kjp

Things are pretty good, I've gotten over the altitude sickness. I'm currently relatively high up in Zhongdian, 3.4 km above sea level (I think), but this is ok - no headaches, etc. It's just slightly (but not very much) hard to breath. But this probably has more to do with the cold. It's 'see your breathe temperature' - similar to Canberra winter. Brings back memories :). I've basically been in my thermals all the time since last Thursday night (when I started moving up in the world... har har).

I'm in Zhongdian for tonight as well. Staying in a relatively nice place (I'm lashing out (!) - $15 room instead of $4 dorm bed)... Off to one of the important lmastries in SW China in a little bit (once I'm done here). Internet here typically costs Y2 or Y3 (50c) per hour...

I can't really complain about the bus rides - they've been pretty good really, just 1 was a bit average. The last two have been interupted for some reason or another. The roads are narrow and windy.. Yesterday a truck had overturned, the day before there was a Rockside... Also yesterday when going along a dirt unreinforced road just above the Yangstze (quite steep, but not very, drop), feeling the ground sink beneath the bus is 'interesting' ..........