Winter Holiday in Guilin (2)

被誉为“世界梯田之冠”的“龙胜梯田”。
Longji Terraces - the model site of champions amongst other terraced fields in the world.

(8-1-2009/9.50am)旅游巴士差点与迎面而来的另一辆巴士相碰，大家吓出一身冷汗。
Our coach nearly collided with an on-coming coach.

(8-1-2009/9.50am)狭窄弯曲的道路。
Twists and turns through tight roads.

(8-1-2009/10.00am)龙胜景区的第一站是“黄洛红瑶长发村”。
Huangluo Yao Village - The First Village With Long Hairs in Guiness Record.


(8-1-2009/10.35am)步过摇摇摆摆的吊桥。
Walking across a hanging bridge.

桥下一群鸭子在冰冷的小溪歇息。
Underneath the bridge lies a brook. A group of ducklings nestled around.





(8-1-2009/11.10am)瑶族妇女献上一杯瑶族油茶。
A rousing welcome with a cup of oily fragrant tea each.

(8-1-2009/11.10am)观赏瑶族传统舞蹈。
Yao Minority cultural dances.




(8-1-2009/11.45am)瑶族妇女们表演梳头发。
The demonstration of combing long lengths of hair.

瑶族妇女扭游客屁股表示友善，希望你再度光临。
The woman twist tourist's battock which means friendship and hope to see you again, a tradition custome Yao minority.


(8-1-2009/11.55am)瑶族妇女个个都有一头乌黑亮丽的长头。
All tribal women here possess great lengths of raven black shiny hair.

(8-1-2009/12.13pm)改搭小巴上山至景区。
To board mini buses.




(8-1-2009/12.35pm)龙胜梯田”景区入口处。
Main entrance of "Longji Terraces Scenic Area".





(8-1-2009/12.47pm)雇一台轿子即可轻松上下山，不费脚力。
Sedan chair porters can carry you in a sedan chair to descend the hill for a fee.



(8-1-2009/12.51pm)要参观“龙胜梯田”，必须步行约四十分钟。
You must walk for 40 minutes to get a panoramic view Longji Terraces Scenic Area.



(8-1-2009/1.00pm)半山腰餐馆的野菜菇类午餐令我们胃口大开。
Feast on wild vegetables and a variety of unusual mushrooms.






(8-1-2009/1.07pm)到达观赏梯田的最佳观景区。
The beautiful terraced fields.




8-1-2009（星期四）阴天
(黄洛红瑶长发村、龙胜梯田、梦幻漓江)

今天一早用过早餐，巴士离开桂林市北上龙胜景区观光，车上导游游说我们参与另外数个自费景点，其中一个是我们慕名而来的“印象刘三姐”。车行大约两个小时，最后约十多公里狭窄弯曲途中，旅游巴士差点与迎面而来的另一辆巴士相碰，大家吓出一身冷汗。

龙胜景区的第一站是“黄洛红瑶长发村”，大伙步过摇摇摆摆的吊桥，桥下一群鸭子在冰冷的小溪歇息，不远处依着小溪边而建的木屋传来一阵狗吠声，我们沿着小溪步行约五分钟即到达长发村。衣着华丽的瑶族妇女献上一杯瑶族油茶，一面喝着热腾腾的油茶，一面观赏传统舞蹈。节目最吸引人的是瑶族妇女们表演梳头发，个个长发乌黑亮丽，放下如一匹丝绸，盘起时更显魅力。

巴士继续往今天行程的重要景点“龙胜梯田”前进。半途由于道路更加弯曲窄小，所有旅客必须改搭小巴上山至景区。由进口处至设于半山腰的餐馆步行约三十分钟，这里的野菜菇类午餐令我们胃口大开，同时让疲惫僵硬的双腿歇一歇。饭后继续爬约十分钟才到达观赏梯田的最佳观景区。虽然累得气喘如牛，然而眼前景色美不胜收，这一切的付出都值得（“龙胜梯田”在2004年获得桂林市旅游局强力推荐，被誉为“世界梯田之冠”）。

傍晚去一趟西瓜霜专卖店，一点都不专业的导游在车上开始游说，比讲解景点更加落力，让我们开始对她产生反感。晚饭后观赏一场自费项目的“梦幻漓江”大型灯光舞台表演，没有惊喜，相比之下收费太高（150元/马币75令吉），很不值得！


8-1-2009 (Thursday) Cloudy
(Yao Minority Culture, Longji Terraces Scenic Area, The Dream Of Li River Show)
After an early breakfast, we left Guilin city by coach to the northern upcountry. But according to the guide, we have to fork out extra to see the prime attraction places. The last leg of the journey went through many twists and turns through tight roads. I held my breath as our coach nearly collided with an on-coming coach. Thank God, it was a miss and I heaved a sigh of relief.

