Easy like Sunday Morning
after all the hustle and bustle everywhere else in china, i did not expect to find a place so tranquil and relaxing. with some new found friends from Germany, Finland and Belgium, we went to a rock cave which offers next views to stalagmites and a mud bath. the mud pool was surprisingly bouyant and you can easily read a magazine lying flat on the surface. the only way to get into the cave is in a small boat and some ducking to avoid the low over hanging rocks. the guide nearly fell into the water on the way back.
the next day, a nice long bike ride through the country side, which is dotted with rice fields and fish ponds. the path also zig zagged thru various small villages. since i have the foresight of renting a pink street bike, big rocks on the road was not particularly friendly. we crossed some of the rice fields to take a relaxing swim in a river near by. group of tourists floated by us on their bamboo rafts. one of them even got stuck and had to ask us for help.
the last day, a hot air balloon ride. at the beginning of the ride, the balloon went up to 500 meters, which is bit scary considering all that is holding you up is a wick basket, some fabric and a lot hot air. but the view from above was great and we landed on a newly constructed freeway that has not yet been opened to traffic.
