6/2 – I buy a first-class train ticket to Pingyao for $6 more than second-class, but mid-way in the trip, the compartment suddenly becomes second class, and new passengers come swarming in. basket asics igs new balance 996 beige homme Sheesh. basket air jordan soldes

Today I read about a passenger boat on the Yangtze River capsizing with 450 people aboard! It wasn’t near my route, so it wasn’t exactly a “close call” but it feels a bit like one. New Balance 999 hombre asics gel stratus hombre Horrible disaster. 250 kids from the same high school were onboard. Hard to imagine what that will do to the community.

Arrive in Pingyao about 5PM. Goedkoop Adidas Schoenen This driver picks up people at the train station and brings them to the Harmony Hotel, which I was planning on checking out anyway. He says it’s a free pick-up, but it’s not, but that’s a different story. He’s driving a mini-van, and turns onto this narrow alley/street where the hotel is. Adidas Ultra Boost Dames Coming in the other direction is a three-wheeled vehicle lugging a little wagon behind. Womens Air Jordan 14 There’s a place for one car to pull over and let the other pass, but neither does that. new balance 501 Nike Pas Cher

My driver accelerates so that he’s directly in front of the hotel. Asics Gel Lyte 3 Then he parks the mini-van, berates the other driver for something or other –probably trying to do the same thing he just did – and the poor dim bulb just sits and takes it and can’t come up with a witty retort. adidas nmd r1 damskie Then my driver gets out of the car, takes my bags into the hotel, and starts looking for the manager. asics grey Nike Air Max 2017 Heren air max pas cher

Meanwhile, the poor soul other driver is stuck there, waiting. asics gel kinsei Boston Celtics So instead of slowing down and pulling over for 10 seconds and letting the dim bulb guy go through first, my driver speeded up to get there first and waste 10 minutes of the guy’s time.

asics mexico damskie Unreal.

Based on the first few hours, PIngyao is lovely but a disappointment. jordan super.fly 2 nike air max 1 donna Miami Heat new balance 737 damskie new balance 530 online shop My book described it as “the China of your dreams,” because of the old town and red lanterns and pagoda styled buildings. Fjallraven Kanken Mini

Canotta Dallas Mavericks Soldes Chaussures Nike It has all that. adidas sneakers But the streets are grid-like, not meandering alleyways, there are three (or four) main commercial streets that have flat stone sidewalks, all the buildings are the same height, and it’s not nearly as mysterious or “of the past” as the book suggests. Matthew Stafford Jerseys Nike Air Max 1 męskie asics italia sede Tomorrow I’ll go to a bunch of attractions here, so hopefully my mind will change.
I did see my first “only ocarina” store. air jordan 18 nike air max nettbutikk adidas hamburg hombre Yes, it sounds like a Saturday Night Live sketch, but this store sells nothing but ocarinas. new balance 1980 zante roma In dozens of sizes and shapes. New Balance 990 damskie goedkoop nike air max 2016 Ironically they don’t have the kind I’m looking for.
That’s a joke. NIKE CORTEZ Shoes
Not the store part. That I was looking for an ocarina.

The other night in another town I passed a store after 11PM on a not particularly busy street that was an “eyeglass” store.

Optometry. Why were they still open? Are there that many people close to midnight who suddenly think, “You know, I think I need a new pair of eyeglasses,” or “This night blindness is starting to drive me nuts. asics gel nimbus 14 hombre I need glasses now!” Or is it that they just stay open hoping, hoping, hoping for that one last sale? Many stores here, particularly restaurants, but others as well, stay open till all hours, I think, because that’s their home.

May 13–Go see another sunrise, and wake up ridiculously early – the sun’s not even out yet, for God’s sa – well, I guess that’s the point. Huston Street Baseball Jersey nike air max 2016 goedkoop Windy, but not as cold. Compra Mochilas Kanken Baratas Nike Air Force 180 Mid Sunrise is all right, doesn’t live up to the hype. The woman next to me watched the entire thing through her 3 inch viewfinder on her camera. Ridiculous. asics homme pas cher There are people so intent on photographing it, that they miss the entire oomph of the event. She’s not the only one who was doing it.

Stop at adjacent Shilin Hotel for big – and pretty good – breakfast buffet for 50y. Big attraction is unlimited coffee, where a single cup can cost 40y. Adidas Pas Cher fjallraven kanken mochilas So have a few needed jolts to the head. After lingering for a bit, I take the cable car down. New Balance 446 męskie But even getting to the cable car involves walks not for the timid – over a mile, and a lot of steep up and down. En route, I go up “Starting To Believe Something Really Great Is Going On Here” peak or a name similar, and it’s breath-taking, with a sheer drop that’s dizzying despite the low-wooden fence that discourages any sudden urges to fling oneself off the side. new balance 996 femme bleu gold Then onto the cable car, which, going down, makes me wonder how the hell I ever walked up. new balance 1600 online store If I’d taken it up, I’m sure I would’ve been convinced that walking up was IMPOSSIBLE.

So-ooo high and sheer.

CHANGING MONEY: Before I leave, I change the last of my US money at the bank. For all its modernity, the banks here change money like it’s 1954. Forms are “carbon copied” in triplicate, hand-stamped with a big red stamp, inserted into something that looks like the Original Fax Machine, the bills are minutely examined, the clerk stares and stares and stares into a computer screen, and at least five times I was moved to mutter, “WHAT could be taking so long?” with breaks in between each outburst. Nike Air HUARACHE Pas Cher The process easily takes 15 minutes, and it doesn’t matter how small the amount. new balance 577 damskie It just takes forever.

Now I’m the bus to Hangzhou and something must be said about the HONKING in this country! It’s ridiculous! Out of control! It’s jarring for all the wrong reasons, and disturbs even the most placid environments. Nike Air Jordan 7
Maglia DeMar DeRozan I would tend to think that “good” drivers know better, but some of the worst offenders are bus drivers, like the ones I had coming and going here, who honk INCESSANTLY when they’re on city or town streets (they’re better on the “highway.”) I can’t help but mutter “Shut the FUCK UP!” numerous times, and it’s probably good that they don’t understand me. Womens Air Jordan 4 They honk like it’s a driving aid, like a turn signal. Only it’s an “all-function” horn: to tell the driver that he’s approaching (NOTE TO DRIVER: YOU’RE A BIG *^%% BUS!!! HE CAN SEE YOU!!!!); to tell them to move over, get going, drive faster, or I haven’t honked in thirty seconds and my hand is getting antsy. asics gel kinsei 4 donna And there’s no polite “beep beep” to gently alert the driver in front to stop texting, or the light turned green. Everything is a full-on BLARE, a full-fledged HONK, often two or three times in a row. hogan outlet

Followed by an encore performance to the very next driver. asics gel lyte 3 donna Often these honks are met with retaliatory honks, like the “Fuck you” honk or the “My honk is louder than your honk” honk, which sets off a chain reaction. ADIDAS TUBULAR SHADOW KNIT Mochilas Kanken Big It’s maddening. I was standing still on a sidewalk and was looking at a motorcyclist creeping towards me (as they’re wont to do if they feel like it) and we made eye contact, so clearly I saw him, and he STILL honked at me. nike air max 1 qs What is the freaking point??? It’s virtually impossible to be on the street and not hear honking for over a minute. Nike Air Max Goedkoop Maybe less. scarpe asics tiger bambino I’ll have to run a test one day. adidas superstar donna And the bigger the vehicle – like a truck – the more incessantly they honk. Maglia Tracy McGrady

Like they think they’re driving in a Cloak of Invisibility and no one can see them.

