Moon Hill:
… is nothing compared to the main tourist attraction – us. Seriously. I lost count of how many times I had my photo taken today. Sometimes surreptitiously (fine), mostly an outright request (preferred) – we always say yes. Because let’s not forget that we’re tourists too, and we’ve taken our fair share of pictures of other people. I’m used to it now. It might even be helping me get over my camera shyness.
Ma Ma Moon showed us “the local way” (10 yuan each) up the hill. We weren’t the only ones and wondered if the officials selling entrance tickets (15 yuan each) noticed that only 20 people were going up, but hundreds were coming down! Decided that they were probably in on the deal, too – that’s the Chinese way 😉
Highly-engineered paths and steps all the way to the top was also “the Chinese way”:
And more photo requests (this was a lovely young student couple who talked with us for ages):
Afterwards we realised we’d missed the opportunity to enquire as to *why* they wanted a photo with us.
As with most Chinese, their faces lit up with recognition at “London, England” but looked totally blank when presented with “Belgium”. Placing it among France, Germany and Holland didn’t help, whilst “Europe” also drew a complete blank.
When the woman on the top of the hill tried selling us water, Coke, beer, postcards, babbling away in Chinese, I said that Rudy could do with some razors and enquired as to whether she had any (with appropriate hand gestures). It caused amusement amongst some of the assembled spectators (I told you we’re the main attraction) who worked out what I was saying!
The view from the top was impressive:
An afternoon spent bamboo-rafting, which is about as exciting as it sounds:
But very relaxing, and affording good views of the karsts (which are all very similar sizes and shapes here, unlike Ha Long Bay):
And finally the sun came out:
West Street is the Khao San Road of Yangshuo – one visit was enough:
Rudy spotted the Thai massage sign before I did. It was amazing – she actually walked up and down my back and, when she’d finished and I was getting changed, I looked at the ceiling:
Brilliant 🙂