China ::Guangdong::.

Sauce and Mustard left Hong Kong on the 17^th Dec 2011. They hopped on the train and headed towards Shenzhen (population of 14 million). Crossing the border was easy and painless, just have your passport ready and departure filled out. Make sure you have your arrival card from Hong Kong ready to prevent questioning. There is English signage throughout the border crossing which are easy to follow. 

Sauce and Mustard noticed an immediate difference in culture and behavior compared to Hong Kong, with crippled buskers and beggars on the streets, people walking monkeys in leads (while Sauce thinks they are pets, Mustard reckons they are on their way to be eaten) and people everywhere. There were cars trying to park wherever, scooters scooting between the crowds and everyone seems to be in a hurry but have no direction.

Sauce and Mustard pushed their way through hundreds of people and being crammed liked sardines in the metro subway with their packs on to arrive at the East Gate Pedestrian Street. The East Gate Pedestrian Street underground market was knock off central with copied DVD’s, CD’s, games, software, apple products and accessories, watches, glasses and other numerous assorted goods all for healthy low prices (RMB Y6 per DVD). 

After knocking over stands and stalls with their packs in the narrow market aisles, Sauce and Mustard went to enjoy a lamb feast at the Muslim Restaurant. The lamb was succulent and juicy, falling right off the bone and melting in the mouth.

With their tummy’s full, they went to a Chinese Spa where they stayed the night. They got a bed, two hours full body massages and a free ice cream for RMB Y158. After getting their bodies pampered and well rested, Sauce and Mustard took the next train to Guangzhou with Mustard’s family the next morning. (Shenzhen-Guangzhou RMB Y80)

Getting off the train, Sauce and Mustard were greeted by family and taken straight to Yum Cha and had Guangzhou’s noodle specialties. Guangzhou is a big city with 12 million people but nothing much to see. Sauce and Mustard spent a couple of hours walking around Big Buddha Temple, Yuexiu Park and looking at shops on Beijing Road.

 Grandma’s place is a quaint three bedroom apartment on floor four and a half. Meeting up with the rest of the family, Sauce and Mustard went to dinner at a local restaurant. Dinner turned out to be quite a celebratory feast with all types of Guangdong food including fresh water turtle that Sauce insisted on having. After a quick shower and goodbyes at Grandma’s, Sauce and Mustard were escorted to the Guangzhou train station by Mustard’s cousin for their journey North.