Welcome!

I introduced you to Gumby, my latest blog mascot, back in Whistler, Canada. While it doesn’t exactly have the same ring as “Debbie Does Dallas,” I thought a little travelogue of Gumby’s travels would be a nice overview of our trip and a springboard for further posts on our adventures. 

And just a warning, folks, this is by the far the dorkiest thing I have ever done, (so says the DH), although it brought me great joy doing so!

Shanghai May 19 – 20

We spent Tuesday, our first day, in Shanghai’s French Concession neighborhood,
walking & walking along the shaded streets.

Gumby met up with his cousin, the 2010 Shanghai World Expo mascot.
I think a lot of Shanghainese are confused by this guy.

Wednesday we braved the rain and walked down Nanjing East Road,
a pedestrian shopping wonderland.

Gumby’s cousin was there, too, evidently showing his support for the LBGT crowd.

In the spirit of international harmony & cooperation,
Gumby walks hand in hand with Chairman Mao, on the Bund.

After a little tai chi along the Bund, with a view of Pudong,
our stay in Shanghai unfortunately comes to an end.

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Yangshuo May 21 – 24

In Yangshuo it rains everyday, but that doesn’t stop us from riding bicycles into
the countryside. Here Gumby poses next to rice fields and limestone karsts.

Although Yangshuo is overrun with tourists, calm moments can be found
at the cafes overlooking crowded West street.

On Saturday, we head by car to Yangdi Village, where we catch a “bamboo” raft
for a leisurely cruise down the Li River.

Photo opportunities abound!

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Guilin May 24

Before our flight to Shenzhen, we spend a couple of hours wandering around Guilin. 

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Shenzhen May 25

We stayed the night of the 24th in Shenzhen’s Shekou district at the Cruise Inn, an actual cruise ship that has been dry-docked and converted into a hotel. Here’s Gumby & DH with an aquarium in the lobby. We took a ferry from Shekou to Hong Kong on Monday afteroon.

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Hong Kong May 25 – 31

Our first full day in HK found us on the MTR to Lantau Island.

We caught a cable car up and over several hills, with spectacular views.

There we saw the Big Buddha statue and

visited a monastery. (Bonus mullet shot!)

Gumby said a prayer (lower left hand corner).

That night we had an excellent sushi – sake – asahi dinner with our friend C.

We finished out the night with a drink at the Peninsula Hotel’s top floor bar, Felix.
(Probably the swankiest place I’ve ever been. I recommend the bathroom.) 

What a view of Hong Kong Island!

We spent Wednesday night at the Happy Valley Racecourse, watching the ponies.

We bet 20 HK Dollars on the wrong horse. Oh well. ($2.58)

Thursday was Dragon Boat Festival and a public holiday. We took a bus across Hong Kong Island to the beach-side community of Stanley. We hoped to see a dragon boat race, but it was raining pretty much nonstop, so we wandered through a market and headed to the Aberdeen Boat Club for dinner.

The rest of our time was spent walking around Causeway Bay and window shopping.
The windows are fabulous!

We also did some lounging in our hotel suite.

And sleeping in, too, this was a vacation after all!

Obviously some of these photos were “post-production,” and I enjoyed making them so much that I think I might have just created a new hobby. Now I feel like Gumby needs to be superimposed on all of my photos… He’ll require a wardrobe and props, too… This could get out of hand!

For more Gumby visit his gallery. More holiday photos will be uploaded soon.