Over the last few days we checked out the Impressionist Night River Show in Yangshuo. It was choreographed by the man who did the Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony. The story was told with the Li River as the stage, the lit Karst Mountains as backdrop and hundreds of locals as the actors. It was visually stunning. Our favorite scenes were the ones with torches held by fisherman floating on their bamboo rafts and reflected on the river, an elaborate sequence with miles of red fabric and the finale with probably three hundred women in dresses that lit up.

We spent a day wandering the town and admiring the laterns from the festival this week. For our last day we took a bike tour in the countryside and hiked up to Moon Hill. This was the China I had envisioned with, of course, surprises. I am reading Pearl S. Buck's 1932 Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "The Good Earth". And as we rode through the farmland I could just imagine it was O-lan and Wang Lung with the hoes in the fields. Then sneaking up from behind you would be an electric motor scooter that makes no sound, with the driver chatting on their mobile. What a contrast! On the way home we saw a field with 3 water buffalo grazing. I was staring and everyone in front of me had stopped. I rode right into Celeste's bike. "Sorry Cel, I was checking out the water buffalo". Surely the only time I will ever say that!

Our hotel has been great. Tourism is just getting up and running in this location. The hotel is a bit outside of the town. We can't imagine what the locals think of all the travelers in and out of their 'hood. The front porch is a great place to hang out. Today we saw the funniest sight. First you heard hooves and someone yelling. Then a water buffalo came running down the street followed by his owner, laughing and waving his arms. Another farmer stepped into the road and grabbed the rope and held it until the owner caught up. It looked just like at home when someone's dog bolts out the door when the pizza delivery guy comes and a neighbor kid grabs it as it runs in the road. Maybe a little different.

We are adjusting to the pace here in China and feel a little more intrigued and amused and less assulted. This afternoon we head to the airport again. This time we are headed to Lijiang. Lijiang is 23 hours west by car, almost to the border with Myanmar. The scenery is supposed to be stunning and the cultural influences very different. As always we are looking forward to it.

Amy