It was strange to wake up on Christmas morning and be so far removed from the occasion, it did however grow on me and the truth is, it was a liberating feeling not to be confined to the Christmas stereotypes. I took off alone for an early morning walk around the local streets and watched the shops and markets come alive.
We went to Elephant hill and climbed the karst rock there, up to the hilltop pagoda and down to the cave of 1000 Buddhas. There was quite a lot of scaffolding being erected in preparation for the New Year celebrations, so we had to forego some of the scenery. A wine cave, unfortunately locked, smelled quite enticing and we had to duck into the souvenir shop to view the local wares. This did include a large vat of dead black ants that had something to do with an arthritic remedy, we did not indulge, but did buy some wine for the folks at home. The gardens were wet but were worth a look around and sported some peculiar statues and baffling descriptions. Some of the cave writing was very old and in the darker recesses history had been etched for all to see. Newer barriers barred the way in some areas and Chris regaled tales of previous visits with access to rather dangerous rocky outcrops we were glad to have missed.
We then walked across to the other side of the hotel and up to Fubo hill, where we again climbed up to the crowning pagoda. The view was shrouded by the mist and rain of the day, but that maintained a mysterious veil over the surrounding city and proud rocks. We walked the grounds and saw the sword stone, the giant cooking pot and gong, and the obligatory caves.
With aching legs we set off back towards the hotel and Chris found a near empty restaurant for us to enjoy our festive feast. I got involved with the ordering, pushing my Mandarin to its limits in the hope the vegetables would not be meat laden. It seemed to work and we had one of the best meals of the trip, except I managed to confuse a chickens leg with a head and it ended up on our daughter's plate. It was quickly removed and Chris shifted other heads and feet to a nearby napkin to avoid any further upset.
We returned to the hotel and left our daughter in the warm and then set off for a little late shopping, we got Chris a present and landed a few souvenirs, with some expert haggling by my wife. The rain still fell and so we gave in and also returned to the warm embrace of out hotel. This was our last night in mainland China, so I felt uncomfortable wasting it indoors, so once again I took off alone, this time at night, for one last look. I felt strangely sad, I had expected to be relieved, but I wanted to stay and soak up more. I walked along the river and the karst rocks of Seven Star park were up lit against the low clouds. The rain subsided and Guilin hummed with life, the mob of angry mopeds began to swarm again and only then was it time to call it a night. I walked back under the bridge and, in our quest to leave us much of our belongings behind, left my jacket and jumper on the bars of a sleeping mans bicycle.
第10天是2016年12月25日，下雨了，下雨了，下雨了！
在圣诞节的早晨醒来，并且在这个时节远离很奇怪，可是它确实改变我的想法，事实是，这是一种解放的感觉，不被设限在圣诞节的刻板印象。清晨我独自一个人在当地的街道上散步，看着商店和市场活络起来。
我们去了大象山，爬上喀斯特石灰岩，到山顶宝塔，到1000诸佛的洞穴。那里架设了很多脚手架，正在筹备新年的庆祝活动，所以我们不得不舍弃一些景点。 一个酒窖不幸被锁着，闻起来相当诱人，我们不得不进入纪念品商店看看当地的商品。 这包括一大桶死黑蚂蚁，与治疗关节炎有关，我们并不爱喝酒，但却为了亲戚买了一些酒放在家里。这个花园是淋湿了，但值得一看，而且有一些特有的雕像和难以理解的描述。一些洞穴的铭刻非常古老，在更黑暗的深处可看到历史的蚀刻。在一些区域有较新的障碍挡在路上，克里斯不亦乐乎说明先前游览过的事，进去那里的岩石露出地表是相当危险，但我们很高兴没去。
我们接着走到酒店的另一边，直到富博山，在那里我们再次爬上了加冠的宝塔。 这个景色被这天的薄雾和雨所覆盖，在周围的城市和傲人的岩石仍保持着神秘的面纱。我们走在广场，看到了剑石，巨锅和锣，和必看的洞穴。
带着疼痛的腿，我们回到酒店，克里斯找到一个几乎空的餐厅，享受我们的节日盛宴。我参与了点菜，把我的普通话推到极限，希望蔬菜里没有肉。看起来似乎奏效，我们享用了旅程其中最好的一餐，除了我把鸡腿和头搞混了，最后在我们的女儿的盘子上。但它很快被拿掉了，克里斯很快地把其他的头和脚移到附近的餐巾纸，以避免任何进一步的烦恼。
我们回到了酒店，留下我们的女儿在温暖的饭店里，那时出发去购物有点晚，我们准备买给克里斯一个礼物，买到了一些纪念品，有一些由我专门讨价还价的妻子买的。雨依然在下，所以我们只好回到酒店温暖的怀抱。这是我们在中国大陆的最后一天晚上，所以我不想把时间浪费在室内，所以我再次独自一人出去，这次是在晚上，最后再看一看。我感到莫名的难过，原本我预期将会松口气，但我想留下来吸收更多。我沿着河边走，七星公园的岩溶岩点亮了低云。雨势稍歇，桂林开始忙忙碌碌的生活，发动着的轻便摩托车再次蜂拥而至，直到那时才满足地结束这一天。我走回桥下，在我们的讨论之下，决定留下我们的物品，所以把我的夹克挂在一辆自行车的长杆上给一个流浪汉。
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