Olivers Travels A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step...

13^th November 2007：- Ok we both had a pretty rubbish night’s sleep, just due to the noise of the carriage & restricted space due to our bags being crammed onto the bed.  Anyhow we hot into Panzihua train station @ 7.00 we then caught a taxi to the bus station that was about 25mins away.  We were lucky enough to get on the 8.30 bus to Lijiang @ a cost of 76 Yuan per person.  Our bus journey in itself was not that bad, spectacular views, roads are almost pot hole free, far better than the roads in Nepal.  Downside of the journey: - roads are pretty windy this meant that there were plenty of people getting motion sickness, it was kind of like a domino effect.  We also had to endure the lovely hocking & spitting of a few people.  I know that this is something that a few Chinese do, but in confined spaces I’m afraid it makes me gag, sorry!  After our 9 hour journey that covered only 150km we arrived in Lijiang to nice crisp blue skies & the sun shinning brightly.  We hopped in a taxi to the old town & once we got out we were hopelessly lost.  Lucky for us there was an old lady waiting for hopelessly lost people & for 10 Yuan she took us to the Moon Inn.  To tell you the truth I was slightly disappointed when we arrived, as they are carrying out improvements on the property, which we were not informed about.  Our double room is small & I would say cozy but it’s very cold here @ night, although later we will make use of the electric blanket provided.  Our room has everything you could ask for including our own PC with internet.  Once we dumped our bags we headed out into the old town & oh my goodness it was an experience.  We had a Chinese map that did not help us that much, as we walked around looking for food for about 1.5 hrs not knowing where we were.  In the end we found a tourist info place in the main Square & purchased ourselves an English map.  We eventually had something to eat & found our way back to the Moon Inn, Yeah.

14^th November 2007: - Today we woke early & made our way outside in the cold morning air.  We wanted to do this so we could get some pictures in the morning light & to capture the cobbled streets without too many tourists around.  This was such a good idea; it felt like the calm before the storm.  Rivers flow in & out of the small streets & red lanterns sway in the morning breeze.  There were not that many people about, only shop keepers getting read for yet another busy day & school children laughing as they walked.  We took so many pictures, it is difficult not too, the only thing that stopped us was our rumbling bellies so we stopped @ a café to eat our fill & warm our hands.  Our afternoon was spent walking in the “Black Dragon Pool Park”, which is located on the northern edge of town.  Unfortunately today is very cloudy so we were unable to see the fantastic view of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain this park has to offer.  We however still had a lovely stroll in the park around the very clear spring lake.  For our meal tonight we thought that we would try some traditional Naxi food.  We both opted for hot pots, which went down a treat on this cold day.

15^th November 2007: - Yeah it’s my birthday & I am not on a train!  We have decided to spend 4 nights here in Lijiang.  Well I woke to yet another rather cold morning & Drew singing Happy Birthday to me & hands me a pair of socks, he did not have any wrapping paper so a good improvisation.  I open the socks to find a beautiful piece of jewelry that Drew had made in Kathmandu.  It is a Topaz stone set in silver, topped off with a leather necklace.  It is absolutely amazing & I am too scared to wear it just in case I loose it.  We then hop onto the internet & I pick up many messages from family & friends.  Thank-you ever so much, they meant so much to me, just wished you were all here to share in the celebrations.  After breakfast we bundled into our cab with another couple & start a 2.5 hour drive to Tiger Leaping Gorge or should I say Tiger Jumping Alley as our Chinese friend translated.  Our long journey was well worth it as we walked along the lower level of the gorge, rapids rush by us whilst mountains tower above us.  After our visit to the Gorge we head back to Lijiang old town & this is where I make some phone calls back home.  It was lovely speaking to you all & I am missing you like crazy.  On our way back to the Inn, we purchase what look like fantastic iced muffins for my birthday cake (found out later the icing was very lardy, however the sponge was super soft).