The day began with a wake up call at 6:08 a.m.
Breakfast was outstanding! The best one so far. It’s as if they had pulled out all the stops. We weren’t just tourists, but special visitors.
Breakfast Buffet:
- Cantaloupe
- Watermelon slices cut in the shape of cleavers
- Sliced dragon fruit (first time on any buffet so far)
- A wide selection of rolls, white and whole wheat
- Whole apples, pears and baby papaya (lots and lots)
- Six various dry breakfast cereals + milk
- Three kinds prepackaged yogurt
- A cheese plate, including blue cheese and gouda (first time this trip)
- Five kinds of jam, including pineapple (Gosh, they were good.)
- Peanut butter
- Bacon, and chicken and beef sausages
- Eggs boiled and sunny-side up
- Romaine lettuce and fixings for salad
- A whole section for hot food: rice, green vegetables, baked beans etc.
- Coffee and tea replenished as soon as empty (all other hotels we refilled our own)
The service had been the best this far as well.
We held back until the French Group was all seated. I expect each of them had staked out his and her seat from the beginning. The worry it might be crowded, since the French group had huge carry-ons, soon evaporated. This was a 48-seat bus, but the overheads weren’t tall enough for my square overnight bag. Two seats across the aisle from Sue and I were empty. Soon we stashed our paraphernalia on them to keep the seats company.
The bus had left the hotel at 7:50 a.m. and the tour guide was still talking French at 8:37 a.m. Some of our group understood French. I managed with a little guesswork, but missed most of what was said. It appeared to me, we would be missing out on most information shared with the tour guide’s original group. We were outnumbered after all. He did try not to forget us, but the translations were much abbreviated.
Lots of green spaces along the roadway: trees, shrubs, flowers; everything trim and neat. Gorgeous boulevards in Zhuhai. A water truck on the inside lane supplied the water for someone to water the plants. Banyan trees (small leaves and wispy beards hanging from branches) shaded one side of the road and palm trees decorated the other. I wasn’t certain where we were until the Fisher Girl statue came into view, and kept forgetting we were even in China. I blamed it on the palm trees and the presence of so many Caucasians
The bus stopped at tourist trinket shops around 9:15. The ladies lined up for the Happy House before heading down to the water to view the famous Fisher Girl and to learn about her story. The highway we crossed to walk there was a danger to our safety: four busy lanes with fast traffic.
It had been unusual to see beggars or anyone with disabilities. I have mentioned where and when we had seen a few. My guess is they are well hidden and not allowed around well-beaten (tourist) paths. I couldn’t resist taking this fellow’s picture. When he realized what I’d done, he yelled at me but we walked on in a desperate hurry.
Time for shopping and lollygagging over, I felt our group held back again as if we were the forgotten branch of the family. Don’t get me wrong, our fellow travelers were friendly and polite and yes, they spoke English a lot better than I managed French. Next stop, Macau at last.
~ * ~
Next on May 8th: Day 21, Part 3 – Zhuhai to Macau
For more related posts, click on China tab at the top of the page
© 2015 All Rights Reserved Tess @ How the Cookie Crumbles
May 1, 2015 at 6:38 pm
impressive – elegant – such deep – great message!!
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May 1, 2015 at 6:50 pm
Thanks so much. I appreciate your interest. 🙂
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May 1, 2015 at 6:50 pm
Amazing pictures and stories to go with them. Thank you for sharing this. 🙂
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May 1, 2015 at 6:51 pm
Sigh. The trip will be over soon. This is the second part of Day 21.
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May 1, 2015 at 7:03 pm
Great post. That breakfast does look delicious. 🙂
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May 1, 2015 at 7:05 pm
That does look like a very pretty city. Scary about crossing that street though.
Tess — I’ll be posting your episode of my serial tomorrow. Thanks for the “3 Things” and mega-hugs!
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May 1, 2015 at 8:08 pm
It’s interesting that there are few beggars and homeless people around, at least in the touristy areas. I wonder what the Chinese must think when they visit a major city in the US. It might be quite a shock to them.
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May 1, 2015 at 9:01 pm
Great tour. Love the shots out of the bus window.
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May 1, 2015 at 9:38 pm
I’m still amazed after all of this time, at some of the food lay outs. I am dreading the end of this trip Tess. I hope you are planning another one soon. What will we do when we have returned!!!!!!!
