Guangzhou onto Nanning

Day 61 - 25/07/2010 - 17:06 - In Transit, China

So we've been and seen Guangzhou and are on the way to Hanoi in Vietnam via Nanning, not knowing if we've got a ticket from Nanning to Hanoi until the morning when we can go to the ticket office in Nanning. We've tried getting tickets via an agency but they won't issue a ticket without seeing a Vietnamese visa. One company could do it for $120, but we know it should be about $40 each tops. So we aren't that desparate! We're a bit nervous - but I'm sure we'll find a way to Hanoi for the day after tomorrow.

We're sharing with a Chinese woman and a man - travelling separately. The woman is middle aged and the man maybe around our age. They seem to be keeping to themselves though and don't seem particuarly interested in us which makes a nice change!

Going back a day - yesterday (our full day in Guangzhou) was a very pleasant day. We got up quite late (at around 10am) and took our time getting ready. We went to Subway around the corner for brunch which made a nice change from MSG riddled food. Shamian Island is a very strange place although it's much more peacful and laid back from the rest of Guangzhou.

However, there are a LOT of American couples here adopting Chinese children - you can't get away from it. It seems that the economy on the island is centred around English speaking visitors who come to adopt children. There are two 7/11's, a Subway and a Starbucks on the island (it's not that big) as well as several hotels and a lot of small private run shops that sell baby clothes and prams! Those shops offer laundry services too, at much better value than hotels for those long stays! We didn't use them though it was still expensive for us! One shop we went in asked us if we were adopting a child! Erm, no, not this time!

We did, during the day look beyond the island to explore the rest of Guangzhou. Our first stop was the business district which is still very much under construction in Guangzhou. We saw the new, yet to open (sometime this year) International Finance Centre which will be the 5th tallest building in the world. It's absolutely massive compared to the current Guangzhou skyline - although this will probably have changed in the next 15 years or so I think!

After that, we made our way to Martyr's Park, a large park in the centre of Guangzhou dedicated to those who died in the Communist uprising in China. It was so much better than a lot of gardens we've seen - a lot less tourists (Chinese and non- Chinese) and generally (because of that) much more tranquil. We saw a beautiful Lilly Pong _ the main monument to the Martyrs themselves was awesome! We got a picture with a load of Chinese teenagers who wanted one of us all by the statue. Only happy to oblige of course!

Our final stop for the day (before looking around Shamian Island) was a temple. It was very nice to walk around but the scammers and beggars ourside the temple were beyond a joke. Especially those scammers who were dressed up as monks - it is so disrespectuful to their religion! They try to give you a "lucky charm" as a gift before asking for a donation of 100-400RMB (around £10-£40). Jokers!

We we got back to the hotel we went for a swim on the rooftop pool. Very nice after a hot and humid day in Guangzhou. It was raining a little as well which was very nice. That evening we had the best sweet and sour we've ever had - only in Canton naturally!

Before our train today we looked around the Island some more - bit it was really too hot and humid to do much today - we spent most of the early afternoon just sat in Shamian Park!