This Naxi family house where we stayed at had two bathrooms and cold showers which presented a good opportunity for my students to maintain a positive attitude [I didn’t hear any complaints as they knew better than whine around me].  Everyone was on the bus by 7am after breakfast of rice porridge spiced with chili peppers along with mantos (a Chinese bread baked in a steamer) and hot milk.

We were so exhausted, yet our goal today was to complete a 6+ hour hike through the Yunnan nature area near the famed Tiger Leaping Gorge.

The scariest part was the beginning where everyone crossed an area of falling rocks. This was very dangerous, two times falling rocks barely missed hitting us. I’m not sure why the highway department had not built even temporary rock shields for the pass? Like what are they thinking?? Not just hikers pass there, but road workers, food, water, supplies, and even gas for vehicles!

The entire hike was beautiful, but the best part was a half-mile ledge on the edge of a cliff. The path was about 3 feet wide and a beautiful 40-foot waterfall showered down very cold spring water.

I don’t remember being on a more scenic hike: a blue sky, puffy clouds, and snow-capped mountains above us; a raging river below and rock rising on each side.

We finally reached our hostel: Woody’s guesthouse.