Hey Hey and it's time to climb a mountain day

As we skipped the Emei Shan (Shan means mountain) climb we decided to make up for it with a day spent at Quingcheng Shan. It was up early and up stairs for breaakfast. It all began to go SLOOOOOW from there. It took one and a half hours for two breakfasts to be made. A simple bacon and egg breakfast x 2. We then headed accross the river to Ximen Bus Station and paid our 22 Yuan for our ticket to the mountain. By now it was 11:30 and we were ready just after nine. We boarded the bus and there we sat for a further thirty minutes. We left the bus station and finally left the city an hour later.

We finally arrived at Qingcheng Shan nearing 2:30pm...YIPPEE!

We paid the 90 Yuan entry fee, grabbed a one way cable car ticket for 35 Yuan.

We did buy a map for 5 Yuan from the tour guide desk and returned it as we bound a better one for 3 Yuan...then we bought our tickets to find an even better map on the back of the ticket...SO DON'T BUY A MAP IF YOU COME HERE!

We headed in and walked up to the Yu Cheng Lake. Was going to buy a Mizone until I found out it was 8 Yuan instead of 3.5 or 4 Yuan. Paid the 5 Yuan ferry ticket and decided to join in in the Chinese 'mad dash to get on the ferry'. Didn't want a seat or anything just wanted to play! The ferry ride is only 5 minutes so as usual I was left shaking my head as to the reason for the mad dash in the first place. At the other side is the Cable Car and once again 'the mad dash' began to the cable car. People tried pushing past us in line and we gave lound GRRRRS and GROWLED until the little men with their important hats on came over and created some sort of line.

The Cable Car ride was pretty cool. Though your not far from the ground it was nice no to have to walk to the top. There were some pretty cool paintings or painted rock carvings just as you reach the top. You get off at Yu Qing Palace. This place has just been revamped as everything is brightly painted and beautiful. Looks great in photos though! From there you walk up to Shang Qing Palace and then further up to La Jun Ge.

This all took around one and a half hours with no further entry fees other than the main.

We decided to do the walk down. We allowed up to two hours as that then left thirty or so minutes to find a bus home as the last bus is at 7pm back to Chengdu. To start this walk head down to Yu Qing Palace and when facing 'down' head left before the big stairs down to the cable car. It is a beautiful walk. Even though you head back up again for some time at the start, you do actually head back down. There is an 'ancient' (not a 'new' ancient either!) temple a beautiful old stone bridge and soem other sites to see on your walk down. It took us only one hour and fifteen minutes to do the walk down, but I'm stupid and love running down stairs. Good thing is I get a rest whilst I wait for Judy. When she catches up, to her disgust I then run off again.

We grabbed a local bus home that was full of Chinese whom were all yelling at each other around us. It was so funny, one of the drivers friends obviously loved tunnels and when ever the bus neared a tunnel he jumped up and down in his seat, yelled something at the bus drive whom was sitting right next to him we doubled the speed through the tunnel (signs saying 40kms plastered all over the walls!). We also got to watch the same VCD disk three times on the way home too. About five minutes from the bus station 'Tunnel Man' decided to change the disk and we laughed so much and when he finally understood why we were laughing he joined in.

On the way to the hostel we dropped in at Daves & Pauls Oasis for dinner. This time I had the Chicken Salad and it was awesome! We then headed up the road for a 15 Yuan body massage for around 45 minutes. Crap, crap, crap...a freakin baby could pinch harder! I asked for the massage where they stand on your back and hold on to the rails whilst using their feet to massage you. Instead I was treated to 45 minutes of baby taps all the while waiting for someone to stand on my back.

The fact that Judy was for once happy with hers and I wasnt for the first time;

IS A REAL BUGGER FOR ME!

Beers N Noodles to ya....shane