SIFTING THE SAND ON HAINAN ISLAND CHINA

While luxuriating on the beaches of Da Dong Hai and Yalong on Hainan Island, I saw workers from the hotels come to the beach daily with a screen the size of a medium window frame, and a shovel. They would shovel the first thin layer of beach sand and toss it into the screen sifting the debris. Meter by meter, they sifted the whole length of the beach.

Their beaches are immaculate; uncomparable even to Hawaii.

Typhoon Season in Hainan China

July through October is typhoon season in Hainan China. In Sept of this year the worst typhoon in 32 years struck Hainan like a flash. It was not pleasant, although not as severe as hurrican Hugo, Sept. 17, 1989.

I have suffered through both. Still, the first choice is to get out, and as a tourist coming to Hainan, my advice is to avoid this season.

Factoids from Hainan China

My Chinese friend in Hainan tells me the Chinese thought they were the only people in the world, until the opium wars.

10,000 years ago the Mongolians migrated across the Bering Straits to what is now America. We called this base race Indians when America was "discovered."

During the Cultural Revolution, 80% of the population had no food whatsoever.

Hainan NON

Within 10 minutes of landing, it felt NON, non spiritual. NON existent.

It bothered me at first, wanting instead the essence of the rituals of, say perhaps, the Balinese. Then I remembered, from earlier travel throughout China and Indo-China. I remembered the Blue car burned with the Monk who set himself on fire in Vietnam, the Cultural Revolution’s loss of identity and culture, Pot Poh in Cambodia, Su Kri under house arrest, theocracies of idealism, separation of church and state and then I remembered to suspend it all (after all, I had just been in India three months earlier, what was I expecting anyway?) so I suspended---just to see what is within this culture on this island, like any other island, man-made or otherwise.

I've been here a month. The people are the most kind and hospitable ever. About the third week, it hit me. It’s usually the third week where ever I go. In India, when I was greeted for the thousandth time with the red on the forehead to “energize me” I broke down in tears from emotional overload. Ten minutes later, I was fine. So within the third week, here in Hainan China, it happened again. I was sitting in a Russian restaurant, and all of a sudden, motivated by nothing specific at all, I missed my deceased dog so much, I could barely get the napkin off my lap, pay the bill (no tip necessary in China) and say goodbye in a controlled manner. Ten minutes later, a wave of spiritual energy bathed my body. I had been lifted up somehow, my mind clear as a bell, in that cafe, drinking a cup of coffee and talking stories to the waiter.

Whatever stories we make up, create, recreate, recite, or omit, to give reason to our existence, is OK and NON OK, because its source comes from within the culture anyway, with or without doctrine. Democratic India (Kerals excluded) or Communist China--same source. Now every day, miracles are happening here. I can travel anywhere.

Quick Post from Hainan Island China

Moon Cakes

When China was conquered and controlled by the Monglolians, one night, on that full moon, when all were exchanging moon cakes, another message was also being exchanged. Notes were slipped under the moon cakes, passed from person to person, saying, "Tonight is the night to fight the Mongolians," and the battle began under the full moon.

Chinese in Plain English - Hainan Island China

Here we are in Hainan Provence, China! The "Oriental Hawaii" more or less. More beach, less bodies.

Yalong Bay is gorgeous. It's an uncrowded white expansive beach, quiet, clean air and water. This is a very affordable 5 star paradise. Guest house options in Da Dong Hai are available for a long term stay of a month or more.

Currently, Sanya, the capital, has many Russian visitors, coming here to relieve themselves of the cold. Other seasons, Europeans and Australians find this place to their liking.

Menus are in Russian or Chinese. You have to ask for one in English.

Very few Chinese here speak English so bring a book of translations, it is very helpful and indeed necessary. It took me 30 minutes to order a fresh coconut juice in Chinese and 3 seconds to understand the overflow of emotions from the Russians. These Russians put Marcel Marceau to shame. We totally understood one another without a common word and ended up sharing a taxi.

So now let's speak in plain English. Let's start with Chevrolet. That good ol' American car we revered in the 50's. It has begun a joint venture with China, producing a very cute, small SUV for a mere $10,000 usd. Not available in the USA. The Chinese are buying them like moon cakes.