Get back to Hangzhou surprisingly fast. asics a4 uomo Lake is HUMMING! Like it’s a Sunday afternoon. Nike Air Jordan Baratas People are dancing in that same spot (they’re also dancing there the next afternoon. chaussures pas cher nike nike air max 2016 goedkoop Maybe it’s all the time.) Performers are out. Mike Trout Baseball Jersey Fantastic dancing water show goes on every little while. asics gel nimbus 17 hombre I listen to William Tell Overture set to dancing water. fjällräven kånken Laptop 13 Eat eking duck & potatoes for $5 from street stall. new balance 574 sonic femme bordeaux At least I think that’s what it was. nike air max 1 premium mujer Detroit Pistons Go back to hotel where I stored my luggage. adidas donna It’s sold out! This never occurred to me.

6/11 – And the part that WAS planned turned into a near disaster. Maglia Anthony Davis nike air max 2017 pas cher

Had a crack of dawn flight to Shanghai so I could pick up my return flight home, but it was canceled due to bad weather YESTERDAY and I had to go stand-by on another airline. NIKE ZOOM KD 9 When the “Flight Manager” issued my stand-by ticket, he motioned to the ticketing agent to check my luggage – jumping me in front of a lot of people on line, who didn’t see the gesture. Canotte nba Donna

New Balance 999 mujer One woman gave me the evil eye and I was like “HE told her to take it! I’m not one of THOSE jumping-in-line people!” It was like a “Curb” sketch.

Nike Air Max Pas Cher But my stand-by flight was delayed a couple hours, so I clearly wasn’t going to make it to Shanghai in time. A.J. Green Jerseys So scurried to the International Terminal, which is like a 15 minute shuttle bus ride away – it’s like a separate airport – I’ve never seen anything like it – to see if I could get the Air China people to just let me board the *&^% plane in Beijing, where it STOPS ANYWAY. asics france

Billige Nike Sko The best I could do, after going back and forth between domestic and international terminals three times – and spending about 3 ½ hours – was getting a “change fee” of $200, which is okay because I’m SUPPOSED to get a refund of about $100 for my Shanghai canceled flight. Kirk Cousins Redskins Jerseys Air Max Zero Nike Air Max TN Homme That’s yet to be seen, but spending an extra $100 not to go to Shanghai and spend extra hours on the plane is worth it, even if a few of those hours were tense and shuttling between terminals.

They kept asking me if I wanted to change my flight and I kept saying, no, I want to KEEP my flight – same everything, except I missed the first part of it, I still want to take the main part. scarpe nuove della nike

If it was a sitcom, I would’ve explained that I was saving the airline money on fuel (my weight) and meals, etc, so they should be paying Me. Goedkope Nike Air Max 90 fjallraven kanken classic Adidas buty sklep It’s crazy. Nike Air Max 90

Air Jordan 5 Uomo Buty Asics Damskie Why should I have to pay $300-500 more to sit in the same seat? One girl agent said “You’ve been in China six weeks. Kyrie Irving All Shoes Canotte Seattle SuperSonics nike air max command cuir Why did you wait till today to come to Shanghai?” like I was supposed to stay there for a week before my flight or something. Canotte Orlando Magic A.J. Green Jerseys Air Jordan 3 Uomo I’m exhausted from lack of sleep and this turn of events and still have to work on a place to stay in the next 3 hours, etc. Nike Air Max BW new balance homme u420 bleu vert Women Air Jordan 5 Then it turns out that the plane from Shanghai arrived in Beijing really late, so maybe I could’ve made it after all. Nike Lebron 13

Anyway, I finally board the plane.

May 11 –It’s up and early to catch the bus to Huangshan, China’s most famous mountain! The one immortalized in those scroll calligraphy paintings, with the craggy cliffs, acute angles and clouds below the summit. Vêtements Nike Pas Cher I’ve assiduously packed as little as possible, because there’s said to be much climbing, but at the last minute I add another five pounds because I decide I need my laptop, for skype, mostly.

I meet 5 young students on the bus, a couple of whom speak English. This turns out to be very fortuitous, because they’re hiking up the mountain, which I want to do, but virtually everyone else takes the cable car and I wouldn’t have the cojones – or whatever they’re called in China – to hike it by myself. Maglia James Harden Too much chance of being injured and just … laying there. Michael Strahan Jersey Or making a wrong turn and being found six months later in Tibet.

It’s three hours of virtually all uphill, step by steep step. Asics Tiger damskie This is probably where Mao got his “ journey of a 1,000 miles begins with a single step” aphorism, because it feels like it at times. Maglia Clyde Drexler Also, it’s raining on and off, which, while not slippery, does make the trek seem more treacherous. Still, I’m game because as the girl, Summer, says, “It’s no fun on the cable car. nike cortez bambini You are there in 8 minutes.” I agree. You miss out on the whole experience of how high and powerful the mountain is.

adidas yeezy boost 350 męskie I’m concerned that my knees, which have been problematic, will hurt, or that I’ll cramp up. This is not the kind of mountain you decide you can’t do in the middle. Canotte New Jersey Nets Once you go, you’re committed.

First though, we lunch in a restaurant in town. I get soup and buy supplies including top and bottom pancho, little booties, a giant water, two meals to carry, and two Snickers and it costs 60y. adidas stan smith hombre Very cheap. sac a dos kanken They warn me how expensive everything is on top, but it doesn’t seem that outrageous, actually, once I get there, and I just got a half-pint of something that tastes like ouzo, at the top, for 15y, which seems amazing. Since my sneakers are already wet, I have the brilliant (not being sarcastic) idea of wearing the booties over my socks, to keep my feet dry, and the sneakers over them. This is a GREAT idea because my feet are dry most of the trip.

I try to walk up fast, as I always do, because my hiking philosophy is similar to someone who drives fast because they want to get to their destination before they run out of gas. Nick Marshall – Auburn Tigers Jerseys adidas nmd hombre There are a hundred steps at a time, it seems –but I do it, laptop and all. adidas yeezy boost 550 hombre Must be over 1,000 by the end. nike air zoom pegasus 32 hombre On the way up, the group keeps asking if I’m ok, because of my age. adidas stan smith donna Chaussures Nike I keep boot-camp training in the forefront of my mind. oakley pas cher I tighten my stomach (core) and buttocks (which I learned in physical therapy) to let these muscles do their work and take some of the burden off my legs and knees, and also keep my shoulders back, so don’t put undue pressure on them or my back.

It seems to work really well.

As I get closer to the summit, the skies get clear and there are clouds below, “in” the trees -this is the famous “sea of clouds.” At the top it’s not clear where my hotel is, so I walk up towards Cloud Hotel.

It’s another few hundred steps up – just when you think you’re done, you’re not. Baylor Bears And I’m just in time for a spectacular sunset, which I wasn’t expecting. Nike Baratas It’s fantastic, but it gets me worried, because this is not my hotel and it will be dark soon. Atlanta Hawks Comprar Nike Air Max Baratas The girl at reception gives me confusing directions and I start going the wrong way. Oklahoma State Cowboys Finally, a worker puts me on the right path.

