Chongqing & Lichuan

After another very average itinerary involving flying 5 hours south (the wrong direction) to Sydney, a 10 hour layover in Sydney, and then a 12 hour flight north, Nathan reunited with Vela in Chongqing.

We spent two nights in Chongqing, and made sure to have a Chongqing hotpot, before we hopped on a train for Lichuan. Vela's mum owns a small apartment in Lichuan which they use in the summer to escape the heat of Chongqing. A number of Vela's mum's friends and family also have holiday apartments in Lichuan. Lichuan has a permanent population of around 20,000, but in summer the population booms to around 400,000 with people from Chongqing, Sichuan, and other nearby areas heading here for the slightly cooler climate.

It was nice to experience a bit of nature and get out of the big city. We had plenty of family meals, went for walks in the evening, watched the dancing/aerobics in the square, and enjoyed checking out the local produce at the markets. Of course there was a smattering of Majiang thrown in to pass the time.

A very nice chance to unwind a little before we head off on our next steps of adventure.Read more