River of Nine Bends

While our hosts attended meetings of their library association, we were treated to a day of sight-seeing. The highlight was an extensive tour of the Wuyishan State Nature Reserve, including a 2-hr bamboo raft ride down the River of Nine Bends. I counted more than that.

The area is a UNESCO World Heritage site, with a coveted double heritage designation, meaning that it meets two sets of criteria, for natural wonder and cultural heritage.

More fotos on Flickr...

Hong Kong - Lantau

After a day of relaxing in my hotel on Lantau, I set out on an adventure today. Flying through the air over sea and mountains.

I opted for the "standard" car instead of the Crystal Cabin -- with a see-through floor. Maybe next time.

It was a breath-taking ride, up and up and up over the sea, and over the mountain, and still more. The car carried us deep into the middle of the island. Below we could see hikers climbing the Lantau trail, many struggling in the humidity. The trail goes all over the island.

Just as we crested the last ridge, the Tian Tan Buddha came into view. The cable car ends near the Po Lin Monastery, and it's a short walk through a tourist area and up a very long flight of stairs (many thanks again to Samara for teaching me the rest step!) to the Buddha.

 

More fotos on Flickr....

They call it brindle

Some loyal, long-time readers will recall that my very first real post to this blog was about shoes: First Steps

And indeed, Keen was a good place to start. Behold, for China and beyond, a new pair of walking shoes, in a browny grey - but not in that awful taupe way. They call it "brindle".

**Update: After wearing the new Keens all weekend, I have decided that while they are indeed comfy and versatile, they do not breathe. My feet were far too warm, even using the famed wicking merino socks. And that will not do.

Plan B:  My trusty fluevogs. Various vogs (from the Sara to the Gibson) have kept my feet happy on several other international adventures so it seems fitting that my current pair of studded vogs should come along this time.

Unless I change my mind again. In 29 days anything could happen.

Dot. Dot. Dot.  And it did.

After a 3-day test run of the vogs I decided they weren't comfortable enough and allowed no room for cushy inserts.  Back to Keen for the mary-jane version of the shoe I bought before. The open panel allows for breathing and I get comfort too.

Don't ask me about socks.

Easy does it

Though it is possible to transport oneself from Hong Kong to Fuzhou via a combination of buses, trains, and ferries, I've opted for the easy way out.

Difficulty -- with both the frustrations & the adventure it spawns -- will no doubt abound. Needs no help from me. So, I will fly 1hr 40min on Cathay Pacific.

from ecclesk

And I have 2 1/2 days in Hong Kong to do as I please -- ie, get over jet lag.  My previous inclination (Poll closed) to stay on Lantau is looking more and more likely. Death-defying cable car transport, ancient mountain-top monasteries, pirate coves, pink dolphins, and opium war forts.

Why not?

Yay Daddy!

While he's no Up in the Air, my dad travels a lot for work and builds up a mountain of frequent flier miles that my brother and I chip away at from time to time.  Which is how I'll be flying from Portland to Hong Kong for free.

Yay Daddy!

Which also means I need to arrange transport from Hong Kong to Fuzhou -- the functional equivalent of getting from Portland to San Francisco.... If Portland, Ashland, Redding, and San Fran were the centers of Special Economic Zones with their own rules & regulations, and customs control.  Flying would be easiest.

Which is why I'm looking at ferry tables and cruise lines.  ;)

Fuzhou is an important port for China, both historically and in the modern era. Arriving by boat seems fitting. Any of my avid -- all 5 of you -- readers know anything about a slow boat to Fuzhou?