Then remember Snyder's pretzels, 1909, the big, hard, chunky kind? All the broken pieces get sent to China for marketing. You can just lick the package and the crumbs and taste a paste of either cheese, honey mustard, apple cinnamon, cream caramel, or onion. Bursting with flavor and profit for Mr. Snyder.

Feel like brushing your teeth after that? Rembrandt tooth shine, for $8-10 usd in USA, $1.50 usd here. Need a calculator or tranlator hand-held? I went to the Business shop, not just an ordinary shop, tried 10 calculators, 4 didn't work right off--Chinese made goods at their worst.

TV: 36 channels, non cable, with Dynasty period soap operas with costumes and hairdos and hats abound, flying daggers style. Game shows, singing contests and war documentaries, every hour, every day. Then there are the extravaganza celebrations, featuring a video collage of all the above, interwoven, so somehow it all relates to nature and reality today, complete with little smiling children singing and marching, while the audience waves little red flags.

Miss World 2005 in Hainan. Chinese in plain English.

As I said, this time of year all menus are in Russian or Chinese. DA! I went to the hot springs spa, pointed to the Russian menu, a program of massage called "Imperial," thinking Chinese Imperial or Russian Imperial, I cannot go astray. There must be some common element here. The Imperial massage package is a bag of rocks, about the size and shape of sugar cubes, rolled, kneaded, and scrubbed across your entire body for one hour. Oh, did I mention that they are hot scalding rocks wrapped in cloth? I didn't give up or give in.

I went on to the foot reflexology test. Mind you, I am an expert on every kind of body therapy existent, and this is the very best in the world. Vietnam comes close. It hurts, it's effective, and afterwards one feels like they had a complete body and head renewal. Two days later, I went back for more. It hurts, it's effective, and, well, you get the feeling.

I'm off for the day, in the Chevy SUV, teeth brushed, body scrubbed, reflexed, Snyder's packed, translation book in hand, going to attempt, from the Russian menu, to eat without selecting fish chin, duck feet, or fish eyes.

More on food tomorrow!

SET tour vs. CUSTOM tour

SET tours depart and return on a SET date, from a SET city of origin, with a SET itinerary, SET meals, SET transports, SET groups, SET everything. There is very little flexibility.

CUSTOM tours are not as expensive as you may think and most often, private guiding, group guiding, and independant exploration can be combined for an affordable and satisfying journey.

GUIDE your GUIDE

Tired this AM? Call your guide on his mobile and ask him to come back after your third cup of coffee, then ride the elephant. Want to dine with your sweatheart at the restaurant you just saw a block back with the duck hanging from a hook? Ask your guide to turn around, take you back and meet up again in 2 hours. Then, proceed to the Silk district.

Overload on the 34^th temple in 3 days. Ask your guide to take you for a swim in the nearest lake or to your guide's favorite hang out for "people watching." Want to purchase that request from aunt Sarah, age 90, who likes clay pipes? Ask your guide where to find them without hunting or digging.

Is your guide a little too eager to show you the history of their entire civilization in one week? Ask for some private time, a quiet place to sketch, or a place of live music.

Just driven 3 hours over hand crushed gravel in a Russain jeep, over the mountains of China to see the hill tribes people? Ask them not only for open air relief but a brief stretch before continuing onward up the mountain where billy goats tread carefully.

Can't take another day of guiding at all? Call your guide, and go to the beach for the day.

Guide your guide and you both will be fulfilled.

Guides and Driver

Did the driver get you there safely? Was your guide knowledgable and generous with his information? Would you have enjoyed the trip as much without them? Is there one or two guides or drivers you'd never forget?

Most guides love to be guides for the same reason we all love to travel. They make their living from our appreciation.

GIFTS

Do you still take pencils, crayons, greeting cards, ribbons, hair clips, or napkins as gifts to foreign countries? Many well meaning people do and in most cases children (and adults) just love to receive something. They are then able to make contact, smile, say thank you, and shake your hand.

However, think through thoroughly what a child might like: much the same stuff, really, that a child in your own country might enjoy.

I remember, I gave some coins to a child before I left for the airport to return home. She accepted them and said to me, "I can't spend too much of this on food, because there are other things we need." She became very quiet and thoughtful and placed the coins in her pocket. Be thoughtful in your giving.

Real Estate in Thailand

Looking for real estate to purchase in Thailand? Give us a call with your requests and we can get you started. Land only, land and house, villas, for private use.

