Brought the 5D4N National Day Special Hainan Tour Package from Deal Website at S$238 each, the package include 4 Night 4/5 Stars Hotel Stay (1 Night Stay at 7 Stars Hotel at Phoenix Island), Tour of Boao Forum, Jade Belt Beach, Betel Nut Valley, South Mountain Cultural Village. As I have to attend the Wedding Ceremony of my wife younger brother on 14th Sep 2013 (Saturday), I book the 13th Sep 2013 (Friday) and 20th Sep 2013 (Friday) Jet Star Flight and book the Tour from 15th Sep 2013 (Sunday) to 19th Sep 2013 (Thursday). Jet Star is having a National Day Promotion where the Return Flight is Free, the flight had cost S$231 each which include 20 Kg Check In Baggage.
Day 1: 13 Sep 2013 (Friday)
We woke up at 0500 hrs and set off for the Airport at 0530 hrs. We arrive at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 1 at 0600 hrs and had Breakfast at the Airport after we check in our luggage. Brought Two Bottle of Liquor and Two Carton of Cigarette for the Wedding Ceremony at the Duty Free Shop before we proceed to the Boarding Gate. We took off at 0730 hrs and landed at Haikou Meilan Airport at 1100 hrs. As the International Airport had been relocated about one month ago, our transport only manage to pick us up at 1200 hrs.
We arrive at Wenchang at about 1400 hrs and have our Lunch at a Local Restaurant, we finally arrive at the Village at 1600 hrs after another hour drive from Wenchang. We took an afternoon nap and have Dinner at the village at 1900 hrs, I went to sleep early right after dinner at 2100 hrs as I have to wake up early at 0200 hrs the next day to accompany the groom to fetch the bride. Actually that is not really require but since it would be boring waiting at the village I might as well visit Danzhou.
Photo with Bride and Groom
Day 2: 14 Sep 2013 (Saturday)
We woke up at 0200 hrs an set off for Danzhou at 0300 hrs, after 4 hours of journey on the round island expressway we finally arrive at Danzhou at the West Coast around 0700 hrs. The bride side insist that the Bride can only leave at 0900 hrs for auspicious reason and we have to wait like an idiot for two hours. If we have known that earlier, we would have set off at 0500 hrs from the village instead. We were suppose to return to the Village by 1300 hrs or we would have miss the auspicious hour for the groom side and seem like the bride side is purposely stalling our time so that the Bride can dominate the Groom in the future.
We have Breakfast at 0830 hrs and started the Prayer Ceremony at 0900 hrs, the ceremony on the bridge side is also very different from the traditional Chinese Ceremony. Usually Chinese would require both the couple to pray to the ancestor together, but the bride side would require the Groom to pray first and make Cigarettes Offering (Usually Southern Chinese Offer Tea while Northern Chinese Offer Wine) before the Bride do the Prayer.
We finally set off and head back to the Village with the Bride and the Bride Maids from the bride side, the bride side only give a TV to the groom side which I find a bit less as my wife younger sister actually give a Fridge, Washing Machine and Water Heater to the groom side when she got married last year. After 5 hours of journey with a lot of stop in between for the bride side people to go toilet we finally arrive at the Village at 1430 hrs which is way pass the groom side auspicious hour and make prayer to the ancestor before they enter the Village. Most of the friends and relative on the groom side had already left after the Lunch and the Bride is also not willing to make Tea Offering to the groom side.
I finally have my Luncher (Lunch cum Dinner as Brunch is Breakfast cum Lunch) at 1530 hrs and the Bride finally agree to make Tea Offering after much persuasion to the groom side at 1600 hrs. I went to sleep early at 2100 hrs as it was a very tiring day for me today.
Day 3: 15 Sep 2013 (Sunday)
I woke up at 0700 hrs and set off at 0830 hrs for Train Station, we arrive at the Wenchang Train Station at 0900 hrs and brought the Train Ticket at 17.5 RMB (S$3.5) to Meilan Airport. The Train set off at 1100 hrs and we arrive at the Domestic Airport in just 30 minutes, another 30 minutes walk to the international airport to meet up with our Local Tour Guide at 1200 hrs.
