In a Gemma world

Travel times

[inagemmaworld]

Gokarna a place with beautiful beaches, yoga and rock climbing.. and dog rescues.. The view from my room

Our friendly beach Calf

and the view from the hill top.. Kudle..

Around the town

The dentists

the piglets that live at the bus stations

Hi Tech on the markets

this is the small one

the wheels for the annual b version!!

To the Back alleys.... for the wild life

in between the main beach and Kudle

descend for gentile bouldering

with cute crabs

and visual Geography lessons

ending on proper climbing!!

[inagemmaworld]

On the train from Gokarna to Goa..

[inagemmaworld]

Just favorited Breaksjunky's Redemption Bass Show on NSB Radio w/ Freestylers, Dub Mafia & Snareophobe by Breaksjunky on Mixcloud

[inagemmaworld]

Chiang Mai the North Thailand!

On my way to Chiang Mai.. I see the monster. the coca cola monster.. epic advert.

Arrive in Chaing Mai

the trees are decorated with living plants I like it!

Next level Graph all over the show so I will show all the gems below

Night vision.. out to meet up with a fellow Trans-Siberia partner!

Flashy bike old man.. managed to get yourself a hot young man then.. ha ha he got hijacked by us and made to ride my friend around.. that's what you get for tronning up your Harley 

Loving the usage of old CDs

Chaing Mai take a push bike and go find the treasures which for me means go seek out graffiti..

Victory crew also on show in the north

some similarities to the BBK bring on the touring graffers

Adventure day in the jungle one more hour north. Not  really too much adventure on the tourist trail but fun times the usual bamboo rive ride with elephant riding and  jungle walk leasing to the waterfall.. most exciting part of the day.. nearly falling off the elephant for real!!

the seat wasn't attached properly!! slipping and sliding till it got adjusted and the unstable seat was fixed while we waited on the tree top shack designed for one small Thai lady to sell sugar cane from for the elephants.. building standards .. non existent I though it would fall apart instantly .. but it held out , for how long that shack will live i don't know but i give it 2 week !!

Push bike for culture now.. its all mixed in here for the most pristine to the forgotten stupas, but so many to see, in a relatively small area.

  Now a bit of canal life the Chiang has quite a lot and they are quite pretty. Decorated with elephants and the crazy person- g/d- bird Thai symbol.. EEK (not my favourite logo)

Have a bit of Thai innovation.. the bell clearly is not powerful enough so have 2 and save space .. I like the urban influence.

these be the friendly ants Not! but they didn't bite me that day.

I had to show the intricacy of the gate nice work! and of course a rainbow variety Is a total must!

I was lucky to be in the area for the flower festival .. here is some of the parade. the gals in traditional ware..

all of the decor in this is small perfectly placed flowers!! thousands!!

Booming sound system - Convoy crew mixed with Back to the future- They just need to change that tune 

Not too keen on this one.. Buy a bird to release it.. But then what this little bird has either no natural instincts left to find its own food so goes back or is trapped and trapped again.. in and out of the tiny box 

These gals have some major hair .. had to be shown for party inspiration . new theme big hair party I want one!!

End Chiang Mai.. you have shown a nicer side of Thailand.. I just wish I had time for Pai!!

[inagemmaworld]

Koh Tao to meet Snareophobe

Koh Tao.. I made it to the Island!!

It was an epic journey of superior wrongness to finally get to ultimate correctness!! meaning I trusted that advice from who had not a clue on almost any thing.. i shouldn't of  used that info but it was ok because i travelled to a master of truth and loveliness that looked after me and reinstated my faith back in to humanity instantly :)

And this is where we stayed In the Jungle!!!

but close to the sea

This is my first bike.. it broke after 1 day :(

This is my second bike I broke after 3 days.. no really I broke.. my rib,, of course I had a crash!! on my own and sober oh yeah , never start a bike up hill    its not like a car! Owch!

