Headed to Hainan...

This Saturday, Sunday and Monday, Michael and I are taking a quick weekend trip to the Chinese island of Hainan (pronounced Hi-non). We will be staying at a local resort in the city of Sanya. Apparently, this island is where all of the locals go for sun and surf. In addition to soaking up some rays and lounging by the pool/ocean, we hope to travel to the oppposite side of the island to take surfing lessons (Yeah, dude!) and go to the local natural springs, which include hot springs, cool springs, and pools of water where these little fish eat the dead skin off of your feet, legs, etc.! Don't worry, we're bringin' the camera!

Your history/geography lesson:

Hainan Island is located just off the Southern coast of China. We've been told that it's nothing like the rest of China, and many compare the scenery and climate to the Islands of Hawaii. Its ocean neighbors include the Philippines to the East, Malaysia and Brunei towards the South, Indonesia towards the Southwest, and Vietnam towards the West.

Hainan is the largest ocean island and the smallest land province in the People's Republic of China (PRC), but this has long been under dispute because the Chinese Government still believes that Taiwan is a runaway province that must be pulled under the rule of China. Therefore, the Chinese people believe that Hainan is China's second largest island and Taiwan is their largest.