Sanya is on the southern tip of Hainan Island and the southernmost point in China. It is roughly half way between Hong Kong and Hanoi Vietnam.
This place is promoted as the Hawaii of China. I suppose the weather is similar. They have nice beaches, hot sunshine.
Palm trees, flowers, fruit.
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But this is China. China is crappy. It used to be crappy everywhere. Now one can find surprisingly beautiful things in China, like tiny islands in a huge sea of crappyness. Sanya city is crappy. I am staying out at DaHongHai beach area, a mile or so from town and it is OK.
Having said those hard truthful things, let me also say: I love China. I always feel genuinely welcome here, and over the years these people have done me a thousand kindnesses.
I live over the beach which has an endless strip of bar/restaurants.
So far I have only seen a few of Sanya’s diverse offerings..
The big golden pineapple mall.
The most expensive driving range I have ever encountered.
The Dolphin Sports Bar.
Lots of Russians come here. Not the skinny ones. So there is a lot of Russian language on the shops.
There are probably 20 seafood restaurants I can walk to.
My hotel is truly a pleasure. There is no loud bar, touts, prostitutes or other BS. Chinese families come here and there are lots of laughing children. The staff are wonderful.
The don’t get many americans, Marriott platinum members or long stay guests. So I am a triple storm. Apparently I was discussed in a staff meeting where the General manager told them to do everything they could to keep me happy. I have been upgraded to a big suite,
They gave me lots of welcome notes in English, and a little buddy to live with me..
And the special gift toothpaste !!
Drinking wine and talking with Richard the Assistant General manager, I made the mistake of telling him that his staff should only speak Mandarin Chinese with me, so I could practice speaking. Now I don’t know much about what is going on, and get helpful notes I cannot read.
It is hard to get out of the hotel. They have a large and wonderful buffet restaurant. Some stations have chefs who will wok up whatever you want. (Maybe I can show some of this next time). And they have afforded me free food and wine. (oink)
This week I am setting my alarm to get up in the middle of the night to watch the Masters Tournament. The room has a little german machine that I can use to make pretty good coffee. I told them which kind of coffee I liked and now I have a surfeit.
So, although this is not paradise, I have made a good landing and am having fun with some really nice people.
More later.