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Letter19
Friday 30.04.10
I've used the day considering what to do next and relaxing.
First I decide to stay one more day. Next that I will go to Tiger Leaping Gorge
on a two day trek, where I'll stay for the night somewhere in the road. The
gorge is called so, because it's so narrow, that a tiger once leaped across. Has
there ever lived tigers here? I doubt it. There is an austrian couple to
accompany me, Markus and I don't know her name yet. I also spoke to a japanese
and a finn up at the park, they wanted to go there tomorrow too, but that's
another story that I will tell now.
After breakfast - a big pancake I bought yesterday - I went exploring the city.
Searching for the best view of it. That was when I met the two persons just
mentioned. They've obviously had the same idea.
There was it turned out an even better spot, because there was entrance to a
park on the top. With a temple or pavillion. So I paid the 15 RMB and entered. A
fine view! On my way further up the stairs - they were long and steep - I had to
stop to catch my breath. We're probably at a higher altitude than Kunmings 2000
m?
In the pavillion a munk had me lighting an incense stick and putting it in the
bowl. He mumbled prayers for me while I had a wooden pearl bracelet in my hands
and he wanted me to keep for the neat price of 100 RMB! As I might have looked
overwhelmed he immidiately lowered his price to 50. I said I didn't have so much
money and didn't want anything, but was willing to donate a small sum to the
temple. Which I did.
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| Beautiful traditional building in Old Lijiang | View of the Old Lijiang |
Afterwards I strolled around the city, in the more modest alleys without many
tourists. There are some streams to orientate by, one of them goes along the
main tourist street. At another sat two women washing clothes.
I've been to the supermarket in the new part of town at the Mao statue to buy
stocks for the next days, charged my batteries and that kind og things.
I decide to use two days in Tiger Leaping Gorge and to stay in my dormitory even
there is a vacant single room. It's probably not going to be cheap to sleep on
the mountain or where ever it is. I've been speaking to the austrian couple
several times, they want to do the same, so I'll join them.
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| Nice public toilet in the park | Washing in the stream |