I thought the llamas knew their way, but I ended up getting very, very, lost. Thank god for Luna Bars. I had a backpack full of them.

After days and days of dark and dusty tunnels, I finally saw a light and pulled the llamas up through it. Once we made it out, it was just as stunning as before - rainbows shimmering in the mist, clover and flowing trees, cliffs and crags as far and high as I could see. Beautiful and breathtaking.

But this village was different. Same kind of people - I feel like I'm on a transfer program to Tibet? - but the buildings are taller, and it gets more "sun" (or whatever the light comes from). They're friendly to travelers too, and I got the llamas boarded and a room for me with some easy trades, even though we don't share a word in common.

One great thing they have here is wifi. ;) Well, it's a kind of pulsating crystal, but with it around I'm able to get a signal, and hence, post! And proximity to it seems to charge batteries too.

Hopefully @Ricky McRibbons will see this and... then what? I don't want to try finding my way back through the tunnels again. How do I find their village?

In the meantime, I'm kickin' it here. Near the entrance to the tunnel there's a waterfall - and get this - it runs UP! The gravity does some weird tricks down here, especially near the tunnels. When you're "in," then "up" is toward the center of the earth, and "down" is back to the surface. You don't notice the flip on your way down through the tunnels, but - where this waterfall is, for instance - there are still what I suppose you would call "gravitational anomalies." And mighty pretty ones too. :)

Guess we didn't really work out an emergency plan for this kind of thing.

Just returned from my first stint in the "Deep Deep Down." Since I'm the newbie, I got llama duty coming up for supplies. We'll spend a night topside while I get everything rounded up, then load them llamas and head back down! Yee-haw!

Seriously, it is so amazing down there. You would not believe how gorgeous it is. @Ricky McRibbons's sponsors have given us our own place - we call it The Dojo, because it's all beautiful tatami mats and sliding doors. All the architecture down there (that I've seen, anyway) has this sort of Asian flair... curly horns on the corners of the roofs, wonderful gardens and paths and stone steps.

I guess it's just a small village - apparently there are much bigger cities and towns. In fact, I think I've been able to see part of the next town, way out in the misty hills and crags where the surface of the interior starts to curve. It's like the horizon is turned inside out... but then there's cliffs and chasms and outcroppings and caves and ledges as high as you can see too, with stairs carved right into the rock, spiraling up and up.

Oh! And (obviously) it's not dark and dank at all. Light is everywhere! There's a miniature freaking sun down there! Or, that's what I'm told. And it's made of crystal. It's somewhere even deeper in the interior. Mist and fog float through the big open spaces, but mostly it's clear and the air is crisp, and because of the continuous mild light, it's like an eternal springtime. There's camellias and flowering trees and grasses and vines. It smells wonderful. Also - ladybugs as big as your fist! And rainbows!

Sigh. Yes not really missing it up here at all. I can't believe I get time and a half on credits for being down there. Hardship my butt!

But shhh don't tell! ;)

Ok, got to go feed the llamas. They get edgy when they're topside too.

Hey, @Ricky McRibbons, what's up with this show? Are you in rehearsal? I haven't seen anything about it on campus. Are you still looking for cast or crew? Selling tickets?

I've got a history with mystery plays, and would love to see what you've got going!

Gabs