Finally, able to sit in front of my PC to finish off Guilin Travelogue. There will be 3 more episodes coming up after this.
As I was trying to finish off my travelogue to China, everyone is aware there is this life-threatening virus invading the whole world. Airlines and Hotel have been affected by this. Airlines have been reducing the airfares. some even offering free seats.
Tips: Don't travel for the sake of updating Social Media and be proud of. Travel wisely and aware of the situation before you go ahead to fly out. Whatever situation lies ahead of you out of that journey only you responsible for the consequences.
Reminder and Disclaimer: I travel to China during last Christmas. Safely back to Malaysia before the CoronaVirus news break. My travelogue to China is just to share travel experience. I don't mean to urge you to travel to the place and expose you to the virus. Please don't email me with your brainless question on why I keep writing about China during the virus outbreak.
I have planned to continue my journey to Longsheng rice terrace from Yangshuo. I requested the hotel to arrange for a car to drive me up to Lonhsheng rice terrace. The driver will come to pick me up around 12:00 noon from Yangshuo hotel.
I had a simple breakfast which is fried egg and some milk coffee. Then decided to explore around Yangshuo in the morning. There are few options to explore this small town and villages nearby- rent a bicycle or scooter or just walk like me. I decided to explore by foot.
Loving the peacefulness of this small town here. I walk around town until reached one small local market. I was looking forward to trying the must-try famous local breakfast, 'oil tea'.
I found one stall selling 'oil tea'. Bravely, sat down and order one for me by pointing to other tables who are enjoying their 'oil tea'. The lady came and put down a bowl full of some rice crisps which look like some sort of cereals. Then another lady came by with a big kettle and pour down the hot tea into my bowl. As the tea reaches down to the crisps bowl, I can see the rice crisps pop up. I read this taste a bit bitter and for those who can't stand herbal drink may not like this. My expectation was kind of like drinking the herbal drink with the hope I won't get so much of disappointment.
How is 'oil tea' taste?
I would say to me it taste uniquely strong. A bit bitter and spicy at the beginning and a hint of sweet once the sweet brown ball puff is fully soaked up. I think the ginger made it taste spicy. The lady shoves some salt for me to sprinkle in my 'oil tea' bowl. I added some salt for some taste. Seriously, if you are looking forward to getting nutrition benefit then don't focus on good taste. hahahaha...another word...I won't drink this again muahahaha...I don't really hate this but just something I can only try once!
How the 'oil tea' made?
'Oil tea' is prepared by frying tea leaves with garlic, salt, ginger, chilli and some other herbs in an iron wok. Oil is added to fry the ingredients and then all the mixture is pounded with some wooden pestle to release some flavour. Then boiled the pounded tea until it looks like a broth.
How 'oil tea' was served?
Its all depends on the shop owner. Mostly will serve it over a bowl of puffed rice, chopped scallion, coriander and some crispy peanuts, then sprinkle some salt over it.
Locals usually don't drink this by itself. They will enjoy the 'oil tea' with some local snack. As for me, I got myself some osmanthus jelly cake to go with this bittersweet tea. No! It doesn't taste oily at all. It just likes drinking a herbal broth.
After my 'oil tea' adventure, I continue my exploration nearby but my eyes were seriously searching my nice cafe for a cup of hot Cappucino. I need to clear this 'oil tea' taste in my mouth. huhuhuh
I found one nice cafe and sat down sipping my hot coffee while observing the locals who pass by that cafe. It was a quiet cafe and I enjoy my time there.
I made a move around 11am to clear out some of my things before check out and wait for my driver downstairs at the lobby.
I walk around for the last time at the Li River opposite the hotel to kill my time while the driver is finding his way to my hotel.
My driver is very punctual. Arrived at exactly 12:00 noon. I read the drive from Yangshuo to Longsheng will take around 2 hours. Hell no! The journey took around nearly 4 hours. I pass through more than 30 tunnels along the way. The road is cutting through many karst mountains.
The driver who picked me at Yangshuo is from Longsheng. I could imagine he started his journey early in the morning to pick me at Yangshuo and drive me up to Longsheng again. After around 1 hour drive, he told me he would like to stop by for a quick nap. He stops at some military training camp. I alighted from the car and walk around the place while giving him some peace for a quick nap. My driver quick nap is as important as my life too. hahaha
The driver just rests for about 30 minutes before continuing to drive for another one hour then he stops to have some meal while I shop for some snacks at the nearby convenience store.
Then continue another one hour journey to the Longsheng tourist station.
The driver then told me to get down to pay for some entrance fee to Longsheng village. I paid around 80 Yuan. I was told it a low season so it was a half-price entrance fee for me. He then drives me up to road like worst than Cameron Highlands old road. It's a small road up steep mountain climb and as the car climb higher, I could see a nice view. But still, it was too dangerous to drive up and I don't even want to imagine driving up and down at night. Dangerous!