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May 1, 2015 at 9:50 pm
Breakfast seemed like something for every meal. Love spreads but wind up overwhelmed by choices. (I might have OD’d on the watermelon. T’is almost the season here…)
Loved the shot on the pier!
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May 2, 2015 at 12:17 am
Tess I was struck b the preciseness of the wake up call at 6:08. Either you have a very good memory or you jotted that down immediately. I would be able to recollect the alarm going off at some point between 6am and noon. 🙂
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May 2, 2015 at 12:59 am
The poverty-stricken are hidden away, especially from tourists. I had a similar experience in Beijing. Makes you wonder why the few you do see, are there. What was the Fisher Girl’s story, or did I miss it?
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May 2, 2015 at 2:49 am
If the guide had spoken in English then the French would have immediately complained. The French are very precious about their language.
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May 2, 2015 at 3:05 am
The Fisher Girl is a wonderful story, reminds me of Denmark’s Little Mermaid. It is indeed a very beautiful city, from your photos. Sorry the better food came at the cost of understanding most of what the tour guide was saying. The photo that really got to me is the one of the man on the street. When I was a kid, we went to NYC and saw hundreds of disabled people lined up on the edges of the streets, all of them so impoverished and most of them missing limbs, sanity, any quality of life. How sad that we cannot provide better for these poor souls, no matter what sidewalk they call home.
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May 2, 2015 at 5:47 am
I haven’t been there, but I guess it’s a nice city I hope you enyoied a lot!
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May 2, 2015 at 7:14 am
Hooray for a wonderful breakfast, that would put me in a good mood for the day!
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May 2, 2015 at 8:48 am
Love the pictures!
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May 2, 2015 at 11:09 am
Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
The tour of China continues and today Zhongshan (try saying that after a vodka and tonic) and apparently the best breakfast of the tour.. Dragon fruit is a new one on me but the menu certainly sounds delicious.. The Fisher Girl and a visit to a Happy House ( read and you will find out).. great stuff as always from Tess Karlinski.
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May 2, 2015 at 2:27 pm
{{{hugs}}}
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May 2, 2015 at 11:45 am
You really did go to a different world! I sure appreciate going to China through your words because that’s likely as close as I’ll get!
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May 2, 2015 at 1:51 pm
Fabulous photos, Tess, and a very interesting continuation of your tour 🙂
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May 2, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Great breakfast! This part of the trips eeems wonderful. Too bad they couldn’t have more equity in the translating thought.
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May 2, 2015 at 4:42 pm
I shall be so sorry when your trip ends—it has been such a wonderful “armchair” adventure! 🙂
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May 2, 2015 at 11:38 pm
Dragon fruit? It is spicy?
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May 3, 2015 at 9:30 am
Almost to the end and you finally have a breakfast worthy of the champions. I was afraid the combining of groups was going to see you without any real guide, unfortunate really given the French group all spoke English. Wonderful pictures! You have done such a great job carrying all of us along with you.
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May 3, 2015 at 11:25 am
Always very interesting to read Tess 🌿
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May 4, 2015 at 3:24 am
I really like the look of the places on your pictures today Tess – looks very attractive, and hurrah for good breakfast and good service!
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May 4, 2015 at 3:56 am
The guide situation doesn’t sound so good, but the breakfast does and the place looks good. I’m also looking forward to Macau! Thanks for taking us with you once more!
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May 4, 2015 at 4:25 am
Lollygagging – what a wonderful word!
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May 4, 2015 at 8:04 am
nice slice of life 🙂
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May 4, 2015 at 8:29 am
Thank you.
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May 4, 2015 at 12:54 pm
Thank you for taking us along with you. That’s always the problem when you have multicultural group :s
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May 4, 2015 at 9:13 pm
I’d have to dust off my high school French. Though I doubt it would be sufficient.
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May 4, 2015 at 9:30 pm
Yes, my ancient history with French was massaged as well as it could. Better than nothing. 😦
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May 5, 2015 at 4:12 pm
Thank you Madame Tour Guide 🙂 Seriously, this whole series is a book. Just sayin’ 🙂 ❤
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May 6, 2015 at 2:45 pm
Thanks so much, Debby. That’s high praise indeed. ❤ ❤ ❤ I have had such fun while away and then deciphering my handwriting an sharing here. ❤ ❤
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