Have finally found my way into an Internet cafe- I'm at Mazagran and if my ears hear correctly i've settled into an American haunt. Everyone seems American!It's officially past three months in China. There's so much to reflect upon... but at the same time when you try to force yourself to write, it's much harder.My May holidays were spent in Sichuan Province..very stunning scenery for a lass who hasn't seen much snow in her life. My Northern hemisphere travelling mates were bemused by my perhaps unexpected enthusiasm. Well what can I say, they don't have Christmas in Summer.
Western Sichuan is beautiful- the photo here is of Gong Ga Shan (I think). We were on our way from Kang Ding, a commercialised little Tibetan city to Xing Du Qiao where we were to stay the night in a rich Tibetan family house. The trip was very random and unplanned; how we ended up staying in this candystore of a room was beyond me but an experience it definitely was!
The guy in the photo is Chris from Canada, a happy boy. We also spent some time in the Tagong Grasslands, a vast expanse where Tibetan people live. I can understand why the Tibetans are usually described as proud and noble. Cold and crisp at night and burning during the day, you have no choice but to be tough. I was informed that instead of sunscreen the people applied yoghurt to protect their faces-an alternative effect was that there were many little children with rosy, rosy red cheeks. It's a very chilled-out spot with not much to do in terms of entertainment, but if you like the great outdoors and trekking, horseriding, etc its perfect. Not many leisure travellers either- the only foreigners there were mainly other language students from Sichuan univerisities.
So now I'm back home and trying to get back into the rhythmn of uni. It's difficult. Jacob and I (photo1) also held our belated housewarming, a fun-filled night with fabulous company. The theme was 'Kool or Kitsch'- we danced and partied until the guards in our apartment asked us to be a little quieter..
I think I've become a little indulgent lately- I've had two foot massages and a head/back massage the past week... feeling like a girl... went and bought nail polish and purple mascara yesterday too... I think it's the backlash from travelling... coz when I'm abroad, I pack light and with utility in mind- I also end up being dirty from lack of showers and wearing the same clothes over and over...
Now with my new weapons of femininity, life is bliss.. =)
-x-
Tanny
