Soul Searching in SiChuan




It's currently approaching midnight, and I'm just about finished packing my backpack. Tomorrow morning at roughly 6am, I'll be leaving my comfortable apartment, belongings bound to my back, for Beijing airport.






For the first time in my life, I'm travelling alone, (一个人), and naturally am a tad anxious but that doesn't begin to compare with the overwhelming excitement. I treat this, not so much as a holiday, but as an expedition of sorts.

So far, I've only purchased my flight ticket to Chengdu (the capital city of SiChuan featured in the map abitrarily placed somewhere in this blog space) which arrives at 10:25am tomorrow, rendering the province open to exploration. I've booked no hotels, no hostels, no further transportation. I have no return date. All that I know is that I have to be back at work in Beijing on Tuesday 27th of Feburary at 2pm.

My plan for this trip is to arrive at JiuZhaiGou, situated to the north of SiChaun, to spend a few days hiking around the majestic mountainside and relaxing in the tranquil villages that trail up the valley.

The name JiuZhaiGou (九寨沟）translates to Nine village gully, named after the nine Tibetan villages found throughout the valley. Legend has it that a demon smashed the magic mirror of the goddess Wunosemo out of jealousy, and the shattered sections fell to the earth and created the 118 lakes that glow a vivid blue due to the crystalline substance lying on the bed of the lakes.

The proposed bus journey from Chengdu to JiuZhaiGou is 10 hard hours along a precarious mountain pass. On the plus side, the topography along the way is meant to be nothing short of spectacular offering splendid views of some of the most famous mountains in the area.

With me, on this relatively epic journey, I'll need to carry some special items to get me through this grand ordeal:

• Instant soup (I didn't think about how to get hot water until after the purchase)
• Digital camera
• Novel; Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom
• Lonely planet guide to China
• A4 sketchbook and a few sticks of charcoal
• My Russian communist hat designed for ultimate warmth (look out for photos coming soon)
• Sense of adventure

Among other less vital possessions.

Well, 5 hours before I have to get out of bed and leave for the airport and it is mandatory that I finish Robert Graves' autobiography before I catch my 39 winks.

"Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast"