Aug 6, 2006 - Dali, China

I caught an afternoon bus to Dali (Y40), three hours southeast of Lijiang, and got a single room at the Old Dali Inn (Y30), an old backpackers' favorite. ... In the early evening, I ran into Inka, who was on the same nine-day overland trip in Mongolia, and her boyfriend, Manu, at Old Dali Inn's reception. ... Coincidentally, we were all staying at the Old Dali Inn. ... Instead, I caught up on my journal and, in the afternoon when the rain stopped, wandered around the pedestrian paths of Dali's old walled city. ... The wide pedestrian malls certainly make Dali feel a lot less congested than Lijiang. ...

Jul 22, 2006 - CHINA: Old Dali and around

Had the best day today just cycling through the winding country lanes, paddy fields and local villages alone on my bike. Luckily I have pretty good bearings!! Got pretty mucky and burnt too but well worth it! Soph and I are staying in Old Dali, an old town set in the countryside of Southern China. ... The surrounding rural villages are beautiful and the total opposite to Old Dali. ... They are untouched.Had the best day today just cycling through the winding country lanes, paddy fields and local villages alone on my bike. Luckily I have pretty good bearings!! Got pretty mucky and burnt too but well worth it! Soph and I are staying in Old Dali, an old town set in the countryside of Southern China. ... The surrounding rural villages are beautiful and the total opposite to Old Dali. ... They are untouched....

Jul 21, 2006 - Well hello, Dali

After a week of fighting off my 101F fever and fighting my way upstream through the Chinese hospital system, I really needed a place like Dali. ... Dali is an ancient town in western Yunnan province with some beautiful architecture (though marred by the cheesy tourist crap shops occupying the ground floors) in the ancient walled city backed by fog shrouded mountains, and a terrific traveler vibe helped along by the lovely Bai minority people. ... They are much closer to the Tibetan brand of kindness than the Han form of give me your money and shut up.After a week of fighting off my 101F fever and fighting my way upstream through the Chinese hospital system, I really needed a place like Dali. ... Dali is an ancient town in western Yunnan province with some beautiful architecture (though marred by the cheesy tourist crap shops occupying the ground floors) in the ancient walled city backed by fog shrouded mountains, and a terrific traveler vibe helped along by the lovely Bai minority people. ... They are much closer to the Tibetan brand of kindness than the Han form of give me your money and shut up....

Jul 20, 2006 - Dali

Arrived in Dali this day, the 20th, travelling with this english girl Patricia from Lijiang. ... We are currently sharing a room in the Tang Dynasty Hotel after the place we wanted to stay in was fully booked.Arrived in Dali this day, the 20th, travelling with this english girl Patricia from Lijiang. ... We are currently sharing a room in the Tang Dynasty Hotel after the place we wanted to stay in was fully booked....

Jul 18, 2006 - Dali

Still the reason why westerners love it, is that as well as the great scenery around it, it has lots of great restaurants serving a lovely mix of food (not just western and Chinese, but also Tibetan, Japanese and Korean, - and it also has very cheap beer! The local beers are particularly nice, Dali beer and Lan Cang River Beer. ... What is confusing is that both systems still seem to be used in some places (old traditions die hard) and then on top, there are the chinese signs and characters! Many signs we see only have the Chinese characters, which leads to much exploration of our phrasebook! The best part of being here in Dali, apart from the eating and drinking of course, is that it has lovely cool temperatures (when it is hot, it is a dry heat which makes a big change for us) and the town is right under a massive set of mountains called Cang Shan (Jade Green Mountains) which rise magnificently above the old town at 4,000m. ... We see the Bai people around Dali as well, but they are much more prominent in this town, and the old women particularly look amazing in their traditional gear. ... We were just thankful that the skyrockets in the totem pole fired upwards! We decided to finally leave when people started running through the bonfires they had created with their torches! And yes we all got out with no injuries, but felt sure that the hospitals of Yunnan must be full the next morning! Great experience, but perhaps mostly enjoyed by the mad locals! Most of the rest of our time we relaxed in Dali town. ... The rest here in Dali, at these cooler temperatures has been the perfect tonic and she is now starting to feel better. ...

