Ah China ... Always a special place, especially when traveling to remote places ... Reading your blog brought back so many memories (good ones and yes scary ones when it comes to traveling local style ...), thanks so much for sharing ! Now hope that despite a fast pace development they won't start to put concrete everywhere ... Seems to have changed quite a bit already .. but hospitality still the same, that's good! Side note on the rug, love the "rebuilding the house around it" story! got a few and simply don't go with anything but still love them, what to do ...
Waltzing Matilda?????? I've heard it all now! Here is Dave, trekking empty plateaus and the vast wilderness where no man (or woman) has boldly gone before and that is the best you can come up with??? Then again, I suppose it's better than the theme tune to Home and Away! Those Tibetan people are lovely folk but the most ruthless salespeople I have ever come across....maybe that is why the minibus drivers drive like maniacs; in a desperate attempt to flee from them! :)
Waltzing Matilda?????? I knew it...thanks for making it clear...but when the only other songs I knew the words for was your National Anthem & Nursery Rhymes...Waltzing Matilda went down really well!
Quite a ride! Sounds like quite a ride you had in the minivan! Crazy what they load onto a tiny boat to get across the river, but I guess you do what you have to do...
Love the story of building a house and home around the rug, makes it a really special piece :-)
HI THERE ED We met a Naxi guy who approached us in Lijiang. Took us to Tiger Leaping Gorge...really pushed to take us to Liming...never heard of it...our day so good we said "OK tomorrow"...so glad we did!
Magic master! Clearly, you're able to conjure magic in places unknown to others! Amazing that you found this pocket of heaven--red rocks, fanciful names and gentle people--wow! Your panoramic shot with the dramatic rocks and adorable dog took my breath away, and I knew I was in for a splendid ride on your journey--thanks so much!
BEING TARA CLOUD I'm delighted you are into the vibe of my China blogs. You'd love Liming...and you'd love Shangri-la where I'll blog next...then some portraits...mmmm. Glad you liked my Littlest Lisu pic & panorama. It's one of my favourite pics from China...transports me every time.
We have not made it to China yet. You make it sound very appealing. Not much time to read blogs right now but glad I read this one. The views are breathtaking.
HI RACHAEL Thanks for commenting. Have you been to the Blue Mountains yet? Shades of Liming. The shapes in the rocks named over eons by the Lisu. You go to these places and you can see how the names fit...hard to capture in pics but if you blow them up it helps. And up the top at One Thousand Tortoise Running...at the right angles you can see them...running to the top...and sitting there patiently...the village dog.
We are familiar with the Lisu... they are another hill tribe that ranged southward into northern Thailand. Our cook in Chiang Mai in 1974 was Lisu. She really hadn't adjusted to civilization. When we were on vacation in Europe, her and her husband who was Lahu, planted our front yard with corn. When we got home we found corn growing everywhere. I guess they didn't understand why we didn't use such good planting space. We had then pull all the corn plants out to restore our lawn. Anyway, I would love to visit this hidden corner of China someday.
HI BOB "Corn or lawn? Great story to remember the Lisu by. As usual pics only give a taste of the true beauty of a place...but I had to try as Liming was truly beautiful...and to not find it on maps at the time and have the place to ourselves was truly special.
Congratulations~ You deserve the gold medal, not only for rectifying your regret, but for going even further than you had initially planned! Inspired as always.
THANKS MICHELLE Glad you read this little insight into this humble blogger...or should I say...of the rewards of determination...you can imagine my smile when I achieved it.
So close and yet so far.... Some goals are years in the making....and worth the effort. Isn't it something when it eats away at you until you complete the goal? Loved your photos and you look great! Those amazing mountains can call your spirit.
My wife Denise & I like to travel "on paths less travelled" that capture our imagination, inspire my photography & where we mix with locals & remain safe.
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auspicious
Michelle Duer
Crazy ride and beautiful rug, but this photo made my jaw drop.