Jiuzhai Shanzhuang Jiuzhaigou

... spots on the main branch, according to the attendant on the bus. So the second branch of the fork actually took us about 45 mins.

Rhinoceros Lake (犀牛海) is actually one stop before Shuzheng Lakes but we decided to skip it. The spot is famous for super-clear reflection due to the calm water surface but it was drizzling slightly and albeit windy. Few minutes at Shuzheng Lakes and we crossed the road to Shuzheng Village (树 ...

... into the mountains, the signs of the earthquake mostly disappeared and the canyons gave way to high alpine meadows and valleys. We reached the high valleys late in the day and were treated to a spectacular orange sunset illuminating a range of snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Night fell while we were still on the road—thanks to the breakdown and delay—so we arrived in town after dark. Everyone else, it seemed, had pre-booked a hotel ...

... 1493;ם הכסף הולך והחוו 97;ות נשמאו 14; לעד.
בדרך לפארק ירד שלג כבד שכיסה את כל ההרים בלבן. ע ...

... 1513;מו 12;ה ומלבד חייל שמאיי 13; את העמדה 24 שעות ל

הגע
514;י לגן עדן. יש לי חולשה למקומ 93;ת בהם המים ...

... easy to get dizzy when one goes straight from a pressurised airplane cabin into the outside world. I saw an oxygen bar as I came out of the plane. Just as I was scoffing, wondering if that was completely necessary, I realized I was actually tottering and fairly dizzy. I got on the airport minivan, thus escaping a 200 kuai cab fare, then we were off. There's nothing like a 90 minute trip in a minivan to get people to bond. I started off grumpy, with my head stuck out the window ...

... Mais le lendemain : il pleut, il y a du vent, des nuages : enfin impossible d'aller visiter un parc naturel dans ces conditions. Je commence sérieusement à me demander si Tchek est pas un gros moisi de la vie car depuis que je l'ai retrouvé on a eu que des emmerdes : VISA réduits à 1 mois, puis perte de passeport, mauvais ...

... We rented two bikes and cycled out of town to discover the gorgeous karst scenery for the day. Off the main road and onto a dirt track. The further we went, the narrower the path became, and the bumpier too. Further and further...until we were lost. We were mountain biking along the bumps and holes of knobbly earth that winded through fields and orchards. Like tightrope walkers, we teetered along the raised 30 cm-wide backbone of a raised path with ditches on ...

... o clock we finally arrive to the camp and our guide in less than 30 minutes prepare everything: food, tents, commune place, fire and take care of the horse. We are near a river which gave us the water for the food and the horse are leaving on their own just with a bell on the neck. We start another tournament of card this time with the guide who does not speak English but with a quick explanation in Chinese and body language everything run fine.

... land of snow, although there are other versions of its origin. The corpse is offered to the vultures. It is believed that the vultures are Dakinis. Dakinis are the Tibetan equivalent of angels. In Tibetan, Dakini means "sky dancer". Dakinis will take the soul into the heavens, which is understood to be a windy place where souls await reincarnation into their next lives. This donation of human flesh to the vultures is considered virtuous ...

... guides tell us that there were 'horse bears' in the mountain. Oh dear eh! The next day we got up, packed up the camp and had the daunting task of two mountains to clamber over. The first one had my vertigo kick in again. When we were on the roads, one of the guides showed us one his talents, which involved singing and making the horses run away from him in horror! What a skill eh! So finally one more mountain to ride up and climb down and we got on our horses for the home ...