Wow wow wow !!!
China is amazing and my experiences out there were awesome. I feel so fortunate and grateful to have had this epic journey as it has opened my eyes to new worlds, cultures, cuisines as well as reassuring me that I am on the right path. Travelling to china was a HUGE step for me as I really am a home bunny who fears the unknown. However, this opportunity could not be wasted so my fears and anxieties had to be overcome as I literally travelled over 5,000 miles away from where my home and where my heart lies.
If it had not been for the support of my husband, kids, family and friends this trip would not have been possible, so thank you x 1,000000 xxxxx
So, what did I get up to then eh …
So we arrive in Hong Kong and felt kinda relived to get up and stretch our legs after a 12 hour flight. Quick bit of security, hand over the water that I’ve been so carefully harbouring and then on to the airport. Massive airport with every designer store you could want, but this girl is just too dam tired and feeling too airsick to shop. The girls get a Starbucks but I really couldn’t face anything. Gate announced and it’s off to 505, blimey they have a lot of gates!! Hop on a bus and go across the runway to another building where we wait to depart. So another flight but not so long this time. Well enough time for water and cookies.
Off the plane and the first thing that hits you is the intense heat pouring through the windows, deep clouds of humidity hit your lungs. Another lot of security and we find a little man standing with a sign “Mrs law”. From Guilin we travel by minibus through the beautiful scenery of the mountains, each one a different size and shape with its own personality. An amazing backdrop of a stunning area. After an hour and a half we arrive at the resort, the snow lion resort in Yangshuo. It’s pretty dam impressive. Our bags are carried up as there is no lifts and we are on the fourth floor. The rooms each have an ensuite and a balcony looking outta the mountains and river. Stunning just stunning.
Time to wash off that sweaty airport !!
We eat dinner in the hotel restaurant – lemon chicken and rice, dumplings and mango and chicken, plus chicken and cashews. Girls had local beers I had a sprite and we still only spent £19!!
Time to try and sleep….. try being the operative word. Even after the longest journey and our lack of sleep, we are now incapable of dropping off. Around 11ish I drop off only to wake at 2 am wide awake. Due to online messaging we discover we are all wide awake and unable to sleep.
Time to try and sleep again… maybe snatch 2-3 hrs
Well, day one started with cycling.
All around Yangzhou, can’t lie this picture looks idyllic however when you are cycling across massive dual carriageways with 100’s of mopeds, cars and trucks hurtling at you and you have no helmet or a working bell. It’s scary !!!! But it was so much fun and gave us the opportunity to see so much. Cycling through fields and field of greenery with the mountains as a back drop just felt completely and utterly surreal. My bottom may have ached for a few days though which kept the memory alive.
After cycling we got on a bamboo raft down the river…… just us and the surroundings, so incredibly beautiful and peaceful.
After lunch we climbed moon hill, a very steep and tiring walk in 96% humidity and jet lagged, not the best plans but onwards and upwards. At points I so wanted to quit as my heart was pounding, my breathing laboured and my legs were like jelly but something made me continue and reach the top. The view across the mountains was amazing even breath taking if I had any breathe left !
Oh and yes we did buy these hats and blimming useful they were too in keeping the sun off your head, besides everyone else was wearing them.
From moon hill it was back on our bikes to our hotel through busy streets and country lanes.
Our home for the next 4 days was Snow Lion Resort, a quiet hotel tucked away in the mountains with a view overlooking the river, life really was good. Sat on my balcony ( only briefly due to the intense heat ) you could appreciate the sound of distant crickets and nothing else. 
That evening we ventured out to a local light show. The mountains were the back drop and the water the stage, a very beautiful display but not quite sure what it was about having not mastered mandarin yet. 
Cycling, bamboo raft, moon hill climbing, more cycling and a light show and that was just our 1st day.