And the Reason to go to the Island SNAREOPHOBE!! Aka Chris... headlining a beach party!!

now additional friends are these birds all over the place but also these bugs, which i am not such a fan of

Get in to the Eco  bar they have a tree house and a cob house with spike bottles all over the outside and inside this bright little hide out 

but you must pass the cocunut walk way to get there

Now to the nicest beach on Koh Tao Freedom Beach!!

[inagemmaworld]

Big Bad Bangkok!

So from the monotony of Chinas cold controlled creativity I go to Thailand for a Whole load of heat and individual creativity... IT’S BANGKOK!!

Let’s start the cultural tour in a centre Park... One looser I had the misfortune to meet (another time) claimed that when he is in this park he can imagine he is anywhere... I thought... Anywhere, look around you it’s surrounded but sky scrapers...  Its centre Bangkok!! I did like the sculptures squashed in to the cramped space.

I have been starved of Quality street art for some time and I am lucky cos Bangkok is a hive of mix media goodness :)

So the Equations that you see on the side of the stairs are quite a well know street artist from Thailand.. I was lucky I saw him one time but I was on the bus so I couldn't talk hardcore math to him

Sheep beware of chasing the Dollar.. Nice

Skull love time for the Roxy Malalalalal and all of you that like this genre of skull

So I saw this I a thought of my Bro.. Remember the Isaw.. bring it on Shida.. fish hammers sharks blades fins .. small but got my attention :)

These two are legit street art as they were on the wall of the contemporary art space which was awesome like a copied Guggenheim inside (copied, a Thai running theme I think) on the main strip of horrifyingly large and unnecessary shopping malls.. They all have the same shops in them, I just don't see the point (Same same is a saying in the S.E.A. or same same but different).

This is where it gets real.. messages are being written on the Wall!.. Do not ignore.

There is a definite disagreement

The creativity doesn't cease in the realms of illegal street art, it all so moves on to electricity mains, and don't worry the plumbing too is creative, making my blood boil but then again I am used to incorrect use of material and design now.

Now this, I loved.. hanger tree treat!

Now I bring you to the back alleys of the BBK areas.. Life under the bridge looks grimy and its hot and smelly too. I feel for the people living under here, the air is thick with pollution :(

And there you go a European-esk building.. I have been told that there are replicas of the Neal's yard Covent Garden area in London   some part of the Amsterdam area too and some more European cites  Why? Just for the shoppers..the very wealthy shoppers..I say, If your wealthy the just go to Europe.. Copy Copy.. I like the real thing..

Views from the Boat taxi .. Its the best way to travel.

 Reflection!

This one is for the Munky.. 

Every nation has the power symbol so see the Thai variety.

Logo Love

A Pipe work sculpture!! in the uni campus.. I am thinking it Low Carbon Steel (LCS)

Geek!!

Kahooner Pipes

And a magic mirror in one of the over materialised shopping malls .. They are good for running around and being silly in, free air-con, cheap food on the top floor with free water too.. They are not good for actually buying clothes unless sheep is your style.

The Koh San road For one night only I endured the backpacker trap..

Where the Buddhist walked they left be hind a trail of yellow petals it was beautiful and musical.

And from the area of debauchery to the haven of Lou's house Via River taxi!!

Its a water tower .. I wish it had a slide attached!

At  Hua Mach station this tree is epic .. and not too far from the centre lets hope its protected and doesn't turn in to a generic building like the ones in the background. 

Its over grown It boxy I want to live there!! 

Snails on Lou's wall

Lou issues.. lots of caterpillars eating up her flowers she was not happy, as I have turned in to her handy man wife (while I stay with her) I fixed the problem by chop sticking them off her plants and put them in to the near by tree... the plants did not survive.. but the dinner I made was awesome!

Handy work time.. A pink bedroom for Alex, I think not so I painted it and pictured the found memoirs of the past English life they had.

Lake side view for the Lou, this is out front.

This is inside one of the outskirts shopping malls.. They must attract you by keeping exotic bird in the corridors.. I wonder if the birds are drugged cos they can fly and don't.. its odd.

