Mama Naxi's Guesthouse – what a difference from the place I stayed when I was first in Lijiang – that place was eerily quiet, yet beautiful. Problem was I felt like I was intruding in the hosts life rather than a welcome guest. Mama Naxi’s – wow, what a wild place. Mama Naxi is a Naxi (Minority People tribe) and runs a crazy, loud, full operation. Naxi women are the ones who run a Matriarchial society, can have affairs outside of ma...

Woke up from under my huge Duvet – looked out to the mountain vista anticipating a bright blue sky and……..the mountains were gone and the sky was not. It was raining! My worst fear – slippery rocks. Just the day before, the New Yorkers and I were saying how impossible this would be to do in the rain…..the path was difficult as it was, add rain and paths would turn to mud and the bare rock parts would be too slippery to walk…...

Tiger Leaping Gorge – Day 1  Tiger Leaping Gorge is pretty much the reason I came to China. Last September, October, my friend Hilary – the Aussie who started the home in Cambodia for girls rescued from sex slave trafficking, did a 6 week backpacking trip with her 15 year old son. They did Vietnam, Cambodia and China and she posted her fantastic pictures, as well as detailed travel information, on her blog. I was home, working again and living vic...

Left the Luminn GH with a note to give to the nice lady or man at the bus station. Travelling in China gives one that 'child' like feeling – you walk around somewhat helpless with notes firmly clutched in your fist – scanning the crowds of people to try and determine who might take the time to read your note and point you in the right direction. I do pride myself on reading people and situations, usually quite well….but, here in China, ...

Yes - it really is this beautiful.....