TRAVEL: SIDONGGOU WATERFALL 四洞沟大瀑布

10/7 贵阳 

As per usual.im a bit yolo. I'd researched it up last night from some of the leftlets they give out (in Chinese for the trips) 旅行手册 and decided let's do it ourselves. Though a tight ass schedule. I love waterfalls. If given the option between it and drink 大瀑布比酒 waterfall will be chosen. But if the option is waterfall and wine- then I'm in heaven (not gona lie haha) 

So off we went to go to SIDONGGOU WATERFALL 四洞沟大瀑布, a waterfall just after the border of Chongqing into Guiyang province. we did it ourselves but there are simpler ways (i.e. a tour)

https://www.ly.com/scenery/BookSceneryTicket_2838.html


So karin and I got up leaving food etc for the cat (he did not want to stay in that box whatsoever...really annoying) before heading to the bus station. It's good I've learnt Chinese because there's not much in the internet and the bus station is very Chinese customer orientated. There's not many buses but we were able to get one plus hot water for our coffee (love the fact that hot water is readily available for free everywhere - unless you are on a mountain, then u gotta pay- but I guess they manually bring it up so...) the bus was slightly late. We got on to a particularly empty coach mainly with older people as most people today or tomorrow return for work or school (cos if there's a holiday u make up the time at the weekend, which isn't fair....） it was raining heavily again. Which was grim. But it keeps numbers down, on top it being the end of the holiday. Took about 3 odd hours to reach the place. We stopped once on the way.可以上厕所买东西 I bought socks cos my feet were soaked. We we arrived there wasn't any buses to the next area for ages. We ended up sharing a mini bus with a few people. The place was utterly empty. Karin used my student card and we both got discount. 

Still raining, the waters brown it was peaceful. Barely a soul in sight. We tried to walk quickly. U can pay 20 for the travel coach or walk the 1km. I love when it's empty. U can actually get a feel of the place and enjoy yourself if u want a picture u can take it without having some random person in it which getting shoved about. It's a rare thing since the population density is so intense. It definitely is appreciated when found  上还是世界上的最多密度人口. 

The waterfall goes in layers. You climb higher up each time. With the rainfall so persistent and quite heavy, there were also seemingly mini waterfalls cutting across the path up. 
The first waterfall at the base was 人工建设的 man made but it was still impressive. Very wide. There was some people about, a couple of girls who took are photo. The higher we went the more impressive it got. One area you could, at the wall edge dangerously look down over the drop. Thrilling and beautiful. The top and the most natural section was beautiful. Very peaceful. Each layer had a different feel, how strange when just one waterfall. 

On our way back we started talking to one of the merchants who had a lucky Buddha turtle 佛乌龟 these things are huge due to age but they don't have much of a life. Kept really in one place and used commercially -$ for a picture $ to get a lucky touch I don't like it TBH. But the guy was full of chat along with a female vendor since we could speak Chinese. They kept insisting we get ourselves a nice Chinese boy haha. 

We rushed back paying for a lift -more because we were in a rush, we still missed the bus, even though I had the drivers number. I frantically started researching other ways to return. But upon arrival we discovered there was one more bus in an hour, praise the lord. The girl was so nice and helpful! We also helped some French book their tickets for the next day. 

We went to the supermarkets and got food etc the bus arrived early. They welcomed us on. Giving us fruit getting pics and getting wechat. They offered dinner in Chongqing but it was pretty dodgy and we were happy enough to meet the guy from the night before (he sort of reminded me of fei, gay I think haha) dozed again on the bus back. I can easily doze on short transport but not long haul. So annoying and stupid! 

 it was Still slightly raining when we arrived but not as heavy when we met the guy from last night heading to the cable car over the Yangtze River 缆车. We paid a both so cheap price return ticket but got a student discount at Least. A slow moving car and not so packed we stood at the front the river below aglow with lights from the city life.  A relaxing ride we got out on the other side and admired the view taking some nice pics before getting back In as it was late. 
Then to jiefangbei to the memorial 解放碑 and to try the famous spicy spicy street food (nearest metro jiaochangkou 较场口） we went to seemingly innocent cumcumber cold Noodles with spice (of course) never specified how spicy. The noodles were nice under the fire pepper! My mouth went numb, tears sprang u willingly from my eyes. I was determined to finish but there was no flavour just fire and burning. I ate real Sichuan/Chongqing food. And I can say, too much spice kills flavor, taste buds and the feeling of the mouth area (may lead to an iffy tum 拉肚子）but been there done that, can get the chilli pepper tshirt haha

