my last night in guilin, i made sure to check out the nightmarket. in the evening, they block off a major avenue and turn it into a pedestrian paradise. wares include anything from handicrafts, t-shirts, snacks, souvenirs, jewelry, portraits, egg shell carving, cell phone charms, etc, all on the cheap.

i LOVE nightmarkets. lively, bustling, and stimulating, they usually stay open late (in taipei one didn’t shut down until 1 or 2am), and there’s something for everyone. it’s fun to just meander and people watch, icy drink in hand. it’s also a potent antidote for insomnia, i’m sure.

here’s the fruit juice stand – this is where my love for kiwi juice blossomed

an ad with chow yun fat. just cuz i grew up watching this guy

first seen on vachina, portraiture artists were willing to render your visage for a small price

a spruce proprietor

some stands specialized strictly in pickled and skewered veggies and fruits

the next morning before i left for the airport, i hoofed it to the promenade near elephant hill cave to check out the senior fitness folks.

david, a role model / board member of the museum, recommended a good travel industry friend in china, who then turned me over to an agency that totally heard me out on my peculiarities (need-to-be-independent-whilst-traveling + antisocial attitude + tiny budget) and arranged a discounted tailor-made package (air, hotel, etc) in guilin and qingdao. that said, this is ice (literal translation of her name). she was my english-speaking guide for a day in guilin (showed me around at reed flute cave, elephant hill cave, etc). i loved her! she was supercute, sassy, and real, a kick to be around. a firecracker!

we asked each other a lot of questions. we’d been out of college for the same time, and both seemed to have the same general attitude. i felt weird b/c here i was with the wherewithal to to be thousands of miles away from home, yet she had never left the country (for financial reasons) and was working full time as a tour guide catering to those who could afford her services. many of our discussions had full-circled back to the reality that americans simply make more $$$, and things cost more in america. ANYWAY, she’s saving up to study in switzerland (very gutsy) and if she could go anywhere in the states it’d be california or hawaii. she’s not a fan of urbanity.

AND LASTLY, my hotel room came with a “emergency” basket containing undies (with condoms), lotion, special towels, and sundry items. here’s a special packaging photo, just for you!

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