Every step, every turn, every shift of the eye in this world heritage listed location had more beauty than I’ve ever seen in my entire life. It was a natural wonderland, filled with the colour and beauty that dreams and movie sets are made off. The scenery was so inspiring that I felt like everyone should be naked and singing and would have happily rolled around in the mud just be a part of something so Godly.
‘Anyone taking a picture with scenery this beautiful is going to look hideous’ I explained to Tom after he showed me the less than favourable picture that he had just taken of me with the amazing colours of Juizhaigou’s lakes and mountains as the background, and I whole heartedly believed this theory, until I took a photo of Tom and Liron with the same background but unlike me they looked perfectly suited to their surroundings.
The day of exploring this amazing region of Jiuzhaigou was going beautifully until we ran into a chinese man who had been on the same bus as me from Chengdu.
Chinese guy – Hyeeeeeeeeee!!Do you remember me??
T – ‘You were on the bus from Chengdu?’
Chinese guy to T and Liron – ‘Can I join you’re group’ (said with gesturing)
T & Liron – ‘sure, no worries’ smiling and friendly.
Within the first hour this guy had innocently asked questions around the details of my trip, which are the usual questions asked when meeting a traveller.
By the second hour he was wanting to know specifics around dates, locations and accommodation, which I thought was a bit intrusive, but thinking he was a curious traveler himself wanting to get ideas on what to do, I reluctantly gave him this information.
By the third hour I had come to the conclusion that I was being badgered, harassed and had somehow become an unwilling participant in this guys travelling itinerary.
Liron, in a quiet moment when it was just the three of us – ‘you need to learn to lie’
T – I know, I should have said I was pregnant.’
Tired, irritated and exhausted after 7 hours of walking and being followed by the unwanted stranger, there was a quick vote and we decided that we were done for the day.
Tom – ‘We should tell him that we’ve decided to leave’
Liron – ‘By we do you mean you?
After hearing the news that we were leaving.
Chines man – ‘I will go to Chengdu to Sims Cozy by the 7th and go to the panda breeding centre’ (exactly where I was going to be)
T – Uses the ‘if I ignore him he’ll go away’ tactic and offers no response or acknowledgement of any kind
Annoying Chinese Man – How will I contact you in Chengdu once I arrive? (After repeatedly trying to fish out MSN, Facebook, and mobile contact details from me)
T snaps – ‘what’s the point? I just met you a couple of hours ago – what makes you think that I want you to follow me?’
Incredibly annoying Chinese guy to T, referring to Tom and Liron – ‘Are you going with them?’
T – ‘YES!’
Fucking annoying Chinese guy – ‘Do you want to have dinner tonight?’
T – ‘NO!!!!’
TIP – A woman traveling alone should never disclose accurate information about her journey to a man she’s just met. And should think about wearing a wedding band.
Tiara in Transit 