Bus rides, Big buddhas, brutal massages

Bus rides
So, we're finally getting the hang of this travelling around China thing. True, it's tough as we can't read anything and not alot of people can speak English but the trick seems to be to arm yourselves with the following:

1. the scribbled down name of the place you are going, in Chinese - usually written by your host at the hostel/hotel
2. fingers - to indicate how many tickets you want
   
3. a guide book with simple Chinese translations for words such as Tuesday, today etc. or mobile phone calendar.
   

Then you walk boldly up to an available window and first say the name of the place you want to go to. If you get a blank look, then pass them the piece of paper with the name on it. They will then start to talk to you in Chinese. Don't even try to understand what they are saying (unless they are pointing at the next counter or shaking their heads vigorously - both of which are self explanatory). Hold up two fingers and then point to when you want to travel using the guide book or mobile phone. They will then scribble a number on a piece of paper, you pay that and hey presto, the tickets are printed/stamped and thrust at you.

At this point, refuse the Western urge to assume that everything is ok and walk off because you are conscious of holding up the queue - check your ticket, ensure it says the correct date, time and place (which is usually also printed in English) as well as your change. Only when you are satisfied that everything is actually ok do you walk off.

Having said all that, we successfully managed to negotiate 4 buses today! All to reach the location of China's biggest Buddha.

Big Buddha
They weren't kidding when they said that he's a big buddha, he is huge! As you will no doubt see from our pictures, I can't even reach his feet. It was great though, it's a full scale park inside complete with fish ponds and other random (smaller) buddha's dotted around. The main attraction is the main man himself who is 71 meters high and was carved out of the side of a mountain. He's looking a bit worse for the wear right now as he is usually repaired every decade so he must be due one soon, still, he's a force to be reckoned with.

Note to travellers, if you're planning to see the Big Buddha, unless you have some serious reason why you can't walk up and down all those steps (yes, there are lots of steps) then go to the park and see him that way, don't bother with the boat ride which costs almost as much as the entrance ticket to the Buddha park, but you only get to glimpse him from a boat for a few minutes.

Brutal massages
In anticipation of our trek up Mt. Emei tomorrow (we will be offline for about two days), and after the many steps at the Big Buddha today, and also because we wanted to, we got ourselves a massage each this evening. Ouch! Those girls sure have a masters degree in pounding, slapping, thumping, kneading, poking every which muscle in your body!!! Still, it was kinda nice and at the end my aching muscles are suddenly all better. I don't know if they have been scared into submission or if they are genuinely better, tomorrow will tell.

It's been a good day, now the mozzies are sending me to my room and we need a good nights sleep so catch you in a couple of days.