It feels nostalgic to return. Somehow, I don't really feel like coming back. Life has to go on back in Singapore. I enjoy learning, learning about other cultures, seeing the world's ugliness and beauty. Everyday's a new day, really everyday's new and refreshing, enriching, unlike now where everyday is mundane. Future here is boring and unexciting.
7th June 09
Went to the airport early in the morning. Took a different flight from the rest of the tourists that took the midnight China Eastern flight at 2am. We went aboard silkair. Service was good, except didnt have personal tv. Watched a ton of just for laughs XD. Soon, touched down at Kunming airport. Waited very long as all of the passengers to undergo the grueling thermal scan 1 by 1 on the airplane before we can "arrive" in China. Poor technology for such a huge country. Waited for the luggage for quite long even though we're the only flight that touched down at that time slot. Dao you was waiting for us, the only 4, as the rest of our group was already resting due to fatigue from the midnight flight. Soon, learned that the local tour guide's name was Xiao Shang, all of them add a Xiao in front for courtesy. And she's the best local tour guide of the 4. Departed from the airport, really shocked by the environment and everything, still so backward, greyish and smokey. And the airport was so near the city centre, so didn't took long till we arrived at the restaurant to have our welcome lunch. Felt breathless just walking to the 3rd floor and Xiao Shang explained that it was because we're slightly more than 2000m above sea level, and the oxygen was thinner. Waited for the rest of the tour group, had a 20 course lunch. Overwhelming amount of food, and soon realised that was the largest spread of the 8 days haha.
After lunch visited Daguan Lou (pavilion). More of sight-seeing and walking. And even though it's summer, it's quite cooling in China, way better than the sweltering Singapore that i just heard suffered an 8-day dry spell, can't imagine what it would be like if I were in Singapore and have to walk up to the cookhouse everyday @$%^ DIE. Anways, this pavilion housed the longest dui lian in the world, that's like more than 50 words.
Learned that girls are called Ah Shi ma and guys are called Ah Hei Ge in Kun Ming for the Yi Zu (tribe). Thereafter, visited Luyu Tea-Culture Center. According to Xiao Shang it's one of the few tea culture center that gathers Pu-er tea leaves. The leaves were huge. As it's a school, the senior student ah shi ma explained everything about the tea while the juniors prepared the tea. Similar to wine, the older the better. The 1 year old was really bitter, 4 year old was slightly sweeter and 8 year old was different, more fragrant and sweet, just like a totally different tea breed.
8th June 09
Today, will be travelling to Dali. However, as the coach ride would be 4 and the half hours straight, Xiao Shang offered to include Dinosaur valley as a midway tour so that the journey would not be so long. All of us agreed and went. It was worthwhile. There were unbelievably so many dinosaur bones pieced together. Although 20% were touched-up by man, the sight is majestic, just like an underground mausoleum marching army of dinosaurs.
Thereafter, long journey to Dali. Xiao Shang left us and another local tour guide joined us - Xiao Liang. He's the worst of the 4 due to his slang. Can't really make out what he say. Reached Dali and visited the Dali MingZhu. Not really worth to suffer under the sweltering heat just to see a big ball -_-x.
After that, went to visit ZhangJia HuaYuan. It's a mansion that the owner spent 1million over dollars just to renovate. It has the typical stone carvings and water paintings, with tons of flowers and beautiful ponds. There's also a garden with European style.
At night, went to Yang Ren Jie. Nothing much to buy, cuz they're all so cheena. China fans, china clothes and can't wear in singapore, china food that's not really safe, china boutique that's fake... only the atmosphere is nice haha. And it's the equivalent of Clarke Quay, where there's many pubs where people drink. And there's a beautiful array of storm clouds just hanging over the mountain behind :D
9th June 09
I'm missing China already. Next day, visited Tian Long Babu filming site. It's the Gu Cheng itself. Very authentic and traditional chinese buildings.
Once again, because we're high above the sea level, we're shrouded in the clouds. And man i love clouds, and the weather, cooling and low humidity.
Went to the palace. Took some photos as the emperor XD
Things in China are really cheap. Loaning the clothes is just 3 bucks. Most of the stuff is dirt cheap, another reason why i like China :D
Thereafter, travelled to Li Jiang. Went to the Si Fang Jie. Bought some diao mei at really cheap cost. They're really tasty and fresh. Was more adventurous here, tried their meat dumplings which smelled so great. Tummy ache thereafter. Haha i payed the price.
Went to Tie-dyed cloth factory after that. They dye clothing patterns by tying the cloth so that part of it is not exposed to the dyes, when untied, the flower patterns emerge. Quite cool.