The Tour Agency Journey of Dream Pte Ltd seem to have forgot about my
booking and made a last minute arrangement on 12th of Sep 2013
(Thursday) after I have send an official complaint to Deal Website when I could not contact the agency for two days to get my booking confirmation for the tour. It is no surprise as I have already expected that there were no other people in the group when the local tour guide met up with us on the Airport on 15th Sep 2013 (Sunday).
The local tour guide told us that the Tour Agency had not transfer the
payment to them yet and there was no arrangement of one night stay at 7
Stars Hotel at Phoenix Island and we have to pay 838 RMB (S$168) each
for the Optional Tour Package.
We arrive at Haikou at around 1300 hrs but we were unable to check in the Hotel at Haikou as the Local Tour Guide was unable to contact the Tour Agency. We went for Lunch at a Noodle Shop nearby while we wait for the Tour Agency to reply the Whatsapp Message which I had send earlier. After trying very hard to contact the Tour Agency, they manage to confirm the booking for the 7 Stars Hotel in Phoenix Island and ask me to pay the Local Tour Guide for the Optional Tour Package and get the Official Receipt to claim from the Tour Agency when back in Singapore. We finally check into Room 1224 of Xing Yuan Hot Spring Hotel at 1400 hrs.
We take an afternoon nap after check in and have Cray Pot Bone Soup 126 RMB (S$25) for Dinner at 1900 hrs, also brought a Nail
Clipper Set at 40 RMB (S$8) the Night Market near to our Hotel and Sleep at 2200 hrs.
天下第一寿： 生母七十，生老百年。
Day 4: 16 Sep 2013 (Monday)
The Tour Guide had arrange for Morning Call at 0630 hrs, we had Breakfast at the Hotel Cafe at 0700 hrs and set off for our tour. First stop is Five Sage Temple at Haikou and we reach there at 0830 hrs after 30 minutes drive. Brought the Photo at 10 RMB (S$2).
We set at 0930hrs and arrive at Qionghai for Early Lunch at 1100 hrs, we arrive at Boao Forum at 1230 hrs to take a Boat to Jade Belt Shore (a Reclaim Beach with Fresh Water on one side and Sea Water on the other side). Took Photos with Turtle at Jade Beach Shore at 5 RMB (S$1).
Photo with Turtle at Jade Beach Shore
We arrive Xinlong Coffee Factory at 1430 hrs and brought some Candy for 60 RMB (S$12). We check into Room 6406 Bright Moon Holiday Hotel (which is very similar to Mahkota Hotel in Melaka, Malaysia we stay last year) in Xinlong at 1530 hrs. We decided to visit my wife younger sister at Xin Zhong Confectionery at 1600 hrs. I help them do some computer maintenance while my wife help them with the Bakery, we then proceed to a Steam Boat Restaurant nearby where they treat us Dinner at 2100 hrs. We proceed back to the Hotel and sleep at 2200 hrs.
Day 5: 17 Sep 2013 (Tuesday)
We got Morning Call at 0700 hrs and had Breakfast at the Hotel at 0730 hrs, the first stop for the day is a Chinese Medical Hall at Xinlong name Hundred Tree Hall. As usual my wife is not happy about the way I made fun of those fake Chinese Doctor which I did during the last Beijing Trip in last year November. The Master will always by chance visit the place for few days and he will always tell you that you got some medical problems which he found out from the foot messager or tour guide who chat with you before. He will always say he could either try to cure you with his internal strength and finally ask you to buy fake medicine from them. I walk out right after and my wife actually pity the foot messager and brought a cheap plaster from them.
We set off at 0900 hrs and I requested the Tour Guide to bring us for Additional Tour of Monkey Island near Sanya at 180 RMB (S$36) each. We reach Monkey Island by Cable Car at 1030 hrs and brought Monkey Food at 10 RMB (S$2) to feed the Monkey before we proceed to watch two performance. We left Monkey Island at 1200 hrs and have Local Specialty Noodle nearby before we go Betel Nut Valley.
Betel Nut Valley
We arrive Betel Nut Valley at 1300 hrs after 30 minutes drive. Betel Nut Valley is a Tourist Spot with Tribal Culture, it is similar to the Tribe in Yunnan where they know Black Magic. They will put all the poisonous creature into a jar and let them fight and the last survive will be grind into powder for the black magic. It will be cast by getting the husband to ingest the powder by adding into his food, if the husband is unfaithful to the wife he will become very sick and no medication could cure him. The only way is to beg for wife forgiveness before the antidote is given to him.
