Two noobs in China: Update: Hangzhou.

Ok, so it's been a while. Paul has been taking up all the internet time! ;)

Here is the real update. The stuff you all want to hear about...(Robbie, Matto, Travis...I can hear your groans from here!! Shush and read the good stuff!)

I'll go back to Guangzhou. bleaugh. Paul has said enough about that.

Hangzhou: a breath of fresh air, quite literally. Although it was still a little smoggy, it felt further away, ie covering the hills but not blanketing your lungs. It was also quite a bit cooler in Hangzhou. The best parts were the scenery! Hangzhou is famous for it's 'West Lake' (one of 36 'West Lakes' in China...this one is the most famous though). We stayed in a place that was walking distance from Hubin Lu (lit: street beside lake) which was really nice to walk along and look at the water and stuff. (and stuff mum :))

This is the view from one of the seated areas.
The Emperor's used to take walks around the lake and take in the scenery.

This was just super cute. The statues were pretty big!

This is the view from the beginning of Qianhefang Lu (Old street)

looking up to the Ling Yin Temple.

Big gold Buddha. This has to be one of my favourite statues in
China so far!! Just looking at him makes you happy!

The Buddha has little golden kids all over him...I thought this little one was interesting!

This street has been restored and looks like an 'old town'. It even had a traditional pharmacy that is still operating the same way it has for years! There was a lot of medicinal shops that had things from dried frogs and caterpillars to something that looks like it came from Harry Potter!! It took a while to translate, but I worked out that it was Ginseng!