Follow me (Traveling in China) #1

Let us start at my favorite crystalline candied haw. They are so sweet and delicious! I was regret not getting more after I finished this one.

The night at the side of the Zhujiang River (pearl river)

By the river, there lots of venders selling easy finger food. Here we are! The ready to eat pineapple.

Baked sweet patotos! They smell so great!

Guess what are these?

The juicy sweet sugar cane!

There were so many but I only eat one (sad...)

People walking bu the river: off work? off school? exercises? or just like me, taking pictures?

Too dark? it is still by the river.

This beautiful boat took people for a ride in the pearl river for the night view.

I like the lights in the darkness.

The lights reflecting in the water made them prettier.

It is beautiful while the lights are on.

Every where, the big city look alike, isn't it?

Calm river.

Rush hour!

The water police station!

Interesting building!

I like the cloudiness.

Nurses waiting at the bus station (to get off work? or do some thing else?)

The hospital tall building!

The busy road

NIce evening.

Evening!

The evening by the pearl river.

It looks delicious!

I love it!

The LanZhou stretched noodles with beaf.

This is the little resturant I like. They made all kind of different noodles.

Between the new and the old building of the hospital, there is a pretty fountain (but no fish)!

Sun Yat-sen memorial hospital. It is still running.

A old hospital.

Here was some ground opening for a electronic store.

I got on the airplane in Eugene at Dec. 7th, 2008 and at 9:30AM, the flight took off, I was on my way to China!

My first stop in China is Guangzhou. At the airport, everything went so smooth. Cross the border was so quick and easy, it made me think I was not done yet, there must be some checks somewhere on the way out.

Probably just because the wondering face I was wearing at the moment I went out of the door, a guy caught me as a easy target. He went to me and asked me if I need hotel, I said "no" and he asked if the person should come to pick me up here yet? I said "no, I need a taxi." Basically, that was what I was looking for. "I have a taxi. Just follow me. Let me help you for your luggage." He started to push the cart and I asked where was the car. He said the cars are not allowed to park at the side so he was calling the driver to get here to pick me up.

Since he was so nice and just trying to help me. I was a little unease but thought I need taxi anyway, I will let him to have the business. About few minutes past, there was a van came and picked me up and the guy helped me to load my luggage. And then we both got on the van and there were another man in the van beside the driver. The driver asked where I want to go and I showed my hotel address and I started to ask them how much it would cost. They were not saying anything and I did not see a meter in the van. I asked again and the guy initially brought me to the van started to try to show me how good a business man he was:

"From the air port to the Xinhua hotel is far, but you are not easy, you just pay about $450.00 Chinese Yuen. We are doing this for your favor."

"What? That is ridiculous! You let me out, I am not take this van. I want a taxi." I cried.

"It is all the same. The taxi is not as good as the Van is much nicer and has lots space for your two big luggage."

The fact is, the van is very old and on the back there was a small space to put my two bag in. Luckily, my bags does not mind to be squeezed. But I have never be able to really tell people they are lying on their face, so I just said: "It is not my first time to come back. Last time, it only took about 100.00 Yuen. And I do not have that much money anyway. You can let me out and I will fine a taxi with a meter."

"If so, How about 300.00 yuen."

"No. I only have 200.00 yuen in my hands."

" So, I will let you just pay 200.00 then."

" That means, after I pay you, there is no money for me to eat!"

" Is 150.00 acceptable?"

Thought they are not easy to make a living, so I said: "OK, I can pay that."

That was my experience last night. on the way to hotel, the Van made couple circles to pick few more people which was introduced by other two men. Looks like a group of men were trying to make a ordinary van acting like a taxi to make extra money. that was around midnight, they do work hard for the few extra dollors. That accounts, so I am not really upset with the experience.

Today, I went out and check out around. I took some pictures to share with you. Here they are!