"Do you like my dumplings?" ;) Our cooking class started with a trip to the local Market. I steered clear of the meat section - especially the dog! Though I didn't manage to avoid the rat and the (huge) pigs ears! "Chinese eat everything with 4 legs except the table & everything that flies except the aeroplane." We donned our chef hats and aprons (looking very much like burger flippers) and chopped, cooked and sculpted to create Gong Bao (Kung Pao) chicken...

Awesome day. Enjoyed a scrumptious breakfast of French toast and rocket fuel. Chose a pretty pink bike and set out on our beautifully scenic 20km ride along the Yu long river. It was truly auwsome (as Dragon would say)! We Chinese whispered info about interesting things that we passed, from our guide Roy to the back of the line. Rested the bikes for a bit and climbed Moon hill, though couldn't shake the drinks vendor that followed us all the way up and down despi...

Damp arrival into Yangshuo, but stunning scenery on the way here - rice paddies with a backdrop of needle-like hills. Saw a man taking his water buffalo for a morning walk on a lead too. Took to the water on a motorised bamboo raft for an hour or so to get a great view of the karst peaks surrounding the Li river. Was pouring with rain but didn't make it any less spectacular. Dined on yummy lemon & curry chicken (separate dishes). Forgave the dog and bamboo ...