Back on the Mainland!

I like being in Hong Kong. Almost everyone speaks English. My apartment is a short walk from a beautiful beach, complete with lifeguards and little old ladies who pick up all litter (including fallen leaves, which probably shouldn't count). Better yet, I'm a two-minute run from trails and places that have "mountain" in their names. Anyone who wants to visit is more than welcome.

You know what, though? I'm so glad to be back in Mainland China. As soon as we had crossed the border and made it to the dining car of our train, I was hooked.

First, I forgot just how much I like speaking Chinese (I also forgot a lot of my Chinese, but that's another story). It's really nice to speak it again and remember that I'm not that bad at it. I can talk to a few people and occasionally even order off the menu in restaurants. 

Restaurants! It's wonderful to be back to eating Chinese foods. Tonight, we had dinner at everyone's favorite noodle restaurant. The owner makes your noodles (not just the sauce but the noodles themselves) fresh when you order and they're pretty much amazing. And they cost less than US $2. Yeah, it's good to be back.

And the scenery here in Yangshuo is pretty good, too. I'm looking forward to a run tomorrow morning among the karst towers--big limestone hills that look pretty much out of this world. I'll be here for the next month, working on two outdoor programs. It's going to be really, really busy. Hopefully, that will justify a few more noodle dinners...