Ｗｅｅｋ １４ Ｃｈｉｎａ

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ｉｔｓ　ｂｅｅｎ　ａ　ｗｈｉｌｅ　ａｇａｉｎ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｈｅｃｔｉｃ　ｗｅｅｋ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｈａｌｆ　ｙｅｔ．　　Ｗｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　Ｌａｏｓ　ｏｎ　ａ　８ｈｒ　ｂｕｓ　ｔｒｉｐ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　Ｃｈｉｎｅｓｅ　ｂｏｒｄｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｐｌｅａｓａｎｔｌｙ　ｓｕｒｐｒｉｓｅｄ　ｂｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｒｇａｎｉｓａｔｉｏｎ，　ｏｒｄｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｓａｎｉｔａｒｙ　ｃｏｎｄｉｔｉｏｎｓ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｍｅｔ　ｗｉｔｈ．．．．ｔｈｅｎ　ｗｅ　ｓａｗ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｉｌｅｔｓ　（ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｈａｖｅ　ｂｅｃｏｍｅ　ｓｔａｎｄａｒｄ　ｓｏ　ｆａｒ）．．．ｂａｓｉｃａｌｌｙ　ｓｑｕａｔ　ｔｏｉｌｅｔｓ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｎｏ　ｆｌｕｓｈ，　ｎｏ　ｄｏｏｒ　ａｎｄ　ｎｏ　ｗａｌｌ　ｓｏ　ｏｐｅｎ　ｆｏｒ　ａｌｌ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｌｏｌ．

Ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｒｄｅｒ　ｗｅ　ｂｕｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｔｏｗｎ　ｃａｌｌｅｄ　Ｍｅｎ　ｌａｉ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｈｅ　６ｈｒ　ｔｒａｎｓｆｅｒ　ｔｏ　Ｊｉｎｇｈｏｎｇ．．．ｗｅ　ｓａｔ　ｆｏｒ　６ｈｒｓ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｔｉｏｎ　ｗａｉｔｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｂｕｓ　ｔｈａｔ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ　ｓｏ　ｍａｄｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｄｅｃｉｓｉｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｔａｋｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｖｅｒｎｉｇｈｔ　ｓｌｅｅｐｅｒ　ｂｕｓ　ａｌｌ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　Ｋｕｎｍｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｏｌｌｏｗｉｎｇ　ｄａｙ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｂｕｓ　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｒｅｅ　ｒｏｗｓ　ｏｆ　２　ｔｉｅｒ　ｂｕｎｋｂｅｄｓ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｉ　ｓｏｍｅｈｏｗ　ｍａｎａｇｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｐ　ｂｕｎｋ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｉｄｄｌｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｒｏｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｕｓ　（ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｓｔ　ｐｏｓｓｉｂｌｅ　ｐｏｓｉｔｉｏｎ）　ｎｅｅｄｌｅｓｓ　ｔｏ　ｓａｙ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｇｅｔ　ａｎｙ　ｓｌｅｅｐ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　２３ｈｒ　ｊｏｕｒｎｅｙ　ａｎｄ　ｗａｓ　ｃｌｉｎｇｉｎｇ　ｏｎｔｏ　ｍｙ　ｂｅｌｏｎｇｉｎｇｓ　ａｓ　ｔｉｇｈｔ　ａｓ　ｐｏｓｓｉｂｌｅ　ｔｏ　ｓｔｏｐ　ｔｈｉｎｇｓ　ｆａｌｌｉｎｇ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｐｅｏｐｌｅ　ｂｅｌｏｗ．

