Trip Report 14th - 19th october

Chennai (Madras...
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Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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Chongqing was a last minute switch from Guilin after reading Annies post on the region and we were not disappointed.

We reached late at night on the 14th and were picked up by Jimmy. We ordered room service - Dan Dan noodles - and loved it!

Jimmy is not really a guide. He is a local guy who knows his way around and is willing to take you whereever you want to go and does not rush you like the other guides. I doubt we could have explored the area as well without him. His car was not very comfortable though and the driver was inexperienced and on the hilly roads my nervous hubby was on the edge of his seat itching to take the wheel from him!

Our hotel The Howard Johnson ITC Plaza was new, had good large rooms and was in a good location, but because of a lack of English speaking staff service seemed spotty. But at a price of 479 nett/day (weekend package) it was a great deal. Much better than the Sofitel in Xian.

One night I had my hair washed and blow dried (at half the cost of what I would have paid at home!) But it was an adventure trying to make myself understood. Not one person could speak a word of English. Finally one smart girl typed in Chinese characters into her computer and Google translated it for me and we typed back and forth till everything was clear. Brilliant! Why hadn’t I thought of that before?

Day1 was our daytrip to the Wulong County. At first Jimmy was reluctant to include the Furong caves as it would have taken too long - Annie described it as a massive day trip! But luckily for us the new expressway opened a week before and cut travel time by half! The journey itself through so many of the longest tunnels I have ever travelled through was something! One of them was 21km long!

The Furong caves were spectacular but the Natural Three Bridges were really awesome from the descent into the valley in a glass elevator to the 2 hr trek through pristine scenery.

In China both natural and manmade sights vie with each other in grandeur!

We drove back through villages and we saw people working on their fields or piling up produce by the roadside. Lots of buffaloes goats and geese!

Jimmy made a detour to a lake that almost rivalled West Lake and there was no one around except for a mobile home next to which the owners were cooking fish!

We had lunch in between at a local place where we had to choose the fish from their tank in the kitchen and they dished out a delicious lunch of fish soup, veggies and rice. A long and satisfying day

Day 2 was free time in Chongqing. Started out drizzly and hazy but cleared up by noon. Chongqing seemed to be perpetually covered by haze. Not sure if it was pollution because even outlying rural areas were foggy. We started late and explored the city.We visited the Great Hall of the people and the Three Gorges Museum and browsed through Hong ya Dong. Then we had a fantastic hot pot lunch. It was a nice unhurried meal and we didn’t have to worry about sticking to any schedule. Next we walked around the pedestrian street and shopped for DVD’s at a small shop nearby. Later we went to Ciqikou which we did not like at all and finally ended up at the docks

Although big Chongqing did not feel as sanitised as Beijing /Shanghai or even Xian! There was a local flavour to the place when you walked away from the downtown area. We stopped for tea at a very local open air tea house where all kinds of people - blue collar, white collar, retired (Only one old woman among about 60 men though!) were sipping tea and playing cards! Wonderful opportunity to people watch with endless cups of tea for just 4 yuan pp!! Everything was cheaper than in the other cities - Min. fare for taxis started at 5yuan compared to 10 in Beijing and 12 in Shanghai!

Later the two of us returned to the pedestrian street to window shop and then had dinner in a tiny restaurant near our hotel. Just OK.

Next morning Jimmy decided to show us what Dan Dan noodles should really taste like at a local restaurant and ordered medium spicy noodles for us. Oh my God! Have never had anything that spicy! He was happily munching away at the full spice noodles! And they have that for breakfast!!

Dazu was a very nice daytrip as well. Beautifully maintained but full of local tourist groups with their megaphones. The old village seemed very dilapidated although there were people living there. The temple in Baoding looked uninteresting at first glance but was really lovely as you climbed higher and higher and the piece de resistance was the golden statue of the 1000 hand Buddha in the innermost sanctum. Beautiful. There was more to explore further up on the hill behind but hubby had had enough and we had to return. Lunch was at a very forgettable roadside place and again we had to choose the fish for our meal!

That evening we went with Jimmy via cablecar to the riverfront but the skyline and the restaurant we dined at were both disappointing.

Our last daytrip to Laitan was the highlight of our China trip. Jimmy deliberately timed it for a Sunday so we got to see the farmers market outside the village. It was raining when we reached so the market area was a bit slushy but we got some great pics of villagers with produce hung in baskets from their shoulders, women with children in their baskets and a whole lot more.

But the village! I do not know how to describe the little village. “Gobsmackingly beautiful” it was Annie!

It was Diwali (our festival of lights at home) and we lit incense and felt blessed to be in this beautiful temple. A few devotees were bursting firecrackers and it truly felt like a celebration!

From the top of the temple above the huge Buddha statue we walked out and turned left past the entrance into a courtyard with a raised performance hall and a seating area all with beautiful wood carvings most defaced during the revolution. One little hall with a panoramic view of the valley below had MahJong tables set up. What bliss to be able to relax here. We agreed with Jimmy that staying overnight might have been a good idea.

