July 8 – Guilin and the Reed Flute Caves

Our American compatriots were dissatisfied with the hotel in Guilin (which was decidedly a few notches down on the hotel pole in comparison to other places we’ve stayed). A few people who are sensitive to mold got sick and didn’t sleep at all – so Louie upgraded us (at his expense) to a Sheraton hotel with 5 stars. It was a bit embarrassing (and we were totally cool with the first hotel)…but the Sheraton is much cleaner and in a better part of the city.

We first made a stop at the obligatory adopto-tourism cultural education (this time on how silk factories work) + trip to the government store (still refuse to buy anything). It was amazing watching the silk cacoons be stretched out into layers. The women who work there can do it effortlessly...but our children obviously don't have the knack:




Guilin is quite tropical and very beautiful – it is famous for its unique mountains, sparkling water, beautiful rocks, and caves. The craggy mountains are made of limestone, which erodes over time to create the beautiful shapes. Waterfalls are abundant. Rice is grown here and we’re finally seeing lots of rice paddies. The mountains are stunning – just like the picture Sally gave us that’s in our bathroom…craggy and beautiful. The reed flute cave was like nothing we’ve ever seen. Supposedly the population of Guilin was saved during attacks by the Japanese because they hid in the caves and went undetected. The only thing that was odd is that they’re a bit Disney-esque. Flute music is piped through them (which is lovely) and colored lights are positioned throughout (double-lovely), and there even was a light show inside the ‘crystal palace’ room that involved a soap bubble machine that the kids loved….but it’s too clean – too beautiful – no cobwebs, bats, or bugs (and the street vendors outside the cave entrance are very aggressive). Very surreal.





We lunched on rice noodles and had a pretty quiet afternoon – switching hotels, getting caught up on email, and swimming in the pool. For dinner I took Eliza down some streets outside of the hotel to eat at a busy noodle/hot pot restaurant (we were told to aim for restaurants that were crowded and noisy because the food would be good). Her dinner (which I just had a taste of) was 15 rmb…about $1.75 – there are perks to being in the more remote regions of Guangxi province! We also walked along the Li riverbank and saw many people dancing, strolling along the water..and swimming (I let Eliza wade in her sandals even though the tour guide warned us not to go in the water because of strong currents.) And THEN I got caught up on this journal!