Panda in panda

A mini mutoid waste in the weekend market.

[inagemmaworld]

Tiger Leaping Gorge

So I couldn't leave china without doing this epic trek.. you will see from the pictures just how amazing it is!! I joined up with some people and the 4 of us hobbit style stared the 2 day trek.. The weather changed for us over and over again but it was fine for us prepared and ready scouts (hum!!)

a pre trek view point

The start of the Hymalayas!!

Only the second non paved trek in all my time in china .. I am so happy to end it with this walk...Its so Pretty! (and a little bit scary on the cliff side)

Classic Chinese tree silhouette

This is Where the legendary Tiger Leaped!!

Respect to the Sky G/ds

Its soooo Mordor!

Temple, always a temple up high 

Shadow gem..Trek style

Good bye Hymalaya. and in Lijiang on the way back to Kunming I spot a couple of cheeky fellas well off and away for me to a new country, one that will defiantly be warm!! Though I did manage to get in on family dinner with the guys I trekked with at there hostel. It was delicious and Mama Naxi was an awesome lady I just wished I could of stayed in the old city longer!!

[inagemmaworld]

Kunming my last capitol in China

So I enter the Yunnan province and the capitol is Kunming.. its pretty hot here I am super happy about that finally can walk around and enjoy the city with out needing to find a fire.. that most of the time doesn't exist.

so I wander on my way to see the famous lake and see this cheeky chappy.. I just think Spirited Away!

And I finally came across some public manner/ethics posters/drawings on the walls .. I think they need to be placed all over China not just here (outside of a school) though it is a good start and so deserved documenting though I do not understand what they say.... it isn't to important the visuals sort the message out

And so on to the Famous lake again and it is very pretty quite maintained but nice and the birds love it 

The sculpture's not bad and the benches are fun.. there is a bit of a Chinese evolution in this province I think.

Multi coloured bunting to corner off the building site.. its my kind of world :)

Though this poor little duck is not for my kind of world (in my world he would get fixed) .. its leg must of broke and now it swims with it up.. poor duckling

So as I was walking down the road I saw Rainbow flags and so i followed down the path 

And found a temple at the end .. This is next to the big temple the one that you have to pay for however.this was one was free and more colourful much better for the soul

Always a random dragon in a random place

And a secret garden to my hostel lushness

One of thee most creative posters that I saw in China . It needed  a mention

bring the force of writing on the walls .. the Yunnan it completely more expressive!

So I finish Kunming on a door its a nice door, it is a good bye to the cities of china.. I was a nice place to end the time in urban china next to say good bye to the stunning natural China 

[inagemmaworld]

Ping Ding Shan

In between the massive feasting of Zunyi I did get a hike in :) I got invited to go on the English corners new year hike. so a massive mix of teachers and students  and me endured the murky weather then had some of the best vegan food in China made by the Monks and grown on the mountain. Organic Vegan Delight!

We went up the Shan on the road side and down on the stairs (where you pass all the other temples)

The halfway point where the Road turns to a muddy path SLIPPAGE!! and we find the parshaly built temple.

And then we reach the top of the shan the epic and misty temple of Ping Ding!

I had to get a shot of the happiness that wearing thee original rucksack brought to my hosts face.. Amazin carry technology all over the China lands

After the feast... Checking the beauty on the way down

A witness to the largest incense that I have ever seen Literally CD sized in circumference

[inagemmaworld]

Zunyi

This is the place that I was to stay at for 2 days but ended up staying for a week. Ohpsy!

The replication and restoration of the old Zunyi The red centre..

The taste of stinky tofu!!  it was quite nice 

The kids are at the chalkesk graph 

A lot of interesting allyways in the streets of Zunyi

OK this blog is far behind the times so This was actually the New Year Eve Dinner Crew.. I had a chilled one massively in comparison to my usual antics.. it began with a massive feast in a Korean BBQ ..and I even had a special vegan only one so i didn't  have any meat juice :)

I ate soo much!!! The vast assortment of veg and tofu and crazy rice banana jam desserts sooo good.

