2/20/2010 ? A Wonderful Evening

After seeing the cave we went back to the Hotel for dinner. I had a little time and checked my e-mail on the hotel’s computer. I received an e-mail from an advisor at Portland State University saying that the psychology course I am taking on the ship has been approved to transfer toward my major as a 400 – level course! This means that I should not have to take any other classes at PSU to graduate. After Semester at Sea I am done with my undergraduate career! This was, and still is, amazing news. In a wonderful mood I had dinner and went to a show performed on the water with natural scenery as the backdrop.

“Impression Liu Sanjie” was an amazing performance of folk dance and music directed by the same man who directed the opening Olympics ceremony in Beijing. Lights were the big effect with torches, spotlights and backlight of various colors. At one point the whole scene is red, and at another point it is all blue and calm. Large floating rafts with lit scenery floated on the water. At one time everything was black except for the lights on the peoples costumes. All I could see were these lights in the shape of people apparently dancing across the water. It was beautiful. The whole show was absolutely amazing and employees a large percentage of the people in Yangshuo.

After the show we went to West Street, where our hotel is. West Street is also where all the vendors of arts, crafts, clothing, and souvenirs are. I shopped for a bit and got my bargaining skills a little more fine tuned, even though I think it is not my best skill. After a little bit of shopping I met up with more friends from the trip and we all went out to the bars.

Today was a celebration of my being able to graduate so I got a few drinks for free. First we went to a bar that was a little overpriced, and not much fun, but it was called the Casablanca. Then we continued and found a little place that was selling very cheap beer, had good music, a pool table, table soccer, and a TV showing soccer games from Europe. I had a great time at this bar. I played a game of pool, which lasted forever because we were all terrible and the table was not flat. During the game I was dancing, lip sinking to the music, and just having fun because I was so happy! Plus the music was pretty fun too.

When the small bar was getting ready to close we moved on to the only place that was still open. A tiny techno club with a small stage and a stripper pole was the only place left. We went in and ordered a round of drinks. Then I was able to get about four of us up and dancing. While we were dancing I heard some English, and low and behold there was a group of people from Pittsburg, with a friend from Canada, partying with us in Yangshuo, China!  I had an awesome time, but it started being too late and tomorrow was another day. So I went back to the hotel with a friend.

We walked down West Street and it had been transformed. Before it had been a place of busy commerce where venders and wares lined the street as tourists and townies alike perused the merchandise. As we walked now it was dark and dead. Everything had been moved inside and locked. Only a few guys, hoping to get a taxi job, could be seen in the empty street as we walked to the Hotel. It was quite the transformation.