Get my early phone call from Yolanda, time for breakfast. Luckily we are going for the dough sticks and soya milk, so I can just about deal with the early rise. Back down to the market and get the grub. You sit on these wee stools about 8inches off the ground at little tables. It is like a kids table, but this is what everyone is sitting at. After breakfast it's back to the hostel and goodbye to Yolanda. ----- A nice relaxing day in the hostel. It is so hot ou...

Up and to the train, got a taxi for ¥10 which was a complete result as I normally get ripped off! So I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself when I get to the station. Grabbed some food this time, so I am not as unprepared as I have been in the past. Only a wee 9 hour train, so easy peasy! ----- It's not long after we set off that a Chinese guy comes over to speak to me. First time this has happened on a train. Normally people are too scared to speak, but this ...

We get up and head out for a traditional Chinese breakfast. It was fantastic. Dough sticks and soya milk, i think it is the best breakfast i have had in China! Catherine is leaving today but only has a ticket for a hard seat and her train is 28 hours!! I wouldn't do that, plus she has never been on a hard seat, I have. So we go down to the train station to try and get her ticket changed. We get a bus to the station and she joins the queue, but when she gets to th...

Catherine gets the call from the tour guide at 6.30, apparently we are being picked up at 7.30 at a hotel just round the corner from our hostel. Let's go!! I packed my bag the night before so I have all my stuff ready to go. When we get on the bus we take a seat, the bus is not full so we are going to pick up some more people from their hotels. Once everyone is on board the tour guide starts talking, and talking, and talking. Honestly I think she spoke for 30mins...

I think Catherine has us up at some ungodly hour. I'm not fresh. Anyway we head across the road for breakfast and I go for dumplings. In an odd move this involved the husband jumping on his bike and going home to make them. Odd. Meant I had a bit of a wait before I got my breakfast, though when it did arrive it was delicious. Good start to the day. On we go walking in to town to catch our bus. On the way we pass a couple of places offering tours down the Li River...