Tribal Culture are dominated by Women where the Man must work three years in the Girl Family before he can ask for marriage. The first year he must learn to plant rice, the second year he must learn to collect sap from rubber trees, and the third year he must collect enough Silver Ore to learn to craft 25 kg of Silver Wares as Downy for the Bride (A Head Dress, A Bracelet, Two Bowl, Two Pair of Chopsticks) before he can get married. If any time the bride family are not satisfy with him performance, they will give him a bag of rice and a red hard boil egg and ask him to leave.
Phoenix Silver Head Dress which weight more than 15 Kg
The Silver Bracelet they wear have strong medical properties as they soak it in Medical Herbs for a long period of time after they have craft it. They usually wrap the Silver Bracelet in an hard boil egg and rub it on the body to remove any poison from themselves. The Egg and the Bracelet will turn Black after the treatment as it had absorb the poison from the body. They usually clean and polish the Silver Bracelet with Soy Sauce, Tooth Paste or Coke after it had turn black from absorbing poison. I brought a Phoenix Craving Sliver Bracelet for 1612 RMB (S$322) for my wife and also brought Two Packet of Honey Coconut for 30
RMB (S$6) and Two Photos for 30 RMB (S$6).
We left Betel Nut Valley at 1500 hrs and arrive at South Mountain Cultural Village at 1600 hrs.
View the Golden Goddess at 20
RMB (S$4) each and brought Blessing Ribbon at 30 RMB (S$6). We had Dinner at 1900 hrs before we go for additional Las Vegas Show at Beauty Crown Theater which recommended by our tour guide at 280 RMB (S$56) each at 2030 hrs.
Tower 5 Room 2003 at 7 Stars Beauty Crown Hotel in Phoenix Island
Finally check into Tower 5 Room 2003 of Beauty Crown Hotel at Sanya Phoenix Island which is the major highlight of the whole tour at 2330 hrs.The Curtain is Automated Open the moment we step into our room, all the switches are touch sensing type. The shower room have three different type of jet spray from the ceiling and a open bath tub at the balcony. With such a impressive Hotel Room of course it will be Sexy Time for me and my wife.
Day 6: 18 Sep 2013 (Wednesday)
We got Morning Call at 0700 hrs as usual and have Breakfast at Tower Three at 0730 hrs. As the Phoenix Island is a very big Reclaim Island ready for the Casino Project, the tour guide have to drive us from Tower Five to Tower Three for Breakfast.
First stop for the day is Dr Tea Tea Shop at 0900 hrs, I decided to buy some high grade Puer Tea as an investment for 1600 RMB (S$320) as it have very good medical properties and will age and increase value like vintage wine. Together with the purchase is a Tea Set that change color at high temperature, Low Grade Puer Tea, Kuding Tea which is local specialty. As usual my wife is not happy like the last time I brought the Tianqi Flower in Shanghai Trip last year September, but at least she very impress by the Color Changing Tea Set which I could have brought it at 10 RMB (S$2) at any Bazaar in Guangzhou.
We arrive at Silk Factory around 1000 hrs, my wife brought five pair of Silk Socks at 100 RMB (S$20). As we thought we could leave, the tour guide insist that we have to stay for 90 minutes to fulfill the tour package terms an conditions. My wife pity the Sale Girl who had just started the job two months ago and I have to buy a Micro Fiber Blanket at 680 RMB (S$136) which I could have brought at S$40 in Singapore or 150 RMB (S$30) in Guangzhou. The Sale Girl was very happy and sold us a 680 RMB (S$136) Silk Pillow to us at the staff price of 200 RMB (S$40), I was thinking what kind of bullshit is that.
We finally arrive at Bird Nest Paradise at 1200 hrs, it was another additional tour which I have requested at 260
RMB (S$52) each. It was the famous Rain Forest Resort where the Chinese Movie You are the One 2 (非誠勿扰2) use as the shooting location. We visit the Hanging Bridge for 20
RMB (S$4) brought Photos for 30 RMB (S$6). The Famous Room
which use to film the movie cost 9999 RMB (S$2000) per night stay, it use to be 4000 RMB (S$800) per night stay before the movie make it famous. We get to visit the Room for a 50% discount price of 50 RMB (S$10) each due to tourism down season and it come with one free photo per person. The weather suddenly turn bad with haze and thunder storm due to the Typhoon Season, but we were lucky that our tour have come to a fruitful end.