The rain had stopped long back but the path down to the river was slushy so we drove down and then walked through another village down below to the river where a farmer and his wife on their boat dished up what was one of our best meals of the trip! Fish (with garlic, chillies, ginger) vegetables & rice. Jimmy licked the bones clean!! And fresh sweet tangerines from the trees. There were a few children trying to catch shrimp, a woman washing clothes and the four of us. Idyllic

Thanks again Annie and thank you Jimmy

After our return we braved strange looks again for the toned down version of Dan Dan noodles in the hotel for dinner.

We left early next morning to Hangzhou

Melbourne
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1. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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i would like to quote you "One night I had my hair washed and blow dried at half the cost of what I would have paid at home!":

are you serious?

i have just returned home after being through eid, durga puja, mg birthday and diwali holidays in your country.

india is half or less than the price anywhere in china - i can only surmise that ...... oh forget it -- you are from india.

Melbourne, Australia
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2. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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Wonderful Mashet. I can almost smell the orange blossoms walking down to the river.

So happy you enjoyed Chongqing and the surrounding areas. I love it because it makes a terrific contrast to heavily touristed places in China. Truly gorgeous and there are so many places to see.

Laitan is a wonderful place - it has been a highlight for us too:) And the Three natural Bridges in Wulong is amazing. There is a famous Chinese movie called "Curse of the Golden Flower" It has scenes from the Three Natural Bridges and is really worth watching. Will bring back some memories:)

Miami Beach, Florida
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3. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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Yes, annie led me to Laitan also. I did not post a report, but will comment and agree with you completely.

Laitan is a small place, do not expect a Lijiang or Dali. The people are so friendly, smiling and go out of their way to help tourists (at least western-looking ones.) The food street, the fantastic temple, the vistas over the entire river valley, the ancient tombs, all are just wonderful and what must have been fairly typical throughout China centuries ago. Most citties and villages have been overrun, and Laitan will be some day.

We asked several taxi drivers if they drive to Laitan, and none knew of the village. I had a Mandarin speaker and a good map reader with me so we went with a regular taxi guy for several hundred yuan. Most people should trust the driver recommended by Annie and mashet.

Melbourne, Australia
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4. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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LOL Skeggles - you don't have long flowing locks maybe;)

Special hair means special treatment;) Mashet is all girl and it is a girl thing LOL. Hey to guys it is just a cut but to girls it is art:))) Does not matter what I pay - just do not want to slink out of the shop looking bald haha.

Hong Kong, China
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5. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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Another thumbs up for Laitan. I much preferred its Buddha to the one at Leshan, and I agree the town is worth seeing as well. Quite likely you will be the only tourist there.

I went by public transport. The directions in LP are accurate. Basically, from the very busy Caiyuanba bus station in Chongying you catch a bus to Hechuan, and then from there catch another bus to Longshi. From Longshi to Laitan it is about 4 or 5 Kms and there is a bus service, but it's infrequent and will probably only go when there are a few passengers. Therefore, for the last leg you might need to catch a motorbike taxi.

Melbourne, Australia
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6. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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SoBeSparky, So happy you liked Laitan:))

I respect your opinion so much as someone who has done some amazing trips around China and seen so many things.

That is why I love this forum. I could not find out anything on any travel forums about Laitan before I went. But we took a chance just like yourself & Mashet have done.

I really treasure all the wonderful imput from TA members who share experiences on this site as it really helps. Mashet, your trip report is full of info that is so helpful.

I continue to learn heaps from everyone and we all share which is terrific:)

Melbourne, Australia
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7. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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Drumbrake,

Glad you liked Laitan as well. The Buddha was wonderful - especially walking up past all the carvings. And then going onto the platform and looking down.

Hope Laitan stays forever how we saw it:)

Melbourne
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8. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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annie - just what is wrong with being umm - err slightly less hairy on my head than younger men?

OK - so it's a bit thin on top I'M NOT SENSiTIVE ABOUT IT!

yeah - it's been a very long time since styling hair meant anything.

when i get a hair cut -mmm - it really is that these days - yep one single hair - makes a lot of difference you know - kids tell me i look like brad pitt - god they lie:-0

Chennai (Madras...
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9. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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Thank you all. We had a feeling we would not be disappointed although everyone at home thought we were crazy.

Skeggles:

I was as surprised as you are! That is the dichotomy! We found highend places much cheaper than in India, including restaurants and hotels. Where in India can you stay in a hotel of the standard of the Hilton in Beijing at the equivalent of 828yuan? We pay almost that much in our one horse hometown for a three star hotel! Thats a rip off.The chongqing hotels were a steal comparitively. Everything else was more expensive though.

Annie:

I bought a DVD of that movie. Jimmy found one for us. Havn't had time to see it though. Thanks again

Calgary, Canada
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10. Re: Trip Report 14th - 19th october
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wonderful report. i am saving your reports as i did with nala 22. this will help me a lot when i DIY in the future.

thank you

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