In Lauf

All year I have been reading about Lauf, Germany, the home of my good friend Drew, via Drew's blog. I have read about its little nooks, crannies, and intricacies. I have read about adventures that have been had and apartments that have been rented. Well, today I am in Lauf, in that apartment, and gearing up for some adventures-and exploration of a nook or cranny. Life is good. Great places and amazing people. More on this later, but just to let you know all is well.

Standard bush league.

So Randi and I got to Chongqing. And of course, no train tickets to Chengdu for five hours, so we opt for the bus. Or, rather, to try and find a bus. On the way to the long distance bus station (that had no buses to Chengdu) we pass a lady with a sign that says Chengdu in Chinese characters. I say "we want to go there" in Chinese. She lists a price, I double check at the bus station to make sure we can't get there a more legitimate way and then we are off. Following two Chinese ladies (who were practically running) who throw us in a taxi, take us to the side of the highway, and sit us down. We managed to escape for a bathroom break, but we werent lucky enough to get breakfast/lunch. Then, a bus pulls up, we hand a guy some money and they throw us on...except when we get on there aren't enough seats and the guy I gave my money to...gone. The two ladies...walking away, trying not to look at me as I am waving them over. No worries, a guy gets up, Randi steals his seat, I slide in next to her, we are good to go-it's good being a foreigner. The other people find another bus or something and then we are off to Chengdu. Sketch...yes, but it worked. Lots more adventures, hopefully I can post them soon. Gotta jet though.

and we're off...and we're stuck...and we're off again

Randi and I have left Guiyang. It was a great last few days there, I left in a fury with some help from my friends to clean up a little mess I left behind (thanks again). From Guiyang we went up to Zhangjiajie, or Wuling Yuan. A beautiful national park with sandstone pillars and some other crazy geological stuff. They supposedly have clouded leopards and giant salamanders there too-we didn't see them, but we did possibly see some leopard scat-the jury is still out, but I am a believer. From there we went to the ancient-style river town of Fenghuang for a night, it was bustling with Chinese Tourists and had some nice sites, but it wasn't worth more time than the 24 hours we gave it. A nice stop over none the less. And now, we are in Huaihua, trying to get to Chengdu, only they don't have any tickets for Chengdu. So...we are going to Chongqing. Which is on the way...and then when we get there, we will try and figure it out, so hopefully...it works. Not quite sure though, we'll see. Hopefully it won't be too painful. Either way, we are having a good time. We have been very fortunate thus far and things are going well. My Chinese skills are getting a workout. I am amazed at how well I have been able to understand and communicate. We are truly being provided for. Well, I am off to find some food and start the next mysterious leg of this trip! Blessings!