Jun 08,2015
Dear Lydia
Let me first of all say that we enjoyed the trip tremendously and that we were very happy that we did it!Overall everything was well organized and we had a efficient trip.
I go quickly through all the different destinations and make a few final remarks thereafter!
1.Lijiang---nice place ,though very touristy and commercialist.Nevertheless we liked the place and we were very satisfied with our accommodation in Wuyi court Hotel,also very friendly service
Next day was beautiful with the visit to the yulong mountains and the Yak meadows and also the food and visit in Baixa.We were though a bit surprised about the need to travel by extra buses in the Reserve,though given the masses of people I understand that this is probably an environmentally better option than allowing everybody to drive around in their own cars.The area of the yak meadows however was quiet and lovely and we would have enjoyed a bit more time (and the car)to explore the surroundings.
2. Trip to Dequn--a long ,but extremely beautiful day!!Very nice the experience at Tiger Leaping Gorge and the visit to the Tibetan Monastry near Benzilan-and of course the beautiful scenery on the trip.The visit into the Baima Nature reserve unfortunately had to be canceled because of strong winds and some hail/rain on the 4000 m high pass---retrospectively that was not a good place for starting a trekking at that time--I am sure there might be a better spot for walking into that area-may be at the headquarter or a ranger station.
The highlight of the day was Songstam Lodge in this beautiful location and lovely service.Beautiful design and furniture /great rooms,lovely staff/---we were impressed and we loved the place.(the only remark I have is that the staff needs some instructions how too preserve and serve the wine and replenish the stocks)
3.the next day was good .nice views .though due to the closure of Minyong Glacier.There was no real alternative planned by our guide and when we suggested to go to those hotsprings in xitang we were met by the refusal of hour driver to go their as he claimed it was more far then Minyong--which was actually not true,or if so just a few miles.That was quite irritating as we could not understand that and he behaved like that again when we came back to Shagri La and he told us that the shonshen Monastry was not to be visited by us!Nevertheless we were quite happy with his driving in general and often he seemed to know areas better or to be more up to date than our guide MU.- I think the main irritation was that we seemed to be stuck strictly to the plan and could not always go to other places easily when it looked attractive ,or advisible.
4.the Following day we went back to Shangri La-I metioned already the discussion on visiting the monastery-and went on to Putatso Nat . Park which I think was another highlight of the trip,very beautiful,though again the need of another bus trip forced us to stick with the crowds.Nevertheless it a beautiful park and worthwhile we included it!Mu told me at some stage that the government is planning to build a lodge in the park ,so that would be a good thing ,as one could spend a couple of days inside the Park.We then moved on to Tacheng and the snubnosed monkey National Park.Again a beautiful route to Tacheng anice valley there and a very nice Nat. Park Camp.Nicely designed cottages ,very comfortable,and a beautiful site.That is why we decided to stay another night there-and of course because my friend Stefan had been quite sick the days before due to a bowel infection,so he was a bit weak and not in a condition for longer trekking.
The only backsat is the fact that the National Park staff is not really prepared for visitors who stay there!!!!There was know food provided ,no drinks and only a very basic breakfeast.which is really a pity as the place is otherwise perfect.Also thereis no info or maps for hiking in the area provided -despite the fact that there is a research station there,veru good prepared hiking trails of the mountain as far as yubeng ---but about all of that I found out only by chance!!
5. Next day we watched the monkeys in the morning--great experience-visited the research station and then in the early afternoon drove down to Tacheng to get a warm meal and buy some drinks ,and also explore the town.The back onto the mountain and then I did a walk into the early evening up the mountain to explore that path ,laid with natural stones --its an old tearoute to Tibet with ancient rockinscriptions from 1000 years ago.a very good day again and for the next day I decided to go and see the monkeys again--at another nice site-great impressions again ,marred only by some loud and stupid Chinese tourist who did not want to follow the instructions of the rangers!!
After that we carried on to shigu--very nice again -and then went to the teachers place in the Laojun Park,again a beautiful and very rough ride to his house.He was also a very nice man and we still did a 2 hour nice walk in the mountains.
Given the conditions and the info we got from the teacher it was a good idea to stay only one night there and skip the trek---Though with some more preparation it would have been possible to do it,as he can organize motorbikes with which we can drive further up in the mountain so that the trek to the observation post is only 5 km--instead of 15.but the terrain is nice for moderate trekking.The teacher said one has to spend three days in the post to have a very good chnce to see the monkeys
The accommodation however is extremely basic as far as beds ,washing facilities and particular toilets are concerened,and I must say I was quite happy we spend only one night there,particularly as you have to buy any drinks beside tea yourself and brink it,and I wonder wether one should not help and encourage the teacher to improve place before one can send tourist theire again-particularly as it seems not be cheap to stay there,at least not the food.For this money one could expect a bit more!!
Nevertheless Laojun has great potential and we found out that there are at least two other very nice and scenic areas--near Liming and one around the two lakes which are both accessible by car!He had a very map!!of the park which was very interesting and helpful to understand the extend of the area.This map should be copied and handed out to visitors and treckers.
6.Last day started with a nice drive again,though on advice of MU we skipped this mountain with the temple and ?monkeys and went on to Shaxi as it was Market day.This again was a fantastic experience,with mainly local people in their traditional dress on the market,nearly no tourist but still some very nice cafes and restaurants to relax-- that was a highlight(on a Friday).Then on to Dali---------------- which in our view was the only slight disappointment on the trip!!!
This place -called ancient town-had nothing ancient at all -all houses seemed to have been build recently -and were full of modern shops--the roads full of masses of tourist, the hotel was ok but full of noisy tourists and the staff was also not too helpful.Despite the fact that we found a nice bar for the evening it was not really a memorable visit,so the sceney with mountain and lake is nice of course--but we did not have the time anymore to explore!!
So the trip ended the next day leaving us very satisfied with that great trip!!!!
At the end a few general remarks
We were also happy with Mr.MU our guide,he was very helpful and friendly and we enjoyed his company.His English was quite good though sometimes he was a bit hard to understand for us.But he was very knowladgable and he told us a lot about the culture and the indigenous people.At times though I had the feeling that he was a bit subdued by the driver who rather determined what to do than Mr.MU himself.
The driver was good --except for the irritations he caused one or two times--I mentioned them before!!
Finally may be one point of concern regarding the Car::It was actually a bit small for 5 persons!!particularly as we 3 were sitting together in the back on very long drives!!!I suppose if my friends would have had the same size as myself we would not have been able to undertake the long rides we didi on certain days!!!
Well that's it,became quite a long report--I hope its helpful for you
Best Regards ,and thanks again for setting up this nice tour---looking certainly forward to another one
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