Hey Hey and a Big G'Day toya,

Splendid Western Guangxi Province!
It’s been six years since I boarded the train that took me away. After several days of being back I have no idea why it has taken so long to return.

So much has changed, my friends lives have sped and branched off in as many different directions as the city has.  In six years an entire half moon new outer city has been built to the east of the city and the pitter patter of tiny feet along with the smells of a new baby have also been born. I arrived in Baise at two in the morning and was met by my good buddy Drug Policeman Brad (aka Mr Smith) and first thing was first, beer and street BBQ. The last time we caught up was when he came to visit me in Xian City about two or so years ago and since then he has moved on to become the Captain of the South Western China Drug Squad and his wife (aka Mrs Smith - who is the areas main police Sharp Shooter) has recently given birth to a healthy baby boy

Now known as Baby Smith!
So I guess if you are looking to rob a bank in Baise;
Now’s a good time to do so as she’s at home busy being a mother.

My buddy Kitty who I also last caught up with around two or so years ago in Xian met and married Ivan the Dutchman after they both returned to China from living and studying in Japan for several years. They now have a little 'run about’ who I’m sure when is older will win Olympic gold in any form of sport that has anything to do with throwing things long distance.

TV remotes, bottles, shoes and phones all seem to make great practice for the future!
The giggling little bugger also loves to close the middle glass balcony sliding door when you’re not looking so when it’s next beer time he gets a giggle after you leave a face print in the glass…the sneaky little Chinese Dutchman!

I’m staying in a hotel next to Mr & Mrs Smiths apartment so I’ve also caught up with Brad’s parents each lunch time which has been awesome as they are both so full of life and smiles and the next best thing is Brad’s father is a fantastic cook. While we were having our first lunch I noticed something covered by a large cardboard box next to the fridge and I quickly realised what it was. It was my baby, my only ‘own’ real bike and my first bike here in China. You have no idea how much I have missed her as 99% of the bikes available in rural China don’t have a full sized frame and each time I have moved over the past six years I’ve had to settle for less.

It has been ‘the’ perfect Brad & Kitty catch up!
I’ve spent a wonderful past two days riding through my memories.
I had actually forgotten how laid back and green the city of Baise really is.
And the evenings have been spent with Brad & Kitty catching up over beer & BBQ!

Now For a Bit On Baise

Baise is a city in Southwest China famous for its beautiful natural scenery. It sits on the border with Vietnam and boasts forested mountains, karst formations and a tantalizing variety of minority cultures. Outside of town is a spectacular landscape of karst formations, a unique geological phenomenon consisting of limestone pillars and spikes clustered across the terrain. Among these is Dashiwei Tiankeng, the world's largest karst cluster. Baise neighbors Guizhou, Yunnan and Vietnam. The name Baise (meaning a good place to wash clothes) originated from the Zhang dialect of the ancient minority village Bosezhai. Baise has a population of 3.6 million people from seven minorities which include the Zhuang, Yao, Miao, Hui, Yi and Gelao minorities. Eighty percent of the population is of the Zhuang minority while the Yao, Miao, Hui, Yi and Gelao minorities account for around six to ten percent of its population.

The city is abundant in natural resources and famous for its beautiful coteau scenery, its distinctive geographic location, and its proud revolutionary history.

Now For a Bit of Baise History

There were already humans living in the Baise area as early as the Paleolithic Age. In 1730 the name Baise first appeared in history after the Qing Government gave the city the go ahead to advance. In 1913, it was changed into Baise County and in 1929, Deng Xiaoping and other Chinese leaders started the Baise Rebellion against imperialism and feudality and created the Youjiang Revolutionary Base. In 1983, the county was changed back to Baise City and in 2002, it was put under the direct control of Guangxi Province.

Beers N Noodles toya…..shane

PS: The last photo is me eating what was once one of my main BBQ sticks.
Which is also one of the areas most famous street eats, BBQ'd pigs eyes and penis.   
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The soundtrack to this entry was by Pink Floyd
The album was ‘Obscured By Clouds’
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