When we last left off, our intrepid adventurers found themselves in Lijiang, Yunnan, where to their dismay, a 800 year old Unesco world heritage site was replaced by a monstrosity of modern-day tourism. Only in China would you have a squatty-potty equipped with LCD screens to entertain you as you go about your business.

Determined to boldly go where no KFC had gone before, our travelers headed for Tiger Leaping Gorge. A terrain so perilous said to be infested with (leaping) tigers. Twice as deep as the grand canyon, with icy waters originating from the Tibetan plateau, ranked the #4th on the world’s best white water rivers.

Booyah!

Our heroes arrive at a Tibetan guesthouse. The walls are lined with intricate carvings of ill-fated travelers:

LEAPING FOR THE BEST BED!!!! (and the mysterious Richard makes his appearance!)

Deep in the heart of the gorge.. a promised “sky ladder” … but where is it?!?!..

Conqueror of Tiger Leaping Gorge, thy name is EVA!!!

Training for the sequel of kung fu panda..

I’m pretty convinced that JK Rowling traveled extensively in China and that the sleeper buses (long distance buses packed with narrowly crammed bunk beds) were the true inspiration behind Harry Potter’s “Knight Bus”. This is me passed out in the back. Note that this is the back of the bus, and the long mattress is shared with 5 strangers. No dividers. (And no showers either.)

I swear I didn’t complain that much.. but evidently I did because this was my next transport:

Being surrounded by Frenchies really brought out my Canadian pride. Especially when I came across a real live maple tree! In a fit of nostalgia/inspiration, I came up with this. The ULTIMATE Canadian gang sign.

.. yeah, you know it’s awesome.

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Tags: friends, photo blogging, Travel, Yunnan