Paul

This little guy was the leader of his group and brought in the most fish. He's quite handsome too and he knows it. He wasn't camera shy at all and even perched on my arm. I think he was hoping I'd sing to him again.

This cormorant fisherman had five birds working for him. They are attached by cords and he hauls them up when they catch a fish. The process of taking the fish from the birds seems a little rough, especially if they have already swallowed it. It's fascinating to watch though.

Watching these little guys work is incredible! The cormorants lead the boat, catching fish and the fisherman collects their catch. What an ingenuous way to fish! The cormorants don't seem to mind doing all the work. They know they are stars!

I'm out of the city and mobs of people and checking out what the area has to offer. This cool bridge is 800 years old! It was built more than 500 years before America became a country! Now that's good craftsmanship.

The sun is blistering and the locals all wear these cool hats. Maybe one will help me too! I doubt I'll blend in any better, but the Chinese seem to apprecaiate my attempts at their language and culture.

There just aren't any bad views in Yangshou!

The forecast in Yangshou for today is "severe clear", and it is hot! I decided to try my luck at the bamboo rafting on the Yulong river. It was peaceful and picturesque, and maybe fractionally cooler. The dramatic scenery was worth the sunburn.

This photo cannot begin to sum up the performance I saw tonight. The same director who created the Olympic opening ceremony has an even more astounding production on the river at night in Yangshou!

The bamboo grows fast and is useful for all sorts of things from food to building materials. My favorite is the rafts they make with it. I stumbled across this river today that was filled with people rafting. At 105 degrees, everyone was in or on the water.

What an idyllic place to garden! I think my farmer friend was in the process of fertilizing the rice with his "tiller". Love the subtle reflection of the mountains in the water!