Wit And Writ: 01/01/2008

When we last left off, I had just survived a brush with death up to Snow Mountain and was continuing on our way to the view that, well, we ended up not seeing anyway.

So, were we gonna let bad weather, sub-temperate conditions, high wind, low visibility and a near-miss with a bus get in our way of a good time?

No way.

It must have been the altitude, 'cause we were all feeling pretty high and dandy, too high perhaps to feel any anxiety about the days events. Perhaps it was a good thing.

Ah, more ski lift/gondolas. Our favorite way to travel.

10 minutes later, we were at the top. According to the
sign, we'd make it up to the middle red dot.

Here's me with our tour guide Amy. She put up with all
my shenanigans - a real trooper. Behind us is a
Tibetan temple with real-life Tibetan Monks!

To see what's inside, you're just gonna have to go there
and check it out.

That's where the base camp to the summit is, and where
the lift ends and the footwork begins.

Sadly, this is the clearest shot of Snow Mountain I'd get
the whole day -- but that didn't mean I wouldn't try
again tomorrow.

Eh, you get the gist.

The ride back down was WAAAY more ominous, right out
of a Stephen King short story.

But breaks in the fog would allow us to see this --
wandering sheep, and sheepishly wandering.

Luckily, we didn't really need this, but just as a gag, my
father bought this can of portable oxygen before we came
down the mountain. But just how does it work?...

... Just like this! The cap turns into a cup and it looks
like you're shooting yourself with bug spray.
Ah, air - just like in Spaceballs.

No trip to Snow Mountain is complete without watching
this live performance of dancers that are dancing
on this mountainous stage. On a clear day, Snow Mountain
is right in the background.

And here we are trying to set the World Record for most
colored ponchos worn during a rained-out performance.

After lunch, we took off to this Naxi Temple.

I know, right? It looks like an ancient Chinese missile silo.

My homage to the Mos Eisley shot from Star Wars.

Bet you've never seen this: All these Chinese dishes were
made out of stone, with marble cut to look like meat fat
and rocks that look like tofu. Careful -- this is a feast
for the eyes only.