39 Foreigners, 3 Dogs, 1 Bus, 2 Mountains "Schmokin"

My first trip in China, how fitting, was a trip out to the mountains.  I went with a group of 3 other teachers from the JH and high school on an organized hiking trip.  It's really great these trips get organized, as I would NO IDEA where to even start to get transportation, let alone accommodation to this mountain.

On Friday night, after school, we took the student bus into Shanghai.  As previously mentioned, I needed a few things, as a I left much of my Patagonia in Canmore.  We stopped at a few sports stores in one of the largest malls I've been in....it didn't seem to stop going up.  Afterwards, Bridget, Claire and I grabbed dinner on a patio (yup, PATIO weather here folks) at a new British pub that opened, Glo London.  It's incredible how much you miss North American food when you are away from it.  I am thankful to have it when I can.  I also took full advantage of being able to bring and drink your own beer/alcohol at most restaurants!  The waiter even brought us a bottle opener and opened the beer for us!  Amazing.

 

Drinks of choice on the patio at Glo London, Shanghai

After filling our bellies, we went shopping for a few more snacks for the weekend and met up with the 4th member of our group, Nadine.  Soon enough, it was time to venture back into the subway (VERY awesome subway system over here, btw) and head over to meet the rest of the hiking group and get on the bus.  I have to say, I was NOT expecting 35 others (plus 3 dogs...well....2, because 1 was full size and the other 2 were tiny, like step on them and you wouldn't notice tiny), but we hopped on the bus anyway and drove 5 hours south west to a small (and old school) mountain village to hike Qingliang Peak.  The guesthouse we stayed at was super lovely.  We had hotel-like rooms and they prepared breakfast (freshest eggs everrrr) and dinners for us. I am really getting into the Chinese food, and loving to use chopsticks.  Mom, fill the house for when I'm back in the summer...Imma need me some chopsticks.

 

Thanks for the eggs!

**Friday & Saturday night, I had the MOST comfortable sleep that I've had since leaving the Vance and Van Allen homes.  It was a nice reminder that not ALL beds SUCK in China.

Up at em Saturday morning.  We ventured up over 1000m (LONG, HOT, but very rewarding and incredible day) and did about 14km.  The views were so unique and breathtaking.  It was exactly where I loved being, up in the mountains with awesome mountain people, #mountainpeopleunite.

 

Morning coffee spot, right outside our room.

 

Bridget and I on the way up 

 
sweet, sweet, sweet stairs

 
Almost at the peak...and more than ready for a break 

Peak brews taste the best.

Summit of Qingliang Peak

 
Sad truth of hiking over here: garbage, trash, everywhere.  We didn't have to worry about getting lost, or taking the wrong trail, as the entire way, the trails were lined with empty water bottles, wrappers, used ponchos, toilet paper, bags, anything that is trash.  It was incredibly sad, especially to see North Americans in our group add to the problem.  Myself and a few others were definitely inspired to make a difference, somehow.  Here's hoping we can make some good happen from our experience. 

We were gone from about 8am to 4pm.  A full on day, and lots of time to get to know my new co-workers and some of the other 35 people.  Unfortunately, the dogs that came were NOT hiking dogs.  Chloe and Christy - they made me miss hiking with Cai and Chile...even when they walk in front of me.

Saturday night was fun, having dinner, hanging out and enjoying all of the beverages we brought so we wouldn't have to bring them back.

Sunday morning, we packed up, hopped on the bus and headed out for another hike.  We didn't really know where we were going, so we kept driving up the mountain.....and driving up....and driving up.......and holy crap, we are driving up so HIGH and there is no side of the road....OOOPS, I also said I wouldn't explain how HOR-RI-FY-ING, HORRIFYING, this part of the trip was, again, as my mom will be reading this.  Let's just say, that in addition to type 1 and type 2 fun, I've established that type 3 fun is defined as having an experience that isn't fun until you survive it.  That's all I'll say about that.

 

Claire and Bridget excited they survived the bus ride

 

Heading up to another peak...I didn't catch what it was called. 

 
Sunday Funday, China Edition 

 
Beautiful, stunning, nature.

Finally, we got to the top of this freaking mountain, and hiked for about 10 minutes to reach the true summit.  Stunning, beautiful and hot, to sum it up.

THEN, our local, Chinese guide and Spanish tour group guide had a "conversation" about how to get down from the actual top of a mountain, into a village for lunch.  It lasted a while before they came up with a plan: there is no plan.  Just go down and reach the village.  This experience of essentially bush wacking DOWN (no switchbacks) from the tippity top of a mountain, with 35 other people and 2 (1 + .5 + .5) dogs went from an immediate type 3, to slowly type 2 (fun when the experience is over) and then flirting with type 1 (fun in the moment).  What. A. Time.  This was like inviting 10 Larrys to a Sunday Funday....it was nutso. 

 

heading into the abyss....the village we were headed for in the distance...

A few muddy bums and dirty white t-shirts later (that's right...some silly folks wore WHITE tshirts and shorts on a freakin hike in China), we reached the bottom to where our bus had *somehow* safely reached us from the top of the mountain.  We were glad to sit on the bus for a bit..until the distinct smell of burning rubber and then the sight of smoke was coming up from the bus.  We weren't even half way down the mountain at this point.  Our bus driver stopped multiple times to throw water on the brakes...to no avail.  Long story short, we made it...but had some doubts.

 

Almost down...but giving the smoking bus a break

We stopped in a small town to have lunch at a local restaurant.  It was already prepared for us, which was nice.  Observations at this restaurant...I HAVE to mention the restroom/creepy room/germ infested space/half-walled stalls/peeing into a whole in the floor.  Ok and I'm done.  My expectations for bathrooms now are that it's a good day when there is a full wall and TP...I don't care what else is going on...those are the only 2 things I require.

We stopped in my worst-nightmare--rest-stop en route back to Shanghai;  100+ tour buses, the smells of 10 distinct Chinese foods smells, (all.at.once.) and thousands of people (seriously #peoplefordays....plus squatting in a hole in the ground to go pee (but there were full walls and I had TP, so this was good).  Back on the bus, we soon exited my worst nightmare.  Turns out it wasn't a nightmare, it was my reality for 20 minutes.

We got back to Shanghai and did some grocery shopping, dinner eating and cab riding back to Luxu (only $60 for a ride back from the city....about a 40 - 50 minute drive)..so it worked out about $15 for each of us...#winning.

Enjoy the photos, almost as much as I enjoyed living in them.

I must finish this post by sharing what I came home to.....a package from Amy Sagan (with a special guest appearance of art work by Shea and Chloe Van Allen).  It was incredible to receive, and I fully appreciate the time (and moola) that went in to sending over my boots that I forgot, some candy that I've been missing and of course, pictures of home.  I have some incredible friends and I'm very lucky.  So thank you Sagan and VA littles!  This lady is feeling the love and warmness of home.

Much love. xo