Watchlords

I leave May 27 and arrive May 28 in Beijing to meet up with Li Wei of the China Horologe Association, then...

• June 1st: Shijiazhuang with my brother Ma Rong,
• June 6th: Luoyang and Xinmi, with my ex-guide, now friend, Sky Han, and with Li Jiushun, the older gentleman who first befriended me in 2013 and whom I visited in 2015 (well, older than most folks I know in China--Li Jiushun is younger than me ),
• June 9th: Fenghuang (never been there before, see the photos below),
• June 14th between Guilin and Yangshuo (I've booked rooms in both places so I can go back and forth at will--it's really pretty around there),
• June 19th in Shenzhen to meet up with Joel Chan of Micmicmor Vintage Watch and see the China Watch and Clock Fair, including meets with Robin Tallendier and Wilfried Buiron of Atalier Wen , but also all my friends with the CHA and the Guangzhou Watch and Clock Association, too, and MCH and Longio--and anyone else who will take time to see me .
• June 23rd...I'm not sure exactly but I have to be back in Beijing June 28th to fly home.

Here's a few photos of Fenghuang (I'll take my own when I get there)...

(Not my photos)







Evidently it gets lit up all purty at night...



I have valued friends everywhere else I'm visiting in China, now that I have a few visits behind me, but my days in Fenghuang, and my time between Guilin and Yangshuo, are pure relaxed solo tourist time.

I've been to Guilin and Yangshuo before but, for example, I only had a single afternoon in Yangshuo and as soon as I got there I knew I was at the very least a day or two short of what it deserved.

And Fenghuang...I mean: just look at the place. It's old, it's a "water town", lots of it is on stilts, there's a bunch of bridges (some of them just pylons to step on), and I have a very decent room right on the river for five nights for just over $200 total As soon as I saw the photos I knew I had to go.

I'll keep you all posted as I travel, but I am so excited now that it's close I can almost taste the Chuan'er, Tofu Nao and Er Guo Tou.

Quite an itinerary!!..have a lot of fun, bring back some interesting souvenirs, and be safe..

Have a safe trip AT! Looking forward to the pics and writeup.

Awesome! Hope you have a blast!

Vaya con dios, brother!

Cool---

If I win our bet while you're there (WAPO filed for dismissal AIR 4/7 and MAGA Boy Inc is dragging their feet for responding, but may have done so recently) you could send my watch from right at one of the cool manufactures or folks you visit with a pic of you and them and the watch and maybe a plaque or one of those exquisitely cool calligraphy certificates they hand make over there to commemorate the occasion, or something.

I shall look forward as always to the travelogues.

Safe travels, Ron!

Fenghuang looks like an amazing place. Enjoy your trip and be safe.

Will be a busy and exciting trip! Look forward to your travel takes.

Thanks everyone! I seriously wish y'all could join me.

(3F, it would almost be worth losing to see that happen )