I’m starting to panic because this is not the place I want to walk in the dark. It’s about a mile away. Nike Nettbutikk Chaussures Under Armour Pas Cher Plus, it’s downhill, which I wonder about. Air Jordan 1

So, it was the one part that was not pleasant. nike air max 90 hombre rojas But the hotel is great, lavish.

6/3 – If you’re over 60, the 150y pass to see everything worth seeing in Pingyao is FREE! FREE! And not just for Chinese! For me, too! Oh, Pingyao, I take back everything negative I said about you in the last journal entry. I LOVE YOU! Your generous spirit shines through like a beacon for all China –nay, all mankind – to emulate. Nike Air Max Norge Asics Gel lyte 3 Pas Cher new balance 574 classic italian Now I have to go see them.

The treasures and beauty of Pingyao lies behind its ten, fifteen, thirty foot brick walls. Sac À Dos Kånken Fjällräven hogan scarpes outlet Walking the streets and gives no hints at what’s behind them. New Balance 990 hombre Every so often there is a huge, heavy door, almost always open, that gives a glimpse of the houses behind.

They are entries, it appears to courtyards, where a cluster – or maybe one big – family lives. 12th Man – Texas A&M Aggies Air Jordan 11 Retro Andre Ethier Authentic Jersey Most of the time I didn’t venture inside – it seemed like walking into someone’s home – but a couple times I did, and there was no blowback. Four ladies playing cards, shushing a dog who sniffed at me… some of the more ornate were hotels with lavish courtyards. Nike Foamposite One
Trevor Siemian Jerseys Beautiful.

During the day I frequented about half the 22 attractions that are FREE if you’re over 60.

Canotte New Jersey Nets An “Escort Service” that was a MILITARY escort service for bankers and businessmen – the first bodyguards. Kanken 7L nike scarpe 2017 The first banks, a Confucius Temple, City Government Building where they showed off their old prison and “instruments of interrogation” – I almost confessed just looking at them. Penn State Nittany Lions The homes of ancients, with their elaborate and labyrinthine courtyards and backyards. New Balance 996 mujer A lot to see and do.

Spent another colossal waste of 2 hours looking for an ATM that would accept Visa or Mastercard. adidas nmd uomo

None in the Old Town. Nike Air Jordan 4
sac kanken pas cher nike tn noir femme cheap fjallraven kanken Ventured outside the walls, on the directions of the woman proprietor of the hotel, but she wasn’t specific enough. nike air max 2016 dames nike air max Once there, there were too many directions to choose from, and I obviously picked a wrong way. Went round and round and round and came up empty. air max pas cher homme Kind’a wrecked my plans, such as they were, which included getting a full body massage for 60y.

Oh – and remember that ocarina store? Well, first of all, I’m pretty sure I spotted a SECOND store that only sells ocarinas. So maybe there’s an ocarina price war going on. asics gel kinsei 4 hombre But those are like Wal-Mart, traffic-wise, I imagine, compared to the “gourd” store I came across. Nike Air Max Baratas

Nothin’ but gourds. New Balance 990 męskie Kanken 20L And if you don’t know what a gourd is, join the club. Nike Free 6.0 Scarpe Kobe 11 I thought it played music or something, which at least an ocarina does, but it does NOTHING. Canotte Detroit Pistons

It’s strictly decorative.

nike magista pas cher Problem is, it’s not particularly attractive.

May 10 – This morning I wake up and go to the park where I know there will be ladies doing tai chi and I can do my exercise right near them, and sure enough, that’s what happens. zonnebril ray ban heren Zapatillas Air Max Nike Demaryius Thomas Jerseys asics kayano 21 mujer They’re stretching, doing fan dances, moving gracefully, I’m doing push-ups and planks and sit-ups. UA Clutchfit Drive II Maglie Basket adidas tubular dziecięce Nike Free 3.0 I’m again impressed by the women in their 60s and 70s being so limber and graceful. Air Max 90 Yeezy

Womens Air Jordan 14 Take a long walk around the lake, including to a giant pagoda that actually has an escalator in it. New Balance 997 mujer Compra Mochilas Kanken Fjallraven España new balance 996 homme I go back to the tea café on the lake where I was yesterday, and four 22 year old boys want to interview and video me for their English project. Canotte Phoenix Suns

nike air max 180 chaussures They’re very sweet. Memphis Grizzlies Air Jordan 7 adidas uk for sale Soldes Chaussures Nike After that, I take lo-onng walk around and across lake – really long, really beautiful. Asics Gel Lyte 5 damskie

Madison Bumgarner Authentic Jersey Notre Dame Fighting Irish Carp pond, more pagodas, lily pads, it seems the whole park is planned for balance and serenity.

There are also big groups of dancers, doing a variation of the foxtrot, and also some Chinese dance that looks a little like cumbaya. fjallraven kanken cheap New Balance 1400 hombre Zapatillas Nike Air Max Baratas Air Jordan 6 Retro These people are always there. Air Jordan 6 For Kids Nike Air Max 2017 Heren Adam Wainwright Jersey nike air max thea uomo It doesn’t matter, day or night. adidas nmd mujer Nike Air Max 90 Pas Cher Pour Homme Nike Air Max 2016 Schoenen That’s their spot and people are always dancing.

After I leave the park, I start thinking about a place to stay and waste a couple hours trying to figure it out.

MAY 9 – I’m still in Tongli in the AM and when I walk to the plaza right near my B&B (without the second ‘B’) there are women doing tai chi. So I run back to my room and get my exercise clothes and do my boot camp work out in the plaza, a little bit away from them.

Maybe this will become a ‘thing’ – if they can do it, so can I, and they probably like seeing me doing it.

They are incredibly limber. Women in their 70s, I think , raising their legs as high as dancers using a bar, and balancing on one leg and squatting an inch off the ground with the other leg extended. That exercise has gotta be good for something. Asics Kinsei 5 męskie They are in much better shape than our elderly. free run 5 0 blu donna Yesterday I saw an old man just sitting with his chair out in the evening, no newspaper, no anything, just enjoying sitting. He looked so serene. nike pas cher Today I saw him walking, and he was really spry. It’s almost like watching one of those movies where old people discover the Fountain of Youth.

Kept looking for, but couldn’t find the Sex Culture Museum, which is supposed to be pretty good. adidas zx 850 damskie

Maybe it was knocked down for this new hotel being constructed. Clayton Kershaw Authentic Jersey tn requin pas cher A bunch of teens eagerly surround me and want a piece of American money – anything. Colin Kaepernick – Nevada Wolf Pack New Balance 678 mujer I give them a penny and they are excited and take photos with me.

When I left Tongli, I took a taxi to another town for the bus to Hangzhou. The cab driver immediately picked up a girl across the road, and we traveled a lon-gg way, and she got out first, so I thought we went way out of my way and I was going to get charged for it, but it turned out she and I were going very near each other, and the driver pro-rated the fare. I’ve found the Chinese very honest so far – certainly he could’ve charged me the meter, and there were a couple other instances of this, too, where I could’ve easily been gouged, but wasn’t.

The bus ride to Hangzhou was bumpy and the bus station was nowhere near the lake and there are 4 bus stations, so I didn’t even know which one I was at, and there was no signs or help or anything, and for one of the first times I feel defeated. I didn’t know where to start to ask for information. adidas zx flux uomo bianche But I got help, took a taxi to the lake, and the day immediately improved.