888.333.7071

Travel Insurance

It is always wise to protect your travel investment. Minimum coverage would be a basic trip cancellation. About $100 us is well worth it, and would include evacuation in case of emergency.

A comprehensive plan will cover all medical and dental emergencys as well as trip cancellation, trip interuption, missed connection, travel delay, travel accident, baggage delay and loss. This type of travel insurance plan is based on age, duration and cost of the trip.

Inquire if pre existing conditions are covered in your plan. Usually, if you book with in 7-14 days after your first deposit, they are covered.

Best of all, a few cover cancellation for any reason, including if ANY family member, not even traveling, causes cancellation of the trip.

Golden Fish Travels offers all options for travel insurance, and we highly recommend that you consider it.

THE SACRED/POLITICAL COW

Politians offer the farmers a stipend to paint the horns of their sacred cow adorning it with the colors of the party. The farmers accept and cow is oblivious to his his new role as a sacred political animal. A theocracy of sorts? See our new India travel page!

FOOT MASSAGE? SURE!

In India, if a Tamil woman offers you a foot massage, you can be sure it is of the type where she stands on one foot, holding onto a rope that drops from the ceiling, while her other foot proceeds to give you entire body a "foot massage."

Breakfast in Kerala, INDIA

Outside my bungalow in India, overlooking the Arabian Sea, a smiling dark skinned, white attired waiter places upon my table, a tray of steamed banana, ginger, cardomon and honey. There is something strange about his smile. He leaves quickly.

Just as quickly, before I even have time to place my napkin on my lap, Crows appear, actually there are 12, on my chair, on the table, perching on the cardamom container. These crows look BIG. I watch lifting my fork with one eye on the cardomon and one eye on the flock.

Crow 1 lifts the sugar packet out of the bowl and flies away with it, paper and all in his beak, sugar sprinkling the freshly watered grass.

Crow 2 about 6 inches from my plate, knocks over the honey pot, just as crow 1 returns for more sugar.

Crow 2 sips the honey through his beak, and then wipes his beak sideways on the table cloth. MY table cloths. My fork is still in the air and my mouth is open. I have not as yet even taken a sip of tea.

Surely they dont like masala tea, do they?

Fork down, one eye still upon crows, I pour myslf a cup, exhale for one second to place the flask back on the table, they move closer to the center of the table, and within a milisecond on my next inhale, I clutch my cup and take a quick gulp and remember the bananas. Simultaneously, Crow 3 abscounds with the entire banana in his beak, mybreakfast devoured by crows.

Back again for the ginger and cardomon. He pecks the plactic off the rim of the bowl, discards it quickly, repeats, discards, pokes a hole in the plasitc and they all enjoy the find.

I move to the shade, away from my ascended banana, spilled sugar packets, oozing honey, saturated table cloth, and plastic shreds.

I view my guests from a distance, taking my tea cup with me, my only remaining breakfast. A few more crows descend, sipping the honey and wiping their beaks, a regular ritural.

One last crow perches on my chair, hoveving over my tea cup held in my hand ----and takes a sip.

Slipper Stories

...there is a gentle nudge on my shoulder and a faint spell of beef tenderloin throughout the cabin.

I had fallen asleep while all the meals had been served. How can this be?

Then I noticed a strange phenomonon. Of course we all had our slippers on, but certain patterns were emerging. Red slippers for beef and noodles, yellow for chicken and rice and green for vegetarian.

Yep--I was wearing the green ones and all my meals had been vegetarian.

Before the next meal, I managed to stuff my green slippers under the seats and wiggle my toes into the Red slippers of the Japanese next to me who was dead asleep and you guessed it, my next meal was Marinated flank steak, sauted mushrooms, baked potato, Ceasar salad while the guy next to me wearing my green slippers, was slurping udon and miso. I had cracked the code of the colored slippers.

The point of this absurdity as described above is to point out and elucidate the fact that in Japan colored slippers are very very important. One color is worn outside and left at the door as you enter. Another color is slipped on after entering and yet another pair is offerred as one enters the bathroom and so forth in reverse order. Sometimes one doesnt know if he/she is coming or going!

Anybody our there with slipper stories?

THE SPIRIT OF TRAVEL IS AN ACT OF OPTIMISM

From the minute you decide travel, there is risk.

