Month: October 2018

We were picked up today at 7:25 a.m. by bus and after about 50 min bus ride with an excursion steamer 4 hours along the Li-River. About 40 boats with 100 seats each depart in a chain from the pier. During the trip you can see special karst stone formations, with the mountain/hill group Xingping of the 20 Yuan Note probably the most famous! You have a fixed seat in the ship and lunch is included (380 yuan pP. Bus + ship). But the food is the same for everyone in a plastic box and nothing for vegetarians. I just ate the rice with some vegetables. There is also free tea and hot water. Reiner and I were on deck most of the time despite the spray rain.

At YangShuo Pier, a Chinese cormorant fisherman had set out with a bamboo boat and his birds. For 10 yuan he let me on board and even sang like a gondolier! The birds are attached to the leg with a string, but can enter the water and swim. They seemed very satisfied.After that we actually wanted to climb up a hill, but decided against it, because the weather was not so great and the way there was totally littered. Instead, we had our feet massaged in a massage parlour for 30 minutes (50 yuan each). We’re going “like on clouds” now. Then we enjoyed a delicious pizza at Pizzahut.In the evening we were taken by bus back to Guilin.

Silke

Ps.: In an 8Yuan/1€ shop Reiner has found a mini-entertainfor our camera today, we have been looking for it intensively since Shangri-La (left there in the monastery! ).

This morning we took a taxi to the airport. Flight MF 8608 from Lijiang to Guilin. We chose this domestic flight because it allows us to spend a day longer in Guilin. And because we arrived a little more relaxed!

One and a half days train ride – one and a half hours flight! The flight was pleasant (unfortunately no Airbus but the competition with B…) and we even got warm (I vegetarian) food. Here in Guilin it is rain for the next three days! Hope we have clear prospects between the showers! Our Flower Hotel is very nice! Just outside with a view of the mountains!

Silke

After a very good breakfast we started today from Tina’s Guesthouse about 2 km by minibus from the hostel for free to get to the Middle Tiger Leaping Gorge. We walked most of the 3 h long route with 2 very nice couples, which we had already met yesterday. You took the taxi from Tea horse Guesthouse to Tina’s because it was already late and the “28 curves” had it all. Verika climbed a horse during the ascent, quite brave to ride the steep stone stairs on the slope!

Jo (L.A.), Verika (Hong Kong), Silke, Reiner, Peter (Canada), Sheila (China)

Today’s goal was the stone in the raging river, where, according to legend, a tiger escaped its hunter by jumping over the gorge.A suspension bridge leads directly there. It is breathtaking to stand in the middle of the roaring water masses.

During the hike, in addition to the park entrance of 45 yuan p.p., we also had to pay three times “way toll” of 10 or 15 yuan to the villagers to use the hiking trails or to get to the photo points. In addition, there are several small stalls on the side of the road where you can buy drinks and snacks such as .B walnuts. And as mentioned several “Horses”. The bus ride back we booked directly at Tina’s (50 Yuan) Last bus 15:30. The journey took a little longer as we had to wait an hour in front of a police station. A passenger was taken from the bus to the police station and then continued. We have not found out why.

Silke

Today we took the first bus at 8:00 a.m. to the “Tiger Leaping gorge”. From 10:40 we walked about 20 km until we reached Tina’s Guesthouse at 21:00! Unfortunately in the dark! All day we had wonderful sunshine and the view was insane!

 

Starting an hour earlier would have been better! After sunset, the path is not recommended despite headlamp! It goes partly over boulders steeply downhill near the abyss and over waterfalls!

Silke

This morning we still had enough time to hike to the largest prayer wheel in the world at 21 meters. It is located in the old town on a hill at Guishan Temple. For the view of the wooden roofs of the city, the stairway is worthwhile. You have to work with several people to get the gold-shining mill going.

At one o’clock at noon we went by bus again 4 hours in the direction of Lijiang. On the way, the bus takes a pipi break at a road stall. You can also buy sweets or drinks there. The buses are washed by the rest area staff with high-pressure cleaners, brooms and pullers.

In Shangri-La we had -2 to 14 degrees and in Lijiang it is 7 to 22 degrees. (jacket on/jacket off).

Silke

Today we were driven by a private car to Napahai Lake (150 yuan). The lake at an altitude of 3266 m and the surrounding grasslands have been illuminated in colourful autumn colours. We have seen many yaks, cows, horses and pigs running around freely. Our driver said she all go to her stable in the evening.

Afterwards we were allowed to see the home of a Tibetan family. We stayed in a traditional house with fantastic wood carvings. The ground floor consists of stables. An outside staircase leads to a veranda, where the grandmother has just turned pasta dough by hand through a machine. A large oven stands in the middle of the huge living room, which is kitchen, living room and bedroom in one.

A cat slept on the stove bench. But there is also a TV.Then we hiked up a little bit of a mountain to enjoy the view of the lake. After we were back in the hotel, we went in the old town in the “Three Brother’s Cafe” very tasty food. Reiner had yak meat on the hot stone and I had fried vegetable balls in sauce, spinach and rice. Afterwards I took part in the round dance again and Reiner drank tea and watched through the window.

Silke

Today we rented bikes for one day and took a tour to the Tibetan Buddhist monastery Ganden Sumtseling (at about 3320 m altitude)! We cycled there in less than an hour, with no bike lanes and you have to drive on the road.The last piece we did not smell the wheels and had to take the shuttle bus to the entrance gate. The bus is included in the ticket (115 yuan). The large prayer halls with the golden roofs and various large Budda and God figures can be reached via a long staircase. The monastery was built in 1679 from the 5th century. Dalai Lama.

A couple in costume had just taken pictures. The small lake in front of the temple town, lamuyangcuo Lake, is surrounded by a walking path, partly above the water, on wooden paths. It’s very nice to go there. It takes about 45 min to do so. There are some photopoints and there are a lot of yaks and black pigs running around. Yaks, pigs and wild dogs generally run through the area!

Silke

The bus took us to Shangri-La today in 4 hours. We stay in the nice little hotel “Kevin’s Trekker Inn” right next to the old town! In sunshine but quite cool temperatures we went to the food market. This is a large market hall. Incredible what is offered there. There were wonderful colorful vegetables and fruit that we have never seen before. And there were innards, pig stomachs, intestines, pig heads, yak tails (with fur), chicken feet living toads and worms, … . We didn’t really have any hunger after that.

In the evening we were in the old town. In one square, traditional music is danced every evening from 19:00. Everyone is allowed to participate – of course I was there!

Silke