Hello from Lijiang,
Where we arrived after a beautiful busride through mountain ranges,
surrounded by waterfalls and steep green hills. Being the only 'longnoses'
onboard, we enjoyed the friendliness of the people and the break in the
middle of nowhere with yummy spicy food (for that, we had to sit on r e a l
l y small benches, 5 points to Bruno for this acrobatic act!). After about
8,5 hours(not to forget the 12 hours on the train directly before) we
arrived in Lijiang. Due to the national holiday, it is swarming with Chinese
tourists, but still very charming. At night, they lit little trays with
candles swimm on the canals and the old Naxi-buildings are light up with
yellow lights, just to make a nice contrast with the red lampions (yes,
we're in China! there have to be red lampions!). Okay, I let Brunino write
now. (Nuno, I gave him already two apples (pealed) and he is still walking
around happily, as for the pasta, I am not so sure...he' s getting addicted
to spicy food now : )
China, like the chinese, seems to be in a hurry to go somewhere, and it sure
is going... in all the cities we've passed through, they seem to be going
taller, wider and... well bigger. We couldn't tell we're in a socialist,
under-developped country, the China we've seen so far is modern, high-tech
and consuming everything big and fast... everybody, from the rickshaw driver
to the man selling apples (delicious...) have a mobile phone of latest
generation (photos and the lot...) and they shout in it the whole day
long... we haven't figured out yet how they write sms, but they do...
Among the other backpackers, we're the exotic ones, with only three weeks of
time. Or let's say it in other words, we're the Japaneese tourists, running
from site to site, smile, photo, und tschuess! - naaa, it's not really like
that, but it feels a bit odd talking to people that are travelling since
nine months and still have until Christmas (why everybody needs to be home
for Christmas?), or other ones, that just arrived in Beijing via the
'Transsib', and again others that want to go working half a year in New
Zealand, then one year in Australia, before they just check out India and a
little bit of Thailand, ay, ay! But we take our tiny 3 weeks with pride!!
Jawohl! Pois claro!!
So... tomorrow we take a bus to Qiaotou and from there start trekking the
famous Tiger Leaping Gorge (look it up in google), that should keep us busy
for 2 days, with a sleepover in the middle, then we'll arrive at Daju, and
there we'll decide (or better: Nic's knees will) whether to continue hiking
up to Baishao, the stone village, or head directly to the Jade Dragon Snow
Mountain (sounds cool doesn't it?)(<- watch the movie'crouching tiger,
hidden dragon' : )
We should be back in Lijiang or Dali for a fresh report for you. Until then,
big hugs to all.
Brunello + Nicoletta
PS: Can't wait to taste dried yak meat (berg!!) - Light and easy to carry.
PPS: Can't think of anything to add now...