This night was the best, stayed in a Villa. Had internet access and a butler to mend the house. And it was 3-storeys. Except there's tons of houseflies and mosquitoes. Me
and my bro took turns to do guard duty while the food is being cooked lol.
10th June 09
Time really flies. 4th day already. In Li Jiang, local tour guide changed too - Xiao Mi. SHe's not bad too, better of the 4. Visited the Black Dragon Pool. In China, pagodas were used to restrict the movements of dragons that were thought by chinese ancestors to have caused earthquakes. The water's so clear you can even see the reflection.
Went to Yulong Snow Mountain. Starting to feel breathless easily even just purely walking. The temperature here was great. Luckily, didn't have to scale upwards. Xiao Mi let us walk down the mountain instead. Curtains of waterfalls, and various gods prayed that are clad in golden armor.
Watched Impression Lijiang. Which is directed by Zhang Yimou. Very touching song and massive scene. Really worth to watch but I didnt really appreciate it. Except the music.
Visited Lan yue gu also. Blue moon valley where it's shrouded in mist and hidden within the towering mountains. Water is of beautiful blue and green. The mini waterfalls were splendid. And xiao mi said it rained 80% of the time here lol. .
Visited the spirulina product store which sells lan zao. They introduced until it sounded like a xian dan. But i guess it's really good as most of us heard of it before and it works wonders improving your health.
11th June
Travelled to Shangri-La. The road was horrible. Mountain road. Reached one narrow road whereby their police and their army tonners met. After some long bickering, the police gave way to the tonners. And the army people were snickering away. Managed to see a part of the Yangtze river. Nothing magnificent like Lan Yue Gu or anything. It is filled with sediments and hence dirty.
Took a simple lunch and proceeded to Shika Snow Mountain. This mountain's so cold up there and windy that if i jump i could really be blown a little, not away. It was so cold i almost gave up walking to the peak and then back to the cablecar station. The view was panoramic, surrounded by other 4 snow mountains which had some snow, except Shika snow mountain during summer. Anyway, I don't think i wanna go up Shika snow mountain when it snows, cuz it's already real bad. Saw some Mei Hua Lu antelopes.
Went to see the largest ZhuanJingTong in the world. It's in this temple where the nearby toilet is unbelievably nice. It's 5 stars and even have tv and sofa... Nothing much to see in Shangri-La town itselfa at night, as it's a small town, not much shops.
12th June
Took an internal flight to Jiuxiang. The flight wasn't as horrible as i imagined. Although the plane was small and the turbulence was almost throughout the flight, I managed to survive it without any headaches not earblock. But my heart kept skipping beats. Went to Jiuxiang to see the caves. Inside the caves were all the karst formations i learned in geography lessons. Stalactites, stalagmites, pillars, steps etcs. There were bats and swallows too with all those sound. It was beautiful inside but a pain to walk through, cuz it's a total of 1000 steps up and down. Luckily, we could take the cable car out. No more climbing man...
XiaoShang also explained how the people here got rich. As Jiuxiang was near Myanmar, they betted on rocks. In the olden days, when the government was trying to divide china and myanmar equally, there stood 2 mountains - one which had lots of trees and fruits, the other totally barren. China government picked the one with lots of trees and as myanmar was a small country they had no say. But it was cuz the mountain had tons of jade stones in the ground that's why there were no vegetation. Jade stones looked just like normal useless rocks from the outside, that's why China merchants will bet their money on the rocks the Myanmar merchants sell. Myanmar merchants were lazy to carve the jades and process them into accessories and thus sold to the chinese merchants which earned the most. That's why most of the villagers here live in bungalows.
13th June
Went to Shi Lin. More rocks now. Granite karst that is above ground. Words can't describe the scenery.
And there was a line in all the stones at the same level where it was previously the sea level of Shi Lin which was actually submerged under water. Somehow, suddenly all the water receded and revealed this line of sea level that is now high above the ground. Quite spectacular.
Went to peacock garden with tons of peacocks duh. Then visited the jade shops.
14th June
Last day, our itinery was different from the others who will take the 11pm flight back. Cuz of book in, we took the 1pm flight. So in the morning, Xiao Shang took us 4 only where the rest had free time. Went to Cuihu park, a very good place to retire. Many old folks playing mahjong, poker cards and singing. The environment and weather there are also great for relaxation. Went to the flower market where roses are 10cents for 10. So cheap. Really cheap to buy a girl's heart in China haha. But China girls don't like flowers, they like flower oil. The flower market also sold fake flowers, which blooms when watered and withers when dry. Quite cool!
Then took the plane back to Singapore.
Can't wait to go on another holiday! ORD ~~~
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