the cat was not in the box on return but running around. He has got brave. Jim suggested drugging him with alcohol but he wasn't for having the milk filled lid of a baijiu bottle. The next morning was stressful. He was bloody noisy. And the metro as it was 7am was for once quiet, we needed to talk loudly. I had put him in my Loose tote bag. He got him past the checks in the metro by throwing my coat over my arm and bag and going through. The train station thankfully was noisy. And busy, this trick worked too, we board he train. 13 hours of trying to keep him chill quiet and in the bag, (he sort of escaped when karin napped but no1 saw) we eventually Got to shanghai past our shifu and smugglers into the room. More food and free to stretch his legs we put him in the balcony to sleep when we did and eventually he did too having made a nice little bed and toilet area. Kelly crawford smuggler haha 

TRAVEL: HECHUAN FISHING VILLAGE

10/6 合川 钓鱼村🎣

It was lashing today. So we didn't spring up quite so early. We tried to get to the docks码头 to try and go on a trip to the 3 gorges 三峡 but as it was late, and there weren't really any day trips, to anywhere really apart from a river cruise 河游轮 (in the river which would suck) I quickly looked something up and we decided to go to a nearby fishing village called 合川 hechuan at the station （ticket wasn't even 20) we befriended Chinese children which gave us fruits and sweets as we got pics for their mothers. Upon arriving we discovered it had stopped raining and hopped on a bus part of the way before getting off and walking, finding a random bison 牛生物/野牛 tied grazing by the side of the road (as you do) very rural. Reminded me of thailand a bit. Was super chilled and quiet 镇静。there was barely anyone around we entered the entrance for the road into the village, strolling leisurely along the river path. 

we entered the actual area, it was like a small forest, we some weird (and as I discovered not very edible fruit - tasted like perfume) we didn't go too high up as you had to pay in, and it was going to get dark soon.. but it was nice and chilled.

 We strolled back towards the center of the town. Finding a market with a hell lot of fresh chillies 辣椒🌶️ when you think of Sichuan you think chili and pandas haha. 

We eventually hopped in a bus and got tickets for our return. Karin buying some local speciality snacks and chatting to the locals who told us foreigners rarely venture there. On the platform 火车台 we befriended another local who invited us to meet him tomorrow night before we leave for a tour of some of the local places. When we got near our hostel, we exited differently and upon our way back we came across a very small kitten alone in a doorframe. I picked him up, he was so tiny, heart strings pulled, we decided we must save him. Stopping at the shop, grabbing a box and some sausage we took him back to the hostel much to the surprise of the owners. 保护小动物,救助小猫。

TRAVEL: HEISHANYU

10/5 黑山谷 

We decided to go see some on the places recommended in the flyers for groups tours...but do it ourselves for cheaper and more leisurely. We got up early and got the bus. U can't go directly to the scenic spot you first get the bus to the town then get the public bus to the scenic spot. Either being dropped of at the bottom to climb up or at the top to walk down. It was afternoon already so we choose the easier option of walking down. It was another nice day, albeit, a bit cooler than it had been. As Most people were preparing to return to work and had returned home, the place was pretty quiet! We we finally reached the top after a bumpy road rising high up the mountain l - we discovered the place was quiet and almost empty, like our first day at dazu, we got student discount entry and entered. Wow! 

景色还刻骨铭心，有山有水，绝美！

mountains nature water and waterfalls. Beautiful! We enjoyed strolling and admiring the beautiful waterfalls, cavern lake like areas and canyons walking the bridges that crossed through them. We even got complimentary pics. Cooler in the low cavern areas I'd wished I'd brought a jacket. The waters were pale blue and almost clear in the carven areas, near the bottom entrance they changed almost to a opaque pale romantic green. Soft forest flowers dotted around the edges. We strolled to the exit chatting and listening to music. We got on the bus to the main entrance. 

Freezing we awaited the public bus 公交车 but ended up hitching a cheap ride with an orange vendor, who even gave us some to eat! I was feeling a bit under the weather due to lack of sleep etc and jim was kind enough to buy me some herbal medicine you add to hot water for colds, it was actually nice, not heavy or strong not flowery. And I did start to feel better within the next day or 2. 


We arrived back late to 重庆 and went for a last meal together with some shots of baijiu 白酒 not getting the cheapest actually means it's semi drinkable. The most expensive is a couple thousand rmb - endorsed by mao hence the price. (maotai 茅台）

 We ordered a couple of dishes and I learnt not to say 要饭 I want rice, it means I'm begging for food. We strolled back again. In a tired, baijiu relaxed endured mood. Slept and had a sleepy goodbye from jim in the morning. A wet morning and day at that.