Day 5: Yangshuo - Guilin - train - Sep 24, 2009

8am River rafting - Just incase I hadn't enjoyed the scenery enough so far, we went cruising the Li River on bamboo river rafts. These are really lovely rafts, with bamboo seats under a shade cover where we just oodled down and back on the river for two hours. The scenery was even more gorgeous from the water and ever so peaceful. There were buffalo swimming about, a few people cleaning their clothes, some fishermen paddling their rafts, and of course, a hawker sitting on a little island in the middle of the river with his computer set up doing photoshop photos for the tourists passing by - as you do!

11.00am We returned to Yangshou for yet another shower.

12noon Had lunch in a gorgeous restaurant overlooking Li River (with Joanne, Adelene and Amanda). We then had a couple of hours to kill, so we went into McDonalds just to sit in the air-conditioning, then to a very yummy bakery, and then to an air-cnonditioned cafe!I had the best pineapple crushed ice drink (note: most drinks come warm, unless you specify ice).

5pm We loaded our bags onto two small bicycle carts, and boarded the public bus for the one and a half hour trip to Guilin. I talked to a Chinese lady, Joy, who moved to sit next to me to practise her English :-)

8.20pm Overnight train to Guilin (15 hours!). Our group was all split up over the carriage, and I got the top bunk again. Thankfully the air-conditioning worked all night, but unfortunately people were smoking alot. I spent the first six hours utilising one of those face-masks (small success), until at 4am I climbed down to find clear air at the bottom. Sat there for an hour watching trains and lights pass by, until I was tired enough to try to sleep more. Climbed back up again, and hid under my blanket where the air seemed not too bad. One hour later all the Chinese got up and started using their super loud, yelling, screaming voices. There was no way I was getting up then, so continued to hide under the blanket, checking my watch every fifteen minutes. Eventually at 8.30am I got up.