Big Pandas and Big Buddhas

Second day in Chengdu today...yesterday we went and saw China's infamous and elusive Giant Pandas...boy don't I sound like the crocodile hunter. The mofos are HUGE...and extremely lazy...but cute as hell. There are less than 1,000 of them left in the world...knew they were facing extinction, but had no idea it was so bad. Also saw the way smaller Red Pandas, which basically look like Tanukis or big raccoons. We met this fun American dude during our Panda visit and the three of us hung out later that evening, finding an all-you-can-eat Sichuan hot-pot restaurant. Lemme tell you, in Sichuan, the "Sichuan hot-pot" is FUCKING HOT!!!! Fire coming out every hole I tell ya.

 

We just got back from Leshan, home of the world's biggest Buddha. He's carved into the side of a mountain, at the convergence of 3 rivers. Holy crap where there a lot of tourists...it was NUTS! We met these two Brit guys who were staying at the same hotel, and together the four of us battled the masses of Chinese tourists. We also, several times, entered pagodas and caves that had signs outside that said "off-limits" but that officials had forgotten to lock up, so we just opened the gates and walked in, when we came out, the masses of tourists had decided to copy us and so we cleared the scene before the officials could come and kick the shit out of people entering "no entry" zones.

 

Really like Chengdu and surroundings. Going to hike 20 km of trail in the Qing Cheng mountains tomorrow, 2-day excursion...will see 5 Dragon Gorge...supposed to be beautiful. We booked our tickets to Tibet...flying out on Saturday!!! YAY!!!

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