Fwd: #2 Monday 3 June 2013

The second stop on our day trip was the Nansha Wetlands Park, another 60 km. south,

We passed more vegetable and fish farms on our route to this park, which is located

where the Pearl River and the ocean water meet.  

This wetlands park is a good example of the many tourist sites that the country

has recently developed.  They are always very well designed and built.

Our group took a pleasant boat ride through the wetlands, which reminded me

of the Florida everglades, even though I have never been there. The mangrove trees

were especially interesting, as were the snow-white egrets (birds) that winter there en route

from Siberia and Australia.  This is a bird watcher's paradise.

Then our group biked around the park.  This was the first time I have been nervous in China.

First, the bike was difficult to steer.  But mainly, I was nervous cycling with so many people all

around me.  It was a crash waiting to happen, so I cut the fun short.  As I thought about it, I realized

that I am not a great cyclist, but mainly, the number of people on the road simply made me frightened.

Then I thought, "I have only ever cycled on a country, prairie road, and by myself, never in a city."

There was a cultural disconnect happening here.

Next to the park was a fish market, since the place is next to the fishing piers.  The variety of fish was

amazing, and not all looked delicious, but some of the office girls vouched for it.