Do you know what Im missing right now? A proper toilet. And my proper, I mean anything that has a floor around it that isn't covered with poop and pee, no blood stains on the walls, no human fecal trails, and no maggots. you think i'm making this up? Let me tell you one thing, you don't travel ANYWHERE in china without the following two things. Your own supply of toilet paper, and antibacterial wipes.

The holes in the ground that serve as toilets, serve up nothing more than a healthy smell of decaying life. I must admit, I am getting so used to this squatting method (I've even heard you are less likely to get hemorrhoids using the squatting methods as opposed to western style toilet seating arrangements). But I can't and won't get used to the slip and slide game you play in other people's body wastes.

side note: for the first time ever, i have spelled hemorrhoids correctly. and don't even try to tell me you could do it right, before reading this. and im pretty sure half of you still second guessed my spelling..but i aint gunna post crap! only info about crap.

back to the points...

Today I found a western style toilet (such a luxury), and decided to indulge in the act, when I noticed this pipe starting to spew out water. I didn't think much of it since there was a bucket underneath it to catch the water. What I didn't plan for, was how wrong I was. It flowed like niagra. Here I was, my FIRST chance at a civilized bathroom attempt, but now stuck in ankle deep water, with my pants hovering just above the liquid and a man banging to get in to fix it. I had no time to wipe, I just opened the door, and walked out half naked so he could stop the flood, and I could pull my pants up. Needless to say, i pulled up my pants and RAN before any questions were asked. I miss Japan's bidets.

So Im in the heart of central china, visiting through old Tibetan villages. Although I am not in the political bounded region of Tibet, these villages offer the same feel, minus the expense of going into actual provincial tibet. I might go anyways. (The Chinese government is planning on finishing up a railway that goes into Tibet in time for the 2008 Olypics, and I am sure that once that happens, the little bits of Tibet that are still not as touristy, will become insanely busy) Anyhow, I have seen nomadic tribes living in the grasslands that are as comparable to a windows XP screensaver. Half the time, I expect the damn teletubbies to pop out from behind some hill, it's just gorgeous. For the first time in over a month, I have seen blue skies. I have been able to breath freely without insane amounts of pollution entering my lungs. It is so nice to be out of the citied China. Before I got here, i kept thinking about how if I had to leave China tomorrow, I wouldn't have minded. But now that Im in these regions, I am loving it. I would come back here in a heartbeat. Not to mention that sustaining yourself financially is extremely efficient. My sleeping arrangements cost me about $1.90 (US) a night, and I eat for about $0.60 a meal. Who is going to complain about the best vegetarian meals I have ever had, for $0.60. probably you...

I tried to visit a sky burial this morning, but unfortunately for me, no one here has died..so im going to stick around and wait a couple days. I know its gross, but still I want to see it! (refer to last post reguarding China)

I have seen so many monks doing their thing. Religious devout monks chanting tibetan prayers, fun child-monks playing soccer in their robes, modern monks on their cell phones, super high class monks in their SUV's, and the ever so punk monk with his bottle of corona. im pretty sure the latter is an embaressment to the monestary, but hey, we all have those don't we?

Things are going well, and I can not believe I have only 6 weeks left in my foreign adventures. After that, I'll be in western world again living it up with friends and family. Strange! The halfway mark is rounding the bend.

I have decided that with all the material i have collected in each country, as well as the clothes I have had this whole trip, I'm going to make a badass quilt. What more of an amazing souveniere that is actually functional! I bought the most amazing Tibetan and Chinese materials, and some badass Tibetan wool yarn and such. I'm such a grandma.

Operation out.