Arrived in Lijiang today after a 5 hour ride with 24 other poor souls on an Iveco Turbodaily that isn't meant to seat that many. Remember these minivans Barge? Not the most comfortable or safe I can assure you but at 45 rmb during the high season around Chinese New Year I can't really complain.
Finding the infamous Mama Naxi's Hostel 古城香格韵客桟 was another matter - Lijiang old town is a maze of old school cobbled streets harder to navigate than Beijing's Hu Tongs. Too many of the shops here are geared to sell souvenirs/trinkets to tourists but nevertheless the old style Chinese buildings that line the streets are so authentically restored that it feels like you've moved back to Qing Dyansty times - no wonder they shoot so many movies here including "Riding for Thousands of Miles Alone". It's truly wonderful. Mama's also lives up to her legendary reputation with all the motherly hospitality. It's also a good place to meet fellow backpackers to go trekking with and also as drinking buddies.
I was too tired tonight to wonder the streets of Lijiang after having a dinner at Mama's followed by drinking with my new friends Olaf and Max (Dutch), Stefan (German) and Santiago (Argentine) - tomorrow we're leaving early to go to Tiger Leaping Gorge for a two day hike.
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