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Published: June 25th 2008
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Tiger Leaping Gorge
The amazing view continued. We awoke to beautiful mountain views in the mountain at 7am. Delicious honey apple pancakes for breakfast (I know it was dinner but I could not resist this delicacy again).
We left at 9:30am and eventually ended up at Tina's guest house. By the time we got there we had missed our 11am bus back to the start of the gorge and to get to Shangri-la. Mikk got a snickers at Tina's for 8RMB which was pretty pricey for China. We saw a sign that said down this way towards the ferry. It was a big hill with a 60 degree incline going down for about 30 minutes - with constant slipping along the rubble. We got to the bottom and the ferry was not operating?!?
Kathy had mentioned this might be a risk we were taking ( as she didn't see anyone at the top). We yelled and whistled for about 10 mintues. It was one of the lowest points I had felt on my trip thus far when it dawned on me that we would have to climb up that there was no ferry coming. And I had literally no water left. This part back up felt like
a desert. My mouth was dry and my teeth and tongue felt raspy.
The taste of water felt so sweet when I finally got to get some at a shop (it was like new life in me haha). We got to the top and deliberated whether to go to the start of Tiger Leaping Gorge by taxi (100 RMB) and bus to Shangri - la $$unknown. Mikk suggested we try the other way. We decided to hitch a ride in a passing car. Then as if it was meant to be this car pulled up out of know where. The guy said he in broken chinese that he would take us up to the nearest town for 1 RMB each.
When we got to the town he made us pay 10RMB each which he said in perfect english. Sketchy huh. Anyway we decided to walk towards the ferry to Lijiang. On the way down we saw a bus behind us going up towards the general Shangri-la direction. It felt like the right thing to do so I ran after the bus (and managed to catch it?!?)
We managed (with the help of the girl in the front and
an american chinese girl in the back) to decipher that the bus was going to Sanba (10RMB) - but not to Shangrila (from Sanba it was a 4 hour ride to Shangri-la).
Me and Kathy decided to take it Mikk decided to go catch the ferry back to Lijiang (which I later found out he missed). It was so sad when I realised in a flurry I would be losing my first traveling buddy. I had gotten so accustomed to him. He was laughing as the bus pulled away and I blew him an air kiss. It was pretty random and a quick goodbye. I thought how I would miss Mikk. It made me think of the Atisha quote:
"The greatest genorisity is non attachment"
Hopefully I will see him again when I go to Estonia.
As the bus drove off me and Kathy were really appreciative and excited about this crazy adventure we had gotten ourselves into. We finally got off the bus stop (at the building Bai Shui Tai Dong be wen this Shao Shong). Not sure really. Anyway this lady/girl came out and met us. She beckoned us to come in and showed
Tiger Leaping Gorge
The waterfalls were beautiful on the second day. us she had food and rooms. She showed us a provate TV and shower it was 70RMB for 2 (Or just over $6). We tried to practise our Chinese (and frugality) to get a cheaper room. It worked after 5 mins of uming and ahing we got her to show us to another room. It did not have showers attached but there was 3 beds (which we had to ourselves anyways) and a TV and it was only 30RMB. I accidently said Ziazen (goodbye) instead of thank you again. She corrected me then we came back to the kitchen to wat. The toilets at this hostel were fully pit by the way but pretty clean. We then somehow managed to order rice, tofu, egg and vege.
After this we went for a walk up to Baishutia mountain where it is believed the Dongba buddism started (Naxi culture) - maybe the person had an epiphany or vision up here. Whatever he or she did it was a spectacular view and one of those that photos do not do justice to. We met two Naxi girls who told us to come visit thier resturant after. Thier resturant turned out to be
pretty cool. We sat around thier kitchen - not even the main eating bit. Around a fire just like the locals do and had a mushroom meal, spicy pork and boiled vege and rice for 10 yuan = less than $2 AUD for 2!!!!!!
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anonymous
non-member comment
sadie!!! i am so jealous!!!!! hope you are taking care of yourself. catch you soon.