So you can tell it was a family esk event so finished pretty early so Me and my host went for a massage.. some thing I actually have never had (surprisingly) ubber chilled in the Zunyi for the start of 2013!

Some city sites..

The Symbol!!

and now I see these two.. the chalk turns to paint..

[inagemmaworld]

Yangshou

I arrived in YangShuo in the evening and got myself involved in the legendary Maya bars closing night.

Bands and DJs actually the best music so far but at 3 am a neighbour decided that it was time that we closed up... well the communication direction he chose went like this..

Inside the Glass front bar music is being played its packed and people dancing people there are a few people smoking out the front, I fortunately went to explore upstairs and while up there I heard some glass break we all looked over the balcony and saw this samurai looking guy (fisherman pants no top long hair and one of the classic Chinese beards) getting really angry and throwing whatever he could find so that was bricks and bottles he was hauling them over the canal area to hit the bar..  So the music goes off and so does he... Then the music returns and sure enough he does too with a samurai sword to match.

Welcome to YangShuo

The village is really quite nice and small for china. It’s built upon canals and old school Chinese type buildings and not too many high rises. 

But don't let the quaintness of this place delude you... You turn a corner and there it is a MacDonald’s

They are caring about the Aids here though ..Bring on the support

So the Eye I spy on the wall ..Graff on the inside

So this weird looking moustache is a nut not to bad actually.. 

A most upsetting sight for the eyes.. all broken out door playground/gym equipment

And this appears to be the stairs and escalators but it has a slide for the kids in-between the two. I witnessed it, and I was proud.

Love this the door building distraction.. when the builders come to work which door do they chose?? 

I really like this bike fence

and the ladder sign.. well done 203040 inn

I came across this sign in the Ladies toilet and was quiet upset and amused. 

I am loving the large pebble mosaic

and this crazy van all on the way to the secret beach.

It was pretty untouched but now is being built like much of the Chinese lands.

But that just means that we got to play in the massive sand mountain ha hahah!!

and I got to see my favourite Asia animal up close.. I love the Water Buffalo!! 

So looking in to the methods of transports along the river I see bamboo raft motorised!!  

Witness the Secret Beach.. You need to know the right people to find it and I was lucky enough to meet the right person :)

beauty

the secret beach cafe has some awesome architectural styling 

OK so on to the park..no playground a such but some animals

and the animals continue for the trash

but then in the street these animals are not so apealling.. I think they are gonna be cooked up..YUK

the old style I wrote of 

YangShuo at night 

[inagemmaworld]

One Day in Guilin

So Guilin the gateway of getting to Yang Shuo.. and with a super cheap and well recommend hostel... I make my way (to what was once probably a lush flat green field with  rock mountains sprouted) to concrete jungle with rock mountains sprouted.. well I was expecting the worst of the hostel... cold a bit damp etc.. but it was amazing I had an electric blanket.. that was standard AMAZE! I wish the other hostels has that attitude and my endless questioning never bothered the staff too :)

Anyhow metal palm trees anyone?? you know I love a metal tree though they are street lamps and multicoloured!! this place is not that organic.. but the people are really really nice especially the bag fixer down the side ally ways that managed to do a splendid job on my backpack that is 17 years old and is now more important than ever with the neighbourhood imagery on it.

Classic statue no city is worth it unless it has one..

A bird in a cage.. but at least it was a big cage with only him and his mate.. still though in a park.. cruel!! he looks a bit special

So With one of the lovely guests in the hostel I embarked to climb to the top on one of these cliff esk mountains and we go a lovely view of the pogoda.

