Ninja bus drivers and beery passengers

It was sad to say goodbye to Lugu Lake, the first place in China we've experienced a beautiful view without hearing some random Chinese tourist bellow or hoot in the distance to shatter the serenity. It was the most peaceful and tranquil couple of days and everywhere you looked was a picture postcard.



Plus there was the realisation that this is the last place we'll be seeing in China. From here it's all backtracking to Lijiang, Kunming and finally Hekou on the border with Vietnam.

Dreading the busride was probably another reason we weren't so keen to go.

But the bus trip back was awesome. The driver was the best one we've had in all of China - he would actually brake for livestock instead of accelerating and aiming at them, slow down for corners and attempt to drive around the potholes. He'll be out of a job soon. His calm nature was belied by the tribal symbol shaved into the side of his head and the sword he kept handy by his seat (it was a real sword, we checked)


Even with changing a flat tyre and stopping to let a landslide exhaust itself, we arrived hours earlier than the previous ride and in much better shape. Plus I sat next to an awesome Chinese guy on the bus called Frank who works for a brewery in Shanghai making Becks, Stella and Leffe. Sarah sat up on the jump seat (or "death seat" as she called it) next to the samurai driver. It was the best of the two options - I was in the seat above the back wheelwell with my knees around my chin all day. Knees are underrated.