The West Lake is world famous and is amazing. Teddy Bridgewater College Jerseys Of course, in the photos, it’s always serene and peaceful. Connecticut Huskies Jerseys Vêtements Armani Pas Cher In reality, it’s SWARMING with people, especially on the weekend, which it was. But really, anytime. new balance grigie bambino Hangzhou is not even considered a major city, and it has OVER 6 MILLION PEOPLE. Los Angeles Angels Jerseys Maglia Damian Lillard Around the lake there are many entertainers, singers, music groups, doing traditional music but also opera, and a group of young guys doing rap. cheap bns gold Randall Cobb Packers Jerseys I don’t see anyone with a hat out or collecting money, so I’m not sure what’s the gig. The lake is enormous and the landscape varied. adidasi new balance barbati pret With the boats and pagodas and temples and flower gardens and traditional villages within. And so many people walking. Air Jordan 5 Donna I sat at a café overlooking boats and did internet and planned the next part of my trip.

CFF: If it’s one thing that gets Chinese people excited, it’s SQUIRRELS! There were three trees in a row in which 30 or more people were squealing and excitedly pointing cameras. Lunettes de soleil Ray Ban nike air max Nike Air Max Uptempo And at the other end of it were …squirrels. Being squirrels. Not doing anything in particular. Air Jordan Goedkoop nike air max 2017 femme blanche Very odd, especially when considering all the other odd stuff going on here.

I want to check into a hotel using Ctrip, and have a very hard time, because it needs a phone number for my reservation and my phone is dead and I can’t input it. adidas stan smith hombre I get to the hotel, pretty disorganized, trying to find the card with my phone # so I can make the reservation for the discount price, but can’t, and the proprietor is amused. ray ban homme Fjallraven Kanken España I write down the price I want, which is 210, the girl behind the desk writes 290. Clemson Tigers Jerseys Madison Bumgarner Jersey I write 250. The proprietor writes 258.

I write 251. Asics Gel Lyte 3

He thinks that’s a riot, my going up 1 yuan, and wags his finger at me like Robert De Niro to Billy Crystal in “Analyze This:” like “You..you’re all right. You know how to do this. You’re a character.” So I get it for 251.

In evening, I go to a jazz bar a couple doors down.

6/1 – Go to see the Terracotta Warriors. Actually saw an exhibit of them in San Francisco where you could approach them more up close, but, of course, that was of a relative handful, this was a couple thousand of them, at the actual excavation site. They were only discovered in 1974 when a poor farmer digging for water struck proverbial gold, hitting literal pay dirt. cheap nike air max He was only paid 10y at the time for his discovery, but subsequently became very famous in China and now he sits at a table aside the merchandising goods and – I don’t know – signs his name, shakes your hand – whatever – probably for a small fee. Nike Free Run Femme Not sure, because he was sleeping sitting up at the table when I passed.

It’s over 40 years ago, and he’s apparently living off that single, fortuitous tapping ever since. Nike Air Max 2017 Dames Womens Air Jordan 4 Canotta Squadra USA

You’d think there would only be so much you could mine from this incident: “I was searching for water, and – I hit something. adidas zx 700 damskie Air Max 90 Dames I instantly knew it wasn’t water, because it was hard, and it was way too hot for it to be ice, but I dug a little more. Nike Air Max 2017 Dames roze

Asics Pas Cher And suddenly I was face to face with a fearsome clay soldier. nike air max italian camo I was scared, but I didn’t flinch.” And that’s pretty much it. But, good for him, I guess.

Anyway, the exhibit was fascinating, and of course, owes itself totally to militarism, this time to protect the psychotic emperor whose idea this was, in the after-life. Adidas NMD PK Runner The workers (slaves) who built these figures knew they would be killed when they finished working (to protect the location and nature of the project), so they probably kept asking for overtime. Asics Gel Lyte 3 męskie Canotta Detroit Pistons air max pas cher Not much of an incentive to do a good job or work quickly, I’d imagine.

At night I go to “China’s biggest water fountain show” with Francisco, a Portugese guy I met on the tour who is staying at the hostel. Nike Air Huarache Heren

Similar to the one in Hangzhou, and way too long and doesn’t “build,” but still impressive. Goedkoop Nike Air Max There was also a crazy “sky” screen in the nearby mall, that looks, I suppose, like the one they have at Caesar’s Palace in Vegas, except this one changes: one is a psychedelic aquarium, another a surrealistic planetarium night sky, a third a “scroll” of ancient Chinese civilization. Pretty over the top, and totally great.
Stay up way-yy to late talking with guys from the hostel and debating with myself if I want to traverse “the most dangerous hiking trail in the world” at Hua Shan (Mountain) (Spoiler alert: “No.”)

UNDERSTANDING IS OVER-RATED.
Pretty much the whole trip there have been tours passing to and fro, led (usually) by women who (almost always) squawk loudly and shrilly into a megaphone and yap on and on about what they’re looking at. asics italia cuneo

Clearly I’m missing a lot of information! I am the Man Who Knows Not What He Sees. Kanken No.2 Still, I am extremely glad not to be a part of these groups, because they sacrifice experiencing for fact-gathering. asics gel stratus hombre Nike Air Max 90 Donna Maglie Philadelphia 76ers While “learnin’” is good for historical sites, when it comes to gazing at mountaintops and being amidst nature, I gotta say: Understanding is over-rated. Asics Gel Lyte 3 Pas Cher The guides, for instance, point out the various names the “ancients” gave to the oddly-shaped peaks.

But guideless, I’m free to visualize my own fabled scenes, fantasize my own anthropomorphic rock relationships.

Certainly the “ancients” who were devoid of guides had no problems invoking their subconscious. Brooklyn Nets T.J. Yeldon College Jerseys At Tianzi Mountain range alone, various peaks carry names like Mouse Watching Sky, Dragon Flying Out of the Water, Birds Worshipping Phoenix – which involves the double-task of first imagining a phoenix, Latent Celestial Bridge (I have no idea what that is), and Peacock Spreading its Tail. ASICS Gel Pulse 7 pour Femme Clearly everything looked like animals to the ancients. Nike Air Max 2017 Goedkoop Then there is “Pigsy Looking in the Mirror.” Who is Pigsy? A beloved childhood storybook character? An exceptionally ugly child? A misspelling of the word “piggy?” I need context!

Context would also provide a lot when viewing One Finger Peak. Nike Air Max 2017 Heren rood

Clearly the ancients thought this spire resembled a finger. But which finger? Is the peak a giant “Thumbs Up?” Or is the peak piqued, and thrusting us The Middle Finger? Is the entire park giving us tourists a big “Fuck You?” “One Finger Peak” is an exceptionally ambiguous name.

Finally, some peak names hint at romantic liaisons, such as Sweethearts Tryst and Expecting Lover’s Return Peak.

MAY 8 – Have an egg and tomatoes dish with coffee at one of the “canal cafes.” When you enter Tongli, it being a World Heritage Spot, you buy a ticket for 100y (or 50y, if like me, you’re over 60. St. Johns Joe Montana College Jerseys Being 60 gets you half price into a lot of things.

compra mochilas kanken Also, if you’re a teacher with 30 years’ service, you get a substantial price break, too. Imagine that! They honor their teachers!) For that price, your ticket comes with a list of attractions – pagodas, gardens, ancient houses – and I see a few that I didn’t see on my first day. Chaussure Asics Pas Cher Authentic Air Jordan Shoes Then I take a day trip to Zhounshuang, which bills itself as China’s #1 Water Town, so it’s into competing. Landon Collins Giants Jerseys Vêtements Armani Pas Cher Vancouver Grizzlies The bus fare is only 1y. Nike Air Max nike tn noir femme The town is very crowded with tourists, and is more like a theme park, which is too bad, because otherwise it’s lovely.