Then the massive cave that up on the top.. with carvings of Buddha and the disciples. an i think some more people are reserving their spot cos there are a lot of blanks there

And a view over the edge

I just had to get this little fella in he's is the sweetest Buddha yet!

and after one mountain what to do but climb the other.. After passing through these gates of charm

And would you believe it the red ribbons of luck are sponsered by Pepsi

But the love symbols go on with the bonus ribbon collection

I thought that this bridge looked rather nice.. new old school a classice Chinese tradition

One of the few piece of graf in the mainland I think that he's saying that there is too many cars and pollution in the Guilin.. He's right though..keep writing on the wall till they listen mate.

Of course when in china you see some unusual improvisations but pet fish shop on a trailer driven by motor bike is quite surreal.. and yes I witnessed it rockin about the town.. amazingly the water never spilt once.

The most friendly butterfly.. home at the hostel..

furry face ! creepy or cute??

[inagemmaworld]

The Hainan Island Haikou!

Finally Escaping the cold!! I enter the tropical Island of China!! so good to be in the warmth!!! Getting here was quite a mission the trains were fully booked up (I guess the intelligent Chinese were headed there too) so I had 2 extra days waiting to get to the Island of heat.

Witness the fake beach and concrete breakers

AHHH but look some graf.. admittedly bad graf.. but it was there! I think the first full wall outside of Beijing!!

Though I did like like this one :)

It was beautiful and HOT!!

Down the side alleys of the city the kids are at it!! :)

I stumbled across the park which was a beauty no adventure playground but the outdoor gym was Massive and the entrance monument was lovely!! Check it!!

I took myself on an away day to visit:THE VOLCANIC CLUSTER GEOPARK 

which sounded much more impressive than it was.. but did involve a local transport mission with no translator so the russian(Chinese) roulet continues on the travel times.

walk down the allyway of urns (an apparent show of wealth) and enter the cactus forest

I felt some signage needed to be brought to your attention again for the poetic uses of the English translation.

a classic :)

once through the cacti and enter the weird sculpture park

and once again the Chinese have there phallic obsession.. and her boyfriend is taking a picture of her on it behind them there bushes!!

The pond had this mahoussive staute.. what be going on here then??

though the fishes don't mind

the whole area is paved and staired for the ease of visionary in the beautiful landscape (typical.. no junglistic paths for me) and at the mid way point a small Buddhist worship area to sooth your spiritual side 

the lockets of love are present here too 

the area was alive with beautiful butterflies and I actually managed to get some photographs!!!!

this is the centre of the volcano looking up.. it was a destination of full vegetation LUSHNESS!!

I love this the power of the trees.. Picking up the stones.. Where are they taking them .. Watch this space may be for the next 1000 years 

Touch down in the heart of the city again

Bike mission day  for me to get to the station and get my ticket out of the heat wave Island and on to the last few destination of China.. What go on but a mass Duck crossing reminding me to contact the duckling wife for updation on the new mini duck.

as so it was time to move on again with one arty shot for you in might life of Haikou.. where I grew young and old in one night (playgrounds and challenges to start red wine and politics to finish) with my fabulous couch surfing hosts..

[inagemmaworld]

The Danxia Mountain

Amazingly this Place is not in the lonely planet guide book but it is however a very popular place for the Chinese to come and visit.. Maybe it appeals to their spiritual fertility side.

That is the legend of the stones there..

Anyhow this is a place that I think both hope brothers will love so here's a shout out to both of you and naughty but nice folk I know.

First I have to show you the Signage of the nature reserve . Its very poetic and amusing..Recognise

    Enought of the signage.. Enter the beautiful nature the signs are in place for..

Day one

And its this rock that has made its a famous

A naturally formed stone bridge .

