October 05, 2005 Xiangcheng, Sichuan, China
 |
Yesterday I went to the ticket “office,” (a little shack) next to the “bus station” (a muddy lot full of piles of rocks and tractors) and a guy watching TV told me to come back tomorrow morning. I arrived at 6:30 to try to beat the crowds buying tickets for the once daily 7:00 bus to “Shangri-la,” but the office was closed.
Finally at 6:50 a lady showed up. I managed to get to he first, but she said mei yu mei yu (no have no have), while she sold tickets to everyone else. Finally when everyone was gone she looked at my phrasebook where I pointed at the characters for “tomorrow,” and she reluctantly sold me a ticket, since I wouldn’t go away.
After than fiasco I had a whole day to kill here. I walked out of the mess that is the town, and followed a trail into the hills. It was a strenuous climb all the way, but I really got into the wilderness; not a soul was around. It was nice. I headed back exhausted after three hours. I wonder where the trail went? It always bothers me when I don’t follow a trail to the end or climb a mountain to the top.