Modern Guangzhou

While Kyoto is known for its cultural heritage with numerous palaces, shrines and temples spread all over the city, Guangzhou has gone through modernization in the early nineties, and turning into an ultra-modern city showcasing futuristic architectures and fabulous Metro system.

The subway cars in NYC are usually crowded during rush hours; Guangzhou’s metro is packed with people no matter what time and day it is. While the stations are impressive with escalators and elevators for the convenience of the riders, it is the system that is so easy to use for any new travelers to the city. Like Kyoto, directions and locations are clearly mark so that passengers know where they want to go.The way in is always patrol by police with explosive detectors, use on all passengers (with bags) heading into the stations.

Satellite city within the city is amazing, for instance Baiyun Park has modern high-rises, museum, library, shops and recreational parks built to accommodate the ever demanding young affluent Chinese. As I was absorbing the wonderful experience walking along a walk lane, my flip flop snapped. With one flip flop on one foot, I felt silly but I didn’t care as I was enjoying the walk at this fabulous township.

I saw some amazing architecture in Guangzhou, notably Guangzhou Opera House, Canton Tower and the Public Library. Designed by Zaha Hadid, a well-known British Iraqi architect, the Opera House is also known as “Double Pebble”, a unique twin-boulder design set within an exposed granite and glass-clad steel frame. With contrasting color of one white and one dark grey boulder-shaped next to another, they do look amazing from afar.  

Next is the Canton Tower, with both indoor and outdoor observatory at its top two floors. The outdoor observatory has bubbled passenger cars, travel on a track round the edge of the tower’s roof. Night scene is amazing as it gives me a perspective of how big the city really is as the city lights stretch as far as the eyes can see. 

Guangzhou Public Library is a work of art. It’s the world’s largest open-stack public library with a large atrium as inviting a a window display at Bergdorf during Christmas. The 10-story building has gleaming passageways that connect one side to the other which reminds me of a shopping mall rather than a library. It probably wants people to feel welcome, and encourage them to browse and borrow books to read. 

Shangxiajiu Pedestrian Street is an interesting place to go shopping for fake designer brands from shoes to clothes. The quality of these products are so good that it just feels wrong not to buy any. There are restaurants and street snacks alongside with shops that sell waxed ducks and Chinese sausages. Towards the end of the pedestrian street, there are 2 buildings selling nothing but jades and other gem stones and crystals. Prices range from dirt cheap to thousands of dollars. I never knew the varieties and colors available for these stones until I visited this place.

Guangzhou is the third largest city in China. It certainly gives a glimpse of China to any visitors coming to county for the first time. With its modern skyscrapers, it is an example of alpha city of the world. Yet the cultures and arts are well preserved in places like the Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and The Temple of the Five Immortals. Roast sucking pig and Taiye chicken are among the specialities the city is being known for, they are not just delicious but delicacies in this part of China. 

Only one word of cautious, do not order any pork wonton from any street vendor or coffee shop as there is a chance you might get a very strong pork smell from the wonton!

Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang International Airport has only one terminal. Planes do not stop at the gate, rather passengers walk to entrance and proceed straight to immigration. It takes less than 10 minutes for the whole process, and it makes me wonder if there’s any illegal stuff being brought in without notice.

Weather in late May is a lot warmer than in Kuala Lumpur. Then again, the weather has been so unpredictable these days. The taxis which are pretty much run by the state have a fixed none negotiable fare although drivers are allow to take as many passengers as they deem fit.

This might be an interesting 5 day trip or it might not be as I check into my hotel booked from airbnd. Hotel is less than 10 minutes walk to the night market. The air-conditioner in the room is just for display purposes and the furniture in the room is definitely outdated for today’s standard. I decide to venture out after I checked in.

Luang Prabang is a UNESCO World Heritage City situated at the confluence of two rivers; the mighty Mekong where the murky water runs fast and furious while Khan River on the other hand is shallow and pretty still with man made bamboo bridge crossing for the locals. Quite a contrast with big cities like Kuala Lumpur, LP is quaint, quiet and peaceful. As I follow the instructions given by the hotel, I see women and children selling flower offerings to the temples by the roadside. The Marigold flowers are arranged to the shape of stupa or perhaps pagoda in my opinion. I can only imagine the afternoon heat they have to endure for hours with just a hat or an umbrella. By 4 pm, local vendors are beginning to set up for the night market, which is open 7 days a week. Magnets, t-shirts, incense, and artwork are some of the things being sold here. 

I head to Mount Phou Si, hoping to get some cooler air as it is a 100 meter high hill in the center of old town. At the summit is What Chom Si, a Buddhist temple and also the main tourist attraction on the hill. The air isn’t as cool as I thought, though it is airy. I decide not to stay for the sunset as the bugs are bugging me here.

The early morning alms giving to the monks is also another attraction in Luang Prabang. As early as 6 am, locals and tourists, Buddhists or non Buddhists, with cushions on the footpath, kneel down with sticky rice in bowls getting ready for the stream of monks emerging out from the nearby temples to perform the daily ritual. What’s so fascinating about the ritual is that it is being performed at the backdrop of Luang Prabang’s historic architecture the stretches from one end to the other on both sides. With almost no traffic in sight, and other distraction, attention is totally focused on the relationship between the alms-givers and the monks in their mandarin-colored robes. A beautiful sight and experience indeed.

Kuang Si Falls is a multi-stage waterfall worth visiting on any given hot day in LP. It’s roughly an hour and a half on a van from old town. Water is clear blue and at times may look jade-green. As much as I love to dive in, I decide not to as the place is crowded on and off the water. Towards the end of the walk, lies the highest water which drops approximately 200 feet from above to the pond of crystal clear water. 

The 5 day stay in Luang Prabang passes by quickly. I got up to take a walk around old town early morning on my last day. As I head back to hotel, I notice a stall selling porridge and decide to try. It’s a large bowl of pork porridge served with a seasoned boiled egg. Delicious morning meal for a dollar before I head home with sweet memories in sleepy town Luang Prabang.