With our luggage in tow, we walked to our next lodging, which was Xi Jie Youth Hostel. The tour guide told us it would be a very short walk, about only 300 metres. We soon discovered what she said was absolute crap!
We walked for more than 300 metres but there was still no hostel in sight! As we continued walking along the road, a lady approached us and asked where we were heading. After telling her of our intended destination, she said it would be too far for us to walk and it's better we take a taxi.
We were reluctant at first, but after walking for some time (with the lady following closely!) we decided that her advice made sense. But we didn't flag down a taxi! Instead, we went for something more unconventional - a man on a three wheel bike with a large wooden box behind.
I thought the box was for our luggage but no, the box was meant for us too! So all three of us placed our luggage in the box and then did what I at first thought was impossible. We sat at the edge of the box - yes, the three of us squeezed ourselves into that limited space together with our luggage!
This must be the first time in my life traveling on the road this way! If we were in Malaysia, we must have looked really funny! But this was China, and no one gave us a second look! Either that or I was holding on too tightly to notice!
I managed to take a photo while riding on that bike. We were all seated behind the driver hanging for our dear lives as he drove around the streets of Yangshuo. There was a problem, however. The driver did not know where Xi Jie Hostel was located and we ended up at the wrong street!
Luckily Jam passed him the contact number of the hostel and after calling the hostel and was given the right direction, he brought us to the correct place. We paid him 15 yuan for the trip.
I thought it was fun sitting on that bike! Luckily, we did not walk all the way. It could easily have been more than 1 km from where our tour bus dropped us and not 300 metres as claimed by the tour guide!
Thomas, the boss of Xi Jie Hostel was there to greet us. He helped us carry our luggage.
This is the entrance lane to Xi Jie Hostel. But my attention was diverted to the other signboard above - Yangshuo Amorous Feelings Hotel. What a name!
See the row of bicycles on the left? If I am not mistaken, those were bicycles for rent. And I saw a two seater!
Jam had told me that we would be cycling around Yangshuo countryside. Since I do not know how to cycle, I need to ride with someone who does! So a two seater would be good for me.
Alas! We did not have the opportunity to do any cycling. I will let you know the reason in my future post.
We reached the front entrance of Xi Jie Hostel. There were many steps going up. And Thomas had given us a room on the 4th floor! Gosh! Luckily he was carrying some of our luggage for us!
As we followed Thomas closely and climbed up the stairs, we could sense that this hostel was rather unique.
Located at Pantao Road, next to the Post Office and behind the Industrial And Commercial Bank Of China, Xi Jie Hostel was just 3 minutes walk to the Yangshuo Bus Station and a minute walk to the famous West Street. Location wise, it was perfect!
The building itself looked as if it was built into the side of a mountain as there was even a natural cave in the hostel! Sorry no photo of the cave - I hope Jam had taken a photo of it!
This is the 3rd floor where a computer was placed in the hall. Guests could use the computer and internet for free.
Climbing further up, we reached the 4th and top floor which was also the rooftop.
This is the view from the roof top!
I won't say it's breathtaking but it's charming in its own way. I thought the sun casting a reddish glow in the sky was really quite beautiful.
And what better way to relax than to sit at this roof top having a drink and chit chatting with friends while enjoying the magnificent view of the karst hills!
By the way, that cigarette pack on the table was not ours. Neither me, Jam nor his friend smokes. But did you notice that hat on the right? No prize for guessing whose hat that is!
This is the place for hanging your laundry to dry.
It was nice to see the green mountain right next to the hostel.
We were led to our room which was actually made up of a big room and a smaller room next to it.
Jam and his friend took the bigger room which had two beds while I took the smaller one.
This is my room complete with a bed, a table and a table fan.
Why table fan? Well, my room had no air conditioner whereas the bigger room had one! That's not very fair, right? Why did Jam bully me and force me to take the small room? OK, just kidding here! I opted for the smaller room out of my own free will.
At first, I thought if I slept without closing the door to my room, the cool air from the air conditioner would enter my room. But somehow it did not work out that way. It felt quite stuffy in the room and so I decided to close the door, switch on the table fan and open the window in my room.
Although this hostel was cleaner than Backstreet Youth Hostel in Guilin and not as run-down, I was far from satisfied with it.