Jun 26, 2006 - Dali

I loved Dali and was close to making my stay a few weeks long. ... What also made Dali such a great experience was the people I met. ... When you're having so much fun with the people around you it makes it difficult to leave.I loved Dali and was close to making my stay a few weeks long. ... What also made Dali such a great experience was the people I met. ... When you're having so much fun with the people around you it makes it difficult to leave....

May 21, 2006 - Sandal Doctor of Dali

I was just walking along minding my own business (as I always do!) when this Chinese man came up and took my shoe. A quick brush, and my sandals have never looked better or stronger! Besides having my shoes stolen off my feet, I also did a few other activities in Dali, such as walk the city wall, visiting temples, enjoying a Calligraphy Lesson, and tea house hopping. ... There are so many neat teas in China.I was just walking along minding my own business (as I always do!) when this Chinese man came up and took my shoe. A quick brush, and my sandals have never looked better or stronger! Besides having my shoes stolen off my feet, I also did a few other activities in Dali, such as walk the city wall, visiting temples, enjoying a Calligraphy Lesson, and tea house hopping. ... There are so many neat teas in China....

May 21, 2006 - Sandal Doctor of Dali

I was just walking along minding my own business (as I always do!) when this Chinese man came up and took my shoe. A quick brush, and my sandals have never looked better or stronger! Besides having my shoes stolen off my feet, I also did a few other activities in Dali, such as walk the city wall, visiting temples, enjoying a Calligraphy Lesson, and tea house hopping. ... There are so many neat teas in China.I was just walking along minding my own business (as I always do!) when this Chinese man came up and took my shoe. A quick brush, and my sandals have never looked better or stronger! Besides having my shoes stolen off my feet, I also did a few other activities in Dali, such as walk the city wall, visiting temples, enjoying a Calligraphy Lesson, and tea house hopping. ... There are so many neat teas in China....

May 14, 2006 - China - Dali

I'd booked a bus to Dali from Kunming the day before. ... I discovered that the reason why the ticket he got my was cheaper than the others was because I was in a crammed minibus while everyone else travelling to Dali was in a big National Express type bus. ... After 5 hours I arrived in Dali, or rather the new Dali city 'Xiagun'. ... Dali old town was another 20 minutes away and after failing to locate where the bus had dropped me off on the 2 maps I had (having 2 maps is a bit like having 2 watches) and as it was raining I jumped in a taxi. ... 5 minutes into the journey I'd worked out where I'd been and that the buses to old Dali where just round the corner. ...

Apr 15, 2006 - Dali - China

We just had a quiet housekeeping day today.We just had a quiet housekeeping day today....

Mar 27, 2006 - Dilli dali-ing around Dali

Dali is a traditional Bai tribal town made up of two storey stone houses running along perfectly cobbled streets packed with water features and protected by imposing walls with strong commanding watch towers and prohibitive gates. ... Back in the safety of the walls I find cafe owned by Nick, an Aussie who came to Dali 2 years ago and liked it so much he bought the place - well the cafe anyway. ... Mary Jane is also here reflecting the relaxed attitude of Dali and the way the authorities turn a blind eye to her. ... I could easily spend time here but I'm having problems with my card and the Bank of China tell me i need to go to the kunming branch in order to obtain dollars which is going to cut my stay in Dali to just one night but it will speed up my progress towards lijiang and then to chengdu and give me time for the 3 gorges river trip. ...

Jan 29, 2006 - chinese new year in dali

We've spent the last week or so in Dali, a medieval walled town that is being demolished bit by bit. ... Dali is not quite the same. ... The boards surrounding building sites carry computerised images of the soon to be restored Bo Ai Road and it's 'heritage shopping mall, faithful to the ambience of Old Dali'. ... For all this we've had a good time in Dali. ...