#jiange

Sorry for the delay in uploads guys! Macbook was having a spa week at the Apple Store. Now she's back all rejuvenated and shiny.

After living in Jiange for 4 months it was getting a little ridiculous that we still hadn't been to Jianmenguan Pass; a large national park type area with mountains, forests, activities, temples and walkways. The place has a 4/5 star rating, and allegedly attracts visitors from not only the province, but also the country. And we hadn't been yet! But Mr Wang got on it, and invited us out to it for the day!

Of course in true Chinese style I ended up being sick half the night before and feeling utterly dreadful by morning. Mr Wang made it clear we wouldn't have another chance to go back with him, and I didn't want to let him down! So I took some disgusting Chinese sickness medicine (luckily acquired from my last vomiting episode during the promotion work) and one of Beth's antibiotics and hoped for the best.

We started in the little town, Jianmen, where the first school we visited for promotion was, and had a little breakfast. Then we were off. It started as a gradual slope stopping off in little temples, passing monuments and statues with information about local warriors and heroes from centuries past. We started to gain height quickly passing through forests, and heading up the mountain. And kudos to the women we saw doing the walk in high heels and stilettos; compared to us in our walking boots and trainers! Weird though.

We ended up at a flying fox station, which we all initially refused at once - it went over an extremely deep pass with a rocky stream like death at the bottom. Plus we didn't quite trust Chinese health and safety standards... But Brian decided to go for it, and on him not dying me and Beth were given the courage we needed! It actually went fine, felt surprisingly sturdy and once I was on the go; well if I was going to die there wasn't much I could do about it was there? But I survived too! And we all have some great videos, will upload them all onto YouTube once I'm home!

After our flying fox encounters, in which even Mr Wang's wife done it (he was too scared, the little chicken, something I happily shared with his classes, much to their hilarity) we headed on. Depressingly we had to descend hundreds of stairs down the mountain side, only to see that we'd have to climb up the stairs the next side. If only we hadn't taken the flying fox back over... Luckily there were little men selling spicy tofu and plenty of things to distract us along the way. But man! Were my thighs burning. SO many stairs. But the view was amazing, thick green forests alive with birds (and what sounded like either boars or monkeys), steep mountain cliffs and a steamy view of the rest of the valley clouded in mist. It was beautiful.

We eventually reached the top and heads down the opposite side, passing a random stack of rock separated from the rest of the mountain, squeezing down narrow passages and down extremely steep stairs. We even added our own little stick to the gaps in the mountain; which the Chinese believe aids the weight of life on your back and will make life easier. I put in a few. Here's hoping they work!

We went to a 4D cinema which was pretty awesome, about the history of the Pass and a 'miracle bird'. It soaked us, poked us in the back, flung the seats about, had something squirm under our bottoms and blew bubbles in our faces! Fun! Just like the ones at Disney.

The rest of the walk was easy, we passed through the famous gate and had some lunch in Jiamen. But I started to feel dreadful again, and we ended up getting a local bumpy bus home, of which I've already complained of their bouncy sickening suspension already. I got through the whole journey successfully, but on stepping off had that wonderfully familiar feeling of nausea once more. So I promptly had to dash off to a quiet stairwell with a bin bag, I had cleverly brought with me just in case, to vomit. It was delightful. I really do choose the best times don't I? Well how else to finish an otherwise thoroughly enjoyable day in China? It's became the norm now!

10 Things You Should Know About Shopping In China.

If you walk into a shop you WILL be followed intensely, in tiny narrow aisles out of nosiness, curiosity and hopefully NOT suspiciousness.

If you accidentally knock a bag of something like crisps, 100 will come tumbling onto the floor and you'll attract even more attention, spending at least 5 minutes trying to put them back. Buy a packet out of respect.

At the marketplace you can find such tasty treats as fresh cooked flatbread covered with chilli and spring onion, hundreds of fruits and vegetables, eggs and not forgetting live black fish in a tub, pig hearts and a delectable pig head.

People sit outside their shops around an open fire on the pavement, eating noodles and playing cards and Mah Jong daily.

You can pass an expensive lighted fancy clothes shop with pretty decorations, yet next door is a dirty dark concrete garage like opening which is actually a shop selling washing machines, bicycles or snooker tables. Seriously big rich/poor divide.

There are countless shops selling Western toilets. Don't quite know how they are still in business, as nowhere seems to buy them.

The only Western style chocolate bars you can find here in this town are Snickers, and Galaxy, which for some reason has been renamed Dove.

Most of the washing detergents and washing-up liquids brands have Jackie Chan on then. Same with the men's black hair dye!

Yogurts here are flavoured with things such as green beans and 'jujube'. They are the only things they consider refrigerating, whereas the cartons of milk, meat and drinks are left in the middle of the shop.