Haikou's chapter of my Hainan Island tour had come to an end, I was ready to head south towards Sanya. That Hainan C Train showed me a rather tropical view indeed, I appreciated those dreamy blue skies. Yalong Bay saw me acting different, I embraced my own beach-side energy! A hotel review? H, I wasn't disappointed but I also wasn't impressed at the same time!
Waking up for that morning train departure from Haikou East Railway Station didn't impress me! Well, the station was fine and my KFC breakfast didn't offend me but something inside the station did. Haikou had been just what I had needed after running around Beijing and Wuhan with Hunan in-tow, I appreciated that beach-side city because those tropical climbs felt amazing! The taxi ride from my Qilou Old Street based guesthouse didn't take long, it was actually easier to jump into a local taxi the traditional way rather than ordering a DiDi! I was ready for a beach that I could soak up the sun at, I appreciated Haikou's serving of sand but I wanted something less city like. Oh, yes! I will forever not abide people who spit full stop, out of nowhere a guy who was sitting in front of me gobbed all over the floor from the comfort of his train station waiting area seat! I wasn't shocked, I wasn't appalled, rather I felt embarrassed for his potential future offspring because they already deserved a better role model. He was young!
That was his choice, not mine! I was glad that I had chose KFC because when 'Dicos' is the only 'Burger King' like option, that's not the one for me! My waiting time was an interesting experience because for the first time since arriving into China, I was able to see foreign tourists waiting for their trains with their overseas travel documents present. I didn't need to hear where those two white men were from, I clocked one of the guys tattoos, a tasteful black inking of the African continent map. The dead giveaway was the rifle gun he had inked onto his shoulder, it screamed White Afrikaans person without any doubt in mind. That suspicion was confirmed whilst I was waiting for my passport to be checked at Sanya Railway Station, he and his travel companion were in-fact talking to each other in the Afrikaans language. That train journey was lovely, the views were like no other, truly I felt that my holiday had commenced! With tropical sunshine being served from the very first moment, that Sanya arrival saw me refocused. Bye, H!
I'll get to my hotel room and accommodation offerings in due course, the beach was calling me! I was expecting QR Codes on the beach with a never-ending service of cocktails but I had to make my own hospitality program! Changing into my swimming shorts took me all of ten seconds, I wasn't mad enough to miss out on that Sanya sunshine in Yalong Bay! Crossing the road outside of the hotel allowed me to access the beach, I was expecting great things! No bar? I was actually spitting feathers and with that holiday beach mode switched on turbo mode, I needed a bevvy or six! Seeing that ocean blue was a treat but realising I was one of the very few foreigners wasn't really a shock to me. I clocked that no bar was present on that side of the beach, I had no time to further explore the area because I was much too thirsty! Clocking a restaurant was like all of my Christmases had come at once! Buying up the contents of the fridge had to be done, I had my Tsingtao beers for the next two hours or so! Lunch would follow later, I wanted to catch a tan!
Bagging myself a sun lounger was only possible by the kindness of a woman who's husband and son were both swimming in the sea. Cracking open my first can allowed all of my travel stresses to melt away, cranking up my own tunes allowed me to live my best life on that beach! I did swim in the sea that day, that was after about four cans and I was progressively swaying without any shame! The water felt like bliss but I didn't want to get any salt water in my can of Chinese beer! The sun loved me right back, I loved gazing into the distance with those golden sands and blue waters in my direct view. Getting into the summer holiday spirit saw me get extremely boozy but I was the only one with that mentality, I meant no harm and to be honest I was fine. Both days spent by that beach proved to be thirsty work, I managed to get some food from a Halal Chinese restaurant but with a can of beer in my hand I had to wait outside after they asked me to leave. I made the best of my beach experience and loved every second! Oh, I slept so well!
Checking into my second China Highlights booked hotel during that 2023 summer trip was an interesting experience. Being realistic with my budget, I definitely took a risk with the quality of those accommodations. Yalong Bay's 'Resort Golden Palm' didn't have me stressed because I kept my expectations low, like real low. I appreciated my taxi door being opened by one of the staff, I could get to used to that complimentary service. Check-in wasn't a problem and I was even directed to the lift by one of the reception staff. Of course, the Pandemic had changed the hotel because the reception bar was no more, maybe the Russians had all gone somewhere else? Getting to the room to leave my bag was the right thing to do, I ended up being in a twin room. Having a twin room for three nights wasn't a problem because I was able to lay my clothes out on one bed, one to organize things and the other for sleeping. Yes, I broke out onto that balcony because I wanted to live my beach holiday fantasy! It was nice to be in a holiday hotel! OK, YB!
I slept soundly during those three nights, the first day had been a long day with a boozy afternoon and evening on the beach. I returned to my room with pure delusion served, I thought that I was about to hit the town? No, I actually got ready but as soon as I lay on top of that 'Resort Golden Palm' bed, I knocked out cold! Yes, the laundry service impressed me much! I was able to bag up everything, housekeeping took the whole load away and returned conveniently at the same time as I did. It was really easy for me to pay for the whole lot, my clothes had been laundered and ironed for less than £25. I was able to pay on WeChat with pure ease. Breakfast was basic, honestly speaking I wanted more but I was able to fill myself up reasonably for two mornings out of three. I did go for a quick swim in one of the pools but was disappointed to see that the former pool bar no longer sold alcohol, there was a serious lack of booze! Aside from the pool facilities and the absence of a bar, I was content with that hotel stay.
My plan to be boujee beside the sea came true on the final evening, I had clocked a different kind of venue during the previous night. I had decided to head back to my room with some food, RuPaul's Drag Race Down Under called me back also. With my day in Baoting done, I needed a cocktail or three because things had been hectic! My usual go-to APP had tracked down that unknown nearby venue. It was a flashy looking cocktail lounge with food to order, I knew that a Negroni would need to be ordered quickly! It was clear that my kind didn't usually frequent that venue very often, I took that as a challenge. My first three drinks orders were fine, I lay outside on the elevated platform, those comfy chairs allowed me to lounge about with my mixed drinks. You couldn't tell me nothing, the sun was hitting different and those drinks had been mixed right! I had officially entered 'My Sunkissed Era' and I loved every second of it! Respectfully, I wasn't about to tolerate any foolery because my vibe was right. Amiga, que te pasa? ¡En serio, B!
I was open to the fact that my presence in the bar wasn't a usual occurrence for the bar-staff, but I wasn't ready for what was about to happen. I had ordered my four or so drink with the intention that it was my penultimate, payment for the Negroni went through famously but clearly the bar hadn't been stocked. I stood for a few minutes whilst chaos ensued behind that same bar, the guys behind the bar didn't know how to act. I compromised, I accepted a seriously strong JD with Coke. I was over that mishap, it highlighted that if certain cocktails are being sold then all components should be present. It was rather amusing to me that all service at the bar had ceased when I went back to ask for another drink, apparently only two of the guys in the team could pour drinks? Calling it a night, from beginning to end it was clear to see that the journey to Yalong Bay, beach days and cocktail drinking proved to be eventful indeed! Checking out, I headed for Wanning with a picture perfect prediction. I would be needing another drink!
My Own Boozy Beach!
Desperately Seeking Adventure
