WHAT NO TIGERS?? ...... Greetings from the Tiger Leaping Gorge! I am guessing from the amount of emails asking why my blog is still empty that my last attempt to upload was unsuccesful first time round (see below). Luckily I saved it to draft and I think this time round I've finally mastered it.

Firstly a big shout out to China trains. GNER could learn a lot from them. Not only are they clean and on time but they sell snacks, play music and apart from the odd chinaman gobbing on your head in the middle of the night, they are fantastic! I have another three glorious nights to look forward to in the lap of cabin luxury. Admittedly I was lucky enough to nab a bottom bunk (also known as first class). If I'm not so lucky next time, I'm destined for the top bunk (estimated at approximately 9ft from the cabin floor, with approximately 10cm between the bed and the roof - mmm cosy!)

So here I am in the Tiger leaping Gorge and it is truely stunning, amazing, breathtaking, stupendous (and lots of other words that travel journalists are told not to use!). It claims to be one of the Top 4 Gorges in the world, a title it more than deserves and not only that but the guesthouse on Day One had the most scenic toilet I have ever had the joy to tinkle in. And I'm not alone (well obviously I was alone when I was tinkling but I'm not alone in admiring the lavatory facilities of my guesthouse!) Michael Palin has alledgedly filmed from the very same spot that I dropped my pants and admired the view. Despite the stench, the communal funnel you pee in, the lack of door locks and any form of privacy whasoever, it is still one of the best lavs I have ever had the delight to pee in! I couldn't agree with you more Michael!!

Amazingly I managed to survive all three days trekking AND even volunteered to go on an optional extra trek on day two (the altitude must be affecting me in peculiar ways!!!). Just myself, Andy and a couple of other guys from the group went down to a place called the Middle Tiger leaping Gorge where legend has it a Tiger leaped across the Gorge to escape a hunter, thus christening the Gorge and earning the Tiger a few more years roaming the idyllic countryside. Naturally Andy and I had much fun posing as tigers on the rock for any camera that pointed our way and despite numerous warning signs to stay away from the edge, we ditched our mountain guide long enough to balance over the edge for the ultimate shot. As soon as I learn how to add piccies I'll include a few!

So alas no tigers to be seen in the gorge but a pretty fantastic couple of days. I woke up in the clouds this morning - literally. Not a bad way to start the day (it also helps that I had a banana pancake and a hot chocolate as well!). My thighs are throbbing, my butt is permenantly clenched and I still can't breath properly but I'm hoping my face will be back to it's normal colur by the time I make it back to the bottom.

I think the plan is to head back to Lijang for a night (and a celebratoty tipple or ten) before heading over to Dali for a few days. I should be able to log on there so if my legs don't give in or my lungs collapse, I'll update again from there.
Ta Ta for now
Vic xxx
(opps just realised that the piccie on my first entry below is round the wrong way and I've absolutely no idea what button to press to change it :-))