kjp

We got into Litang about 1 hr ago. Just been wandering around, trying to get out of the sun (very bright, clear sky, don't want to add to my headache...).

Yesterday morning got what was apparently a chartered bus to Kangding. I thought I had paid a bit extra to the guesthouse I was with for getting the ticket & transfer (didn't have the time / couldn't be bothered to go to the bus station myself). But turned out to be a roomy cushy seats bus. Bad things - the smoking of some people (and lack of openable windows / no air con). Anyhow, at Kangding there was a person trying to flog hostel beds - her place was on my list of 'possibles', so that was that.

Kangding is a nice place, in the valley with steep mountains either side, river running through the middle of town. There didn't seem to be much to do there, and the bus ride was pretty good, so decided to go on to Litang today (ie: just stay one night).

In Kangding I met up with a Korean guy who is backpacking around China, and has a similar itinery as me for the next few weeks. Ie: night or 2 in Litang, Xiangcheng, Zhongdian in Yunnan, Tiger Leaping Gorge, Lijiang, Dali, Kunming... seems like a decent person which is very good.

The bus to Litang was vastly different to yesterdays. Crowded, I moved from the back seat (where my head was touching the roof, and any of the multiple bumps in the road would have seen me going through the roof... Moved to the fold out in the isle seat next to Korean guy (yes, I've unsurprisingly forgotten his name). But this had: (a) a metal rod in a really unconfortable position - really sore bum now; (b) noisy Tibetans carrying on all around (although they quietened down a bit after lunch); (c) dodgy road in places... Fortunately there was only a few unsealed bits and these didn't have precarious drops on either side...

Speaking of the trip... there were some fanastic views as we climbed through the mountains. Some photos later. Need to explore Litang. There's heaps of Tibetans / lamas cruising around, places to explore.

Ohh, if there was any doubt, Western Sichuan is ***vastly*** different to Xinjiang or any of the other bits of China I've been do. Mountainous, active Buddist, etc.