Hey Hey and a Big G'day to you

Alot and not much happened today.

We headed to Emma's Cafe for breakfast during which I swapped two of my novels of the Vietnam Guide Book which I later returned as I remembered I have Vietnam in my Southeast Asian LP. Plus after already having travelled Vietnam once before I doubt I would need such a 'complete guide'. If the country has advanced as fast as it was advancing six years ago then I doubt anyone would need a guide book to get around.

I returned the LP and swapped it for Paul Theouroux's (sorry but i have no idea how to spell his name) 'Mosquito Coast'. If anyone hasn't read anything by this guy, do yourself a favour, go to the library or the book store and grab a few of his books. I haven't read 'Mosquito Coast' before but I'm sure it will be an awesome read. The movie was great so the book must be a hundred times better.

Today was a great day for 'Judy the back pakker'. She finally downsized both her back pack and day pack. She went from a 50 litre back pack to a 29 litre and a 15 litre day pack to a around an 8 or 9.

Downsizing as a traveller is a good sign that you are becoming much more comfortable in travelling and the way that you actually travel. To me it means you now know what you need to use clothes and extras wise and that you don't need that extra room for 'all those things you actually won't use or wear'.

Judy's comment was: It means I will have to carry a million shopping bags on my return flight from Shanghai to Australia!

I remember when I went from my 45 litre to my 28 litre, it was such a great feeling. Now I could probably go lower but I love my pack so I'll stick with it. It has the lower section for a sleeping bag or whatever which is separate from the top and the top IS NOT a horrid 'top loader'. If you've ever travelled with a top loader you'll understand. It also has the trampoline netting on the back which allows for a huge amount of air flow, awesome comfort along with extra packing space if needed.

Day packs...I can't comment on Day Packs too much as I've gone through so many of them in the last year and a half it's just stupid. I never put much thought into a Day Pack and just purchase the cheap and nasty that will get me through the day. They usually have a sloppy back with no support along with not having a waist strap or chest strap.

The only advice I will offer is this. If your going to travel for a long time and use your Day Pack continuously, fork out the extra, your neck and back with thank you for it.
I finally threw my last cheap and nasty in Dali and forked out a tad more on a great little Neeko 'Sparrow 8'. The harness straps are actually netting and it has waist and chest straps along with back support. Now walking up and down hills for an entire day is no problem on my crappy neck and back. I was looking for one with the same trampoline harness as my big pack but with this type of Day Pack you can NOT roll it up and pack it in your big pack.

Anyhow, back to Songpan, today was spent walking and walking and walking around Songpan and across the river and through the little old sections of the town. Many Chinese with their little Muslim caps offered us warm and friendly 'hello's'. It was a beautiful day.

In the late afternoon we headed back to the Horse Trekkin Store and booked a three day trek to Ice Mountain. We were going to book the four day trek but decided to change to the three day trek after seeking advice from many other foreigners whom had returned today or yesterday, most of them of course from Israel!

The advice was mostly the same.

1: It was TOO cold at night and
2: You could easily do it in three days

We also got many

3: I haven't done it myself but my friend wishes they had of done it in ONE DAY!

After booking we headed home to pack. The list on the wall says that you need to bring many things including oxygen! RIGHT! Going on from what not only I used but those around me, the things you really need are:

1: A torch
2: Three large bottles of water
3: Mozzie stuff.
We didn't need it but if it is hot, then you would
4: Peanuts and other bun type things for snacks
5: The almighty DEODERANT!
Believe me, YOU WILL NEED IT ALONG WITH EVERYONE AROUND YOU!
6: Sun screen
7: Sun hat
8: Rain coat
9: A Back Pack cover, if you don't have one, BUY one!
10: Very warm clothes for night time.
This includes thermals if you own them. I know it's summer but mate, your near
a bloody ice cap! Not only that, when you read about the tent type things you
sleep in you'll probably want to bring a plastic floor and boots but thats later.
11: Gloves for night time and for the horse riding
12: If you really think you will need to change bring a change of clothes.
Don't be scared mate, everyone else smells after a day or two, you can happily
smell too and no one will even notice!
13: Many of those little packets of toilet paper, the ones you can keep in
your pocket.
14: MOST OF ALL: WET WIPES!
There are no showers or toilets out there and the river is freaking freezing!
Don't worry about soap, just bring toothpaste and a toothbrush!

15: LAST of all, if your anyone but me, bring any other shoe but sandals.

If I wasn't so hell bent on travelling China in only sandals I'm sure I would
have been better off in shoes, but mentally I stupidly think I'll never get cold.
Most of the time, luckily for me I actually never do.

16: OK, sorry, one more, the thing that is never told to anyone is this;

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CARRY YOUR PACK!
YOUR HORSE DOES THIS FOR YOU!

You can happily pack several bottles of beer with this knowledge.
OR as one Canadian did, several bottles of wine INCLUDING a glass wine glass. How surprised were we when we came to the fire with his wine and wine glass!
If you don't bring beer on the second day you stop at a very out back store where you can buy beer and other assorted treats.

The guides have saddle bags, USE THEM!

With the above you happily get through a couple of days out there. Like me you'll lie awake at night wishing you'd actually bought along your own tent and sleeping bag though!

You can add them to the list if you wish.

Beers N Noodles to ya....shane