Like, who's going to feed the dog while your'e away, and who's going to take you to the airport? A Dog doesn't understand abandonment with out some kind of advance notice. And this generally means chopped sirloin in his/her bowl for a month prior. Now, a Cat will abandon you before you even finish packing. As for the Bird, the cage will be full of shit after the first week and it will succumb to its own fumes.

So then, how do you get out of town when your frieinds are wishing you a Bon Voyage at the speed of light and disappear for weeks, hoping you wont ask them to take you to the airport. Bon Voyage really means, Bon Chance/Good Luck, which translates to "take a taxi."

Then there is the packing. Over weight already with: Mosquito repellant: pills for pre-, during-, and after-cold; jet lag pills; malaria pills; h2o purifier pills; Tiger balm; Dragon Balm; and that around your neck air purifier from Sharper image (air blowing up your nostrils when you're crammed into the middle seat, three in a row, knees to chest, when you specifically asked for an isle seat/bulkhead--a Sharp image indeed).

Then there is the plane itself. Oh, I dont mean the fact that it could crash land (did that in Singapore), but that you could be air sick for 13 hours enroute to Hanoi, landing in time for a tour of the Chu Chi Tunnels, or 16 hours to Columbo now sleepless and throwing up, or 24 hours to Cochin and Curry.

OHHHHHHH the food. JAL enroute to Narita. 9 hours out and still air sick. I am delevered a meal of tofu and fermented black bean sauce with a side of shredded white radish. Dessert? Green tea soufle.

OK, OK, this is about travel being an act of optimism and Ill get to that soon as the air sickness passes. Lets pause here for a movie aboard flight 333 enroute to Optimism.

Spring Break is Over

Spring Break is Over and Christmas is Hovering

Now is the time to book cozy cottages on the North Shore of Hawaii to watch the surfers, Villas in Bali to be pampered, affordable resorts in Vietnam to soak up the culture, and Japan for the wonderous Snow Festivals and Onsen (hot spring) experience. Don't forget Thanksgiving for a family getaway. We are booking all of these travel destinations now.

DO SAND FLEAS MATTER?

If your travel agent doesn't know what beaches are inhabited by sand fleas, she/he hasnt been there.

Golden Fish Travels only books destinations which we have actually experieinced in depth.

Sand fleas cause very severe allergic reactions and sores that can mess up an entire beach vacation.

First question to ask your travel agent: does she/he know where the sand fleas live?

The Itinerary

To a Travel Agent, reading a travel itinerary is as satisfying as a cook reading a cookbook. And this is VERY satisfying—next to ACTUALLY being there and sitting down to the table, partaking in the plat de jour, wine glasses raised, and spirits lifted.

The travel itinerary recipe is the preparation for the future and a recall of the past. The itinerary recipe is the reoccurring creative preparation for the next meal—the next journey you know you are about to take—NEXT Summer, next winter, and next spring. The Itinerary recalls, and calls forth, all that was absorbed, engulfed ingested—LAST Summer, last Winter and last Spring. The itinerary recipe is the first draft of a dream, a visit, and an exploration.

In every instance, in this creative preparation, the visual image appears first. How is the dish or destination to be prepared and presented, remembered, and anticipated. Color, texture, ingredients, accoutrements, utensils, steamers, woks, walks—ah yes, good walking shoes, and we are off and running.

Timing is an essential factor in making the event come together, without keeping your guests and/or guides waiting. Place mats, silver, goblets, flowers, waterfalls and forests. Natives.

Isolate the salt air, the paper currency, the curry, the herbs, the fish sauce, the sand, the pavement, the jungle and I can tell you where I am in 3 seconds flat. No guessing.

30 seconds into the Itinerary the mouth starts to water, not from thirst, but rather from anticipation, as each ingredient, or destination, is blended, folded, combined, sifted, to perfection, recalled or recreated.

Then, the aroma seems to waft—over the rooftops, permeate throughout the village, and the effusiveness of sesame seed oil identifies the locale: Japan.

Triggering every fragmented image, the destination floods your mind assembling into a totality, complete with every detail, every discussion, every nuance, right down to the scent of the paper bills of every transaction. Egypt.

Coconut chicken with banana blossom and sweet-spiced tea IS viewing Mr. Everest from Pole Three. Nepal. A splendor to behold in every sense.