Ａｒｒｉｖｅｄ　ｉｎ　Ｋｕｎｍｉｎｇ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｔｉｒｅｄ，　ｃｏｌｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｉｎ　３　ｍｏｎｔｈｓ　ａｎｄ　ｇｒｕｍｐｙ．　　Ｋｕｎｍｉｎｇ　ｗａｓ　ｍｅｒｅｌｙ　ａ　ｓｔｏｐｐｉｎｇ　ｐｏｉｎｔ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｔｏ　Ｌｉｊｉａｎｇ　ｆｕｒｔｈｅｒ　ｎｏｒｔｈ　ｗｅｓｔ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｅａｓｔｅｒｎ　ｅｄｇｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｈｉｍａｌａｙａｓ．　　Ａｆｔｅｒ　ａ　ｒｅｓｔ　ｄａｙ　ｗａｎｄｅｒｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｃｉｔｙ　Ｉ　ｇｏｔ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　８ｈｒ　ｂｕｓ　ｔｏ　Ｌｉｊｉａｎｇ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｏｌｄ　ｔｏｗｎ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔｕｎｎｉｎｇ．．ｊｕｓｔ　ｈｕｎｄｒｅｄｓ　ｏｆ　ｓｍａｌｌ　ｔｅａｋ　ｂｕｉｌｄｉｎｇｓ　ｓｅｔ　ａｌｏｎｇｓｉｄｅ　ａ　ｎｅｔｗｏｒｋ　ｏｆ　ｃｏｂｂｌｅｄ　ａｌｌｅｙｗａｙｓ　ａｎｄ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｃａｎａｌｓ．．．ｕｎｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｗａｓ　ｏｎｌｙ　ａ　ｄａｙ　ｓｔｏｐ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｈｅａｄｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　Ｔｉｇｅｒ　Ｌｅａｐｉｎｇ　Ｇｏｒｇｅ　（ｔｈｅ　ｄｅｅｐｅｓｔ　ｇｏｒｇｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｌｄ）　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｈｉｇｈ　ｐａｓｓ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　３　ｄａｙ　ｔｒｅｋ．　　Ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ａ　ｂｒｉｅｆ　ｍｏｍｅｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｐａｎｉｃ　ｗｈｅｎ　ｉ　ｓａｗ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｎｏｗ　ｃａｐｐｅｄ　ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎｓ　ａｓ　ｗｅ　ｔｏｏｋ　ｔｈｅ　３ｈｒ　ｂｕｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｔａｒｔ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｄａｙ　ｗａｓ　ａ　３ｈｒ　ｈｉｋｅ　ｕｐ　ｈｉｌｌ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｇｕｅｓｔｈｏｕｓｅ．．．ｔｈｅ　ｅａｓｉｅｓｔ　ｐａｒｔ．　　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｂｌｏｏｄｙ　ｃｏｌｄ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｏｏｍｓ　ｈａｄ　ｌｉｔｔｌｅ　ｉｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｏｆ　ｄｏｏｒｓ　ｂｕｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｖｉｅｗ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｎｏｗ　ｃａｐｐｅｄ　ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎｓ　ｃｌｏｓｅ　ｂｙ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｎｅ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｂｏｕｔ　ｔｏ　ｃｌｉｍｂ　ｗｅｒｅ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ．　　Ｗｅ　ｌｅｆｔ　ｅａｒｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｎｅｘｔ　ｍｏｒｎｉｎｇ　ｆｏｒ　ａ　ｌｏｎｇ　ｄａｙ　ｔｒｅｋｋｉｎｇ．　　Ｆｉｒｓｔｌｙ　ａ　４ｈｒ　ｕｐｈｉｌｌ　ｓｔｒｕｇｇｌｅ　ａｒｏｕｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　２８ｂｅｎｄｓ　ａｓ　ｔｈｅｙ　ａｒｅ　ｆｏｎｄｌｙ　ｋｎｏｗ　ａｓ．　　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｓｉｃｋ　ｔｗｉｃｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｙ　ｕｐ　ａｓ　ｗｅｒｅ　ｓｅｖｅｒａｌ　ｏｔｈｅｒｓ　ｌｏｌ．　　Ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｐ (2000ft)　ｗｅ　ｒｅｈｙｄｒａｔｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｓａｗ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｒｓｔ　ｔｉｍｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｏｒｇｅ．．．ｓｏ　ｄｅｅｐ　ｗｅ　ｃｏｕｌｄ　ｎｏｔ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｉｖｅｒ　ｒｕｎｎｉｎｇ　ｂｅｌｏｗ，　ｔｈｅ　ｅａｓｔｅｒｎ　ｅｄｇｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　Ｈｉｍａｌａｙａｓ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｎｉｃｅ　ｄｏｗｎｈｉｌｌ　ｉｎｆｒｏｎｔ　ｏｆ　ｕｓ．　　Ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｔｏｐ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ａｎｏｔｈｅｒ　５ｈｒｓ　ｔｏ　ｌｕｎｃｈ　ｐｏｉｎｔ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　Ｈａｌｆｗａｙ　ｇｕｅｓｔｈｏｕｓｅ　ｗｈｉｃｈ　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ｉｎｃｒｅｄｉｂｌｅ　ｖｉｅｗｓ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｕｔｄｏｏｒ　ｓｑｕａｔ　ｔｏｉｌｅｔ　ｌｏｌ．　　

