Arrived in Lijiang few hours ago, first time in weeks i will be able to walk around with 4-5 layers of clothng and it is nice to feel the sun on my face again.

hope to kick back and relax a few days now and hopefully catch up with my journals. my brain just could not function with the cold. Left Beijing at -16 and although Xian was a little warmer the difference was not that noticeable.

I think its above 20 here! lovely.

few days in Cheng du was not that interesting either, another very busy chinese city. visited couple of temples and the Panda place. the panda cobs were really funny, like watching cartoon, wrestling, tumbling, nipping one another on the arse, falling out of the trees, great to watch. I am glad I managed to get up early enough for us (Dannyand Gab) to get there before the tourists (few that eventually turned up). i can imagine this place being packed in summer though. massive place with various enclosures. adult pandas just seem to sit around all day, eat and sleep.

At the airport while waiting for the shuttle bus to fill up with passangers got talking to a spanish couple trying to catch a taxi in English, no chance. the bus left soon afterwards but the taxis in town were refusing to pick us up, eventually one took us to just outside the Old Town and we had to walk for about ten minutes before someone from the Spaniards hotel came and collected them.

I took a while longer to find Mama's Naxi hostel, no one there and i was contemplating leaving when a wome turned up and took me to another building where the dorms are. They are relaxed, I am on the net but havent even checked in yet! the place looks a little quiet at the mo, may not be such a bad thing for me to wind down, although a bit difficult.

The town looks lovely (the Old town) cobbled streets, little streams and bridges, really cosy looking restaurants for romantic dinners.

D and F will be heading to Tibet tomorrow with 2 Japanese people, would have like to have gone and seen the place but had to make a choice. most of the next 10 days would have been spent inside trains, lovely views I am told though.