Apparently I felt the need to exhaust myself. I traveled west into the largest mountains I've biked in and now as I left those hoping for relaxing terrain I've entered the steepest mountains I've biked through. The views have been worth it though (on most days).
Terraced farms rise thousands if feet from the valley floor. It is harvest season and I see the farmers doing all the work without machines. There would be no way to get farm equipment into most of the fields. The air smells of burning corn husks. Grains are scattered to dry wherever flat solid ground is, many times that is the road. The whole community seems busy with the work.
More rock carvings have drawn me to them. I didn't realize I like them so much before this trip. I mentioned seeing the largest Buddha before but I was mistaken. I have now seen the largest carved Buddha. I was only as tall as its forehead and it extended down from there in a seated position. Just an enormous work of art and 1300 years old! A couple days later I visited beautiful and very well preserved carvings in a cliff side. They even had paint still on them. Buddhas were here too but not the highlight in my opinion. I liked the figures carved with many arms the most.
I continue south camping most nights. There are so many people it is difficult to hide from everyone. Whenever I am discovered though they are very impressed with my hammock.
