Swimming, Visitors and Beans

Lots of rain here this week, consequence of Typhoon DOKSURI, so I thought I may as well try and finish August. I was slightly wrong last month, this month is not so different but at least it’s not all ‘walkies’!

August 3^rd During the week we often have to go for a drive just to make sure that the battery doesn’t go flat. For some reason, we can’t go a week without using the car. I don’t believe it’s a battery problem myself, I think it’s more like the car’s ‘control unit’. All cars have them these days, that’s what stops guys like me doing more maintenance! Anyway, today we took a trip we have taken before. On our previous trip, we couldn’t see anything at all once we were out of Wuzhishan, we were in the clouds all the way. This time was better. The drive took us out of Wuzhishan to Fulicun, then on to Baolongcun, and finally to Maolong before dropping back down onto the Haikou road and coming back to Wuzhishan. Real windy roads and big hills!

August 4th A solo walk up through Wuzhishan Park and lo and behold, they had begun farming the rubber trees again. First saw rubber trees when I was 9 or 10 years old and what I remember most is the trip to the factory after and the overwhelming smell of ammonia. Maybe I could find the factory here and take Huan for a visit!

August 10^th Because I had been having some problems with my Achilles tendon, I injured it trying a little running, down the road from the 21 hotel, we couldn’t do any more walking. We decided instead to try a little swimming. We had tried before in a pool in the city in one of the hotels but both of us had problems after, probably due to it not being clean enough. As a result we had avoided all pools. That was a mistake. The pool at 21 Hotel is a ‘mountain water pool’. It is filled from the stream coming down from the reservoir.

The water then flows into this pool,

And is then drained away the other side.

As you can see, it is beautiful as are its surroundings which are mostly rain forest. We had it mostly to ourselves, as in fact we have had nearly every visit since. Here’s Huan, trying not to get brown! She does swim as well, honest!

And here’s me, trying to get brown!

We weren’t completely alone though, there were a lot of dragonflies. Anyone know why they stand like this?

August 12^th We were back in the pool again, and being a Saturday, there were a few more people, well maybe five or six. Some of our flying friends had learnt to their cost that they couldn’t swim. Poor babies. . .

August 18^th Guess where? You’re right, swimming again. I love the water especially if there is sun to go with it! This time we saw these two. I think the first one may have wanted to eat the second one! Unfortunately the great big scary monster that is me brought an end to the proceedings.

August 13th Swimming yet again, and also yet again, another species of caterpillar. Huan warned me that because this one was ‘hairy’ I shouldn’t touch it! Strange, because I'm hairy and she touches me!

And on the way home, we passed something I really don’t like, the dentist! I had to take a picture to send to the family, it seems I have relatives who are almost as bad as me. Having said that, I have visited this one and he treated me fairly well.

August 19^th In our never ending quest for alien life we found this in the lift. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a big “Daddy Long Legs’. (I have no idea what they are really called. When I was a boy they were ‘Daddy Long Legs’ so that is what they remain.)

August 20^th This day brought us visitors from afar! We had Patrick and Flora, their son Podrig and their travelling companion Jake. They had a ‘stop-off’ here during their ‘round Hainan trip’. They will no doubt be uploading many, many pictures and videos so look out for them. Here they are arriving.

And here are the boys, and me, smoking and drinking (coffee) on the balcony.

After we had filled them up with sandwiches, real corned beef, (not tineed), with cheese and salad and of course some HP Brown Sauce, we took them off to the 21 Hotel pool/ I guess they may have been a little sweaty after their long drive so a ‘bath’ in the pool will have refreshed them!

They did go for a swim!

In the evening we had a little walk around Wuzhishan before taking our guests to the ‘Do & Me’ restaurant. Not a bad place, a variety of Chinese and Western food, something to please everyone. No pics unfortunately.

Later on, Patrick, Jake and I sat on the balcony drinking a few beers and telling tall tales. Well, I guess that would have been mostly me! Surprisingly, considering the fact that I hardly ever drink these days, we were there a long time. Patrick went off around 2:30 AM and Jake and I followed around 3:30. Unfortunately (?) there is no photographic evidence of these hours!

The following morning we gave them a traditional English fry-up, well as traditional as we could make it, before sending them on their way towards Sanya.

It was great seeing them here, both Huan and I really enjoyed their visit despite the fact it was a very short one.

August 24^th Received one of our regular Taobao deliveries, 24 cans of Heinz Baked beans. We only use one can at weekends, so that’s quite a stash we have there.

August 30^th Our last trip to the pool this month. We were nice and early. Here’s Huan, already dried at 11 o’clock.

Here’s another view of the surroundings. Beautiful, isn't it?

And another.

And finally, one of our little friends again, with the end of my finger for good measure (pun intended!)

And that’s it for August which means we are very nearly right up to date. Stay tuned for more, we’ll be back!