Wednesday 2 October, our third day in Yangshuo, went like this:
- Woke up and ascended to the rooftop of the retreat for an 80 minute massage ($24). Views from the rooftop were one of a kind. We tried to beat the heat by going at 9am, but I was in a full sweat by the end. The baby oil they used also magnified the burning effects of the sun on my tender, pale skin.
- Ate breakfast on the outdoor patio (including a mystery fruit the size of Nicole’s head):
- Meandered through the local country roads on a scooter for a few hours, with gorgeous views of the intricately farmed landscape. In the process, I skipped sunscreen application on my arms and got nicely burned:
- Eventually found ourselves at the 7 Stars Tea Plantation (once Nicole the navigator learned how to recognize Chinese letters), took a private tour through the fields, and enjoyed a tea tasting ceremony (we drank 4 cups of tea in the process) followed by a late lunch. We learned when picking tea leaves/buds that no leaves (only buds) are used for green tea, one leaf is for oolong tea, two leaves is for black tea, and matured leaves is for black tea for old people (more of a digestive aid):
- Scootered back to the retreat and then into town. We stopped at a German bierhaus to drink Hofbrau dunkel on a balcony and peer out at the throngs of tourists browsing the local goods. We found ourselves playing “Gringo bingo” — a simple game of who can spot the non-asians first. It actually took over a minute at one point. We had learned that 90% of tourists in China are Chinese…but I think that number should be higher. We also had a great view of some of the local/colorful foods being prepared streetside.
In the balcony photo, you can get a fun taste of all the different cultures at once: German Bierhaus, Texan cactus, Chinese flags, and Yangshuo karst mountain scenery.
Overall, Yangshuo was a great town in the Guangxi province with lots of Western influence. Our Village retreat was owned by some Belgians named Jenny and Tripper, and they dutifully populated their beer menu with Belgian beers. Great service, and a fully English-speaking staff made this stop on our adventure a true pleasure.