FengHuang Hunan

We had another vacation-we went to FengHuang or in other words Phoenix. It was a 14 hour train ride there and then another 3 hour bus ride-very long but worth it. This is an ancient city, about 2,000 years old-it is so old that we didn't see one western toilet, they were all squatters!!!! When we got there we had a complication with our hostel, we booked it online about 5 days ago and the owner (who didn't know English) told us (through Annie on the phone-our Asian helper) there wasn't any reservations and he had no more room. I was nervous we were going to have to get a different hotel that was a lot more expensive, then a couple came in who knew a lot of English, there names were Lily and Tom. I'm so glad we met them because they translated to us and told us the guy was very sorry and he booked us a hotel and paid the difference. Asian people are so nice! Lily and Tom also planned our Sunday activity, I'm so glad we met them because no one knows English there so it would have been a nightmare to plan something-it would have worked though but Tom and Lily they helped us so much. This weekend was a holiday, it is like memorial day, they wear these flower crowns, set off candle lit boats, eat a lot of food and fireworks go off at the cemetery. We walked around town this night (Saturday night). On Sunday we went on a tour that Lily and Tom set up for us. It was awesome! We went to the South Wall, went on a beautiful hike with waterfalls and awesome scenery and we watched a Chinese show-it would be cooler if I knew what was going on though. When we were hiking this lady pushed me into the water! She was coming the opposite way we were and I was being nice and I scooted as far over as I could when I was standing on a rock and she pushed me! Then she just walked off, so I was soaking wet for the next couple hours! That night we lit a candle boat and sent it out into the river. On Monday we bought flower crowns, went shopping, went on a boat ride where we released our flower crowns and went to a grave. This trip was so fun because we usually don't see THAT much ancient culture. I'm grateful we found Lily and Tom-they saved our life's! Most people in China are willing to help, but there are those who just push you into a river...