Zongdian, elevation 3200m, higher than most of NZ :D. Gateway to Tibet, where I wasn't going as its to fuckin cold. Next time when I'm more geared up.
Was a really nice bus ride through the mountains, from Bashutai to Zongdian, passed over a couple of fairly high passes, around 4000m and there was snow on the ground. Lots of nice alpine scenery and alot of sheer drops over the sides of the road. Zongdian seemed pretty similar to lijiang without out the hoards of Chinese package tourists. Which was nice, lots of western style cafes and loads of shops selling fake outdoor gears, of which I brought as it was fucking freezing, the first day we were there it snowed, was neat, had a snow ball fight with the lads, as you do and went out to a 300 year old Tibetan monastery, was really nice, its the one in the photos. That night we got on the piss, I remember having four big beers and a couple of shots of Baju, then I woke the next morning in bed, thankfully. Apparently I just sat there and smiled at jokes then was sick on the walk back home. Baju is literally white spirit and it came in a jerry can, firewater, can buy 700ml of 50% spirit for 50 cents Aussie, not drinking it again though, to lethal.
Next day was recovery, and trying to keep warm, the pipes kept freezing so there was no hot water and the toilets wouldnt flush.... fun times. The Aussie guys, Liam, Dan and Jeremy headed back to Lijaiang as they had to keep on trucking, Dorit Eyal and I stayed for another night before jumping on a bus back to Lijaing and mama Naxis.
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