Got up c.10am.

I had kinda arranged to meet Louise sometime between 9:30am and 10:30am; she wasn't around so I planted myself in the bar next door (Jimmy's), and sat and had breakfast. Louise turned up just after 10:30am and we went to the hairdressers, in a small square at the near end of West Street, in the direction of Moon Hill, and about 30 seconds walk from the Hotel.

Louise herself was going to have something done in the hairdressers but she decided against it in the end. I had my hair cut quite quickly actually by one of the guys in the barbers, but Louise wasn't satisfied. "Shorter" she insisted! Seems that the first guy wasn't up to the job in question so his manager took over. Man was he *quick*; he certainly knew what he was doing! I must have only been in there about ten minutes in total! He offered to give me a shave, I declined, but maybe I ought to have taken him up on that offer too! It wouldn't have been too expensive, the haircut was only 20 Yuan - In Old Hill I'd be paying just over £5 and that's kinda cheap!

For the next couple of hours me and Louise went shopping down West Street, browsing in many of the stalls that lined either side of the road. Contrary to popular belief we were not holding hands; rumours had already started from the point yesterday that she offered to take me haircutting! She haggled for a couple of friendship-bracelet type things (cotton or wool, with little beads on them), and she bought a few CDs as well. I bought a little Chinese box, initially for Laure as she likes little boxes. Both Louise and Jane said that not all girls liked little boxes and they thus imagined Laure to be a girly-girl!! It does have to be said that it appears that most of the ladies on this trip do seem to be a bit tomboy-ish!!

Yangshuo, West Street.

After going on the Internet for a bit (3 Yuan for 30 minutes), we went our separate ways. I ended up back at a bar, where I stayed for a couple of hours before heading off to have my shave.

While I was walking down the street, something obscure happened. Someone asked me if I was from Yugoslavia! At the time I was wearing my "Target?" t-shirt that I'd bought in Belgrade; it's the first time anyone had ever recognised it! The guy was also from Belgrade, needless to say (and I assume his girlfriend was too, but she never spoke).

Attempted to have a shave. This was easier said than done; hot water appeared to be at a premium so I had to hang around for a few kettles to boil up. I only went through this rigmarole because my electric razor (which I don't like and never use) was currently acting on the not working side of temperamental. Oh well. Anyway, my haircut got a generally well-received reception, which was good. Not sure if I like it yet; not even sure if I care! LOL!

After shaving I did a bit of shopping. While out with Louise I'd passed by a stall selling a furry Chinese army hat with flaps and a red star, so I went back and bought it (haggled down from 55 Yuan to 35). I also bought two CDs for uhm 12 Yuan each - "This Mortal Coil" and Donna Lewis' second album. Not that I knew she had a second album ....

That evening we had a brief introductory lesson to the Mandarin language. Quite interesting but hard to remember everything! Plus it was quite noisy outside at the time and it was very hot inside, making concentration difficult. But we got hand-outs and so we could refer back whenever we needed to. In any case, for the simple things, it wouldn't be that hard to make ourselves be understood.

We had another Chinese banquet after the lesson, in another of the cafes on the street. The excuse for this one was Kathrin's birthday; far be it from me to advertise how old she is but she's the same age as me! :p. We celebrated by having a more unusual dish amongst the menu, freshly cooked snake! And we knew it was freshly cooked as we saw it being killed! The chef let us see the snake beforehand, then chopped its head off with a pair of scissors right before our eyes! As if he was giving a haircut! Cool! Not many of us sampled the snake dishes at the meal, it was mainly me and Andy who devoured it!!

A few of us stayed on for a bit and had a few beers in a cafe, then a few *more* in another one! We got slightly drunk and had strange discussions about future travel, pop music, and the English Royal Family (and yes, I *still* stick by what I said about Princess Diana!!!!). Had a good chat to Louise about holidays, she thinks that if I want to travel, I should; with my house up for rent it shouldn't be hard.

Got back to the hotel at 3am; we were the last to leave the bar and as we walked back, we say no-one else on the whole of West Street at all! It seems bars and shops only open when there are people there to open for, and close when people stop coming or leave! We found ourselves locked out of the hotel and we had to knock on the door to be let in! Whoops!!