The driver stops me in the car park area. I will be on my own from here find the place I booked. No car allowed to enter from here. You will be greeted by many local mostly mountain people waiting to be your potter. I was there during low season. So many of them don't really have things to do. If you carry luggage, it is advisable to hire them to carry for you with some price from 50 to 100 Yuan. At least can help them a bit. It will be around 20 to 30 minutes hill and staircase climb from here. Dragging your big luggage from that car park up isn't a joke! Seriously, not a joke! It will be a rough dragging and carrying it up the steep staircase too.
I was with a small backpack. So I don't hire any of them. They keep saying ..."You don't know where to go! You don't know where to go! " in Chinese of course! hehehe..I understand them and replied in Chinese to them that"I know! I know!" hahahaha...
I came in totally prepared with my hiking pole in one arm. I walked towards the Ping'An Village which is the highest in the mountain. Trying my best to stay positive.
I came in totally prepared with my hiking pole in one arm. I walked towards the Ping'An Village which is the highest in the mountain. Trying my best to stay positive.
I look all smiling, right? But I cried after that because it was a tiring climb. hahahaha...Gosh! plus...I was lost. I reached the Ping'An village but couldn't find the place I stay and feel super helpless. There is signage in English. But as usual my bad sense of direction kind of fail me at first. I found one local and she pointed up to the place. Oh my God! further uphill? WTH! The place is nowhere to be seen from where I was standing. Not even in this photo.
Uwaaaaa...just now so confident told those locals, I know the place. What is this???
Uwaaaaa...just now so confident told those locals, I know the place. What is this???
Finally, after the sweat and tears walk and climbing up the countless steep staircase, I found the place. Luckily the owner can speak English. She is one of the mountain people here. After the check-in process, she led me to the staircase. I was like...more staircase? The climb seems like never-ending. I asked her which floor. She said my room will be on the 6th floor since I booked the rice terrace field view. I was not so sure whether to cry or to laugh.
Yes! I have to climb up and down starting from now. What did I get myself into? All I know, throughout my 2 nights stay here....I never leave my hiking pole behind. Seriously, its like a nightmare plus a good heaven dreams.
Where to stay at Longsheng?
Longji Holiday Hotel
Address : No.2-868, Ping' Village, Longji Town , Longsheng
I chose this hotel since it stated only 15-minute stroll from Longsheng Rice Terrace and the people there are able to speak English. The review is also not bad.
What do you think about my room here? Nice? I love what I saw when first opened the door. Read below and you will know how I feel about staying in this room.
This is the view from my balcony. It will be golden beautiful if you visit this place during May to October. I was here nearly to winter. Most rice has fully harvested. I read this place will be super brown and dried look during the end of Dec. I was there during that time. huhuhuh...God Bless me! Let's check it out tomorrow.
Don't hope for a restaurant or cafe here. There are some of those but mostly inside the Bed and Breakfast place which is scattered around here. Thinking about climbing the staircase again and it was super duper dark out there. I rather stay in. The place I stayed also have a good Restaurant and I was able to order a good vegetarian food here.
My dinner for that night, the lady cook some of the fresh vegetables from their own farm. I eat in for lunch and dinner for 2 days.
Mushroom and Sawi soup
Egg fried rice with some diced bell pepper
As I mentioned, its a low season and not many visitors here. I only saw a French couple and their 2 children during my dinner. I heard they are checking out tomorrow. I will be the only guest here then. OMG! scary to imagine I am the only one occupied the whole 6 storeys old building for another night. I am a rich Malaysian Woman in my own way at Longsheng who rented the 6 storeys building for myself. muahahaha... No need Rich Man. I am Rich! Rich! Rich! hahahaha...
It was only 6pm and the sunset very early here. The fog starting to cover up the rice terrace view. It was really cold to the extend I am not sure how to sleep with this temperature. The heater in this room only faces in one direction which is not even the bed. WTH!
The floor tiles, I can 't imagine stepping on it to visit the toilet. WTH! The temperature shows 9 Degrees but the feeling was like in the minus degrees. I wore two layers of thermal wear and a winter jacket and cover myself in a thick blanket. I still feel super cold. I was wondering if it snowing outside at night. huhuhu... Make things more dramatic, it was heavily raining outside around 12 midnight until the morning. Gosh! is this a blessing from heaven? I don't know what to say....brave the cold weather Rina. What to see the next morning if the fog covers the rice terrace. Aihhhh....
The floor tiles, I can 't imagine stepping on it to visit the toilet. WTH! The temperature shows 9 Degrees but the feeling was like in the minus degrees. I wore two layers of thermal wear and a winter jacket and cover myself in a thick blanket. I still feel super cold. I was wondering if it snowing outside at night. huhuhu... Make things more dramatic, it was heavily raining outside around 12 midnight until the morning. Gosh! is this a blessing from heaven? I don't know what to say....brave the cold weather Rina. What to see the next morning if the fog covers the rice terrace. Aihhhh....
The place is nice indeed but I can't imagine sleeping through the night at that chilling cold to the bone weather. I guess that building doesn't have proper heating during the cold winter. I was breathing out smoke even on my bed. I thought won't make it back to Guilin City and imagine myself freeze to death here! Other than that this place is really surreal and peace of mind.
You can check out my other Guilin Travelogue here :
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