Ok well today we went to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. We really didnt know what to expect as this 2 day trek was supposed to be the most physical of the whole tour. Bus ride took a few hours and when we arrived it was raining so the crappy 80p raincoats came out. we all looked ridiculous as we had the huge raincoats covering our back packs too. Looked like extreme hunchbacks. Not a good look!! On route i got an umbrella as the raincoat was not doing the job properl...

We are in Lijiang! we are staying in a traditional old guesthouse. small and cozy. everything is wooden and chinese style.. they have a dog which is scared of everone and barks and growls all day.. and two birds who seem to chirp and b**** at eachother. one computer with free interent which everyone wants to use at the same time! The streets are mirrored with the same shops selling the same tourist crap from the same sales hounds! we didnt think wed do much si...

Dali is the most pretty old city iv seen in my life. Situated between a mountain and a lake.. it is such a beutiful loaction! I took an early morning 7am stroll aling the cobbled streets to a cafe for beakfast. yes i actually got my ass up to do this- but only with the promise of bagels from the french-canadians. Anyway.. On the way... behind every nook and cranny was another local charactor or a charming piece of chinese culture. Women in straw hats sweep the...

so we got a 6hr bus journey to Dali in which we watched 'cradle to the grave' movie dubbed in chinese and Andy taught me about clouds - science is fun!the scenery was stunning on the way.. the sky was soo blue and clouds so low, i wanted to reach up and touch them. stopped in service station for peeing- wish we hadnt. it was a discusting 1star. dont think weve explained the star system to you yet.... no star- chinese style squat with no door! flys buzzing.. poo...

Woke up to another of Patricks amazing egg sandwiches (egg seems to be a main part of the meals here, they use it in everything). Oh and of course more of our washing that we managed to give him last nite. Had to catch the bus all the way back to Chengdu to catch a flight to Kunming. The flight was pretty boring. As soon as we got to Kunming we saw a MacDonalds so as soon as we reached our hostel me, Laura, James and Dom went out in search of a Big Mac to satis...