From there, we will doing trekking at Tiger Leaping Gorge, taking the higher trail.
We will be bringing a day bag for this trek instead of carrying our entire bagpack (obviously I have no energy to carry a 11kg bag and do a trek?)
Start to list down the things that we would need and what we can share so as to keep our bag as light as possible. Can’t believe that we have so much things to bring for just a 2 days trek! Had a tough time trying to stuff them into my day bag! So many things that we are bringing are for “in case”!
Hopefully I can tell myself to be stopped being a "Ni ni" and travel light n in style! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~The alarm went off @ 6 am. Have decide to reach the bus station by 7 am so that we can get the tickets (the tickets are only for sale 10 mins b4 departure) for 730 am bus to Qiaotou. Early morning, I discover that I have strike lottery ! or I should say 中马票也没有这么准! Why am i a girl ?!
Dint managed to find the bus station after walking for 15 mins in the direction as advised by the locals. Bo bian! Have to catch a cab now ! Should have taken right from the beginning since it would cost the same - RMB7 ?!
We then realise that the station is actualy pretty far and according to the locals, it is very near - walk to the first traffic junction then turn right. The first traffic junction actually needs a good half an hr walk ??! Maybe thats only 1 traffic junction at this town !
Reach the station @ 7 am. Guess what ?! The tickets are sold out for 730 am ?! How can that be when the tickets sales ARE SUPPOSE to start only at 720 am ?! 导游 was fumming mad. I was pretty cool about it, in China, you just have to be prepared to accept all this kind of crap. They dont fazed me anymore, maybe because I have lived with them for a yr .
We just have to settle for 830 am one instead.
Met a dutch couple, helped them to get their tickets. A french couple approached us after knowing that we can speak English and Chinese. Apparently, they have been ripped off ! The train station actually sold them the tickets (RMB70) to Zhongdian and asking them to just alight at Qiaotou. Whereas, our tickets to Qiaotou is only RMB15. 导游 tried to help them to change their tickets. In situations like this, Im very grateful that Im effectively bilingual.
70% of the passengers were ang mohs. However, there was this local lady who is from other province. She is just like a LOUD HAILER ! She talk so loud and non-stop ! Kept yakking away ! Maybe, its because she is travelling alone ? So have to talk at every opportunity ? DUHZ !
She actually say this :-
“韩国只要待一天就够了！去这个地方转一转，拍拍照就行了."
My eyes just rolled hearing comments like this ! She might as well stay at home to look at otos of different country !
--insert photos---
Will be leaving our main bagpack at "Tiger Gorge Cafe"- a very popular place for among trekkers to leave their bags here at at cost of RMB5 regardless of duration. Bump into this "Sporean couple" at the cafe - George and Alvis. We decide to do the trek together.
Me and 导游 suddenly have this telepathy between both of us, gave each other a knowing look.
Well ... not long after we started walking, George declared "Alvis and I are in a relationship." Ha ! Our "Gaydar" function perfectly well even thou we are in China!
Just half an hr into our trek, I start to feel giddy! Oh man .. what is wrong with me? Decide to sound the alarm to the rest, sat down on the rocks and took a break. Not going to act strong, then later fell off the cliff and burden 导游. Start to have doubts at my fitness level ... all these running have no use at all ? :o(
Begining to feel better after the break ... continue with our trek!
Reached our Naxi Family Guesthouse @ 1pm, after 1.5 hrs of walking. Had lunch there. 
After our much needed break, we have to continue our trek. The much known 28 bends is waiting for us - uphill all the way till the top of the 28th bend. According to the map we had, it will take us 1.5hrs (3km) to reach the top of the bend.
Barely 15 mins of walking uphill, tiredness set in again ! Doubtful thoughts start seeping into my brain.
- Can I finish the 28 bends and reach the guesthouse before it is dark?
- Here I am, just panting away, not even enjoying the scenary, just thinking of whether I can complete it . Why did i put myself into all this 自我虐待 activities ?
- Am i really so weak, considering I have been running so much? Im just like all the other typical weak girls !
- Maybe I should had just take the lower trails, sit in the comfort of the bus. Stop at touristy n scenic spot to pose and take photos. Telling people I have been to Tiger Leaping Gorge.
Was also thinking if running a marathon is tougher or this trek ?! 
Maybe my mind was just not willing to be defeated, somehow or other, I make it to the top of the 28 bend ! Yippee ! The tough part is over !
Reach 茶马客栈 at 5 pm. The earlier advise that we got was that we can continue to walk to Halfway Guesthouse if we reached here before 5pm. We decide that we will be able to reach Halfway Guesthouse before dark.
The route from 茶马 to Halfway was just a flat route. Very easy to walk as compared to the rest. By 615pm, we reached Halfway.
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