Swamp Stomp womp womp

Tengchong has become a popular destination for Teach For China fellows because of its swamps. Technically it may be a marsh, but it's not as fun to say it's a marsh mash. Despite of what we as Americans have learned about preserving the environment, it's strange and delightful fun to be able to slide your feet into some rain boots and run around on top of a marsh.

Yes, my legs are that slimy. 

Last Monday, John, Mon, Sam and I awoke and stumbled into a car at seven in the morning. Our driver had swanky printed LV seats and dropped us off at a restaurant on the edge of the marsh. When the guards of the marsh arrive for work at 8 am, it becomes impossible for us to enter on the side entrance, thus if we arrive an hour earlier, it gives us plenty of time for the local guides to lead us deep into the marsh where the guards cannot impede out stomp fun. The good parts of the swamps were where the vegetation made the surface squishy and springy. A natural trampoline that would have otherwise been protected if it was in America. On the scary parts, I stepped, then in a moment of strange stillness, my leg fell straight through the vegetation and is immediately sucked into mud that is slimy and resists me as I try to pull it out. There were a lot of scary parts and as I'm comically clumsy, the guide had too much fun at my expense.

This is what Jon, Mon and Sam saw a lot. Me, climbing out of zee swampz.

John Kuo took a waay too much pleasure in my sinking. In this moment, all three of us are stuck in the mud. Monica would come closer, but she can't. Tricky tall dead grass.

Filthy fun. What I love at Teach For China. Sure, I was very inappropriately dressed. I was planning on going to Shangri-la where it was freezing. I didn't bring shorts. Also, I find that a silk blouse is pretty multi-functional. After the swamp stomp, the mud came right out! Tengchong. Another experience that I probably wouldn't have sought out on my own but it was well worth the stretch.