Ａ　ｆｅｗ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｕｐｈｉｌｌｓ　ａｎｄ　ａｍａｚｉｎｇ　ｗａｌｋｓ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｕｎｔａｉｎ　ｅｄｇｅ　ｌｏｏｋｉｎｇ　ｄｏｗｎ　ａｔ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｏｒｇｅ　ｂｅｌｏｗ　ａｎｄ　ａ　ｆｕｒｔｈｅｒ　ｔｒｅｋ　ｂｅｌｏｗ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｗ　ｐａｔｈ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｔｅｒ　ｔｏ　ｓｅｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｏｕｒｃｅ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｇｏｒｇｅ＇ｓ　ｎａｍｅ．．．ｔｈｅ　ｒｏｃｋ　ａ　ｔｉｇｅｒ　ｓｕｐｐｏｓｅｄｌｙ　ｊｕｍｐｅｄ　ｆｒｏｍ　ａｃｒｏｓｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｎａｒｒｏｗｅｓｔ　ｐａｒｔ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｉｖｅｒ，　ａｎｄ　ｗｅ　ｇｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｏｕｒ　ｇｕｅｓｔｈｏｕｓｅ．．．ａ　ｔｏｔａｌ　ｏｆ　１１ｈｒｓ　ｔｒｅｋｋｉｎｇ．　　Ｓｌｅｐｔ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｗｅｌｌ．　　Ｔｈｅ　ｆｉｎａｌ　ｄａｙ　ｗａｓ　ｓｕｐｐｏｓｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｂｅ　ａｎ　ｅａｓｙ　３／４ｈｒ　ｔｒｅｋ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｏｗ　ｐａｔｈ　（ｔｈｅ　ｒｏａｄ）ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｅｒｒｙ．　　Ｕｎｆｏｒｔｕｎａｔｅｌｙ　ｄｕｅ　ｔｏ　ｌａｃｋ　ｏｆ　ｓｉｇｎｓ，　ｔｏｕｒｉｓｔ　ｉｎｆｏｒｍａｔｉｏｎ　ｏｒ　ａｎｙ　ｓｉｇｎ　ｏｆ　ｈｕｍａｎ　ｐｏｐｕｌａｔｉｏｎ　ｉｔ　ｅｎｄｅｄ　ｉｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｇｒｏｕｐ　ｇｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｌｏｓｔ　ａｎｄ　ｔａｋｉｎｇ　ａｎ　ｕｐｈｉｌｌ　ｒｏｕｔｅ　ｆｏｒ　５　ｈｒｓ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｆｅｒｒｙ．．．ａｎｙｗａｙ　Ｉ　ｍａｄｅ　ｉｔ　and actually really enjoyed it....especially having my ipod and dancing my way down the downhill sections.

It was nice to get back to Lijiang to rest but I had a full day ahead. The following morning...still in agony....I boarded the 8hr bus (ending in 10hrs) back to Kunming and changed onto the 18hr overnight sleeper train straight after.....on my birthday!!!!!

The night train was not so bad...3 tier bunk beds with 6 in a 'cabin' (no doors or any kind of privacy however. I was given a hip flask, 2 bracelets and a purse from the group....very sweet of them....and actually got a very good nights sleep. We arrived in Chengdu at 2pm the following day and checked into the hostel. Chengdu is fantastic....have already found 5 Starbucks coffee shops; a Carrefour and L'Occitaine products, also had my hair cut very nicely for 20 yuan or 3 dollars including a 20 minute head massage with vibrating massage chair. Its a medium sized city... apparently....twice the size of London!! Have managed to get lost a few times now.....no one speaks any english....took a photo of a toilet on my phone which has been extremely useful so far. The shear scale of China never ceases to amaze....every time we travel the temperature changes and the size of the 'towns' and cities is incredible. Tonight i went to a Sichuan Opera at Wuhua temple with tea, mask changes, shadow puppets, acrobatics and dancing....was really great and will go again in Beijing.

Tomorrow I am with only a few people for a week heading for Xi'an (a city with 'only 5 million people i am told) tomorrow night on sleeper train to the terracotta warriors and then onto Zhengzhou to visit the Shaolin monks...(crazy kung fu fighters in the hills)....will keep you up to date...only 3 weeks to go!!!

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Comments

[Harris-Manley's]

Great to hear from you Sim - Happy Birthday!! We tried to send a message on the day, did you get it? Be safe - see you soon Love Michelle, J, and the boys

[Richard]

Can't wait to see the pics
Hi sim, This all sounds amazing, I hope you're taking loads of photo's for us to see when you get back.