Lou’s China Diary
Started travelling from the UK on Thursday night, for once we managed to sleep for a good part of the flight.
Arrived in Hong Kong at 5pm on Friday and left for Haikou on Saturday morning at 11am. It was only a 1 hour flight and then a 15 minute car journey to our hotel. We are one of the first athletes to arrive at the hotel and it seems very empty but I know that will change in a few days!
We get settled in me unpacking the suitcases and Nick building up the bikes then we head into town to get a stock of water. It is very amusing going round the supermarket in Hainan as we were the only westerners in the place and I don’t think they get too many foreigners here so everyone just stops and stares at you! This one little boy was crying his eyes out then suddenly looks up at Nick and stopped all noise and tears immediately and stared with very wide eyes.
Sunday
Not much sleep during the night so feeling very tired today. We got breakfast (which we almost missed) then went back to the room for a little sleep. At midday we did our first bit of exercise for nearly 4 days (that’s what I call a taper week), we swam for about 50 minutes in the outdoor 50m pool, which was quite chilly. We had to get inside soon after as it started to rain which lasted for about 2 or so hours, in this time we just chilled out in the room and watched some TV. When the rain stopped we put on our gear and headed outdoors for a run. The hotel is in a very remote location in the middle of almost what appears to be farmland, we ran out for about 20+ minutes going past many of the locals who looked in complete bewilderment at the two of us. We passed a little market at the side of the road where fish and fruit were being sold. There doesn’t appear to be any traffic regulations out here, people walk all over the place bikes and cars travel along on the opposite sides of the road, cows and dogs stand and lie in the road and everything just goes round them it is quite bizarre that in all the chaos there are no accidents (well we haven’t seen any so far..Lots of near misses though).
The temperature isn’t too bad today but humidity is very high. After the run we get showered and then go to dinner. We get to bed fairly early as we want to get up fairly early tomorrow.
Monday
Even less sleep was had last night so wake up at 6.30 very tired still. We get out on the bikes to do a few hours before breakfast. The roads leading to the start of the bike route are pretty shocking but once onto the route they were great - smooth and fast. Got back to the hotel grabbed a shower and headed to breakfast. There are a few more athletes now at the hotel but it’s still pretty quite. Weather is very sunny today so we lie by the pool and relax. At about 3pm we have a swim, mainly drills today, the water seems a lot warmer as well. By the pool there is a natural hot spring pool so I sat in there for a while – it was so warm, lovely. We head back to our room to get showered and ready for dinner. Yet another early night but shall there be sleep......
Tuesday
.......No sleep again and it was the worst night so far, jet lag has really affected us this time ! We go down to breakfast and then back to the room to do our yoga. After this we take a taxi into Hainan City as we have decided to have a look around. Were walking for about 2 hours in total and see lots of different, interesting things. We explored the side streets where all of the local markets are it was very fascinating to see what they were selling. Again though I think they were just as interested in us as we were in them. The older folk look at you with almost a superstitious look while the younger ones look with an inquisitive eye. I don’t think they get to see many foreigners in these parts. We didn’t see any other westerners for the whole time. Got back to the hotel and lazed around the pool area for a few hours.
At about 4pm we went for a run, just 30 minutes (God I love this kind of training). Athletes are arriving thick and fast now and we see many out on bikes and running - can’t even imagine what all the locals are making of it ! Much the same thing as previous evenings, got ready, went to dinner, back to room watch a few episodes of Lost and went to sleep – apart from tonight air-conditioning went on and ear plugs were used and finally we got some sleep.
Started travelling from the UK on Thursday night, for once we managed to sleep for a good part of the flight.
Arrived in Hong Kong at 5pm on Friday and left for Haikou on Saturday morning at 11am. It was only a 1 hour flight and then a 15 minute car journey to our hotel. We are one of the first athletes to arrive at the hotel and it seems very empty but I know that will change in a few days!We get settled in me unpacking the suitcases and Nick building up the bikes then we head into town to get a stock of water. It is very amusing going round the supermarket in Hainan as we were the only westerners in the place and I don’t think they get too many foreigners here so everyone just stops and stares at you! This one little boy was crying his eyes out then suddenly looks up at Nick and stopped all noise and tears immediately and stared with very wide eyes.
Sunday
Not much sleep during the night so feeling very tired today. We got breakfast (which we almost missed) then went back to the room for a little sleep. At midday we did our first bit of exercise for nearly 4 days (that’s what I call a taper week), we swam for about 50 minutes in the outdoor 50m pool, which was quite chilly. We had to get inside soon after as it started to rain which lasted for about 2 or so hours, in this time we just chilled out in the room and watched some TV. When the rain stopped we put on our gear and headed outdoors for a run. The hotel is in a very remote location in the middle of almost what appears to be farmland, we ran out for about 20+ minutes going past many of the locals who looked in complete bewilderment at the two of us. We passed a little market at the side of the road where fish and fruit were being sold. There doesn’t appear to be any traffic regulations out here, people walk all over the place bikes and cars travel along on the opposite sides of the road, cows and dogs stand and lie in the road and everything just goes round them it is quite bizarre that in all the chaos there are no accidents (well we haven’t seen any so far..Lots of near misses though).
The temperature isn’t too bad today but humidity is very high. After the run we get showered and then go to dinner. We get to bed fairly early as we want to get up fairly early tomorrow.Monday
Even less sleep was had last night so wake up at 6.30 very tired still. We get out on the bikes to do a few hours before breakfast. The roads leading to the start of the bike route are pretty shocking but once onto the route they were great - smooth and fast. Got back to the hotel grabbed a shower and headed to breakfast. There are a few more athletes now at the hotel but it’s still pretty quite. Weather is very sunny today so we lie by the pool and relax. At about 3pm we have a swim, mainly drills today, the water seems a lot warmer as well. By the pool there is a natural hot spring pool so I sat in there for a while – it was so warm, lovely. We head back to our room to get showered and ready for dinner. Yet another early night but shall there be sleep......
Tuesday
.......No sleep again and it was the worst night so far, jet lag has really affected us this time ! We go down to breakfast and then back to the room to do our yoga. After this we take a taxi into Hainan City as we have decided to have a look around. Were walking for about 2 hours in total and see lots of different, interesting things. We explored the side streets where all of the local markets are it was very fascinating to see what they were selling. Again though I think they were just as interested in us as we were in them. The older folk look at you with almost a superstitious look while the younger ones look with an inquisitive eye. I don’t think they get to see many foreigners in these parts. We didn’t see any other westerners for the whole time. Got back to the hotel and lazed around the pool area for a few hours.
At about 4pm we went for a run, just 30 minutes (God I love this kind of training). Athletes are arriving thick and fast now and we see many out on bikes and running - can’t even imagine what all the locals are making of it ! Much the same thing as previous evenings, got ready, went to dinner, back to room watch a few episodes of Lost and went to sleep – apart from tonight air-conditioning went on and ear plugs were used and finally we got some sleep. 
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