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Yesterday evening I said goodbye to the Dutch when we separated to board our different boats, and met my "tour guide" who helped me to my room and told me the schedule of the next few days.


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I'm here at an internet cafe in Chongqing, frittering away time until I can get on my cruise boat, which according to the blog of two people I met in Chengdu who took the cruise before me, will be a filthy thing. But I'm still excited for the scenery ( Read more... )

Yesterday was relaxation day for me. I ate a breakfast of yoghurt and bao, then got a 10 kuai straight razor shave and bread trim, then went online, then headed to a foot massage parlor where I pampered myself with an 18 kuai special that included medicinal foot steaming, foot washing, foot massage, body massage, and pedicure for $2.25. Here I met ( Read more... )

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We started the hike up Emei Shan today. Zhou and bao for breakfast, then we became lost and confused when we tried to find the hiking trail entrance. But with the help of another hiker we found it and paid the 120 kuai admission fee (steep!) and started climbing the first of countless stairs leading to the peak ( Read more... )

Today I teamed up with Magda, a Polish woman who had one of the beds in my room at the hostel. We stored our bags and took the city bus to the bus station and bought tickets for the next bus to Emei Shan. The bus had broken seats; it took me two tries to find a seat that would not automatically fully recline when I sat in it. The ride passed in ( Read more... )

Today I planned to be on Emei Shan, but the weather was rainy all morning so I slept in, had some breakfast buns, and went to the post office to mail off Conor's package. I also walked around the area trying to find some Meng Ding yellow tea, but no one sold it. marshaln says yellow tea is a dying breed, and I see the truth of his statement. Meng Shan is ( Read more... )

Didn't do much today; I just hung out with Pedro ( Read more... )