We had Late Lunch nearby at 1430 hrs and proceed to Bamboo Factory at 1530 hrs. The Factory is specialize in Bamboo Charcoal and Fiber, Activated Charcoal created in vacuum condition at high temperature of 2000 Deg Celsius is good for absorbing toxic substances from water and air, it is commonly use in Water and Air Filtration Equipments worldwide. It is also known that acidic water is good for cleaning the body while alkaline water is good for consumption. Activated Bamboo Charcoal have the ability to turn water into alkaline and absorb toxic substances.
Bamboo Fiber is a new concept which was develop recently during the Shanghai World Expo few years ago. It does not turn moldy like cotton and has higher absorbent rate of three to four times of cotton. It also have a natural anti bacteria properties which make it an excellent choice for clothing over cotton. I brought a Thermos Flask, Seven Towels,
Two T Shirts, Five Pair of Socks, Six Pair of Underwear, Two Boxes of 12 Pieces Activated Charcoal Cube, Two Tube of Tooth Paste, a Tap Filter, a Soap for 1847 RMB (S$370).
I was given two chance in Lucky Dip Scratch and Win, the first try didn't get any luck but the second try got me first prize. I was entitled to buy two pieces of Jewelry at 85% Discount so I brought a Sapphire Ring and Necklace for my wife at 1944 RMB (S$390). My wife scold me stupid and choose to ignore me for the rest of the trip but she didn't know that I actually knew how they play the trick and kind of play along with them.
The trick is very simple, there are two bowl of lucky dip. one with all the no prize tickets and the other with all the first prize tickets. They will let you pick from the first bowl and get nothing, then they will let you pick from the second bowl and get first prize. The jewelery price have already been adjusted to 85% more and with the discount you are actually buying the jewelery at the normal price. I remember I did brought a Sapphire Necklace at Penang, Malaysia for my wife few years ago when we went Star Cruise. It cost about 900 Ringgit (S$390) and now I am getting two at the same price instead of one, the only problem is whether it is real or it is of the same grade.
We finally set off at 1700 hrs for Haikou, the tour guide say he left his tour guide license at the resting room and turn back to search for it, but we know he just went back to collect his commission for the sale. At least it will make him work harder to please us and keep hoping that we would look for him again the next time we visit. The weather had turn very bad with heavy rain as we head back, the tour guide suggest we stay Xinlong for the night as it is not very safe for a drive at the highway in this weather condition. We were lucky that the weather turn better after a while and we stop by at Huangzhu for dinner at 1930 hrs.
We finally arrive at Haikou at 2100 hrs, the tour guide told us that the 2030 hrs Special Effect Light Show was canceled due to weather and suggested to replace it with Massage. I found out later from the internet that the show ticket was 165 RMB (S$33) each while the Massage was only 65 RMB (S$13) each from the Massage Girl. I have to pay additional 50 RMB (S$10) for an hour extension and 88 RMB ($18) for my wife facial. We check into Room 1011 at Xing Yuan Hot Spring Hotel Haikou at 2300 hrs and pay addition 350 RMB (S$70) one more day extension. My wife realize that she had left her purple gold earring at the Massage Parlor and I had to call the tour guide to go back to search for it.
Day 7: 19 Sep 2013 (Thursday)
We woke up at 0800 hrs and have Breakfast at 0830 hrs at the Hotel Cafe. We waited for my wife younger brother at the Hotel before we went for Lunch at 1230 hrs. Our plan for shopping was disrupted by the heavy rain and decided to head back to the Hotel. We meet up with the bride family for Dinner at 1900 hrs as it is Mid Autumn Festival. We went for Foot Massage at 2100 hrs and proceed back to Hotel and sleep at 2300 hrs.
Day 8: 20 Sep 2013 (Friday)
We woke up at 0800 hrs and have Breakfast at 0830 hrs at the Hotel Cafe. We set off for Airport at 0900 hrs and arrive at 0930 hrs. Our flight took off at 1200 hrs and landed in Singapore at 1530 hrs. It was told that the Phoenix cast itself into the fire and reborn again, traveling oversea for tour is just to learn the different cultures and try to get along with it. A Tour is like daily life, you can choose to ignore all the setback and learn to enjoy it or you can give up and cry about the petty things and spoil the whole purpose of the tour.