We had to walk across a hanging bridge to reach the interior village known as Huangluo Yao Village - The First Village With Long Hairs in Guiness Record. Underneath the bridge lies a brook. A group of ducklings nestled around and many wooden houses sat alongside the bank of the brook. Dogs gave out long howls at the sight of strangers. Charming ladies in tribal attire gave us a rousing welcome with a cup of oily fragrant tea each. We sipped tea as they performed cultural dances. But nothing beats the demonstration of combing hair as the ladies had long lengths of hair. You really marvel at the rich jet black sheen. Looks like nobody in the village needs a hairdye. With deft and swift strokes, the hair were shaped into beautiful styles with everyone of them looking so elegant.

We travelled on and the road became extremely narrow for a big coach to pass through. So the best way was for us to board mini buses. But some midway, we had to trek on foot for 30 minutes up to a restaurant and what better way could there be than to feast on wild vegetables and a variety of unusual mushrooms. Our aching feet needed a rest before we could continue the last 10 minutes trek to see the beautiful terraced fields usually grown with paddy during the warmer season. This fertile land is the cradle for agriculture and listed by Guilin Tourism Board as the model site of champions amongst other terraced fields in the world.

Towards early evening, we browsed around but our guide was so persistent in sweet-talking us to pay for a top performance show. We feel she has become an irritant as at 150 yuan (RM75) each, the Dream Like Lijang Ballet Circus performance was nothing to shout about. It deemed poor, we got exploited, wasn't it? Call it our own funeral.

Winter Holiday in Guilin (1)

(7-1-2009/11.11am)桂林机场 Guilin Airport.

(7-1-2009/11.15am)旅游巴士 Coach.

(7-1-2009/12.05pm)在桂林的第一餐 Lunch at Guilin.

(7-1-2009/1.05pm)由酒店摄下的桂林市区 Guilin city view from the hotel.

(7-1-2009/2.45pm) 象鼻山入口处 Entrace of Elephant Trunk Hill.

象鼻山 Elephant Trunk Hill.

象鼻山 Elephant Trunk Hill.

象鼻山 Elephant Trunk Hill.

象鼻山 Elephant Trunk Hill.

象鼻山 Elephant Trunk Hill.

象鼻山 Elephant Trunk Hill.

象鼻山 Elephant Trunk Hill.

(7-1-2009/3.35pm) “榕杉湖”遥望“金银双塔”Rong Shan Lake and Twin Pavillion.

卖花小孩跟了几条街，坚而不舍的精神终于感动了团员ERIC买下一朵玫瑰送给太太。
Eric bought a stalk of flower for his wife from the little flower seller who followed him through several streets.

(7-1-2009/4.15pm)“古南门”Ancient South Gate.


桂林冬天很美！很冷！

三十年前在本地上演，由黄婉秋主演在桂林实地拍摄的刘三姐红遍半边天，风景如画的桂林从此深置影迷脑中。

“山青、水秀、洞奇、石美”形成的四大自然美景，每年吸引无数游客到此观光，桂林“山水甲天下”这个美誉历久不衰。

冬天是旅游淡季，到桂林旅游旅费低廉，我们约了朋友一起参加“八天桂林、阳朔、荔莆、贺州+龙胜+乐满地”之行。

7-1-2009（星期三）阴天
（象鼻山、榕杉湖、金银双塔、古南门）
清晨六点三十分，一团廿四人及领队由吉隆坡廉价机场乘搭亚航飞往桂林，四个小时后抵达目的地。我们由气候炎热的马来西亚来到冬天的桂林，一踏入当地机场温度只有6℃，温差达到20℃之多，大家赶紧穿上厚厚的冬装以免着凉。

用过简单午餐后将行李放入酒店，即开始到第一个景点“象鼻山”。

位于桃花江与漓江交汇点的“象鼻山”是桂林市的地标，山的形状酷似一只站在江边饮水的大象因而得名。天色一片灰蒙蒙，三层厚的衣服抵挡不了吹来的冷风，我 们在岸边匆匆取景后即上车，到城的另一边游览“中央公园”。绕着“榕杉湖”遥望“金银双塔”，途经“九曲桥”及“玻璃桥”，慢步走到“古南门”，不知不觉 已经下午五点，一天的行程接近尾声。

接着到指定商店购买“蚕丝被”及作“脚底按摩”（到中国旅游最令人反感的硬性规定行程）。我们对这些将旅客当羔羊的黑店已经麻木不仁，喜欢享受按摩的我们独独对年青按摩师傅的精湛手艺赞赏不已。

Winter Holiday in Guilin
Picturesque but Cold
Some three decades ago a film knowns as "Liu San Jie" was finally shown in local cinemas. This film went through a lot of red tape and censorship as it was directed by a leftist group from mainland China. The lady actress shot to fame instantly and the dreamy landscapes used in the film remained deeply etched in the memories of many who have seen the film.