For one, I saw cockroaches in my room and if you don't already know, I hate cockroaches! They are the world's most disgusting and filthy creatures! I had to kill them before I could have a good night sleep! I simply could not imagine letting them climb all over me while I slept. Yucks!
Secondly, the shower in the bathroom was utterly hopeless! The water that came out from the shower was like a dribble. I guess maybe the water pressure was not strong enough. We had to resort to filling up a pail with water from the tap on the wall and use the bucket to take our bath!
Luckily, the saving grace was Thomas, the hostel boss himself! He had been very friendly and accommodating throughout our stay here. But of course he being a Chinese businessman, nothing was like what it seemed.
At our very first meeting, he started to promote his tour packages to us. He recommended us a few packages but we finally decided to take up the Yulong River rafting and the "Impression Liu San Jie" show.
We had already planned to see the "Impression Liu San Jie" show under the tour company's package earlier that also included the Li River Cruise and the Yangshuo tour. But since we have now absconded and would not be paying them, we would have to buy the tickets to the "Liu San Jie" show ourselves.
But with Thomas offering us VIP tickets at 238 yuan per ticket and free transport to the show and back, we thought it was a pretty good deal. The Yulong River rafting would cost us 200 yuan per person.
I really do not know how much he had marked up the price, and if these were really good deals, but Jam said it was comparable to prices offered by tour agents online. Besides, Thomas also threw us a freebie, which was free rental of bicycles.
After checking in and resting for a while, it's time for dinner! But first, we wanted to explore the very famous tourist street in Yangshuo. It's called West Street. And in case you do not know, Xi Jie means West Street in English!
FIRST COMMENTER
should show us the pic of the bike instead. sounds to me it's better than a tuk-tuk!
Oh gosh...looks like a budget hotel and too bad the things there were not working very well.
Luckily you found a trishaw. If not, you will definitely be exhausted once you reach the youth hotel.
are there better hotels in that area? they look very rundown leh....and sleazy hahahahhaha.....anyone knocking on your door at night asking for your name?hhahahha
I could see all the red-coloured undergarments hanging and overlooking across your, should I say, "balcony with an EXTRA view" !! You sure nobody came knocking on your door at night?
hahaha, so did you find the roaches crawling all over you when you woke up in the morning?? this is hilarious, hahaha!!
well, the room actually look neat to me, so i guess it's still bearable isn't it?? i mean for the price you have paid for?? got quite a nice view of the mountains, treat that as a compensation lor.. :p
so how's the Liu San Jie show?? and is that RMB298 for a VIP ticket worth for the night?? does it comes with a dinner as well?? hmm, for me i would most probably go for a normal ticket.. :)
i'm very curious to see how you guys are sitting by the edge of the box on the trishaw.. must be very "thrilling" though.. if i were there, sure the whole thing will slant a side because of my weight, hahaha!! :D
so, the next post will be about the West Street i presume?? and that “Yangshuo Amorous Feelings Hotel”, hahaha, what a name, it sound so porn, hahaha~~
The floors looked quite polished, and the room looks neat. Surprised there were cockroaches.
Nice scenery on the rooftop.
eiling, yeah forgot to take photo of the bike when I got down from it! Better than tuk tuk? Not really lah, tuk tuk drivers drive like madmen, this driver drove at a safe speed. It's just that we got to balance ourselves on the box! : )
willie, it is indeed a budget hotel, actually a backpackers hostel. We stayed in backpackers hostels during our 10 days in China. Haha! Yes, it was fun sitting on that "trishaw" : )
manglish, oh yes! Pretty girls knocked on our doors at night! Just kidding! Haha!
Of course there are better hotels, but for this trip, we purposely stayed at backpackers hostel and it was a great experience for me!
There are relaxing, luxury holidays and rough-it-out holidays. This is more of a rough-it-out holidays and phew, it had been fun and adventurous so far!
I really recommend everyone to try backpacking holidays once in a while - it sure is more interesting than staying in your normal 4 or 5 stars hotels! : )
bura, red coloured undergarments? Haha! Yeah, naked Caucasian ladies visited us at night. Just kidding! : )
why you didn't take pictures of you guys being in the "box"?? haha..
the hostel looks good.. but eww.. the cockroach.. fyi.. i HATE COCKROACHES TOO!! if there's one in my room, i can't sleep well too, unless it's DEAD!!!
