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Hey Hey and a Big G'Day to you all,

Today was 'supposed' to be a day spent on the mountain...did you notice the emphasization on the word 'supposed'. BUT before I go into my experience, here are some details I've found out.

To do it RIGHT it should take three to four days.

That is walking from the base up whilst visiting many monasteries along the way and taking your time enjoying the views. I'm not going to bother going to the top this time as it's too expensive for a simple afternoon. Judy and I tried this morning and only got as far as the Linggongli Bus Park and Ticket Gate.

In the LP says you need a ticket that cost 120 Yuan. Believe it as you do!

We asked this morning Teddy Bear Hostel and they said, 'No No your bus ticket is fine you won't need another ticket'. So we got the bus ticket that begins with 'Q' that costs 40 Yuan that takes you to Linggongli and from there we guessed you took local buses etc up to Wanfo Peak.

Up we went thinking the ticket gate was gone and now all you had to do was pay entrance fees into the monasterys etc. Half way up we came to the very BIG and very REAL ticket gate. We had to get off the bus to fork over 120 Yuan for the fee and get this...another 30 Yuan for the bus fare up.

BUGGER THAT we said and jumped on the next bus back down the hill.

All up, a trip to the top of Emei Shan by bus will actually cost you 200 Yuan before paying out money for hostels and food if you are staying overnight at one of the monasterys. If you walk then only the ticket price applies along with the food and accommodation. We took the bus as we really don't want to spend four or so days here. I plan to come back for a week and do the walk from the base so bugger spending 200 Yuan on bus fares and a gate ticket just for an afternoon.

Tomorrow we are going to head to Chengdu. Most probably spend several days there seeing the sites and then head north for a horse trek for 3 days or so days. Not too sure yet. After that we'll probably head across to Gansu Province where I can hopefully look at the primary school there that is on offer to me. It is in a town called Bayin.

I believe it to be an industrial town so no more than a year to be spent there. Maybe only six months depending on the colour of my inners when I begin hocking like an Aussie Rules player. We'll see though, the thought of living like an Eskimo in winter really doesn't appeal to me...BUT...on the other hand maybe I need it so I can stay inside and study Chinese instead of travelling every weekend and having fun at the local market place every night.

Surely life isn't all about fun!

Beers N Noodles to ya...shane