Beauty and the Freeze

In the beginning,

I started to think of exercising regularly in a fitness center. In that fitness center, a TV set was provided in front of each treadmill. It was a quiet fitness center (which I miss so much now) that I could enjoy the channel I selected without using an earphone. It was then when I started my addiction to National Geographic Channel and such.

Through National Geographic, I was brought to the wonders of Chinese landscapes. National Geographic opened my mind that China is not all about temples and noodles.

When Insight Guides offered me a free gift in exchange for the review I wrote for them, I picked up "Insight Guides China". I didn't know when I would go to China, but I knew I would.

In September 2010, I did travel to China -- the place I've always said I would never go to -- for the first time. I returned wanting for more.

This blog is the story of my second trip to China. Jiuzhaigou was my main destination.

"December is not a good time to visit Jiuzhaigou," said some to me.

"Why not?"

"Because it's winter."

"Then why?"

"Because it will be very cold. No travel agency would open a tour to Jiuzhaigou on such time of the year."

"That's better," I replied.

The moment I decided to travel to Jiuzhaigou by end of 2011, I prepared to the max for it. I worked hard for my trip, not just in terms of money. I gathered information about the destination, I started to study Mandarin, I exercised more seriously. Knowing myself just a "tropic girl" and no longer a teenager, I must be extra prepared for high altitude. The end of this blog will tell you that all my efforts did pay off. But the beauty, is all the way along the journey itself. May you enjoy.