SK, no cockroaches crawling all over me cos I killed 'em all! Muahaha!
The room was OK lah, I paid only 27 yuan (RM13.70) per night. Dirt cheap!! Not going to complain too much, but I still complain! Haha!
Will blog about the Liu San Jie show in future. It was a bit pricey but it's VIP seats. Normal seats definitely cheaper, but never mind cos the inefficient tour company also offered us quite close to this price.
Yangshuo Amorous Feelings Hotel is for amorous people like you lah! hahaha! : )
shingo T, wow! You seem to like this hostel! Haha! I think at 27 yuan (RM13.70) it must be really worth your money to stay here next time you visit Yangshuo! : )
kenwooi, who to take pictures for us? We three were on the box!
You hate cockroaches too? Haha! Yes, they must be very dead before I can sleep in the room with them! : )
yeah nice!! guess i would go there with insect repellent and spray once i have entered the room =p well damn cheap!!! the dormitory 8beds room was 35yuan in huangshan... but it's clean neat and no cockroaches :)
The hostel looks decent but with cockroaches, water reduced to a dribble and having to bathe from a bucket would not go down well with me.
Hilarious - the way you described your ride on the 3-wheeler. That ride must have been fun! I was so looking forward to a picture. I would have said, "Wait! I would love a picture of my pals" and go clicking before you got on. haha..
The entrance kinda sleazy, wor, but the room is really not bad for that kind of roomrate. And that view is stunning, minus the man-made kaleidoscope, of course. No hot-bath and cockroaches are turnoffs for me. :(
That tandem (two-seater bike) is awesome. I've ridden on one and it was simply exhilarating. Cycling is really very nice and fun. Try picking it up, Foong. There's nothing to it. For adults it's a lot easier as our legs are long enough to reach the ground for support.
Looking forward to your other adventures. Thanks, Foong, for the tour esp the details. How's your foot getting on? Belum sampai that part yet? hehe..
fufu, yes it was very cheap, but I hoped the facilities would be slightly better : )
mei teng, haha! Guess you can't take this kind of rough-it-out travels! It's OK with me as it was a good experience for me : )
happysurfer, I didn't even think of taking pictures at that time as I was figuring how to get up on that bike and sit on top of those luggages! : )
The entrance does look kind of sleazy but that's what traveling is all about! It's nice to stay in sleazy places once in a while! Haha!
I will try bicycle riding if I have the chance in future : )
My foot is getting on well, though the scars have not disappeared completely. I had that accident while rafting along Yulong River which I shall blog about soon : )
errr u think having roaches running around in the room is bad? i just had meehoon soto at the canteen and found a BABY ROACH in the soup after i makan. EW!!!!
amorous hotel? hehehe .. with cockroaches crawling, how to be leh? :)
Hahaha :D Return to the Xi Jie Youth Hotel? Opps...I mean hostel! LOL :D
Huh?The lady stalked you guys? So you guys flagged down a trishaw kinda transport? Now...that was a special experience for you guys right? :p
But I have traveled in this mode of transportation lots of time. Perhaps in Malacca this is more common? :p
Huh? The rider didn't know the place? Thank goodness you guys managed to reach your destination! :)
The tour company is such a crap huh! If it is 300metres, I'm sure you guys could notice it easily. Haih...
Haha :D Ouh..so did you pay the Amorous Feelings Hotel a visit? :p
So this is the cycling story that you were talking about earlier on~lar! Wow! This bicycle is so...exotic! They even have another basket at the back of it. :p
Huh? Didn't cycle?
Huh? There was a natural cave in the hostel? Where? War..there is a desktop huh!
Wow! The view is so damn gorgeous Foong! Look at the mountain and the sun? Aww....
Hahaha :D You had to take the smaller room minus the air con huh! Haha :D Jam bullied you. Majority rulezzz. :p
Haha :D So you nemesis Cockroach was there to greet you lar? Just kill them lar!
Usually I will step on them until they become....er...."penyek" lor! :p
OMG, the first thing I noticed from your blog entry: You don't know how to cycle?!!! :P And secondly, I like those bedsheets in the bigger room! Like hotel bedsheets. LOL But the hostel did look quite rundown eh? How much per night?
