Oh lord its a little cold. Im in Shangri-La

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Current Mood: IM UNWELL AGAIN..... but happy and cold!

AAAAAhhhhhhhhh poo i woke up on the morning of our trip to Zhongdian with a scratchy throat and the Shivers!!! By the time i Had reached the location and with the feeling of Altitude on top of my Man Flu i felt well and truely HORRIBLE! But im ARD i can take it!!

The bus arrived at 7am ( a little late for a change) and we hopped on to this time a better bus with a little more leg room!! Feeling poo,, i couldn't sleep but this was a bonus as i witnessed some amazing views on route!!! We stopped plenty of times for leg stretches and Squat stops and some, again lovely food in a side road Cafe similar to that on route to Songpan.

So we are here after a seven hour Bus ride and 2000 metres of ear popping road climbing i finally see what the deal is with this Zhongdian milarki!! At first views ( and i dont know wether this is because i felt pants) Zhongdian didnt catch my eye in a good way!!! lets say its not Aesthetically pleasing! We walked a little after shewing the local pests and there taxi's until we were lost and had to resort to an on route taxi driver!! We rock up at the Tibetan Cafe which is a mixture of Restaurant/hotel/icebox where we had planned to simply get food and look for digs in our lonely planets of China!!! It turned out to be that cold and we ate that much we innevitably decided to stay here in the Tibetan Quarters of the Cafe Tibet!!

Upto the mix dorm of six beds Myself Tim and Hugh Grant (Henry) get the electric blankets on the go and head down to the old town area! We were in search of drinks and we were advised of a place called 'The Raven' for a nice chilled vibe so after a wonder and a hunt we find the pad and dive in!!! Great advice From Dali as this place was so nice!!! Maybe because it was so much warmer in there than anywhere else seemed to be in Zhongdian but still a wicked little Bar!!! after many hours of drinking White Russians and figuring the rules to many card games we head back to the fridge very pissed and myself dredding the cold in the room!!!!

The following morning after a surprisingly Warm sleep (electric blankets Rock and you should leave them on all night Nan) we get up to find the pipes to the Hot Water had frozen!!! so stinking we decide to get bikes out from the Hostel and head to the hills for some better views!!!

This day turned out to be fun!!! Three English lads on Mountain Bikes riding on the wrong side of the road mostly dodging tractors, pick up trucks and other cyclists ( ooooh and the odd bus, pig, Yak and child) we climbed a big hill and glided down the other side!! we were in search of Napa lake but the Day prooved tough and our bearings were pish!!! We got lost but in ok looking places and stopped for some grub in a tibetan set up offering more horse treks and other delights!! 7KM down a steep hill from home we decide to push back in an attempt to reach the Hostel before the sun went away!!! Hahahahahah i was dredding this but we decided to try and hitch a lift given the chance back over the mountain ( if we didn't get one the bike would have been ditched and i'd have walked). Hahahah we saw this pick up truck thingy me bob approaching the road ahead of our location so we peddled our little hearts out and caught the guy to flag him down to try our luck!!! Result..... he said jump aboard so we fired the bikes on the back and climbed up to get our free lift over the massive hill to the town side of Zhongdian (Shangri-La) thanx to the Driver and a tip offer later we shoot back into town in time for the cold!

Arriving at the digs we dump the bikes and bags and head down to old town Shangri-La in the direction of the Raven for a well deserved.................. Hot chocolate!!!! Oh it was a nice one thank you please!! After here we went in search of food and found a little, supposedly expensive Restaurant (i suppose it was for china) where we ate all sorts of dishes in communual chopstick fashion including Chow mein, Egg Fried rice, Pakoras, Pitta Breads by the tonne, Fried Yak Meat, Fried veg potato and tea by the pot!!! Stuffed we head back to the Raven for a nightcap where we end up teaching english (or letting the chinese girls practice there English on us). So full up, pissy arsed on Milky Mudslides and Educated we head back to the Tibetan Cafe for sleep!!

This was my final Night with Tim and Henry and its a real shame to see Tim go!!! ive been travelling witht he guy since Beijing really and ive gotta say buddy its been a pleasure!!! thanx mate youve been a blast!!! good luck with everything inbetween our next party time hook up!!!! your a star!!

Henry aka Hugh Grant (because he is the ideal English fellow) look after your self man!!! hope to see you in Nam!!!.

The morning arrives and the lads leave! im here until 7.30 pm for my direct sleeper bus to Kunming to get my passport back and Visa for Vietnam!! i cant wait for the sun!!! After the Lads left i got up and thought id give the shower a blast!!! Result hahahahah boys im gutted for you the shower was toasty and i stood in there for an hour ( no exhageration) So ' im fresh Dressed like a million bucks, Threw on my white socks[' and my all Tibetan clobber!!! I Packed up my belongings i went down to the reception to check out early!!! After dumping my main Bag i shot into town to get some pics and have a general wonder of the stalls eating local delights on sticks and chatting with shop owners!!! this is my first Day alone in China and its wierd!!! I came away alone but hooked up with Dave!! Then Cara and Ashley..... followed by Tim..... then all the Pingyao bunch before hitting Xi'an and catching the Irish lads, Johnny and Colum, Sonya and Harris of course then Henry!!! Being alone is almost Fun!!! im off to Kunming in an hour or two so im going to Grab a bowl of Yak meat Noodle soup and head to the station!!!

I hope you are all ok..... cos im having a blast!!!! Get intouch guys im missing you all!!!

ill update you from my second trip to Kunming!!! my final main stop in China before my return in a few years!!!

Love from a Brummy!!

niki

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