I’ve had a minor obsession with Asia since child-hood. In elementary school we had an influx of Laotians in the early nineties, and for a simple southerner their presence was like stepping into another world. I would listen in on their untranslatable conversations, read old Chinese folk tales from the school library, and watched The King and I on repeat. I was truly intrigued by this world that was, literally and figuratively, so far away. Over the years my interest has stayed, and everyone once and awhile I’ll delve into little eastern literature or news, but in actuality I haven’t gotten any closer to this continent or its culture. When a fleeting opportunity to Vietnam came and went, I became uncertain I would ever make my sought after trip there. So when I heard the rumors that Petzl was planning the next Rock Trip in China, I knew I would be quitting any current job I had, and loading up all my credit cards to get in the mix. Tomorrow we leave on a two week trip to the Getu Valley of China. The climbing looks insane, the travel will be intense, and I all I can hope is that I walk away with a little more understanding about a culture I’ve been intrigued by since a girl.