Up, till the 5-color Lake

One step away from the death....Eyes in the paradise....

---My travel diary in Yading village--Oct 4, 2005

I have never thought someone would tell me he would Kill me, luckily the man changed his idea; Someone may never thought I could reach the 5 color lake, but I did.

On Oct 4, All of the 7 people went for 5-Color lake, but when they heard horses had been rent out, 5 of them dared not go on, too difficult for these men to walk there. Difficult to breath when walking. So 5 of them waited for horses at the entrance. But 1 couple and I moved ahead, hoped to find a horses on the way, luckily later the couple found one horse, they knew I was eager to the 5-color lake, so they left the chance to me. How grateful I was!

There are 2 stations on the way to the 5-color lake. you may go to the 1st station, called Lo Rong Farm, and take it as your termination in Yading. usually people went there by horse to save energy for the coming way-to the 5 color lake, the 2nd station. It took me 2hrs to go to the farm by horse, at 11 oclock, I went for the lake. The height of the farm is above 3K!

Usually it will take people 6 hrs to go and back from the lake to the farm. But walking on the mountains were so difficult, I nearly lost my mind except for taking pictures and climbing. On the way, I met many travellers down from the lake. Some advised me to give up, as it may be too late and dangerous. I decided to get back at 3:00pm, no matter if I got to the lake or not. Anyway, i did not have a guide, nor headlight( it was left in the inn, i forgot to take it with me), i might be lost in the mountains if I got back too late.

I should also appreciate the 2 girls I met when there was about 1/4 way from the lake, their encourage supported me. So when it was 3:00, there was about 50 meters from the lake, although it was a slope.

It took me at least 15 min to climb up the slope. I saw the 2 lakes in front of me! one was green, one was blue. The blue one: 5-Color lake. on the hill, I saw a boy, only 9 yrs old, He was not so tired as I was. I nearlly became his fans.

it took me another 15 minetes to took pictures and got near to the milky lake. at 3:30, I went back. I didnot expect I was nearly to be killed on the way back from the farm to the entrance.

When I got back to the farm, it was half past 6. Unfortunately, I found I lost my water on the way to the lake. And I didnot eat lunch except for a chocolate stick and 2 milky candy, also my mobile was power off ( No signal in the mountain, you could only use it at the entrance). So, when I got back to the farm and heard from the policeman that there was no horse to sent me down the farm, I nearly lost my temper and cried in front of the policeman, halfly coz of tire and out of breath. I saw there was a horse but the policeman didnot agree to rent it for me! I was so angry and worried! (But later when I know why the policeman did not agree to rent the horse to me, i understood him~). The policeman must thought I need to get enough oxygen and advised me to see a doctor in the farm. I explained that I worried about my team as they may thought I was lost in the mountain, just on the night of Oct 3, driver told us 2 travellers lost in the mountain, they were not found even at 10:00pm! Think about the cold weather! (But later at 1:00am, they were found, we heard after I came back SZ)

Luckily another policeman, when the 1st policeman was not there and he did not know the 1st policeman refused to rent the horse, rented me the horse and asked the horseman to take me back. He didnot even ask for more rent. only RMB80 for 2 hrs ride. How happy I was. You know there were about 20 travellers waiting for horses on the farm at that time!

But on the way down the farm, the horseman kept on talking about the price, he hinted that many got RMB250 or RMB300 for 2hrs ride. Though I was very tired, I thought there must be a story, So I talked to him sincerely. Later he told me the 1st policeman punished him with violence coz he wanted to charge RMB300 to travellers for one way, and he still felt his face hurts when he talked to me. Also he acknowledged he wanted to kill me if I didnot accept his requirement. So I knew why the 1st policeman did not rent the horse to me. I was so frightened after his words. But I knew at that time I was safe coz he had treated me a real friend. I sympathized him as there were 6 people in his home, only he worked and he had to afford his younger sister and younger brother to go to school. Later I took a photo of his back with 2 other tibet women, the 2 women walked hand by hand, it moved me so much, you could hardly see 2 so closely in Shenzhen, talking happily and sinceryly.

Even I got down the farm, it was still difficult for me to get back my inn. it was about 30 min's drive. I could not use my mobile to call the driver as .... it was power off~. Also I was hungry and very tired, but I didnot want to eat my chocolate and candies, so I left them all to the horseman, also some money for him, the poor man. I should appreciate his saving my life

But at that time I was at the entrance, I could find the travel office. So I went to borrow a mobile to use. My God! The signal was too poor I could not contact the driver. How worried I was. God helped me another time. A man saw me moving to and fro worriedly with one of his subordinate's mobile, then asked me why, I told him I need to go back YaDing village. He said: That's easy, I may take you there. So I was picked up accidently~

After I came back to the inn, it was 10 oclock! I was treated as a heroine. Also they said they were so sorried about me and nearly called the police!