Still in China

I just wanted to post this so people knew that I am still alive and in China. The govt here blocks FB and blogs, which just happen to be my primary means for contacting people at home. Reporters are not allowed in Xinjiang and even international phone calls are blocked from Xinjiang.

I am currently in Xi'an and have thoroughly enjoyed my experiences here in China thus far. I will spend about a week in Yunnan before I cross the border into Vietnam. I will see the infamous rice paddies of Sapa and southern Yunnan.

I have been meeting lots of other travels and people. Traveling by yourself seems like a daunting experience, but I have enjoyed it a lot. Traveling alone means that you are more likely to meet locals and other travellers. I have not had any problems finding a sidekick for a day. Also, I think that by being a female the locals are much more receptive of me, even when I cannot understand one word of their thickly accented Chinese.

I will write a bit more about my actual experiences when I am out of China and in Vietnam. In my belief the censors are only harming the citizens of and visitors to China. They are even installing software on every computer sold within the country to quell the ability to get around the censors (like I am with a proxy) permanently.