So spent my last day in Lijiang out in the sticks once again on a bicycle. The cycle was going quite well until I noticed that possibly the road I wanted to use may be closed so thought I would follow some lorries as they appeared to know of another route. Big Big mistake 30km on a gradual incline later and I reach the top of a rather large hill/mountain and take a little look over the side and notice that my initial first choice road was in fact open and led to a reservoir so the beauty of going up hill means you get to bomb it down hill, well you would think so but what with hair pin bends and sheer cliff drops good idea to take it easy, the reservoir will still be there. Managed to get down in once piece and head towards a small farming village that wound up on that very reservoir I wanted to be at. I followed an extremely old Naxi couple who were herding their goats along the lane, too many of them to scoot by but it was lovely just to walk with them. After the amount of hiking and cycling that has been done this holiday my little legs needs a rest. Yunnan has been truly amazing and very humbling, right from the Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture all the way down to Shangr La and Lijiang it is well worth a visit to this neck of the woods. Words cannot describe these people and the places that you see whilst you are out and about. In Shangri La I would recommend the Lao Shay YHA, a little out of the way but what a sunrise and sunset from the balcony of the hostel overlooking the mountains, meadows and off course the yaks and pigs just strolling around. The Tibetan Settlements are very close to this place and you get to see them in traditional dress just going about their daily business. The Monastery on the hill is also worth a visit even though they are doing work up their, the monks are lovely and very friendly and try to chat whatever nationality you are. Looks very similar to the one that is in Lhasa. I cannot wait to go to Tibet now after this expereience. Lijiang - the old internation YHA is cool in the old town down Mishi Alley. Set in a little court yard with cheap beers and eats, they arrange trips out for you and are dead nice. Lamus Tibet House of Food, excellent dishes here, worth a visit and the window seats are a treat, service is fab. There are so many places that I would like to mention but if anyone reads this other than family and friends I hope you find it useful. If you want a kicking area to stay in Kunming then the Hump Hostel is the place, bar street central behind and the noise did not stop until about 3am this morning, no good if you want a sleep. The hump hostel has loads of info about the hump pilots and the flying tigers that were in this area during the war. I also went to the hump monument today up on yet another mountain side that required further walking but it was set in come beautiful surroundings and the gate keeper opened up a special room so that I could take a photo on some artifacts that relate to the Hump Pilots. Anyway an amazing holiday and photos will follow asap. Bring on the next trip to Chengdu and then all being well back ti Lijiang before I am home for the summer. More Tiger Leaping Hikes for me.