Friday, May 22, 2009
Travels to China
We just got back from a great trip to China. I have posted all my photos on the web at my Picasaweb site. I will be updating these photos to add more useful information to them and will also be adding material to this blog.
Labels: Travels
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
We have a great guide in Yangshuo, China!
We met a woman in Yangshuo who guides tourists like ourselves around the area to see what life in China is like. She prefers to not take people to the "glitzy' locations where all tourists wind up, but rather to the smaller towns and attractions that most tourists will not be able to see on their own.
Her name is Li Yun Zhao, and she goes by Wendy. She tells us that she was the first female guide in the province, and that she took a lot of criticism for being in that position. She taught herself English by talking to tourists and cannot read anything in English, but is easy to understand and communicate with. She is also a very pleasant person to be around for the time you spend with her.
We hired her for a day and she traveled with us and told us about everything that we saw. She knows the area intimately, having grown up close by, and, of course, she still lives in the area. She made all the arrangements for us and paid for everything in Chinese prices. This alone is a big savings, as tourists always get quoted much higher prices for everything in China. Starting prices, in our experience, can be ten times or more what a vendor is willing to accept! This is a big difference.
We will be going out with her again, weather permitting, and I will be putting more information about her up on this site and other locations. She is a great resource for people wanting to see China without spending all their money on the process. If you are interested in an English-speaking tour guide in Yangshuo, you cannot do better!
Her name is Li Yun Zhao, and she goes by Wendy. She tells us that she was the first female guide in the province, and that she took a lot of criticism for being in that position. She taught herself English by talking to tourists and cannot read anything in English, but is easy to understand and communicate with. She is also a very pleasant person to be around for the time you spend with her.
We hired her for a day and she traveled with us and told us about everything that we saw. She knows the area intimately, having grown up close by, and, of course, she still lives in the area. She made all the arrangements for us and paid for everything in Chinese prices. This alone is a big savings, as tourists always get quoted much higher prices for everything in China. Starting prices, in our experience, can be ten times or more what a vendor is willing to accept! This is a big difference.
We will be going out with her again, weather permitting, and I will be putting more information about her up on this site and other locations. She is a great resource for people wanting to see China without spending all their money on the process. If you are interested in an English-speaking tour guide in Yangshuo, you cannot do better!
Labels: Travels
