As a foot note to `Stuck in Shangri-La`, I obviously got off lightly as it has being closed off for the past few days due to heavy snow and the army!
So my main reason in coming to this part of China was to do the Tiger Leaping Gorge Trek.There`s lots of info around about how difficult an dangerous it is but I FOUND IT FINE EVEN AFTER A FEW UNPLANNED DETOURS.(OK I HAVE HIT SOME BUTTON ON THE KEYPAD AND ITS IN CHINESE AND I HAVENT A CLUE HOW TO CHANGE IT, SO EXCUSE THE CAPS)
FIRST DETOUR WAS BYPASSING THE TOWN COMPLETELY DUE TO SOME MISCOMMUNICATION, SO THE DRIVER DROPPED ME OFF AT THE NEXT STATION MUCH TO THE AMUSEMENT OF THE STATION MANAGER WHO SETTLED ME IN THEIR OFFICE BESIDE THE FIRE WHILE I WAITED FOR A FREE SEAT TO GET BACK TO THE TOWN. THEY ARE PEDANTIC ABOUT EVERY PERSON HAVING A SEAT ON THE BUS AND WILL NOT OVERCROWD THEM EVEN BY 1 PERSON. SO EVENTUALLY AFTER ARRIVING I GOT THE LOW DOWN ON THE CONDITIONS OF THE TREK THEN OFF TO ACCOMMODATION TO GET ORGANISED. NEXT MORNING I SET OFF WHICH WAS GOING TO BE MY LONGEST DAY OF 6 HOURS. THE TRAIL WAS FINE AND WELL MARKED , THE WEATHER STARTED OUT SUNNY BUT SOME GOT COLD AND A BIT WINDY. OF COURSE THE SCENERY WAS AMAZING AND YOU REALLY ARE UP IN THE MOUNTAIN LOOKING DEEP INTO THE GORGE. NOW THE FAMOUS 28 BENDS IS MEANT TO BE THE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE TREK AS ITS PRETTY MUCH A STARIGHT ASCENT. WHOEVER GAVE THE NAME 28 BENDS COULDN`T COUNT OR LOST COUNT HALF WAY AND STARTED AGAIN, BUT AFTER THE LONG HIKE UP IT WAS DIFFINETLY WORTH IT.
STAYED IN GREAT LITTLE GUEST HOUSE THE FIRST NIGHT AND SAMPLED SOME LOCAL FOOD AND A KNOCK OUT LOCAL WINE. NEXT MORNING WAS A BIT SHORTER WITH ONLY A 4 HOUR HIKE. DOINTG IT IN FULL SHOESTRINGER STYLE I WAS DOING THE TREK BACK ALSO ,TO AVOID HAVING TO PAY A CAR TO BRING ME BACK TO THE VILLAGE START. EVEN GOING BACK IT WAS A TOUGH HIKE IN SOME SPOTS ANS WAS WINDY AND BITTERLY COLD, AFTER A QUICK COFFEE AT ANOTHER LOCAL HOUSE I WAS OFF AGAIN AND ARRIVED MID AFTERNOON AT THE NAXI GUESTHOUSE, WHERE EVEN THE PACKET OF CHOPSTICKS HAD A SMILE ON IT. GREAT FAMILY SERVICE SUPER FOOD AND FREE RICE WINE ADDED UP TO ANOTHER GREAT EVENING.
NEXT MORNING, WITH A FEW SORE MUSCLES IT WAS ONLY AN HOURS WALK BACK TO THE VILLAGE WHERE I CAUGHT A LOCAL VAN ONTO MY NEXT DESTINATION OF LIJANG.
