Life is too short so don’t waste time on worrying, you were born with nothing and you will die one day with nothing too, why are you so sad? I have been traveling to many places in ASEAN. China is not my first time; I have been traveling to HongKong,Shenzhen, so this time I would spend time with my friends to explore China-Guilin. Why China? Because China is very huge country in the world. There are many attractions, landmarks, and splendid scenery to see. What is inspiring me to Guilin, I have seen from the TV shows about traveling to China-Guilin, Oh god that is incredible [Li Jiang River], boat cruise along the river, twin towers, and elephant trunk hill.
How to get China-Guilin from Phnom Penh, the easiest ways is get direct flight to GuangZhou and catch the train to Guilin. But if you are budget traveler like me, do take bus from Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh, then take flight to Ha Noi, cross the border from Ha Noi to China-Nanning and grab train from Nanning to Guilin. Well, it is so complicated but it is very save cost, i deal it why not? I had 10 days vacation so I could make it happen, whatever that I can save costs. The road took 8 hours was always enjoy the scenery along the way. From Ha Noi to China ,both side of road is mountainous and forestry, it costs 15USD.
Anyway is not easy to get Visa to China since our Cambodia government takes the serious of human trafficking to China. It means if you are single they won’t give you the Visa till you are married woman, men are not the subject here. So I am the lucky one my passport had stamped the Visa to Hongkong since 2012 was not restrict yet. At the border I was stuck for 3 hours coz of my passport was tearing. The immigration was asking me so many questions, why you can get the Visa, why don’t you take good care of your passport; you know it was a serious case. It was shocked me at the moment. I don’t know what to do, I just replied them with a very soft sound, oh my dear immigration uncle, it was my faults, I made you troubles but please understand next time i will take care of my passport and the embassy gave me the Visa so i have no idea, you ought to contact to China embassy based in Cambodia. After 3 hours calling, checking, scanning my passport, finally they allowed me to get through the border of China. But you must have a new passport immediately when you back to Cambodia [Immigration man spoke] Oh yeah I will ,thank you. So here is my shitty experience that wasting my time. I am so careless of my passport it caused to mess up all my schedules; I was late bus, late flight and late train. But it was all the lessons to learn right?
First day arrived to China-Guilin I was greeting by my best friend [A Du] he used to work with me in Cambodia. He prepared foods for us, a big meal ever with cold beers, we had many topics to talk since we were disconnected for 3 years, but best friend nothing change we still very close to each other. We stayed in his apartment in town [Guangxi] for a night, and then early morning we took the train to China-Guilin with the speed one cost 16USD about 2 and half hours. It is so comfy train, huge cabin like you were on the plane. This was my first experience on the speedy train. Chinese people seem not to welcome you, they only care their business and surprised you the unfriendly face. Some tried to make you in troubles, so in China you must be watch out and take care of yourself avoid from scams and cheating. Do not trust anyone easily in China. Guilin is the huge city in China, tall buildings, transportation is very convenient, and foods are tasty but still very dirty and noisy in some places. We had our own city tour with bicycle, cycling to Li Jiang River, twin towers and Panda zoo.
I love China grilled street food, specially grilled octopus, dumpling and spicy tofu. A half day in China-Guilin just sampling the street food.
It was an awesome taste I couldn’t forget it. Li Jiang River what you have seen from the internet was so far difference from the reality, this internet would make money in their ways. I was disappointed at that time coz I was expected too much about [Li Jiang River] forgot it we moved to Panda zoo, 6USD for entrance tickets, the reason i was here in Guilin is to see the cute one Panda. But what…there is only one fluffy panda in zoo? It was very ridiculous I supposed to see the very cuties panda like in TV shows ,are playing in the ground and eating the bamboo leafs.
I was on the long road about thousand miles here to see a fluffy panda bear. I did enjoy the scenery and food. The mistake I made in yesterday it would make tomorrow me much better. Journey was completed with the messy plan.