The cave that was a temple check out the carving.

the carving in side are immense (though I have to wonder if its real...the building materials and styles are exactly the same huuuum)

This reads

"The Ancient Temple on the Lion Rock

It is said that the temple was built by the Taoist priest in remote ambiguity. The Taoist priest looked for a Fairland here and there and found here the lofty mountains with clouds surrounding huge lion rocks caves facing the south, the screen rock in the front. The unicorn below, and the twin loins defending and it was a treasured place for building a temple; and built the Taiji Temple here. Later the Taoist priest became celestial being by the flying crane. After the Sui and Tang Dynasty Buddhism rised, and the two-storey temple was set up. It was prosperous in Ming and Qing dynasty. There were thirty or forty monks and became one of the first temples on Danxia Mountain. It was destroyed in the chaos caused by war in the years of late Qing Dynasty and the beginning of the Republic of China."

The slipper tree :)

I love the old and new school wheel barrels 

Day 2

Natural formations of my light bulb sculpture !!!

it so about to topple over!

And the female stone for you

Chinese trekking the stairs are laid out for you EEK there's alot to get through and at this point I have already been walking for 2/3 hours. Bring it!!

The Rock tree combo .. Just can't be beat!

Getting up them steps the views are well worth it

At the top the steps the temple structure is dedicated to love and unity with the huge lock double heart symb0ls everywhere .. Probably cos of the naturally occuring male and female representations in Danxin

Further along the top there are some religious temples some ruins some still in operation.

Climbing down this way is a bit of a thrill.. The steps' width are half the length of my foot and the depth is approx. to my knee.. People were crying I am glad I came down that way and that the crowds of Chinese tourists had departed..

the good bye view for me :)

[inagemmaworld]

ShaoGuan University

I got to see both sides the student and the teachers life.. First check out the huge campus!! 

This is the view from the front of the library

Please note that you can only see a partial amount of the buildings here but all you see even in the distance is the university..

This is the view from the back

The buildings either side of the red brick (technical building) are dorms for all the 20,000 students

A close up of the girls dorms in the day

And night.. One unwritten rule in the uni at night.. Never walk by the lake or playing field  or anywhere without light as you are likely to find couples getting busy. Most Chinese kids aren't allowed to have girlfriends /boyfriends until they hit uni so I guess they are just finding there freedom

Now check out the inside of one of the dorm rooms.. This on is pretty luxurious.. only 4 to the room in some others it can be 8 or more so I have heard.

This is where I stayed on my first night here in the university. The girls in the dorm were super nice and I am sure that they weren't supposed to have me stay but they did and I learnt a lot from them :)

So for me its unusual to share a room in uni maybe we have a shared room with one person but not like this.. The usual rules apply here..No boys in the girls dorms No toasters.. Fire hazard. Trust me you don't want a fire here, the dorms are locked at 11 pm so if your out our out and if your in your in!

The hot water only works from 10 till 11 so you defo get in in time.. and just one more thing about the shower time.. There is no shower, there is a tap a bucket and a cup = Student in china shower..

It amazes me how 4 girls fit in to a space this size I mean its tiny where do they put all their clothes!and uni tat!!

One example of their classrooms.. The teachers get a raised platform to teach from

Outside of the university gates enter the student village.. Dedicated cheap food and tat (and rooms by the hour too!!) as the uni is way out of town. By Day

By Night.. Note.. behind the blur of the 2 walking there is some rarely found graffiti!

Its Friday night .. What do the  uni students do?? Apparently stay home and play computer games!! but if they aren't doing that then may be they are doing this.. There is a gathering outside of the activities hall... They are preparing for something...

This is it.. a full blown concert  They are singing traditional Chinese anthems and they went on for a while I saw about three different groups but it wasn't my kind of thing.. not enough techno :)

I have to hand it to them they must have practice a lot, I think some parents may be in the audience too..

In this group there is a girl that is friends with my host.

#there are some sculptures around the campus too.. this on is quite hidden

This one is more dominant.. it says on the bottom the wise door .. I quite like the submarine door style with the old traditions of the Chinese monster knocker.

