I get a 5:40am. wake up call from Dad. We head down for the breakfast buffet and a Korean woman randomly sits at our table and starts eating.
Some typical breakfast buffet items we'll see for the rest of the tour. Stir-fried noodles, spicy glass noodles, sausages, bacon, and the ever-present "mantou" (plain steamed mini bun). There's also usually a noodle station where you get freshly boiled noodles in a broth and your choice of toppings. Breakfast is generally the safest meal of the day. As Dad says, "Eat more...who knows what lunch or dinner might bring".
We have a 5 hr. ride on the bus till we reach Feng Huang Cheng (Phoenix Town). The countryside zooms past and we pass little towns and villages. I observe all the people squatting....Chinese people, where are your chairs?
We arrive in time for lunch just outside Pheonix Town. The story is that 2 phoenix birds were flying over the town and were so enamored by the beauty of the town, that they decided to stay. Before entering town, we're warned about dealing with the shop keepers. Don't even start negotiating price unless you're fully committed to buying something.
We go on a boat ride on the Tuo Jiang river. A fleet of little boats filled with tourists.
Phoenix Town is known for the buildings along the river supported by wooden stilts.
The mighty Phoenix!
Straw baskets seem to be the carrier of choice. We see lots of people carrying things in these straw backpacks and this baby edition. There are also lots of ladies selling flowers and wreaths for tourists to wear on their heads.
