August 1, 2009 – Day 219 – Dali, China
As it turns out, Dali is not a “charming little town.” Charming, yes, but definitely not little or a “town!” It is actually quite large, even the walled Old City. Most western tourists like to stay in the Old City but most Chinese tourists prefer to stay in the New City leaving the old city all to us by late afternoon.
Old lady in the back streets
August 2, 2009 – Day 220 – Dali, China
Today was the best day we have had in China so far! We took the incredible cable car up Cangshan Mountain and hiked all the way around it (about 15 km in total). After the initial few flights of stone stairs, the going was smooth and easy on the flat stone path that snaked all around the mountain.
Up the mountain
July 31, 2009 – Day 218 – Dali, China
Today, determined to get to the Stone Forest, we awoke even earlier (6AM!) and arrived at the minibus street to catch the morning “rush” to Shilin. We hoped for a cheaper fare (actually, the correct fare!) but today we were met by something even more frustrating: there were no buses would take us, no matter how much money we had!
Random Bug, because I can't find a photo that equates horrid frustration
July 30, 2009 – Day 217 – Kunming, China
Well, we and a fellow traveler we met at the hostel suffered a failed attempt this morning at trying to go to the Shilin Stone Forest. We arrived early, as the hostel staff suggested, but the only 2 remaining minibuses that were heading toward Shilin wanted to charge us each almost 3 times what the fare should have been.
Lunch!
July 29, 2009 – Day 216 – Kunming, China
So we tried to go to the Bird & Flower Market but could not get to it. Then we tried to find a large outdoor outlet store but could not get to it. What is the trouble, you might ask? The trouble is that all maps in China are, hmm, how to put it—WRONG!
Entrance to the city park
July 28, 2009 – Day 215 – Kunming, China
Grabbed a bus this morning to the supposedly beautiful Dianchi lake park. While the park itself was very nice, the lake was suffering from a large algae bloom that turned the whole lake toxic sludge green.
Just waiting for "Swamp Thing" to crawl out
July 26-27, 2009 – Day 213-214 – Guilin, China
This was a very bad day because we had to leave today and forgot to book ahead of time for our night train to Kunming. The 18 hours it was scheduled to last turned into 25 hours due to a landslide in this rather unpleasant seasonal weather (humid, hot, rainy, and generally shitty summer).
Yeah...thats ramen soup
July 25, 2009 – Day 212 – Guilin, China
As if we didn’t have enough self-inflicted punishment on one tour yesterday, we took another one again today. This time our destination was to the Longji Rice Terraces.
Dog in the village
July 24, 2009 – Day 211 – Guilin, China
Well, it was not a good start to the day: up at 7:30AM to get breakfast but the shop was closed, followed by a cramped, sweaty 2 hour minibus ride to the river. We shared the bus and boat with a family of 3 who spoke no English (we are discovering that there are tons and tons…and tons of Chinese tourists in China), a bit awkward at times on a tiny boat but not bad.
View down the river
July 23, 2009 – Day 210 – Guilin, China
One thing you will notice about China is the absence of breakfast. Well, at least as you are probably used to it. Here, a typical Chinese breakfast is noodles, maybe in soup, maybe with vegetables, maybe with a sticky bun, but noodles.
Boatman on the river
Taxi Rides = 123
Boat Rides = 35
Motorcycle Rides = 10
Plane Rides = 16
Bus Rides =330
Train Rides = 124
Rickshaw Rides = 98
Truck Bed Rides = 25
Rainy Days = 42
Current Rummy Score
Lin 10950, Saben 12435