One the other side of campus near the science block there is the contaminated lake.. Apparently this was clean and clear till some students poured some chemicals in to it and now it is an overgrown heaven.. Though it could be toxic.. I truly thought it was a grass field when I first saw it but then I was told that its actually got water under that load of green foliage

However these fish are swimming in the other lake that apparently is not contaminated.. not too sure about that it looks pretty dirty to me.. But the fish are happy so it not all bad :)

Student production now!! the final degree show of the third yrs in I guess some sort of in store p.o.s. - advertising - branding .. I chose the best bits so squares, rainbows and bikes it is 

Uni life in china is totally different to the type of uni life in the UK.. It doesn't prep you for the real world as you live in halls the whole time and its quite restrictive for the lack of freedom to come and go. It is a dedicate area to study though as there is nothing else to do.. I went to the study area and it was Silent! not even whispering amongst the students, they are soo well behaved .. everything is orderly here even the tree roots check it!

and one thing is sure should any emergency occur the signage has got it covered

That's it for uni life .. thought I am happy to know that there are some students who bend the rules and climb in to the dorms past the time. I do worry for them after a night on Biajou (cheap 57% rice wine) should they really be climbing?? Probably not but you got to have some release in this place. The guys I met who did this actually had some great social enterprise ideas and so may be the rule breakers are actually the future of modern china, they seem to have a little more consideration for others than the average Chinese person.. Don't get me wrong the Chinese are super kind and friendly and so helpful once approached but before that your pretty much not there form my experience. (or they just continually stare, maybe because I am foreign but after a hello (ne how) they usually smile and sometimes chat too)

[inagemmaworld]

Resting up in GuangZhou and hiking the BaiYunShan

I came to Guangzhou still in hope of heating.. and I stayed in a great hostel but it did not have the heating that I so longed for .. most up setting but I was in a city again and after all my time in the mountains I was actually missing it a little..Oh and they had kittens too:)

On the Train down to the city I met some lovely Chinese students that were so kind to me they showed me the way to my hostel and gave me a Chinese name, which in pigun (Chinese written English) is Zhang Xiang Yun.. and give me a good-luck charm gift.

The Chinese on the trains are as kind and highly interested in me.. continuous staring goes on often.. not to many westerners in china and not to many travel in a hard seat for over night train trips .. they mostly take the hard sleeper / soft sleeper option .. but on this trip I am a budget gal so I go for the seat option every time!!

Enter Guangzhou and get straight in the the alleys

But there are also very beautiful buildings near my hostel in the old centre

In the very small but perfectly formed art gallery I spotted this paper beauty

After city confinement I had to do some thing so in the north of the city is the BaiYunShan (Shan=Mountain) so I when a gave it a climb 

They have a turtle/terrapin pond! actually loads of creatures too

Classic shots on the walkways 

The view from the top the smog of the city!

a close up for you..

They are crafty with their stonework. 

This is a statue of a vegetable that was used as a water carrier in the days gone by in china.. and now immortalised in bronze.. they must of had some other form of GM then

This place make me think of home..or what could be a new home..

[inagemmaworld]

Just a few hours in Jishou

This Was my First transit city visit so I got a couple of hours here before I went to Guangzhou.. And the cheapest place I found for Coffee!

Loving the electrical safety of the city and I am Happy to see that the kids get to enjoy the river too

Real Chinese street are .. Water ..Poetry on the pavement in the square.. 

These two old ladies have the most retro back pack!!!.. They are sporting chinas traditional were and in the ultra old school way they are hitting up the soupped up modern china shops.. Notice the plastic sheeting at the front entrance to the shop .. Most commonly found in England in factory settings . It is here so that they can have fresh air (in a highly polluted city) and keep some level of warmth in the cold winter (not really working on that front).. Crazy Chinese ideas ay!

Both banks of the river have the veg growing  a common site in china.. I love it!!

But in between the banks this Electrical wire has some thing upon it and i just can't understand how it got there?? H&S .. Lost in this land..

For a inner city it has got a lot of lovely bridges and cheap markets under them too

Typical china day street live, in the evening it will be full of people chatting and eating

That's all for Jishou .. but i liked It .. Now its time to get out of the Hunan province and In to the Guangdong province