You really have to go early in the AM or later in the evening, and definitely not on the weekends.

You can also wander far afield from the madding crowd for a little peace, but really, the crowds were staggering. It makes me feel glad I got to Tongli a bit late the day before, because the crowds are bad there too, during the day, parading around behind the guy with the flag and the megaphone. new balance uomo misure It’s really NOT the way to see these places. Scarpe Nike Online Shop Outlet nike buty męskie It’s when they all leave that the towns evince their charms. New Balance 373 męskie I wander by a stage just in time to see a 20 minute performance of traditional Chinese opera which was interesting, but I wouldn’t make an evening of it. nike air zoom pegasus 32 hombre adidas ultra boost donna asics elite 3 Wandering in Zhounshang, I come across a proprietor/barista of this bar/restaurant playing harmonica along to recorded music. New Balance Polska adidas yeezy boost 350 męskie nike air max 2017 pas cher He’s quite good and the songs were lovely. He also played, per my request, on the bells. Von Miller Texas A&M Jersey Todd Gurley Jerseys Two young Chinese guys call me to join them for a beer which is conveniently already sitting there waiting for me to drink it! Not sure how that happened. A.J. McCarron – Alabama Crimson Tide New Balance 1500 damskie new balance 1500 burnt orange They are nice and friendly and we take pictures and clink glasses and one of them asks me “How old are you?” and when I tell him, he says, “You have strong body!” and the other asks if I’m a truck driver! Made my day. air max 2017 heren Continue wandering, and it really starts raining hard. nike free run 3.0 v4 damskie Asics Mexico męskie

Somehow I miss the last bus back to Tongli, which is stupid and I hail a taxi for $13 back, which is reasonable, and then the driver heads off the main road into the woods and I get very nervous.

He’s only doing it because the road’s less bumpy, but it’s one of those moments when I suddenly felt very vulnerable and realize that if something happened to me, no one back home would ever know about it.

But thankfully he’s not a homicidal maniac and eventually I make it back and dry off and eat. nike air max chaussure pas cher Nike Air Huarache damskie The last couple days have been the best so far, with moments of genuine joy.

CFF: When you get water from a dispenser, it’s HOT! I learned that in what is probably a common experience for Americans.

Nike Sko Nettbutikk By getting burned when I filled up my water bottle.

5/31- Today Masy and I go to Luoyang and the Longman Caves that are nearby. cheap bns gold Nike Air Max 2016 damskie nike air max 2017 heren rood There are 2,300 caves there dating back from about 500 AD and 100,000 carvings of Buddha.

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I believe Masy photographed every one. Womens Jordan Retro 7 sac fjallraven pas cher Man, the guy takes a lot of pics! They count little cut-outs from the rocks as a cave, so the number is pretty inflated. comprar mochilas kanken

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Looking at the caves was like playing the world’s easiest game of “Where’s Waldo – Gautama Edition.” Where Isn’t Buddha? Some of the Buddhas were in high, pretty inaccessible places to reach and it’s hard to imagine how they were constructed, or why. kanken baratas fjällräven kånken Laptop 17 hogan scarpes Is it veneration? Feeling that the more Buddhas, the better? OCD? Contrast this with Islam, where you can’t have a SINGLE image of The Prophet.

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Lots and lots of steps as per usual, and very hot and humid. Nike Air Max TN Homme Air Max 90 VT

Enervating, but amazing. air max 90 pas cher Then we took a pedi-cab to another famous pagoda, but I didn’t go in. Nike Hurley Phantom Free air max pas cher asics gel nimbus 17 hombre opiniones Adidas Baratas España I waited at a restaurant across the way with a couple bottles of water and the fan turned squarely upon me.

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MAY 7 – Didn’t quite slink out of my hotel, after the previous night, but didn’t leave waving a banner and calling attention to myself, either.

J.J. Watt Jerseys Nick Marshall Jerseys Wasn’t sure whether to lug my luggage (and I’m really understanding now why it’s called “lug-gage”) to Tongli, a 1,000 year old water village about 40 minutes away, but decide to take it in case I decide to spend the night. nike air max 1 pas cher

Nike Hydro Slide Sandals It keeps that option open. Adidas 2017 Goedkoop

It turns out to be a great decision, because Tongli is wonderful. Nike Air Foamposite adidas bounce uomo But first, the equivalent of an Uber driver picks me up at the request of this guy who had called him and is waiting at the same spot I am, and they drop me off at the bus terminal for free. New Balance 1600 męskie Nick Marshall Auburn Football Jerseys Which, of course, was very nice. Creighton Bluejays

The bus fare to Tongli was about $1.25, and then I’m in the “Venice of the East” as it’s called, for good reason. Nike Air Max 2017 Dames Just gorgeous setting, little bridges, cafes and restaurants along the canal, no cars, peaceful. buty asics 43 nike chaussures pas cher fjällräven kånken Laptop 15 Central plaza has a big stage/pagoda. Chaussures Asics Place to just wander around, get lost, get re-found. fjällräven kånken Stora air max 90 pas cher Nike Air Max BW Femme Great, just great.

TRIP HIGHLIGHT: This evening I went for a fish massage! I’m walking on one of the commercial streets and there’s a store with fish tanks filled with blue water and about 100 “big guppy” sized fish. adidas zx flux leopard print Nike Air Max 2016 Dames Blauw And you stick your feet in the tank and they converge on your feet and start nibbling at the bacteria! They especially loved my toes! They did a great job cleaning them up. Canotte Cleveland Cavalier nike cortez shop online italia new balance 993 outlet It tickles and is incredibly fun and invigorating at the same time. Is it wrong to get turned on by fish biting at your toes? Well, then I don’t want to be right! You can keep your feet in there as long as you want, and the whole thing costs 20y. Womens Jordan Retro 13 AJ 12 OVO

Air Jordan 12 Uomo After, I continue walking down the street, and there’s an identical store about 20 yards away. billige Nike sko norge

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scarpe nike air max I get a cheap, unique massage and get my feet cleaned, the fish get dinner, and the owner? What a business model.

5/30 – Masy, my new best friend, and I go on “tour” together. new balance 577 marron homme Javier Baez Authentic Jersey First we go to top of wall in walled city He bikes it, I take a little open air jitney. Air Jordan 2 (II)

It’s pretty disappointing.

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There’s a giant Mosque and Massa goes to pray. Air Huarache cheap fjallraven kanken uk

He’s Muslim! Who knew? When the men pray, it’s so-ooo quiet. nike air max 90 bianco donna tuta new balance maratona di roma asics tiger uomo Then walk back to Bell Tower. Memphis Grizzlies Under Armour Curry One nike pas cher At night the streets are mobbed. Washington Wizards nike tn pas cher Not particularly interesting or charming or anything except cacophonous and crowded. JK Scott Jersey adidas uomo Then we go eat.