Even the shower is not working huh? Poor foong. Ha :D never mind, can exercise mah.
Ouh...you guys bought the VIP tickets and they even throw in free bicycle rental? Fair enough! :p
I am home! Still tied up though... so I am really just browsing through... I am can't cathc up on comments anymore! So I apologize for not commenting on the rest of the post!
But you get them here! hahaha! I am going to comment everything on this post can? :P
(but I didn't read all the post I miss ar... So tiring to do so... So little time... only managed until your number madness :P)
Congratulations on the winning of the Lydia Teh contest! I miss something! :o
Then again, I miss everyone's blogs too! Aiyar so many to read!
Oh the dragon sculpture looks so good!
Ju Long Tan Cave... hmm I like the staircases! Wow I am amazed by the cave. So colorful...
Ha! So you didn't pay the company?! Or did I read wrongly... ooops not didn't pay.. they didn't collect :P.
And here we thought they would find anywhere to get money out of people...
The Xi Jie Youth Hostel looks neat... got cockroaches ar! I wouldn't sleep in that room anymore! Eeeeeee! Didn't complain?
Aiyar no picture of the three wheel bike with a box behind? They used mandarin box ar? :P
oh.. i want to try the two seater bicycle!
I tried the 2-seater bicycle once. Very difficult to maneuver.
No air-conditioner is fine. Do something to save the earth!
interesting vacation..
this is getting to b like a soap opera on tv. i am enjoying myself so much reading abt yr tours. the pics help a lot too for me to get a picture of what is actually happening
The lodging place looks ok and could decently get a nice rest, at 27 yuan(RM13.70). I don't think you could find this price in Malaysia, even Tune Hotel can't beat this price.
hahaha.. tobby is my bf..
hahaha..
oh my, this is such a long post and your photos take too long too load again.
too bad you missed the opportunity to cycle around. it would be fun and great experience to cycle around the stunning countryside.
Stair climbing is indeed a good old- fashioned exercise but very tiresome. Definitely will burn away those unwanted fats though. :)
yikes, i hate roaches too. the room must be very dirty that just gives roaches more food to eat and more places to hide. didn't ask for a refund?
The hostel is really unique and got the feeling of China. Chinese are really good businessman! Hehe. Think you did enjoyed the Yulong river and the nice scenery along the river then.
what a nice view froom the rooftop. it must be great to enjoy the sunset and sunrise there.
thanks for being my FC today. can you email me your EC avatar?
foong, how should i classify this post? mid long, long or very long? hehe =P just kidding!
so there it is...you really didn't pay the tour! i can't blame you after walking that long with your luggages instead of having some great comfort being in your hostel right away.
so nxt is your water experience? hmm that's foong's accident right? I will definitely stay tuned for your "long"post =)
ohhhh.....how old r u har? old bones cannot do backpacks larr...patah tulang later...but i agree it is very fun...u see all sort of characters :)
what a unique place like you mentioned. living among them made me feel like you totally blended in with the lifestyle there. :)
The hostel is not bad. I like it. With that view... nice.
ahaha Yangshou amorous feelings hotel! do you feel like you signed up for the wrong hotel =P!!!
The place looks like in the Hong Kong movies scene. Hostel looks clean!
omg. i cannot live with low water pressure :( i need to clean... all parts LOL
yah, I'm like Faisal. Need good water pressure to shower. :D
want to learn to cycle? Come our place lah, just brought back a bicycle from Japan. LOL
xin, well, at least that baby roach you found in your mee is dead. Mine's still alive and they are crawling all over! Haha!
J2Kfm, the hostel I'm staying in is not the Amorous Feelings Hotel : )
tekkaus, I know you ride the bike everyday, but have you sat on a box at the back of a bike? It's a fun experience for me indeed!
No I didn't visit the Amorous Hotel. No time!!
About the cockraches, that's what I did. Stepped on them till they didn't look like cockroaches anymore! LOL!
ladyviral, welcome back! I know you didn't have time to read, but it's OK. Just look at photos will do : )
No, we didn't pay the tour company. But there might be more to this issue so stay tuned! : )
No, no, not mandarin box. How to support our weight? Haha!
I didn't complain about the cockroaches because at that price of 27yuan, there's nothing much to complain about : )
dolly, you want to try? Can you find such a bike in Malaysia, I wonder?
khengsiong, is it difficult to maneuver? I have no idea as I have never tried it before!
