Sanya / Hainan Island

[TB-Racing]

some more Maogong Mountain pictures.

[TB-Racing]

Good Morning China!!!
It's another warm and sunny day in Sanya -Forever Tropical Paradise-.........

[thedannywahl]

Good Morning China!!!
It's another warm and sunny day in Sanya -Forever Tropical Paradise-.........

Is that the Howard Johnson's? My wife and I spent Christmas Eve there for dinner about 4 years ago. We were the only people in the restaurant when a full choir of about 30 wait staff in Santa suits showed up and sang us Christmas carols for 30-40 minutes.

We even got "fa-ra-ra-ra-ra ra-ra ra-ra". best Christmas, ever!

[TB-Racing]

Is that the Howard Johnson's?

Nope, not the HoJo, not a fan of them at all.....Moved today, got another classy welcome chocolate showpiece, sure will taste good.

[998S]

You must understand that, with all those pictures making everybody else here totally crazy, you will be banned for life on MCM, your bike be scrapped and your driver license be confiscated, all upon your return to cold, white and wet Shanghai?

All the best wishes for 2013 though ;)

[Lao Jia Hou]

You must understand that, with all those pictures making everybody else here totally crazy ... your bike be scrapped

Can I have the Multistrada?

[TB-Racing]

Can I have the Multistrada?

Our son is first in line, sorry!

all upon your return to cold, white and wet Shanghai?

Who says I am moving back up to colder climates again....
Sanya Yalong Bay temperature dropped to +24 degr. celsius, time to get the winter gear ready.

bike be scrapped...

Talking about bike scrapping, we are trying to get our mates CJ going again for a new year bike run with the help of the Sanya bike shop but seems to be a lost cause with the wiring and harness after the bike was stored outside for a long period.
Do I miss the joy of owning CJ's...... NO!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND ALL THE BEST IN 2013

[TB-Racing]

Besides tourism and the ongoing scams and rip-off in seafood restaurants, Sanya's other big business is wedding pictures.
Any day of the week you can find hundreds of wedding picture studios and couples along the beaches / parks taking tons of pictures.

************************************************** *****************
Weddings sky-high as costs of banquets, extras double
By Hu Min | 2012-12-30 | Shanghai Daily Newspaper
_________


SHANGHAI couples are expected to spend more on their weddings next year as prices of wedding banquets and other services spiral upwards.


The costs of banquets have doubled compared to five years ago, whereas such service fees as photography has soared almost 90 percent in the past two years.


The price for a wedding banquet stood at 4,000 yuan (US$645) to 6,000 yuan per table on average at local four- star hotels. At local five-star hotels, the cost is 6,000 yuan to 10,000 yuan per table on average.


The Westin Hotel in Shanghai quoted about 6,888 yuan to 10,888 yuan, including a 15 percent service fee. The Yan'an Hotel prices banquets around 4,000 yuan to 6,000 yuan.


In 2008, a table cost only a little more than 2,000 yuan on average for most four-star hotels in Shanghai.


The increase will range between 10 to 15 percent next year, the Shanghai Wedding Service Association predicted.


Despite soaring prices, some popular hotels said they have been almost fully booked next year except for a few days in July and August.


The association said newlyweds' pursuit of lavish weddings has boosted the price in recent years, even as fewer weddings are held.


It has been a trend for a year or two, He Lina, secretary general of the association, said yesterday. She said the price of wedding banquets has grown even though the prices of ingredients have not risen nearly as quickly. Menus vary slightly every year.


The surging prices have been a burden on parents who have already saved money for an apartment for newlyweds. Higher prices force them to dip into their pensions, she said, even as they hope youngsters will stop trying to "keep up with Joneses."


A July survey by Shanghai Wedding Exposition organizers that polled 3,000 couples who had booked banquets or were planning for weddings found local couples host 16 to 17 tables on average and many ask for help from parents.


"Local couples are decreasing the number of tables as they are 'running a deficit' with cost outpacing 'red envelopes' with money gifts," He said.

[TB-Racing]

G'Day

Spent two days up Riyue Bay / Shimei Bay area with our son surfing with the guys at Surfing Hainan (RiyueWan).
Brendan (SH) and some surfs guys hang out at some really deserted beaches with decent swells especially after a windy tropical downpour.

Some Surf web-links for Hainan:
http://www.surfinghainan.com
http://www.surfinghainanopen.com
http://travel.cnn.com/shanghai/play/...h-china-217067
http://www.sanyasurf.com

[TB-Racing]

Riyue Bay / Shimei Bay area.....