We had a great holiday on Hainan Island China. The Golf Courses and the weather were great.
Sunday 6th April 2014 we left for the airport at 6.15am. reaching the airport in good time to check in, buy our duty free and have breakfast. We flew with Southern China Air and had a good comfortable 9 hour flight to Guangzhou airport on the mainland of China. From there we had a one hour flight to Haikou on Hainan Island. We were met by our Hainanese Guide Willa who took us to the Shangri-La Hotel at Haikou for our three night stay. Our room was large and comfortable with a big balcony overlooking the swimming pool and gardens going down to the sea. It was a beautiful hotel.
Monday 7th April 2014 we travelled to Mission Hills Golf Resort where we met up with my friend Judy who is now the Caddie Master at Mission Hills. Judy was my first golf Caddie at Mission Hills on the mainland when we first visited China. Judy had organised for us to play golf on the Sandy Trails Course which was beautiful and challenging. Our golf was not wonderful but we appreciated the course. That evening we had dinner with Judy in Haikou at an authentic Chinese restaurant.
Tuesday 8th April 2014 we travelled again to Mission Hills Golf Resort to play the Blackstone Course which was fantastic. The course is full of black lava rock and woe betide anyone who strayed off the fairways. A few golf balls were lost that day. We said goodbye to Judy and that evening we had dinner in Haikou.
Wednesday 9th April 2014 we had some free time in the morning to appreciate the hotel grounds then we travelled to the Railway Station where we caught the Fast Train to Sanya. All of our luggage was transported to Sanya by bus so the train trip was very comfortable and smooth - reaching a top speed of 198 klms per hour. We arrived at Sanya to fin that there was a world conference being held there and strict security was in place. We had to be transported to the hotel by shuttle bus and the x-rayed on our way through into the foyer of the hotel to check in. That was in place for the next three days where we had to go through security every time we left the hotel. We had dinner that evening at the hotel. We were staying at the MGM Grand Hotel which was a huge hotel with magnificent grounds leading down to the private beach. Our rooms were big and comfortable but the services, food and drinks were very expensive.
Thursday 10th April 2014 we had a lay day and went shopping in Sanya followed by a visit to the hot spas with the nibbling fish. That evening we had dinner at the hotel.
Friday 11th April 2014 we played golf at the Yalong Bay Golf Resort which was just across the road from the hotel. It is a lovely course and we enjoyed our game there even if the scores were not good. We met an Australian Green keeper who worked there and he hosted us to drinks after our game. That evening we had dinner at the Pizza Hut at the Yalong Bay Business Centre which was walking distance from the hotel.
Saturday 12th April 2014 we were up early for our game of golf at Sun Valley Golf Course which is another beautiful course in Sanya. The 6 par fairway was under maintenance so we did not get to play that. The weather has been hot and humid. That evening we had dinner at the Wos Beach Bar which is a lovely little bar right on Sanya Beach.
Sunday 13th April 2014 We played golf at Dragon Valley Golf Club which is just magnificent. The Clubhouse is huge and immaculate as was the golf course. We enjoyed our day there even if the golf was not good. That evening we went to the Pizza hut at the Yalong Bay Business Centre for some pasta dinners.
Monday 14th April 2014 we had another lay day which we spent visiting the Pearl Factory, the Silk Factory and made a trip up to the Deer Looking Backwards Park which has got magnificent views over Sanya.
That evening we went to the Italian Restaurant in Sanya which had beautiful meals at reasonable prices.
Tuesday 15th April 2014 We went right up into the mountains of Sanya and played golf on a reasonably new golf course called Mystic Springs. The Clubhouse was very big with a lot of statues and wooden carvings. The golf course itself was very pretty with some lovely views at the top of the mountain looking out to the sea. That evening we went back to the Italian Restaurant as we were so impressed with it.
Wednesday 16th April 2014 we played golf at the Clear Water Golf Course which was at Clear Water Bay. It was another lovely well set out course. A bit easier to play that the other courses but plenty of hazards to get caught in if the golf was not too good. This was our last evening in Sanya so we went to the Russian Restaurant at the Yalong Bay Business Centre as they allowed us to take our own alcohol without corkage charges which made it cheaper meal. We had a presentation to our guide Willa who had looked after us for the 12 days in China and did an exceptional job.
Thursday 17th April 2014 we packed for home and checked out of our hotel at mid day. We drove to Sanya Airport to catch our plane to Guangzhou on the mainland. We had a couple of hours to fill in for our flight to Sydney and left about 9.30 pm China time.
Friday 18th April 2014 Our flight home was very good - having a night flight home was good - arriving in Sydney about 8.30 am. We got through the security without any hassles and out valet car was waiting for us getting us safely home by about 11.30am. It was a good weather day so we were unpacked with washing on the line by early afternoon in time for a nanny nap.
Saturday 19th April 2014 we did some household shopping in the morning. Rod, Anne, Joel and Emily came over in the afternoon and stayed for dinner. Joel and Emily loved their gifts especially the bath turtle which was a big hit. We set up an Easter Egg hunt for them on the verandah which they enjoyed.
Sunday 20th April 2014 we played golf with Wally & Rhonda Robertson who came on tour with us in China. It was a lovely weather day and we appreciated being home on our own course even if the scores were not great.
Monday 21st April 2014 I had a good sleep in. I made a zucchini Pie to take up for a BBQ lunch at Rosalie & Duncan's to celebrate our homecoming and to re-live our holiday highlights. It was a beautiful day so it was a nice relaxing afternoon.
The weather over Easter was fantastic. A little bit of winter chill at night - but for Easter - magnificent.
I am not playing golf tomorrow so I can do a catch up at home after being away for two weeks.
