLr7nJ9s/s1600/thumb_IMG_2993_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWNG2gj-jpLRbN-_1hPri58-BqJIpukmEMssyTnF2zTjDJTwx6PVykuFdMfTvs8sSOqrBKiZ55ug9RMu5Fx95CelrbY0U_gAfvdLyH67KwSX2V0_8M0Lf2xu5PFOajSA9bB6tLr7nJ9s/s640/thumb_IMG_2993_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However, one familiar sight: Chinese tourists rent out the <i>hanboks, </i>the Korean traditional dress, to wear and pose for photos around the palace #consistency</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbjTdWiJ6_GSWqFAXiU1CDtlZfrE-JnZvAHmwDIvEU1IlbGnIyeuhsoxDGoyMLvhtfmJVqCly707LmmG8qyZ7jxnfQDv4H_k-hMpktexsAOHCEKf5YVGN14r09L6oTk8ofLCK87goC2Q/s1600/thumb_IMG_2998_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFbjTdWiJ6_GSWqFAXiU1CDtlZfrE-JnZvAHmwDIvEU1IlbGnIyeuhsoxDGoyMLvhtfmJVqCly707LmmG8qyZ7jxnfQDv4H_k-hMpktexsAOHCEKf5YVGN14r09L6oTk8ofLCK87goC2Q/s640/thumb_IMG_2998_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pretty lake-filled corner</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3l3oT0oHDAN_Eof0ZpyfL_Na7yg7vY6q7OMqp-7a-oRPxskkW1zHGTfi8HIigjokETUJFDJ8XwxLLsjavI6B9wgUqieRGkPSI0Udn-h7ES-d1FGfhDxg0CeXIlm0_dru65cLb-gBvaI/s1600/thumb_IMG_3002_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3l3oT0oHDAN_Eof0ZpyfL_Na7yg7vY6q7OMqp-7a-oRPxskkW1zHGTfi8HIigjokETUJFDJ8XwxLLsjavI6B9wgUqieRGkPSI0Udn-h7ES-d1FGfhDxg0CeXIlm0_dru65cLb-gBvaI/s640/thumb_IMG_3002_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And there was a traditional Korean musical performance to top off our visit</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsDxRW_v4YCMiMioNd1UHhn6gKTmM3GDn-hvB8StGpGamBu5QZxppLf09iD6zbQYzIu1Huv0swm-811NkJINERkKKYPojhKfdWsLoWRpHH25yeMRMDWiWO7CSqSGh28P_GXNaZDJqPeo/s1600/thumb_IMG_3005_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcsDxRW_v4YCMiMioNd1UHhn6gKTmM3GDn-hvB8StGpGamBu5QZxppLf09iD6zbQYzIu1Huv0swm-811NkJINERkKKYPojhKfdWsLoWRpHH25yeMRMDWiWO7CSqSGh28P_GXNaZDJqPeo/s640/thumb_IMG_3005_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the palace, we headed over to Gwangjang market, a famous market that sells fun things like textiles and clothing - oh, and has an insane food section.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY6zx2r_Bk9WcOSdOY-iskOfDEUGm9oGaYBJmXA_GePDxjfFzvt8gduMZnCiSt5H90u12ekXLInhnb1kusIzh5Q0IVFcdDjYGUp6ezAvDRZfCfl3g1km7G0lE1qHr9iYHjeq23-Zz0II/s1600/thumb_IMG_3009_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcY6zx2r_Bk9WcOSdOY-iskOfDEUGm9oGaYBJmXA_GePDxjfFzvt8gduMZnCiSt5H90u12ekXLInhnb1kusIzh5Q0IVFcdDjYGUp6ezAvDRZfCfl3g1km7G0lE1qHr9iYHjeq23-Zz0II/s640/thumb_IMG_3009_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bustling food hall with so many Korean eats</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPifP_fZ7h7WCPdjugUm9Tk3UwBYblZjpZJ9Whl0IR3xNIMce2N1bYxQPQCG8gbNy33i-DzgcW5jV3JfpQEvaS4H5kV7OLFAFZNFZr-DouDsFHr9sFC_SeOiE3GgN3POF9UkBCDSCCi8/s1600/thumb_IMG_3010_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJPifP_fZ7h7WCPdjugUm9Tk3UwBYblZjpZJ9Whl0IR3xNIMce2N1bYxQPQCG8gbNy33i-DzgcW5jV3JfpQEvaS4H5kV7OLFAFZNFZr-DouDsFHr9sFC_SeOiE3GgN3POF9UkBCDSCCi8/s640/thumb_IMG_3010_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Korean ladies hawking seafood and those weird