Day 4: Yangshuo - Cycling + Tai Chi - Sep 23, 2009

8.00am For some crazy reason we all hired bikes (ah, yes, it was an included activity!) and set off in the heat to explore the countryside. But to get to the countryside meant cycling through the city first, and it was no mean feat trying to follow our local cycling guide "Panda" as she swerved in and out across the traffic (even if she was holding up an umbrella along the way). Somehow we made it, and then could actually look up and enjoy the gorgeous scenery. We stopped at a few places to take photos, but it was fairly full on, especially a couple of kilometres on a bumpy dirt track that I'm sure my specialist at home wouldn't approve of.

After an hour and ten minutes of solid cycling we arrived at Moon Hill, an impressive hole high in a mountain. Just as impressive, were the hundreds of peasant women who ran half the way down the street to greet us. Each one attached themselves to one of us, while we parked our bicycles (I was sure they wouldn't be there when we got back), and walked to the start of the track. Tomic said it would be an easy one hour walk. He and two others stayed behind, and the rest started their dash. I took my time (I had my peasant lady nattering away to me!), but after doing a hundred steps straight up, I decided that was more than enough. A Spanish couple was coming down at that time and told me that there were actually 700 steps, so that quickly made up my mind. My peasant lady (who was planning on selling me drinks at the top from the esky she was carrying) wasn't impressed, but she soon latched onto a couple who came by! I enjoyed the now quiet walk back down and sat eating a Moon Hill pancake while waiting for the others. It was rather nice - basically an omelette with pork, carrot and capsicum.

On the return journey a couple of us decided we weren't going to race back, so some of the group did the usual mad dash, while we rode more leisurely and stopped often for photos. At one point I thought I'd lost everyone, but it was one straight road and soon enough people behind me caught up (one of their bike chains had come off).

4.00pm Tai Chi lesson on banks of Li River - more spectacular scenery! The Tai Chi master chose an absolutely beautiful place to do Tai Chi - a quiet spot, overlooking the river and facing the gorgeous mountains. The Tai Chi was quite similar to what I'd previously learnt in Australia, though a few moves were different. He showed us some Tai Chi Kung Fu moves to demonstrate how the principles of Tai Chi are used in Kung Fu.

Our hotel was great - located right in the middle of the main tourist strip with shops and restaurants all about. Mum, I don't think you would have liked it though with all those people! Like everywhere else, everything was dirt cheap - internet was A$2 an hour, laundry was A$1 per item, and a plate of crispy duck, satay sauce and rice was A$5.

In the evening I wandered through the bustling West Street, full of people trying to get you to buy their wares. Prices here are set more than double, and when I halved it, they accepted it straight away. Trying to get it less than half was a little more difficult and I could probably have pushed the issue at a few places, but with the difference being a matter of a dollar it really didn't matter!