Not enough for the senses? Embellish, alter, refine, exaggerate—just hopping on that bullet train in time for Kyoto, a little pinch of danger and the elephant is charging us—in Sri Lanka. Or you are traversing along the Great Wall, entering the Angkor Wat, buying Rambutan from the women at the market place.

The real creativity, of course, takes place in the IMAGINATION, in the process, and the appreciation of this exploration. Whether you plan you own itinerary, coordinate your efforts with a Travel Agent or let your travel agent recommend an adventure, it does not matter, for you are on your way. The journey has begun.

Will it be recreated exactly as you remember it? Will it be remembered just how you experienced it, or does the memory reach back into the experience and, recreate it over and over reshaping the details? Perhaps, if you let it, the next journey will exceed every expectation.

When the travel itinerary is served up, every sensation floating from its pages, the mouth waters once again, and the mind reaches back, then we are immediately transported to the pleasure and delight of someplace new or something we will never forget, or something for which we’ve always longed.

Frequent or occasional Travelers Benefit from Booking with Us

It doesn't matter if you travel frequently or once just every two years, come here first.

We book only destinations to which we have traveled personally and have in-depth knowledge. If we don't know the answer you are seeking our partners in Asia will and we will share it with you.

We will create opportunities for charity events, corporate perks, bonuses, conferences, et al. Just let us know what you want and we will create it, affordably.

CHINA
Do you have a group of 10 or more to China? Book with us and we will give one free trip to your group. Maybe you'd like to visit Hainan Island, the "Oriental Hawaii," off the South China Coast?

JAPAN
Do you require business class to Japan for 2100usd/pp to NRT or KIX? We offer the most complete choice of ryokans/traditional inns in Japan. 100 usd/nt up to 1000 usd/nt, our choice.
We offer also personalized private guiding (not a government employee) in Japan that is so affordable you will not waste your money on site seeing by group bus tours ever again!

*A visit to the Sumo Stables?
*Geisha district tour with our expert who married a former Geisha?
*Overnight in a monastery?
*Marriage on top of Mt Fuji?

VIETNAM
How about a private tour with English speaking guide and driver to Vietnam? Individuals or groups. Best way to experience VN! AND Visit the hill tribes along the Chinese border aboard a private train.

Welcome to Travel Bound!

Travel Bound is a new Blog from Golden Fish Travels, a Hawaii travel agency that specializes in travel to Asia, the Pacific Rim, the South Pacific, and Hawaii. The primary writer will be Anne Leveque, owner of Golden Fish Travels.

Anne has traveled throughout the world and served in many professional capacities in the travel industry, international schools, and global non-profit outreach.

Anne's travel expertise ensures knowledgeable and superb service in planning for your trip every step of the way. From initial travel planning to the return home, Anne introduces each travel destination with a brief essay about her personal experiences in that location. This travel blog will feature current specials for those various travel destinations, and all prices posted are subject to change. Please check the date of the post to determine the freshness of the offer.

Anne will imbue your vision, before you even leave, with a state of wonder and beauty that becomes incorporated into your travel experiences. She shares her travel experiences and fascination with Asia in her narratives introducing each of the Asia and Pacific Rim destinations pages of her travel website.

The Golden Fish Travels web site has travel information about many Asian and Pacific travel destinations. Learn how Anne can help you plan intimate vacation packages, last minute travel deals, and the kinds of specials (which will be announced in this blog) that you'd expect from a Hawaii travel agency where Hawaii can be used as the jumping off point for Pacific Rim, South Pacific, and Asia travel.

If you're interested in travel to Hainan Island, China, Golden Fish Travels can arrange a great package to the Hawaii of the Orient. If you prefer the US Hawaii, Golden Fish Travels can help you plan a Hawaii luxury vacation or Hawaii family vacations and other Hawaii vacation packages.

Hawaiian vacations can just be a jumping off point for Pacific travel. Thailand vacations, Tahiti vacations, Tibet travel, and other exotic travel destinations await you! Golden Fish Travels also arranges the best destination weddings and intimate travel packages for your honeymoon.

Golden Fish Travels travel agency can arrange discount or luxury vacations packages to Japan, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Nepal, Tibet, Bhutan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Hawaii, Fiji, Tahiti, New Zealand, and more. Custom travel itineraries are their specialty!

In the coming weeks, Anne will be adding more narratives about many exotic travel destinations to this travel web log. We hope you will subscribe and keep reading!