the gorge~

Ni-hao (hello),
So i thought i'd just write a little update, as it hasnt been too many days since my last post.

I got a cold. Because there are 12 of us in the group, so close together all the time, when one person gets something it sure was bound to go around. I think 5 or 6 of us were sick at the same time. Cold or no cold, it was hiking time!~

We took the bus to the base of the tiger leaping gorge, where we met up with a lady that has lived there for 12 or 13 years. Margo. She is from australia, She takes groups on the hike, and knows so much about the area. So we started our trek from there. The mountains were spectacular, and you can always see the rushing river down below. I think we started the trek at around 2500m above sea level. That first day we hiked from about noon until 6 or so. We then got to the guest house where we had a wonderful dinner and couldnt stay up much longer before crashing from the hike. The hike was amazing, and mostly up hill that first day. There was a deadly section called the 28 bends, and it is just a zigzag winding uphill stretch that i thought was going to be the death of me. Being sick, and at such an altitude (especially after most of the day hiking up hill) it was difficult to catch your breath.At the hight of our trek i think we were around 4500m above sea level but, even at the base, at Margos it was hard to breathe because of the elevation (and the cold)..But, we kept on tramping (thats what the new zeland people say for trekking..i thought it was hilarious!) I made SOOOOOO many tramping jokes during the hike.

After an early morning, we continued our tramp. A little up hill on this second day, but mostly flat for the morning. We walked through some waterfalls, and some more winding paths with large drop-offs into what seems like miles of downhill before reaching the river. The afternoon on the second day was so much winding downhill slopes. There was also a little rain along the trek which made the path and rocks quite slippery! But, we hiked from around 9 until about 330 that day before getting to our second guest house. Again, wonderful food prepared (this second guesthouse was tibetan). And, we stayed there overnight before heading back to margos by vans.

I survived the tiger leaping gorge! it was the hardest thing i have ever done in my life, but so rewarding to get to the end. Such an accomplishment complimented by beautiful scenery and mostly good weather.

We then took a 2 hour bus ride to another small town, where we are now.Yesterday i went to a giant tibetan monestary with some people from my group, and this morning we went to the giant prayer wheel (you'll have to see facebook for the photos!) Last night we had a full curry dinner (that was for you mom). It was wonderful! best curry i think i've ever had.

Everyone in the group seems to be really enjoying eating YAK meat (when in china right?!). Which has kind of been a joke of mine...we get to a restaurant, and arent there 5 minutes before someone says "the yakkier the better".

We leave here in the morning to go to Dali for 2 days before going back to Kunming where our trip ends.

So thats is it for now. I am sitting in a small cafe enjoying a rose jasmine tea, and i think i'm going to go shopping for a bit!!

Gum-bay (cheers) from the east!