Avatar Park in China.....

Off to the park! Got up at 6:09 and packed up to try and catch the 7:00 bus to the park. Knew I only had 6 hours of hiking available to me, so I wanted to get as much time as I could. Hopped on a number 5 bus and down to the bus station. Bought some mandarins from a street lady and caught the 7:30 bus. She tried to charge me double, but my travelling has made me a better negotiator. I paid the right price. Took me a little longer to get there than I thought. Got to the park and was on the trail hiking by 9. Beautiful day and a very interesting place. I hiked hard all day! Ate while I walked and didn't sit

down to rest more than twice. Was fun and I saw about double what I thought I would. Very big place. Many people spend 3 days hiking. I saw what I wanted and I don't think I would see anything a whole lot different if I came back for another day. At first there weren't very many people and at times I saw no one. The Chinese do not like to exert themselves so if you go away from the main places, you can escape the hordes. Eventually, I got to some of the main viewing places and I met the crowds. After seeing what I wanted at those places I headed back onto a tough trail. Very quiet again! Arrived back at the entrance by 2:30. My drop dead time was 3:00 so it all worked out. Caught the 2:30 bus back to the city and was in the waiting room for my bus to Changsha by 4:00. I had stored my backpack back at the bus station in the morning, so I just had to pick it up. Bus ride back to Changsha was long. Took almost 5 hours getting me in about 9:45. Decided to grab a cab back to the hostel. The taxi drivers were all denying me or demanding too much. I agreed on double what I would normally because I was tired and just wanted to get there. Got a room with 4 Chinese guys who smoked in the room and were all buddies. My room was free because I was overcharged the first time there. Just took it and got some sleep. Someone had turned the air conditioner off in the night so I awoke at

5 just sweating. Kinda par for the course for this place. Some are good and some not so good, but it was a roof over my head! Hopefully my hostel in Wuhan is better. Off on the train at 1 pm to a new place. Think I may just rest for a day there and then go to Hangzhou and go hard!