seafood kimchi noodle soup things</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34CkX2m2kKHiLft8AXf4MhgWJAAVwxoXfVax1fMgCsMuu9LfdLRBzlHARaWC5YjqH0f7bYd5rJYX3gJxJVAMMWdYGIzwalD8Q1_QW4C4zIpbgh4CqycAFP6a4AgtRm770D43rXBUB23g/s1600/thumb_IMG_3008_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh34CkX2m2kKHiLft8AXf4MhgWJAAVwxoXfVax1fMgCsMuu9LfdLRBzlHARaWC5YjqH0f7bYd5rJYX3gJxJVAMMWdYGIzwalD8Q1_QW4C4zIpbgh4CqycAFP6a4AgtRm770D43rXBUB23g/s640/thumb_IMG_3008_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Of course, I had a shaved ice (<i>bingsoo</i>) covered with condensed milk and red beans and other Asian goodies. Thank god Ahmed shared it with me.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTeFR5RmLHZZ7_j3s7lsAHBzVAWqEBzVw_ZfRN_6XwEvxN_j1GYXTHm9ZzCtyRjVBp5EMPpWkzM7YPCmQ4gCqd9tDt6P9GdntDJFKC__g0vUCp93Y6XmxrEAKbxuNztpnh8YTL2_ksAs/s1600/thumb_IMG_3012_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTeFR5RmLHZZ7_j3s7lsAHBzVAWqEBzVw_ZfRN_6XwEvxN_j1GYXTHm9ZzCtyRjVBp5EMPpWkzM7YPCmQ4gCqd9tDt6P9GdntDJFKC__g0vUCp93Y6XmxrEAKbxuNztpnh8YTL2_ksAs/s640/thumb_IMG_3012_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the grand finale - live octopus! They let us hold our octopus and pose with it before we ate it. That's kind of dark, now that I think about it.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt50GH5SMXY2mJtIRlX9aCGJ45JOoZUcBmKOGarj91LhPITp77jOtwi-XklQ4MPI6y8eLqoETi57nO7_4uKljacI7ShIqDnP08CgTj80H8OQm50tU-leyRrwkBmxQI3XztK2BhLVqMJlQ/s1600/thumb_IMG_3013_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt50GH5SMXY2mJtIRlX9aCGJ45JOoZUcBmKOGarj91LhPITp77jOtwi-XklQ4MPI6y8eLqoETi57nO7_4uKljacI7ShIqDnP08CgTj80H8OQm50tU-leyRrwkBmxQI3XztK2BhLVqMJlQ/s640/thumb_IMG_3013_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then the lady chopped it all up. #RIPoctopus</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7mYW-sVe_8FzcN8G9Z0JYf9VP2pTI9ahn0blyglfQCsvGTNYooPScVNCy0iZ9xYWCaERWNzVWgjw6UaR-v6wcE57_qD1TjSM8JTuWjmwVQtxeruSGm1JU43BnQ5N1n1uiH4c_rCWslw/s1600/thumb_IMG_3015_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7mYW-sVe_8FzcN8G9Z0JYf9VP2pTI9ahn0blyglfQCsvGTNYooPScVNCy0iZ9xYWCaERWNzVWgjw6UaR-v6wcE57_qD1TjSM8JTuWjmwVQtxeruSGm1JU43BnQ5N1n1uiH4c_rCWslw/s640/thumb_IMG_3015_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the squirming, wiggling pile of tentacles were placed on a plate for us to eat. The boys explained to me that the octopus is no longer alive, but the nerves or something keep the tentacles wiggling all freakishly. You have to shove it in your mouth, still squirming, and chomp away aggressively to make them stop moving - because otherwise, the suctions stick to the inside of your mouth and throat. Yummy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRh2HqC3YtGLGRJY59iKAdP_QG8p1A1sHpuB0XFHJUcZcNWbZAU3NK0GKohdaRBl3rWpSPJpvGF7MOR8glPduDlDGF4tjHVa3xVqCgtPf-PxpLkkaUuUaptaG8g5iw90xfHml0sqx_-w/s1600/thumb_IMG_3018_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbRh2HqC3YtGLGRJY59iKAdP_QG8p1A1sHpuB0XFHJUcZcNWbZAU3NK0GKohdaRBl3rWpSPJpvGF7MOR8glPduDlDGF4tjHVa3xVqCgtPf-PxpLkkaUuUaptaG8g5iw90xfHml0sqx_-w/s640/thumb_IMG_3018_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahmed and I take our first