Pristine peaks, eternal springs, mystical caves, beautiful rock formation inspired many to visit this fabled land when the doors of China were opened for travelling freely around. Droves of tourists visited Guilin and it became my choice of a holiday destination recently.

I invited a couple of friends, who travelled with us to Tibet before, to join us on a winter tour. The eight days itinerary included Guilin, Yang Shuo, Lipu, He Zhou, Long Sheng, Merryland Resort.

7-1-2009 (Wednesday) Cloudy
(Elephant Trunk Hill, Rong Shan Lake, Twin Pavillion, Ancient South Gate)

As sunlight vividly illuminated the surroundings of LCCT at 6.30 a.m., our tour group of 24 persons boarded a flight to renowned Guilin. We reached our destination some four hours later.

It was a drastic shift of weather, from a hot tropical climate to a cold wintry noon of 6 degrees Celsius. We piled on some winter attire as it can be terrible catching a cold.

After a simple lunch, we unpacked at the hotel. Later, we were taken on a tour to Elephant Trunk Hill which is located at the meeting point of Taohua River and Lijiang River. Rock formation does resemble an elephant drinking from the water source.

The sky turned gloomy and although we all had three layers of clothing, it did not protect us well enough. After a few snapshots, we left for the city park. Other popular tourist destinations in Guilin city include Rong Shan Lake, Twin Pavillion, Jiuqu Bridge and Ancient South Gate. All these attractions are comprehensive exhibitions which reflects a little on history, culture, art, architecture of China and it's a trip within an afternoon.

Of course the guide insisted we shopped at the listed places for silk blankets, something we hate most about China tours. Instead we opted for the foot reflexology massage done by skilful hands.

Wonder Way Annual Dinner

Staying on Course for 30 Years
Firmly Planted Thru Inspiration and Motivation

Setting a goal is easy but reaching the goal you set is hard. Wonderway, a direct sales company of 30 years has helped many to reach their goals under the right leadership in distributing Italian made cookware within Malaysia and Singapore region. The cookware is suited to any style of cooking and well designed for cooking the nutritious way. Many homemakers recognise the potential of the Wonderway business and as the company has started some enhanced marketing programme, quite a number of them have become committed to the line. Starting from the lower rung as a distributor, it gives them an opportunity to generate an income.

The founders Mr. & Mrs. Peter Lee and GSM Mr. Alan Chong, has big plans for the coming year. I am sure with good teamwork from everyone, the path should run a good course.

As usual, Wonderway cooking group has given Y3K readers a nice treat with dishes cooked the healthy way.

三十年同舟共济
积极转型与时并进

以【同舟共济、以诚为本、齐心协力、勇往前进】这四大标题为2009年口号，今年迈入三十年的唯一万特威是一间老字号直销公司，以销售意大利等国进口高级厨房用具而享誉新、马两地。

自去年开始，为了更加有效服务各地顾客以及让有意创业的客户得以参与这个事业，最高领导层议决将公司的营业方针由单层次直销转为多层次直销。这个转变不但让公司内的领袖大为雀跃，公司的忠实顾客更加开心。除了可以让家人煮得安心吃得健康之外，购买产品可以获得折扣，同时还可利用空余时间赚外快增加家庭收入，可谓一举多得，短时间内组织阵容不断扩大。

总裁李明信心满满地说：「过去三十年，我们已经奠下稳定的基础。希望接下来的三十年，大家同舟共济、以诚为本、齐心协力、勇往前进，一起创造另一个高峰，共同分享成果。」

该公司马来西亚负责人ALAN CHONG是该公司开荒牛之一，经过多年努力看到组织不断茁壮成长，感慨地说：「组织上下一条心才有今天的成就」一语道出成功之道。

唯一万特威领袖每期受邀为Y3K读者提供材料易买、制作简单、营养又可口的食谱，不论是厨艺高手或新手皆获益匪浅。本期也不例外，这数道家乡小食及简易西餐相信会获得你的青睐。