23 October 2018 Huangshan Mtn and Pigs Inn

IMG 0720 by morning clouds are quickly swirling around Huangshan IMG 0721 when the mist lifts we see concrete structures mimicing old style architecture IMG 0722 we set off into the misty mountain, only slightly ahead of the hordes IMG 0723 our hotel astride the drainage
IMG 0725 clearing a bit more IMG 0726 now in the sun above the clouds IMG 0727 our crew less Christine IMG 0730 thiswas supposed to be our album cover shot. We just look lost!
IMG 0745 first view of the infamous Sea of Clouds we've come to witness first hand IMG 0754 a scroll painting IMG 0732 above the clouds IMG 6880 the locks thing can get out of hand
IMG 6882 we share the place IMG 0734 with thousands of people, many of them photographers! IMG 0737 Sea of Clouds IMG 0738 with Christine
IMG 0739 beautiful rocks on the cliff face IMG 0741 Austin making his way through the crowd IMG 0742 we hit it on a pretty clear day IMG 6886 Bri and clouds
IMG 6888 enjoying herself! IMG 6890 our little family traveling group IMG 0750 I like it! IMG 0751 Mountain Man
IMG 0752 Sea of Clouds IMG 6893 so archetypical! IMG 6894 Sea of Clouds IMG 6895 lovely pines
IMG 0766 Sea of Clouds IMG 0768 our hotel was over there in the fogs IMG 0772 the fog rose and poured over the cliffs IMG 6897 another Japanese-style scroll painting
IMG 0769 or like Fabrizio's watercolors of Yosemite falls IMG 0774 silhouettes of pines perched on rock pinnacles in the Sea of Clouds IMG 0773 Sea of Clouds IMG 0776 rising seas
IMG 0748 Sea of Clouds IMG 0755 IMG 0756 Sea of Clouds IMG 0757 Wow!
IMG 0735 Sea of Clouds IMG 6892 Sea of Clouds rising IMG 0762 Sea of Clouds IMG 4119 Sea of Clouds
IMG 4122 Austin and clouds IMG 4128 on our way back to the hotel for breakfast we are treated to sun through spider webs in the trees IMG 4129 IMG 4131 Rocky frogs anyone?
IMG 4136 For reasons that escape us, the laundry is brought in by porter. these bundles are heavy! IMG 0778 While we were out enjoying the Sea of Clouds other guests were decimating the breakfast buffet. Not much left IMG 6900 The most accurate map we found of the park's trail network IMG 6904 After lunch, out a different way
IMG 6913 2 porters have the right of way IMG 0779 Sea of Clouds turned to Pea Soup! IMG 0780 but lots of company IMG 0781 lovely monuments out in the woods
IMG 4133 what it looked like up close IMG 6914 one of ours IMG 6918 others of us IMG 0783 All of this will soon be served to tourists!
IMG 6921 Flying Rock IMG 6928 Taking a short break at the highest point of our hike IMG 6930 cat? IMG 6947 Checking the porter's loads
IMG 0785 all wet vegetables IMG 6950 What does 100 to 120 kilos feel like to lift? IMG 0786 and on the shoulder I dislocated -duh! IMG 0787 Brigitte may have budged it
IMG 6951 he was taking a cigarette break... IMG 0788 as I said, we were not alone though we have made it look as if we were IMG 6954 swirling clouds IMG 0789 fog
IMG 4137 Colors were beautiful on the ride down IMG 6961 with ladies from Shaanxi IMG 6975 and us IMG 0790 gingkos at the base station/bus stop
IMG 0791 Next stop: a tea shop between Huangshan and Bishan which offers a special kind of "long leaf" green tea IMG 0793 now, with water added IMG 6978 what's in these bags? IMG 0798 dried bamboo shoots
IMG 0794 Green and red (black) teaboxes waiting to be filled IMG 0795 beautiful flower on road side IMG 0796 rural transport and a guy bringing back his backpack sprayer (not bio here) IMG 0797 Austin negotiating under the watchful eye of our driver
IMG 0792 our driver and Brigitte tasting the tea IMG 0799 bulk green tea IMG 6977 IMG 0800 pavilion down toward the river
IMG 0823 In late afternoon we check in at the Pig's Inn in Bishan IMG 0803 Several interior courtyards later, we reach our room IMG 0804 Furniture as art near one of the main places we hung out at the Pig's Inn IMG 0805 This dining room has capacity and it was well used during our stay (though not by us)
IMG 0806 Interior of our room IMG 0807 Bri's bed IMG 0808 wooden latticework was a common feature IMG 0809 our bathroom
IMG 0812 interior courtyard leading to another wing IMG 6982 gardner inspecting the garden that (at least in part) fed us during our visit IMG 0814 peppers are an important ingredient! IMG 0813 one of many quiet spots
IMG 0816 Someone from Nashville made it here IMG 6983 Nikki and Austin's room was in another wing and up in the attic but well appointed IMG 6984 Austin hard at work reading and grading his students' mid-term papers IMG 0819 Meanwhile others were conferring on next steps
IMG 0820 Entrance hall from another angle IMG 0824 the staff preparing garlic cloves for dinner IMG 0810 while the chilis are drying IMG 6986 makes you sneeze just looking at 'em
IMG 6987 the owner's son designs his own craft beers IMG 4146 Close up of Bishan craft beer bottle label IMG 0822 some go out for a stroll along rice paddies (fresh shoots growing back after harvest) IMG 0829 moon rise over the paddies
IMG 6993 sunset IMG 0828 Bri, Austin and Nikki on way to Bishan village IMG 6988 Bishan is emerging as an artistic haven (again?). English translation needs a bit of work! IMG 0830 pond in old Bishan village
IMG 0831 important new building in Bishan IMG 0832 doorway IMG 0833 This is the Intertional Youth Hostel Bishan facility - open for business! IMG 0835 evening in Bishan village
IMG 0836 new construction in old village IMG 6994 night fall in Bishan village IMG 6997 Austin orders the house specialty: braised pig hock - yum! IMG 7002 So much good stuff!
IMG 7003 Small fried fish were extra crispy IMG 7004 Somehow the five of us managed to consume all those dishes! IMG 7008 post-meal discussion in our private dinning room IMG 4145 Post-dinner browsing the books in the re-purposed rapeseed factory that is now the Pig's Inn
IMG 4144 what a day!