To Wuchuan

We woke up to a massive thunderstorm around 6 in the morning. Hotel view is directly to White Cloud Mountain so the setting was rather spectacular.

Everyone breakfasted and cases packed for 8.30, driver and guide late.....hmmmm

The drive was first through industrial suburbia that has engulfed once famous cities. Then we hit the countryside. Spring work is in full swing people planting rice everywhere, some places finished and some fields untouched after winter. Sweetcorn is very tall, we saw some bananas too, lots of fruit trees, fish ponds, ducks and hens. Soon we became to the black cattle and goats too.There were a number of livestock transports on the road, mainly pigs but also mixed wagons of goats and cattle.

In the morning the  driver proudly told us Wuchuan was 4,5 hours away. It took us 3.5 hours to get to the ship museum and another 3 and a bit to make it to Wuchuan later on. The rain was torrential most of the way and we got slowed by two road accidents. They drive far too fast, too close and have little idea of traffic laws - the police car speeding past on hard shoulder was followed by a stream of cars using it as an escort vehicle past the accident area:-)))

Our guide took us to the "best" restaurant in Hailing Island for our lunch. The area is under huge development for a holiday resort and this place could easily seat couple of hundred people, on concrete floor and under canvas. As we were near the sea the lunch was swimming in containers and one picked what one wanted....we wanted pork. The place was out of season the cooks allowed me into kitchen to see them cook. I had a real ball - for a woman without Cantonese I seem to speak cooking quite well. The cook was a young man and must say his fried rice was best ever, we finished a three litre bowl between us three.

Which brings me neatly to today's troubles. We have paid both driver and guide 100 RMB/day for food expenses  they ordered nice banquet of sea food for 200+++ RMB while our family was able to eat fried rice and steamed veggies...the disappointment was palpable when we decided to eat supper in our room!! As comparison three meat course meal in GZ for us three in a good restaurant was under 100 RMB.

The boat museum has wonderful architecture.  I loved the two lines in the wall for ticket sales: below bottom line is free, between lines is half price and above top line is full price! There was ver little to see, the cover for the boat excavation was closed, there were dozen or so vases on show, some old archaeological finds from Guangdong (Neanderthal tooth replica stuck to my mind) and that was that, took all of five minutes.

Outside, on the beach is similar restored Song dynasty boat. It is sometimes open to visitors, but not today. However the guard did let me climb the steps up and photograph it closely.

Out there on the beach is a kite museum too. I was most disappointed that the boat museum sold hand turned ceramic pots (ugly as anything) and the kite museum had no shop at all....they have a trick or two to learn about tourists....

This also was my first day of proper food tourism. As we have a guide I make him ask ingredients for every dish on every stall we pass (he must hate me by now) and this afternoon we tasted steamed rice and pork wrapped in a bamboo leaf. I'll have that again. Eating is a bit easier here anyway as rice noodles are widely available.

Last 50 km to Wuchuan. The wonderful smooth motorway turned to a roller-coaster ride (Should stop daddy complaining the way I drive the farm road!). It was rough to say the least. We saw many families on their motorbikes and the one mummy, one child we have become used to in  the city was more commonly one mummy with two kids and families with three or even four children piled on the moped with mum and dad were not that uncommon. It was not just small kids but families with children from babies to teenagers.

Our hotel is five stars in a way of stars in your eyes and dream on. No internet. The staff maybe all claimed to be fluent in English but never had to show their skills before today. The bathroom is basic, but does have a western toilet - we also have a wall sized window to bathroom and a large basket of complimentary condoms. Not to mention a note with a phone number for a "good night". At the front door there is a notice asking all people entering to be decently covered. LOL. This is the posh end of the town and if it stops raining tomorrow I'll take some pictures.

Beach On Hailing Island Where Ship Museum Is.

Lunchtime Restaurant Kitchen

Inside The Ship Museum