Sat 23/10

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Sat 23 / 10

It was always going to be a long day - by bus back to Changsha and then air to Kumming

Awoke to a wake up call at 5:30 (yes! That's half past 5 in the morning)

After a quiet breakfast in the Tianxia Hotel at Fenghuang where the mass of people far exceeded the room we were on the bus and away at 8:05 - delayed from 7:30 in part due to the crowd and storage of bags in the bus

A very un-eventful 3 hr 10 min drive to a 10 min toilet stop and then another 2 hr 20 min to a lunch stop at Changsha

It was a 35 min lunch - with 10 courses that about 31/2 min a course

(With nothing much to do in the bus, time was easily recorded)

Although unexciting, the view out the window was a a very good vision of modern China:
The farming communities (communes) housed around extensive plots / satellite dishes at most houses / electrical power to all / the extensive dual carriageway expressway most of the 5 hours with grade separations at intersecting roads / numerous tunnels up to 2km length along the expressway length / the impressive electricity supply tower spanning hilltop to hilltop in very rugged terrain / etc etc

The final drive to the airport was estimated to take an hour but with the GPS appearing to show some indifference to the actual road layout the driver paused at several off ramps to get some validation we were in the right direction. A one exit some enterprising guy apperas to have set up a business of looking for lost bus drivers and volunteered his navigational skills at RMB20. With him on board we were at the airport within 35 min

It was then a relaxing 2 hr wait at the airport for our 17:50 boarding and 18:20 take-off to Kumming

As flights go, China Southern was OK with a box of goodies (fork, spoon, a piece of roast duck(?), some chilli and bun) together with an alfoil tray of beef and rice with vegetables

On arrival at Kumming met by local guide Jackie (good English) then to hotel:



On a reflective note:
I'm not sure the day's driving to Fenghuang and then a day's driving back to Changsha was the best was of seeing this place

This southern part of China is very much an asian/chinese area with little or no Europeans - even in the tourist spots

NDC 23/10

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