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| finally... |
WHERE (less detail): CHINA
DAYS: 93-96
PEOPLE ARE: possibly the most helpful in the world or we just had the most amazing piece of luck. Thanks to Paul’s nonsensical last-day strategy of “always take the downward trail” we found ourselves by a desolate - and possibly long deserted - exit gate. We also found ourselves in the ultimate Chinese backwater. While local women washed clothes on rocks in the river we wandered aimlessly, without a clue as to how to get back to civilisation and more importantly Zhangjiajie city. Despite using our best pointing efforts on several locals we looked set to spend the night in the pig shed. Fortunately we found a local bus and despite the driver not understanding a word we said and looking like the most confused man on earth at the sight of a map he ushered us onboard. An hour later we still hadn’t moved and the bus had filled up with other passengers who then alighted on-masse to get on another bus. Just as Paul started to think about feeling guilty for not agreeing to walk (uphill) towards the main entrance the driver started the bus. Two hours later we pulled up at our hostels front door. As soon as we got off the bus pulled an immediate U-turn. We still wonder if the other passengers were told about the slight detour or if they were just happy to take an impromptu trip to the big city?
WEATHER: freezing cold in our room in the park because Paul failed to realise that the windows were wide open throughout our stay. In his defence Paul didn’t realise he had been allocated such a duty for the year. Otherwise a mixture of mild clouds and crisp sunshine while we hiked.
FOOD IS: either rice or noodles. Rhaani’s attempt to order some vegetables resulted in another plate of rice and her contention that the hostel owner “doesn’t speak Chinese.”
HIGHLIGHTS/LOWLIGHTS: our fake student ID cards are rejected because we are collectively 32 years over the 18-year-old student limit...a three day hunt for the Avatar mountain....Rhaani’s opinion of the park takes an immediate battering when she realises it contains hundreds of monkeys - wild monkeys! Unknowingly walking the wrong way up our first mountain...the stunning views from the top makes up for any lost positioning - although not the presence of monkeys, according to Rhaani...catching the last glass elevator up the side of the next mountain range...Paul fortunately spots our hostel as our bus-full of noisey Chinese tourists zooms around another sheer drop cliff...two more days looking for Avatar mountain....finding Avatar Mountain....the sad realisation that despite the fact we are in one of the most breath-taking natural location in the world by day 3 we were both a little over continually stunning scenery...
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| that's a little different |
THINGS LOST: nothing new to add
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| you bored? yeah me too |
UP NEXT: Hong Kong
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