MAY 6 – I awake early, dreamless, and eat a delicious egg pancake thingie from a street vendor for 4y. Then go for coffee at Burger King for 13y, which makes no sense. But that’s cheap for coffee! (more about that later).

Suzhou is famous for its walled in gardens. I head to the giant pagoda near my hotel, and am met by some folks holding signs looking to book people like me on tours, a tour that I’m actually interested in taking. ADIDAS NMD J.J. Watt Jerseys Nike Air Max 2017 Heren wit Mochilas Kanken Mini I run into the same problem – I WANT to book it, but there’s no way of telling when or where it starts/leaves from. fjallraven kanken classic 16 L They don’t get the “wrist” body language.

How can people not get that? Finally, because it’s only $20, I say “Okay,” and wait to see what happens, whereupon I’m directed to jump on the back of one of the group’s motorcycle, who drives me to where a bunch of buses are lined up, and sends me off on one.

The tour leaves at 9:30AM and we start off with a boat tour down the canal which is very nice, but our guide, a very well-put together woman, never shuts up, and holds her microphone too close and speaks in a loud, shrieky tone. I wonder if she gets paid by the word. Asics 2017 Goedkoop

She also starts a lot of sentences with ‘AHHHH,’ like she is answering a question that she just asked herself.

Next stop is the silk museum. Silk has its beginnings, apparently, in this area, and because the Chinese are so into symbolism, the silkworm’s cocoon symbolizes eternal life, or going up to heaven, or something very good. buty air jordan 5 damskie It also conveys status, especially in the past.

So we rush through 2 or 3,000 years of the history of silk in 10 minutes so we can spend an hour in the gigantic silk emporium in the adjacent halls. Nike Air Huarache Sale Eddie Lacy Packers Jerseys Asics Gel Lyte 5 damskie Then we’re whisked off to lunch and directed into this huge restaurant, which I opt out of in favor of the cheaper, emptier place next door, which is pretty mediocre.
Then we go to the ‘Calm’ gardens, one of those famous Suzhou gardens, only it’s on every tour’s itinerary, all of whom have guides who, whether male or female, sound like my guide and talk way-yyy too loud into their megaphones. So the gardens are noisy and anything but ‘calm.’ Then we’re off to a pearl factory, and it’s a replica of the ‘silk’ experience – hustled through the exhibit halls, only to come to a prolonged halt at the shopping area.

Apparently this is standard practice on tours like these. Nike Air Max Pas Cher One tour operator was in the news for severely berating her tourists for not buying enough at the respective stops, and she threatened that if they didn’t spend a lot more, their plane tickets home would be canceled! Someone videoed her and posted it and she was fired, but stuff like that probably goes on all the time.

I jettison the tour while we’re marooned in the pearl shop, and hop a cab to the Suzhou Museum, which is fabulous looking, and designed by I.M. Pei. Then onto the nearby and heralded Humble Administrator’s Gardens, which is definitely a trip highlight. Truly fantastic, gorgeous, beautiful, with lakes and pagodas and hills and bonsai and filled with attractions with great names, like “Appearing Nearby Pagoda” or “Hill of sweet-smelling rice,” stuff like that.

Then walking (!) back to my hotel, because I actually know the way, I stop at a neighborhood restaurant. I’m looking at the menu and when I look up, six middle-aged people are standing at my table, watching me. sac a dos kanken fjallraven new balance u420 w pas cher There’s no embarrassment at all.

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Plus, eating out is even cheaper because there’s no tax added, and no tipping waiters (or anybody).

OK. So here’s a Big Travel Tip. buty nike 5.0 Before you report that your hotel room was ripped off, go through your things five, nay 8 (lucky number) times. I imagine every trip to a foreign land is going to have a cringe-worthy moment, and I just hope this was mine and I got it out of the way early.

When I got back to the hotel, I couldn’t find my driver’s license and two of my bank cards and a credit card. Keenan Robinson I had taken them out in the morning and left them in my luggage, but can’t find them on my return. asics gel beyond damskie I look and look and look. Then I realize my suitcase is on the floor, and I was almost positive I left is on the table, and my clothes seem jumbled and zippers are opened and it’s NOT the way I remember leaving it, so I’m sure it’s been ransacked. nike air max 1 pas cher Plus, my bed is ‘made’ – sloppily, but made – which is something I wouldn’t have done.

So I report it downstairs. Mujer Air Jordan 14 Marcus Mariota Oregon Jerseys At first they don’t take it seriously, but I come back later – after looking through stuff again – and use the word “police” so they start to pay attention. Asics Gel Lyte 5 I’m thinking the odds of this actually happening are small, and I’m not yelling or acting accusatory or anything, but it is a big deal. The young staff – and a young tourist guy who speaks rudimentary English – come up to help me. new balance 1980 zante roma Then they go downstairs to get the manager, and while they’re doing that, I go through the lining of my luggage AGAIN and I feel the outline of what feels like cards, and I almost wish they’re not there, but they are. Nike Air Max 2016 Heren All except one ATM card, but at this point I can’t say with any conviction that it was stolen.

When the manager and staff knock, I’m too embarrassed to admit that I made a mistake – after causing all this upheaval – so I try to save face by saying I took care of the problem and canceled the cards, but I’m pretty sure the manager knows I’m BS-ing. It’s very embarrassing. The weird part is I’m still Not convinced the room wasn’t gone through because of the way the luggage looked. This worries me somewhat, because the last couple years my mother was alive, when she was in assisted living, like a lot of old people, she was always accusing the staff of stealing from her, even stuff that made no sense stealing.

And when I found it, she still was convinced that they’d stolen it, and put it back, or something. fjallraven kanken This wasn’t that bad, but it reminded me of it, which was enough.

When that kerfuffle was settled, I took a taxi to Shangtang street, which was BUSTLING with outdoor restaurants, tacky music, and side streets with canals and more quiet restaurants, which was very nice.
OBSERVATION: One thing that immediately makes me enthralled with this country is when you tell people you’re a writer, they’re EXCITED! They think it’s fantastic! They wanted to BE one! They’re really thrilled. billige Nike sko norge AS opposed to the US, where when you say you’re a writer to, say, a woman, she thinks “poor” and looks for the investment banker.

OBSERVATION: THIS COUNTRY DOESN’T BELIEVE IN NAPKINS!! WHY?? EVERYTHING NEEDS IT!
CFF: CHINESE PEOPLE DON’T CLAP.

MAY 2 – It’s raining. asics gel lyte 5 hombre Looking for a local Starbucks for some coffee in my neighborhood, which seems working class, I stumble upon a kiosk where I find my beloved charger! Also a gym! So suddenly I’m powered up, in both senses of the word. new balance 247 femme Canotte Chicago Bulls Still no phone, but my hotel has wi-fi, so I’m finally online. Nike Benassi Yunel Escobar Baseball Jersey Nike Air Max 2017 Heren grijs But there’s no gmail. Mens Nike Flyknit

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Can’t ‘Google’ anything either. new balance 993 outlet asics damskie leginsy I head back to the jazz festival but it’s rained out, so wander into posh martini lounge which is empty because it’s early and read about China! Good idea! Then head to The Bund, this long boulevard of ornate European style buildings that line the riverfront. PUMA evoPOWER homme

HUGE tourist mecca, both for the buildings and the waterfront walking paths. Maglie Cleveland Cavaliers “Selfie sticks” proliferate here. Canotte Memphis Grizzlies Many people seem to like nothing better than to put themselves in every photo they take. Nike Air Jordan Baratas nike air max 2017 femme rouge Note to “Selfie Stick” people: When your friends watch pix of your trip, they want to see the SIGHTS. New Balance 1600 hombre air max 1 pas cher THOSE change. You, believe it or not, look the same as you did five minutes ago. Oregon Ducks Then go to Nanjing East Road, which is a pedestrian mall/shopping mecca.

