Yunnan Trip (Part Nine)

After visiting SongZanLin Monastery, the driver asked us where we wanted to go next. Bro and I were like we wanted to go to the largest Spinning Prayer Wheel in the world and took a closer look.

So, bro and I went up while parents waiting for us because they didn't want to go up after they heard that we need to climb up a small hill.

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#2 Yak

And finally got a chance to meet a real Tibetan Mastiff which I was eager to see in this trip. Can I carry back home?

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#7 Standing a height of 24 meters

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It takes about 30 people to spin the Prayer Wheel. A lot of people gathered there but they couldn't spin it, so bro and I went up and span for like 3 rounds.

It was fun to watch the process and I happened to see another side of China where everyone got together, not knowing each other and yelling 'one, two, three!', and everyone would push the wheel so that the Prayer Wheel would spin.

Yunnan Trip (Part Eight)

Checked into the new hotel that our driver helped us to find. A better hotel compared to the inn we stayed yesterday. Rested for a while and went out for lunch and Dad wanted to have HuNan cuisine as lunch.

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Headed to SongZanLin Monastery after our lunch. It's like the mini Potala Palace in Lhasa, Tibet.
The driver dropped us at the entrance and we took the bus provided to the monastery.

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Bought this cup of berries for RMB10. Looked like cranberries. Taste sweet and sourish.

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Walking up steps by steps from the entrance to the main temple was quite an effort especially at this altitude.

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#8 Blue sky green field which I like the most

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Finally, reached the temple. We weren't allowed to take any pictures inside the temple and had to remain silence when we were in it.

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#15 View from the top

Yunnan Trip (Part Seven)

14/8/2013 (Day Five)

Woke up early in the morning because of the coldness in the room. Less than 10 degree celsius in the morning. The worst thing was that almost all the clothes I packed were thin clothing.

Packed our stuffs and checked out the inn that we stayed. Could not bear with the smell of the toilet, feeling so awful with that.

We set off for Shika Snow Mountain after we had our breakfast. Another attraction that I was anticipated with. Shika Snow Mountain stands 4500 meters above the sea level.

The weather was really cold there. Dad rented parka and bought the oxygen bottles for us, scared that we would be caught cold at the top there. The local guide came to us and I thought we had to go in by group which I hate so much. But then, she just lead four of us only!

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#2 At the entrance.

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The local guide told us that there was no snow on top of the mountain which I was quite disappointed. Took the cable car and stopped at the midway before going up to the top of the mountain. The village at the midway which looked very much like the real Shangri-la. Spent some times there, snapping photos.

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I heard the sounds of 'oink oink' around me and I turned around, there was a black pig!

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Saw yak when we were heading back to the cable car stop.

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Drank some HongJingTian tea and had some chocolates to prevent the altitude sickness when we went up to the top later. Headed to the top of mountain later.

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And yes, we finally made to the top! The scenery was just amazing and breathtaking! Wanted to sing Top of The World by The Carpenters, but I couldn't! Panting for every few steps and gasping for air. Thought that I couldn't make it to the peak but the only motivation for me to carry on was to snap the pictures.

Mom couldn't get to the peak as she was having altitude sickness once she got out from the cable car. Dad was there to accompany her. Only my brother and I continued to the peak.

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It was worth for the every single pictures I took. Glad that I made it to the peak!

Yunnan Trip (Part Six)

Continued our ride to Shangri-la which took us another 2 hours to reach there. The scenery along the way to Shangri-la was breathtaking.

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Our driver stopped us at a place where we could have a sight of Haba Snow Mountain. The view was just simply amazing!

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Reached Shangri-la Old Town about 45 minutes later.

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Went to check in to the inn that we booked earlier and something unpleasant happened. The description that we saw on the internet, was not the same as what we saw when we arrived. Dirty, dirty and dirty.

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Went to the Old Town to have dinner but the smell of the barbecue made us feeling awful. Had fast food as dinner instead. 

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#9 Shangri-la New Town

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#11 Old Town at night

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