Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,

After jumping out of bed this morning and almost landing in the shower I looked at the clock and found that it was still actually before six so I did what any normal person would do given the same situation, I jumped back into bed and used the village as my alarm.

They woke me around eight and by then I was more than happy where I was.

At ten I gave jumping out of bed another go and this time I was successful at landing in the shower after which my clothes. After bounding down the stairs I headed around the corner for some beef noodles and then followed the river bridge by bridge until I came to the main entrance bridge to the village.

Before me was a large plain of rice fields that was split by the Baishui River.
I chose the right hand river track and ten minutes later I was back where I started.
I then chose the Baishui Rivers left track and in a hop, skip and a jump I was on my way.

I followed the river for about half an hour until I came to the end of the small concrete walking path. Here I continued to follow a small dirt track and began climbing a mountain that began taking me in the opposite direction that I wanted to go so I re-traced my steps back to a set of stairs that I hoped for a few hours would lead me back to where I finished my mountain walk yesterday evening.

Instead it continued to go in a right hand direction.
I simply gave in and allowed it to be the right way to go.

I spent the next three hours climbing to the top of one of the mountains that overlooked the path that I had walked earlier and continued until the last of the rice fields where I had to once again head back the way I came. The views were totally amazing and I got to take in the different shades of green of the rice fields that stretched into the distance below along with the mountains whose peaks sat directly opposite me.

It seems that here in Xijiang there are no 'real’ walking paths to be found yet as they all still belong to the villagers to enable them to walk to and from their home and their rice fields. This is not a bad thing, in fact as up and coming tourist villages go it is a very good thing.

No matter how touristy village may seem once you leave it, it still belongs to the locals.

While I was standing at the top of my mountain the skies above quickly turned dark and thunder began to bellow in the distance. I joined the several local farmers in what seemed like a race back to the village and the protection of our abodes. I was hoping to take in the Village Miao Singing and Dancing Performance at five but not long after I arrived the heavens opened up and I happily sat by my window with my eyes closed listening to the rain pelt down and being splattered as the drops hit the roof tiles only several feet from where I sat.

Around six I headed down stairs for some of the promised free Wi-Fi.
It worked in a scattered sort of way and thankfully I got to upload a finished blog.

Soon after a Japan based German guy and his stunning Chinese girlfriend whom I had said hello to yesterday sat down to chat. As she was about to cook the Guesthouse Family dinner they invited me to join them and not long after we were happily sharing travel stories over several delicious dishes she had concocted in a short space of time.

You really have to give it to the Chinese when it comes to cooking.
They seem to be able to whip up a storm of a feast in the time it takes up to cook a pizza!

From what I can gather they had met in Tokyo where they were both working. He still remains there and she is now based in Shenzhen City on China’s east coast. She is from Shantou City which is a city I visited during my 2010 Winters Beers N Noodles Adventures and was one of my highlights as it was filled with small alleyways and BBQ eateries.

From memory it was also where I fell in love with Guangdong Girls!

Not one for being a thorn in the side of a couple, after dinner I headed back out into the village streets hoping to take some ‘Puddle Reflection’ photos but as there were no neon signs my task was useless so I grabbed a few cold beers and headed back to my room to watch TV and do some writing.

Tomorrow is a new day and I am yet to make plans.
I’m hoping for no rain as then I can catch the 11:00 Village Dance Performance.

Now For a bit on Xijiang Village & the Xi Miao People

Xijiang Village (Miao transliteration meaning ‘a place where the Miao Xi family was inhabited) is situated around forty kilometers northeast of Kaili City. There are twelve natural villages, one thousand two hundred families and six thousand residence making it the largest Miao village in China.     

The village enjoys a natural environment with green mountains and crystal clear waters.

It is located in a lush green valley and surrounded by overlapping mountains with terraced fields rising along the slopes with the Baishui (White Water) River flowing through and cutting the village into two. Miao hillside pile-dwellings stand tier upon tier along the two banks of the mountain and Bamboo is found in and around the village with maple trees covering the mountain tops.     

Xijiang Miao people have a long history which dates back to the Chiyou Tribe and it is said that Chiyou's third son's descendants had formed the Miao cultural system before moving to Xijiang. Xijiang Miao people are extremely hard-working and are very famous throughout China as being some of the best Minority singers and dancers. The village is called ‘a sea of songs and dances’ as the villagers sing songs to express their feelings, perform dances to celebrate their harvests and also to greet good luck.

Beers N Noodles toya…..shane
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The soundtrack to this entry was by Died Pretty
The album was ‘Pre Deity’
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