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CFF: I read a story about how they put up, like an 80 story skyscraper in 37 days. Kris Bryant Authentic Jersey They build these things in factories, pre-fab, I guess, and then just put ‘em up.

These two days count as one, because there’s a 15 hour time difference between the west coast and China, so although I leave mid-day on the 29th, when I get off the plane, it’s night time on the 30th. Nike Air Max 2017 Dames Fjällräven Kånken 15 hours ahead is like living in the future! When I’m getting ready to go to sleep in China, your day on the west coast has barely begun! I’ve got the whole day under my belt, and you don’t even know what you’re having for breakfast! I’m sure I’m making more of it than it is, but I’ve never lived 15 hours in the future before, and it strikes me as amazing. nike air max flyknit hombre Nike Air Huarache damskie

But back to the flight. buy bns gold I get the best seat on the plane! For some reason, they switch my seat, and give me the entire emergency row, immediately behind First Class, and it’s two feet from the bathroom. Air Max 90 Femme Fjallraven Kanken Kopen This is great, and not only for the obvious reason.

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Nike Air Max 90 Pas Cher See? I couldn’t research my trip: I didn’t even have time to go through the pre-trip crap! Hence, multiple trips to the bathroom. corrida asics golden run 2016 Which maybe looks weird. Kam Chancellor Seattle Seahawks Jersey

But I don’t care. asics femme Air Jordan 3 Retro Having been moved from my “regular” coach seat, I don’t know how I would’ve survived the flight if not for the switch.

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Air China puts babies in the front rows, because they have room for bassinets, which I find charming. Rod Carew Jersey Women Air Jordan 5 Don’t know if US airlines do that for international flights, but somehow I doubt it.

I have a 2 ½ hour layover in Beijing airport, and while that seems like a good break, in reality, it’s incredibly short.

I have to clear customs, which has a big line, and switching planes involves going to a completely different part of the airport – and it’s far. air max Even though things go smoothly, I have almost no wiggle room.

Asics Gel Nimbus 17 męskie The Chinese are planning on everything running smoothly. adidas outlet shop Any delays anywhere, and I’d miss my connecting flight. nike free rn flyknit uomo adidas yeezy boost 350 donna Adidas Baratas This also screws up my “plan,” such as it was, to book a room online during the lay-over. Alfred Morris Redskins Jerseys Asics Gel Quantum 360 Dames adidas gazelle męskie nike kd 9 pas cher There’s no time. nike air max goedkoop So I will arrive in Shanghai 10PM, hotel-less. TCU Horned Frogs Jerseys

I take the airport train downtown, but can’t get online anywhere, because all the coffee shops, like Starbuck’s – and I can already tell that they’re as ubiquitous here as they are back home – require you to get a code texted to your phone number – and I don’t have a phone yet.

So I’m really stuck, until I happen upon two German guys walking down the street and I ask them if they can have a code texted to their phone that I can use. Happily they agree, and I sit on the deck of Starbuck’s outside (it’s closed) searching for hotels. It’s a couple hours after I arrive – well after midnight – when I book one and take a taxi there. Aside from any jetlag, I’m just very tired.
PRACTICAL TRAVEL TIP: Aside from possibly selling out, which didn’t seem to be an imminent threat – there was no price advantage in booking a month, two weeks, or even a week ahead. Air China had seats on sale, with a scheduled end date, and as long as you booked during that time – even if your flight was tomorrow, you could get it for that sale price. Asics Gel Nimbus 17 męskie ray ban homme Unlike American airlines, which have something like 10,000 different fares for flights, depending on the micro-second you book and how many days out, etc.

Ni hao.
That mean “hello” in Mandarin, and pretty much sums up my total preparation for my 42 day trip to China. Bart Starr Packers Jerseys

I’m not a big fan of prepping out everything beforehand, preferring to tailor my trip along the way – staying longer or shorter in certain places as experiences warrant, stumbling upon new towns along the way, letting serendipity take its course – but even by my limited standards, this trip is woefully lacking in advance prep. adidas nmd uomo Cheap Fjallraven Kanken Big Air Jordan 14 Uomo Bo Jackson Auburn Jerseys It’s like I was planning a trip to Hayward instead of halfway around the world to a totally foreign culture. nike legging homme ray ban pas cher Why? No reason, particularly. Scarpe Nike Store Italia Just decided to go about three weeks in advance and had things I had to wrap up on the home front. Goedkoop Nike Air Max nike air force 1 low hombre Why China? Why now? “Now” because I’ve been spending the past several years in a house-sitting situation, and when Marsha, the owner, comes back, I gotta go somewhere, and when you’re not paying rent, traveling is not all that more expensive than renting a temporary space where you live. So I’ve tried to do that when I can. Fjallraven Kanken Infantil And China? Well, it’s on my “bucket list.” (When you’re over 60, your “Things I want to do” list somehow transmogrifies into a “bucket list.” And Spring is a good time to go.

adidas uk store Plus, and this was no small part of the calculation, fares were astonishingly low.

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Finally, it’s about a 16 hour flight. I figure that gives me about eight of those hours to bone up on where’s good to go in China. New Balance 373 hombre Plus, I’ve already decided to spend my first 4 days in Shanghai, so that gives me time to figure out my next couple of moves.

IF I can get online, which I’m uncertain about. goedkoop nike air max 2017 adidas zx 700 damskie I have a couple of ideas where I’m going to stay my first night, but haven’t even gotten that far. Cleveland Cavaliers I only found out in the nick of time that I needed a visa, for God’s sake, and scrambled to get one. Forget about the recommended vaccinations for typhoid (typhoid?), hepatitis A & B(although apparently you don’t have to worry that much about “B”), malaria and a couple others.

Nike Air Max Thea damskie Didn’t get ‘em. College Football Jerseys Also, I lost my cellphone the week before I left, took it as an opportunity to switch to Boost Mobile, a lower-priced company, but found out, literally on my way to the airport, that their phones (or at least mine) don’t include sim cards, so I won’t be able to switch it out for a Chinese card, meaning I don’t have a phone in China. Soldes Nike Pas Cher The other thing that slipped through the cracks is I didn’t get a power adaptor for my laptop or tablet. nike air max pas cher pour homme

Can I Skype? Don’t know. AIR ZOOM STRUCTURE 20 Baylor Bears adidas alphabounce damskie E-mail? Don’t know. Canotte Indiana Pacers Goedkoop New Balance Travel freely? Don’t know. Chicago Bulls nike air max 90 premium uomo Nike Air Max 90 Heren I guess I’ll find out soon enough. So read along, and we’ll find out together.

5/25 – I arrive in Zhangjijie at 6AM so do some “paperwork” in McDonald’s.

I can see cable cars nearby so follow them go to buy a ticket up Mt.

