Nov 15, 2009 - Kunming - city of good food and trees

Dear all Kunming is a city that is lay back and human in scale. ... Expecting a bone jarring ride, instead the comfortable bus from Dali immediately went onto a toll road for the next 350 Km or so to Kunming - a good quality expressway that tunnelled through mountains and sped over valleys. ... Kunming's a charming place. ... Anyway if you get to Kunming do go and see it. ...

Nov 15, 2009 - Xizhou - embroidery, art and comorants

Another guide on another boat would start singing something about Dali and Er Hai Lake and the other guides and boatmen and women on the other two or three boats would join in. ... Then Joan and I went down to Dali and had dinner at a Uigher cafe. ... I'd overheard him angling to get a round of golf at the Dali golf course so I jumped to the conclusion he was very straight and had probably been dragged along. ...

Nov 15, 2009 - Guilin - retreating from the cold

Well we are in Guilin capital of Guanxi province haven flown here a couple of days ago.Well we are in Guilin capital of Guanxi province haven flown here a couple of days ago....

Nov 7, 2009 - Xizhou - and further reflections

We are staying in a Bai village called Xizhou ('Sheejo') near the Er Hai lake, 20 kilometres or so north of Dali in Yunnan. ... The sun is still low and I have to shield my eyes to look in the direction of Dali and the mountains to the south east. ... The West is stuffed, we agreed, and I took another sip of Dali beer and he of his Great Wall Red. ...

Nov 4, 2009 - Xizhou and an American dream

We did manage to get on the right 18 seater and also to give the driver the note written for us by Min (one of hosts) to drop us off at Xizhou before Dali. ... Xizhou is about 30 kms north of Dali and is full of heritage listed Bai mansions. ... Today we have come down to Dali to go to the bank and i am writing this in an Internet cafe. ...

Nov 2, 2009 - Disney world at Lijiang

Dear all Well after a long day flying, first to kunming and then to Lijiang we are here in northern Yunnan province. ... The naxi are the minority group around this area though there are lots of Han Chinese too.Dear all Well after a long day flying, first to kunming and then to Lijiang we are here in northern Yunnan province. ... The naxi are the minority group around this area though there are lots of Han Chinese too....

Oct 22, 2009 - Goodbye China

We spent our last few days in China in Kunming. ... MS and I spent our time wondering around the streets of Kunming checking out the parks where we did a lot of people watching. ... We were enticed by the smells coming from some local cafes but as there were no pictures to point at and only Chinese menus we were getting a bit frustrated.We spent our last few days in China in Kunming. ... MS and I spent our time wondering around the streets of Kunming checking out the parks where we did a lot of people watching. ... We were enticed by the smells coming from some local cafes but as there were no pictures to point at and only Chinese menus we were getting a bit frustrated....

Oct 19, 2009 - Dali

After another day on the bus, we arrived in Dali. ... Dali is a very pretty place with a South and North gate and only a small part of the original wall around the city still standing. ... Our free day in Dali was spent doing a tour of the local markets where we sampled a Chinese pizza – very tasty and bought a few knick-knacks. ... Dali is a lovely place that we will definitely remember. ...

Oct 17, 2009 - ... the yak attack .... and ...’But I didn’t eat the salmon mousse’

Our last real day in China.Our last real day in China....

Oct 16, 2009 - Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon.

On the bus for an hour and a half to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tomorrow evening back to Kunming, but a magnificent day planned before that, still in this Li Jiang region. ... The beggars part 2.On the bus for an hour and a half to Tiger Leaping Gorge. Tomorrow evening back to Kunming, but a magnificent day planned before that, still in this Li Jiang region. ... The beggars part 2....

Oct 16, 2009 - Shangri-La

What can I say about Shangri-la? It was our destination after hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge and we were looking forward to spending a couple of days there.What can I say about Shangri-la? It was our destination after hiking Tiger Leaping Gorge and we were looking forward to spending a couple of days there....

Oct 15, 2009 - Li Jiang... Yakkety Yak

Up this am for a late start.Up this am for a late start....