GCDS Does China - Day 7 - Jiuzhaigou

Like the great wall, Jiuzhaigou National Park did not disappoint. The many colorful lakes scattered about this pristine mountain setting made the blues of the Caribbean look like the Hudson. Waterfalls and snow capped mountains put the exclamation points on this natural treasure. To maximize our time in the 240 sq mile park we were bussed from site to site to see as many of the 114 extraordinarily turquiose lakes and countless vistas as possible, but we were still able to stretch our legs plenty and enjoy some beautiful trails.

We've been pushing hard to catch early flights, learn from our knowledgeable guides, and see much of what China has to offer, so were rewarded with a trip to a Tibetan massage parlor this afternoon. Though hesitant at first, most of the group endulged in the pampering. Laughs, shrieks, and relaxation filled the air as roomfulls of students, parents, and chaperones had their pressure points poked and prodded. A few candid reactions should give you a sense of the excitement:

"Ooowwwwwwwww!!!!!"
"Do you have girlfriend?"
"Mary, how do you say too high!"
"I think she just touched my private square."
"I just got spanked."
"We love Yak Yepason!!!"

After dinner we made a quick stop at a mini-mart to stock up on snacks before a traditional Tibetan performance. Some of us jumped at the opportunity to try yak jerky, Chinese candy, and rice cookies while others played it safe with Snickers, Oreos, and Sprite. The performance used modern dance, comical expressions, Stomp-esque prop usage, blaring music, the Brad Pitt of goats, and impressive choreography to tell the story of one woman's journey to enlightenment. We could see our breath as we empathetically felt for her as she froze to death on the final leg of her journey. This was our second favorite traditional Chinese performance, after the acrobat show.

Jiuzhaigou is about as close to Tibet as most travellers get at this time of year, near the anniversary of the recent turmoil. We were introduced to much Tibetan culture in Jiuzhaigou; the ubiquitous prayer flags and prayer wheels remind us that we are blessed to see this beautiful place.

Love,
All of us in China