squirmy bite</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGOFxlfhAlPfoWj42ildazQNicSLlgYGaAZi95KSpqKvFKPOWDiiP8Q3ohHuaReEmTRt1cZ9J9As9dt6ERxGV2x7pAOKTTN-ZwNGw1r_ilcM1PPUxAfGCIstT2ix0_DYJ-uvHph0xwbU/s1600/thumb_IMG_3019_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGOFxlfhAlPfoWj42ildazQNicSLlgYGaAZi95KSpqKvFKPOWDiiP8Q3ohHuaReEmTRt1cZ9J9As9dt6ERxGV2x7pAOKTTN-ZwNGw1r_ilcM1PPUxAfGCIstT2ix0_DYJ-uvHph0xwbU/s640/thumb_IMG_3019_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then we looked very dubiously at the rest of it. To be honest, it actually wasn't so bad - it tasted like very fresh octopus (which....in hindsight, I guess it was) - you put it with a cucumber and some spicy sauce, and it's pretty good. I'm not sure I loved the suction-y things sticking to the inside of my cheeks (it's the weirdest feeling ever!), but it's an experience I guess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUes4ymtM5583IRl5AHeEW17jggpupfz-f-GWs2lnqKVmlF9iGFrqNGRv_EHQyxk04_GqJYMUjbrNlFZX7bnH_AE9MnTXONz8FvWkvwqqhzdHO-Jjn4tziQdr_2bFpOyvpeDubM3ooxg8/s1600/thumb_IMG_3023_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUes4ymtM5583IRl5AHeEW17jggpupfz-f-GWs2lnqKVmlF9iGFrqNGRv_EHQyxk04_GqJYMUjbrNlFZX7bnH_AE9MnTXONz8FvWkvwqqhzdHO-Jjn4tziQdr_2bFpOyvpeDubM3ooxg8/s640/thumb_IMG_3023_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Later that evening, I met up with a friend of Jesse's (you know, Africa Jesse) named Jackie. Jess used to teach English in Korea, and Jackie is one of the guys he knew from back then. Jackie was kind enough to take me out to dinner in Hyongdae - a dinner of pigs' feet!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6ZGpSBD2xZkVP70DsBnKa5VXrKi7ttpJnTcC4HNWGn7u2K92SRX4KASPO3LH26xMHBZPGjAkpoT06broo7dAfAx7QDyGyzj8AUJ-M-3lXtr38GYIMXh3RIWjLc6Mi04MqvhDF0cX5zg/s1600/thumb_IMG_3028_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6ZGpSBD2xZkVP70DsBnKa5VXrKi7ttpJnTcC4HNWGn7u2K92SRX4KASPO3LH26xMHBZPGjAkpoT06broo7dAfAx7QDyGyzj8AUJ-M-3lXtr38GYIMXh3RIWjLc6Mi04MqvhDF0cX5zg/s640/thumb_IMG_3028_1024.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the night ended with an apartment party celebrating the birthday of one of the guys I'd met in the hostel, Dave. He had rented out an apartment, invited all the new friends from our hostel, and stocked the place to the brim with booze, cake, and snacks. All downfalls of mine. I brought along Jackie and his friend as well, and I think they had fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<div><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Fun Facts of the Day:</span><br />
<ul><li>Koreans drink a kind of flavored rice wine called <i>soju</i> - which comes in various delicious flavors. Also, Koreans drink the most hard liquor out of any country in the world.</li>
<li>Plastic surgery is huge here. Apparently, it's incredibly cheap too - I went to a section of Seoul where there was seriously a plastic surgery clinic every second storefront. </li>
<li>WiFi EVERYwhere - seriously. You can usually find free WiFi anywhere you go. Except when you need it, of course.</li>
</ul></div>Conniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08970896725781132072noreply@blogger.com0