Tatian (?) It’s supposed to be the world’s longest cable car, and I can believe it. Compra Zapatillas Adidas Baratas Online It’s also supposed to be ½ price for over 60s, but they tell me that’s only for “Chinese.” Discriminatory and prejudicial! After putting up a fight, I reluctantly fork over 261y – that’s like, $45! – for one attraction.

In China that’s major money. adidas neo męskie But it’s hard to claim it’s a rip off – the views at the top are spectacular and the cable car ride takes 25 minutes and rises at seemingly impossible angles. Air Jordan 13 Adidas Gazelle Heren It boggles the mind how it was constructed. sac à dos fjallraven kanken Also, at the top there are trails that include glass walkways (which make you feel tentative walking on it, even though it’s an illusion, as it’s as sturdy as the rest of the path) a suspension bridge, and you walk a path along the side of the cliffs that is just staggering in its beauty. Asics Gel Noosa męskie Nike Air Max 2017 Femme asics homme pas cher negozi new balance milano Then, going down first you A) walk, then b) Take six successive LONG escalators each one taking 3-4 minutes, then 3) come out at the mid-way point and walk down 999 steps. Zach Mettenberger – LSU Tigers THEN take a bus down this windy, narrow road, and THEN take the cable car ride to the bottom.

With the help of this guy I met up the mountain, I grab a bus to Wulingyuan.

TRAVELING WITHOUT PLANS – I pull into Wulingyuan – a place I’d never heard of four days ago – about 7:30PM, and a man with a motorbike immediately asks me if I want a place to sleep, nearby, for 120y – about $20 – and I turn him down. nike tn chaussure adidas superstar uomo miglior prezzo I realize that I’m very unconcerned about finding a place to sleep. An internet search earlier already showed that economical rooms were to be had, so I’m sure I can secure one. Nike Air Max 2017 Dames zwart ray ban homme It’s very similar to how I traveled in my 20s, except that back then I was hitch-hiking in the US and I would TURN DOWN FREE ACCOMMODATIONS because I knew SOMEONE “BETTER” WOULD OFFER! Now THAT’S “brave.” I can’t imagine doing something like that today.

But while the country and culture are different, there’s still an internet, there are still hotels and restaurants and “civilization” still holds forth, so for the most part, it doesn’t feel brave to be doing this. Almost a month into “winging it” there have been relatively few hitches. Aside from frequently wondering if I’m on the right bus, hiking trail, things like that – which would occur anyway since things are in Chinese – my plans have seldom backfired, because I have no plans! Like with booking the Yangtze cruise, I’ve had my share of luck, and I’d be nowhere without the help of the people here at times, but that also would be true if everything was planned out in advance.

One major reason this type of itinerant itinerary is possible is because airlines and trains barely raise their fares as the departure time grows imminent. That allows for maximum flexibility without incurring a major financial penalty.
Sure enough, I get off the bus in Wulingyuan by a park where a large group of people are dancing – it’s an exercise class. nike air max 2016 donna Women Air Jordan 3 After a short time this young girl Ginny comes up and asks if she can help me. adidas zx 850 mujer Another aspect of traveling without plans is trying to hone an instinct on who to allow to help you.

Sure, she COULD be leading me to some dark alley where muggers await, but considering how few lone tourists pass through here and stop at this particular park, the odds that anyone is lying in wait is pretty miniscule. adidas tubular donna She leads me to a hotel for 100y a night, and then the lobby quickly resembles a sitcom. Roshe Run For Womens
Nike Free 5.0 I want to do laundry and the old lady in the lobby who works there volunteers for 30y even though it’s a load of smelly stuff.

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Then this woman offers to carry the bag to the room, but she goes two floors too high, and there’s more commotion between her and the guy behind the desk. asics mexico patike So once again I set off a “scene” which is entertainment. Nike Air Max Norge Nettbutikk

I go for a walk and pass by a coffee/wine café. adidas scarpe 2017

I go in, look around, and tell them I will be back “later.” The guy asks “When?” I laugh, and say ‘In an hour or hour and a half.” When I return about 1:45 later, the guy says, “Finally.”

Wulingyuan is beautiful. asics schoenen A river runs through it, it’s surrounded by mountains, it has a lot of upscale hotels and many tour buses, but the streets are pretty westernized. Go for a delicious street meal – beer, grilled mushrooms, grilled squid, grilled eggplant with garlic, another fish filet, and a tofu square – and it’s 33y.

5/18 – I’m on a bus to go on a river cruise and the Chinese guide starts talking and the passengers immediately get incredibly animated.

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It is the bumpiest, jarringest ride I have ever been on on a “main” road. Asics Gel Nimbus 17 damskie All my organs wind up in different places from where they started. I feel like a Picasso painting.

Yangshuo is beautiful, though it’s raining, so there are no tours, no night show, no nuttin.’ I spend a lo-ong time looking for my hotel, which I booked online.

Air Max Baratas Fjallraven Kanken Classic At one point I believe I’m standing right in front of the address – the numbers all line up – but the hotel is actually several blocks away. Mike Trout Baseball Jersey No matter how close I ever am to my destination, or how big the hotel, when I ask directions, the person invariably calls the number on the card. Maglie Detroit Pistons No one knows where anything is. fjallraven kanken backpacks Then the two of them have a long conversation! This happens regularly. asics onitsuka tiger hombre I am just standing there doing absolutely nothing, and yet, I’m sweating like I’m in a sauna, no exaggeration. Nike Air Jordan 4
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When I get to the hotel, I have a conversation with a tour booker using the translator app – I talk, it translates and speaks, she talks, it translates and speaks– it’s absolutely amazing. Nike Air Max 2016 Femme basket adidas homme yeezy

It’s totally reduced my incentive to learn Chinese. Air Jordan Goedkoop That it’s Free, and residing on a flat paneled device makes it so much like a Star Trek futuristic device, it’s astounding. I wander into town, go down a path towards the local Eco-Park and find a hotel for the following evening. nike pas cher

I give the woman my very last 98 yuan. Then I look for an ATM – and I can’t find one. For like, 45 minutes. I think maybe this is a town without ATMs or banks.

I’m wandering everywhere I can think of. Nike Italia Store I’m suddenly the…
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May 17 – Take tour to rice field paddies. Asics Soldes Sit next to guy from Oman – very nice guy, I know nothing about Oman. Canotta Washington Wizards Adidas Zx 850 Heren It’s a nice small group, only six people.

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Also, to show they like a guy, they pinch his butt – I think I understood that – and the harder they pinch, the sexier it is considered. Nike Air HUARACHE Pas Cher Baskets asics pas cher Andrew Heaney Jersey I learn more in those few minutes than my previous couple weeks.

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Then we take cable car up to the village and walk around (after a lunch) and I walk down by myself and take a wrong turn for a few minutes which gets me into a little panic going back down the stone steps. adidas y3 damskie nike cortez 90s But I make it and then we stop at a tea house, where girl explains rituals, different kinds of teas, what they heal, how to prepare them, etc. Zapatillas Crazylight Boost 2016 Low It’s very nice, we get a variety of teas to taste – and one couple in our group buys something, so we’re not total deadbeats.

Back in town, get some very spicy squid dish and Guilin noodles, a specialty, which is quite good. Sweat is pouring out of my pores, and there’s not a napkin in sight. Nike Free 4.0 New Balance buty męskie nike air max 2016 goedkoop I don’t get it. asics flamingo sklep adidas zx flux męskie adidas zx flux damskie I’m wiping my hands on the tablecloth.