No air con is OK to you? Sorry, even though I want to save the earth, I still want the air con! : )
wenn, yes, it's always more interesting when you don't follow tour and go on your own and when things don't turn out as you expected. I feel this kind of vacation is better than those which I stayed at 4 or 5 stars hotel! : )
bengbeng, glad you are enjoying my "soap opera". Haha! I try to build up the suspense by including some cliffhangers just like soap operas! LOL!
min, haha! Yeah, even Tune Hotel can't give you RM13.70 a night with all these facilities! Thanks for dropping by! : )
donna, you are Dolly right? I am starting to get confused. OK, is this Tobby Donna or Dolly's bf? LOL!
Sounds like you had an interesting trip. But I am very curious what it looks like to be in a box travelling around. Are you sure that is not for transporting piggies? Haha. I would like to try that too if I am there, interesting!
life ramblings, I know this is a long post! Thought of breaking it up into 2 parts initially, but then decided to just finish it! LOL! Sorry still don't know why the photos took so long to load. I don't have that problem. Maybe your internet connection is slow?
Yeah, too bad did not get to cycle!
Ask for refund? No need lah, just RM13.70. Give them lah : )
superman, Chinese businessmen are cunning! Yes, I did enjoy the Yulong river rafting although I suffered a minor accident there!
ayie,I'll classify it as long! Haha! Even I myself admit it is long. But what to do? I have a lot of things I want to say. Couldn't make it short, unless I split it into 2 parts!
Yes, not worth paying them for such lousy service!
My Yulong river rafting post will be coming up soon, and yes, I'm afraid it'll be a looooong post! Haha!
manglish, I'm young enough to do backpack holidays. Won't so easy patah tulang! Better do more backpacking before I get older! By then I think I will go for those luxurious holidays staying in 5 star hotels!
And you are right! Backpacking is more fun as you get to see all sorts of characters : )
levian, yeah I guess it's nice to experience their kind of lifestyle, at least for a short while : )
che-cheh, you like? Then I think you have no problem staying there! : )
grace, haha! No I didn't! But maybe next time if I ever go there again, I'll stay in that Amorous Hotel! LOL!
pete, haha, yeah I think I know what you mean. Those HK movie scenes, yes. Looks clean, but still have cockroaches! : )
faisal admar, you can still clean "ALL" parts using the bucket of water! That's how orang kampong bathe what : )
lina, wow! I can cycle on your newly bought Japanese bicycle? Haha, maybe...one of these days! : )
molly, transporting pigs? Oh no,no,no! Definitely not! Haha! I'm sure you would want to try it - it's fun!! But can only do that in China lah, if do the same in Malaysia, everyone will be looking! : )
I actually enjoyed staying in this hostel, you know! I like Yangshuo more than Guilin, should have stayed there longer. And we had not yet done the countryside biking!
don't worry, i'll still read eacjh and every word =)
Wow, another travelling post entry..making me butt itchy want tog o for travel too..
BUt, *flipping calendar*, long way to go for long holiday......CNY, Feb... *fainted*
da two-seated bicycle is cute...very lomantic...
Cockroaches!? Yikes. I don't like them too!
And no air-con? I won't be able to sleep. City folks like me too pampered eh. :P
hahaha Amorous Feelings Hotel? a very weird name indeed :-D
why didn't take pic of the three wheel bike lah Foong lol..
hmmm that hat belongs to you!? :-D
the bigger room looks quite nice and clean eh.. :)
yikes! got cockroaches in yr room :-D
Wow! You guys sure don't travel light
ayie, thanks! : )
elaine tam, never mind lah. Plan for your CNY Feb holidays next year! : )
annant, romantic? That idea didn't even cross my mind! Haha!
eastcoastlife, I'm a city boy too! But I think can rough it out for a few days. Not all the time though! You hate cockroaches too? Not surprising since almost everybody hates that filthy creature! : )
monica, yes very funny name for a hotel right? Wonder if I will feel amorous staying there? I sincerely doubt it! Haha!
No that hat belongs to Jam!
You hate cockroaches too don't you? Haha, lots of people do.
borneo falcon, well, next time I will bring less clothes! : )
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