Eric's Beijing Diary

Sitting here in a small Internet bar in Langmusi with a couple young monks leaning over my shoulder watching everything I do. Langmusi is a pretty little town on the Tibetan plateau situated on the border between Sichuan Province and Gansu Province. The bus I took from Hezuo this morning was new, so no problems like yesterday. I had been told that it would take about five hours, but the highway has been improved. It was about a three hour trip.

Not so much to see in Hezuo. It is not the beauty spot that Langmusi is. Mostly Hui Muslims, who make really good mutton noodle soup. However, there are also a few Tibetans there. Last night I was talking with a work crew of Tibetan ladies, all standing with their shovels in their hands. They were very friendly, but very shy. When I took out my camera and asked them if I could take a picture, they turned and walked away. I apologized and put my camera back in my pocket. I went into a local restaurant to get something to eat, and this guy promptly took out his cell phone and took my picture. Then he came over and ran his hands up and down my arms. So what's up? What's good for the goose is good for the gander, right? Well, not quite. Some folks are just terribly shy about having their picture taken.