Dry your tears people, I'm back. Sickness got me when we were in Chengdu, but it was a nice enough place to recover from my sick bed. It even had a giant statue of Mao giving the Heil Hitler salute which cheered me up a bit. Nothing like commy sentiment to raise the spirits. I was also swept up in PANDA-mania! Those guys are just freakin adorable and if Hbf weren't so tight with the cash, I would have held one. The adult pandas seriously look like guys in panda costumes eating bamboo. They've got the pseudo thumb which makes the costume theory even more plausible. It was a lovely day, filled with my favorite things: animals.
We flew to Lijiang and everything went smoothly until we picked up our luggage. Or rather, Hbf's luggage. Mine didn't arrive. Can you say instant puddle of tears? Let's see.. no one speaks english and everything that I have for the next 6 months of traveling is missing. When Hbf tried to talk to me about logistics (what was irreplaceable, what I could buy again), I lost it. The thought of losing everything just like that was too much to bear at 9 in the morning and I withdrew to a chair in tears and alone with my miserable thoughts. I'm so thankful Hbf held it together and took care of everything. His patient way with the Chinese people got our message across, and we were able to find someone in town who spoke both very good english and mandarin to help us even more. Moral of the story: I got my bag back, miraculously.
Apparently, we are celebrities here in the back country of China. People come up to us and want their picture taken with us. I'm not quite sure if they really think we are famous or if they've never seen a white person before. And I'm prolly like the whitest white person they have ever seen, since they don't let pasty people on TV. Anyways, it's nice to be adored for no apparent reason at all and they are all so grateful once they have their snapshot. There is also a lot of staring from everyone, maybe because we are just so beautiful, or maybe because we are just so white. Since I don't speak mandarin, I'll prolly never know.
We are leaving for a 3 day trek through Tiger Leaping Gorge the day after tomorrow. I think I am going to wish that I had a horse to carry me.
I'm the sister of a celebrity. Whoo Hoo!!
ReplyDeleteI love the "they don't let pasty people on TV" comment. What a hoot! I had the same experience in China, but I saw no one except other than Chinese people while I was there.
ReplyDeleteHey, you have my admiration. I love to travel, but after two weeks I'm ready to be back to my own bed, normal food, people that speak my language, and my old haunts. I enjoyed three weeks in Australia without stress, but a week in Ukraine was plenty! For even considering six months - you deserve a medal.
thanks vicki.. i am totally out of my comfort zone. i miss american food desperately! but the experiences are making it well worth it. there are still tough times ahead, i'm sure, but we are having a great time nonetheless! p.s. i'm so glad to hear about drew getting out of the hospital!
ReplyDeleteKeep the posts coming! I am living vicariously through you and loving it! But I do wish I could be there with you... giggling at the crudeness of the bathroom situations and crying with you during a luggage loss... what an experience! Miss you terribly....
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