CHINA: KUNMING...Left & lonesome when all I had was 1 yuan

Man I sure know that feeling
First OS holiday back in 2000 and we got caught between Syria and Turkey without a Turkish Visa, no way of getting back to Syria and no usable money, (travel rule number 3, always carry US currency). We had a good hour of freaking out before a local got us out of the fix, but boy that one hour took a year out of my life. Reading your blog had me sweaty palmed remembering how things can go wrong so quickly and how panic sets in just as fast. As time goes by these stories are what travelling is all about, getting yourself out of your comfort zone. As always a great blog. Shelley and Scott

Harrowing experience!
Great edge of my seat thriller, Dave--glad you made it back to tell the tale. As you say, it's making it through trials like this that teach us to trust. Once, when I was young, I had all my money stolen and had to hitchhike eight days with no money through Guatemala in the midst of cholera in the water and military patrols at sundown to get money in the capital. Now, I've traveling confidence galore and trust that I'll sail through or have a juicy story. It's in the attitude--and you've got a great one!

smoking dog?
smoking dog....do i dare ask...did it have barking cough?

Great blog Dave....and he's getting closer too :D
Well, I can see that you are gradually working your way into this part of the world, even if it does involve you getting picked up by the local constabulary! Hopefully you will end up on the shores of 'Nam before long. Looking at it, I think being left with 1 yuan is better than being left with 1 dong.....depending totally on your perspective that is.... Like you, when I see a 'No Photos' sign, I become completely immoral and start snapping away, I think it's the challenge of being caught that drives me, much like when I used to pinch my mum's gin and use it to power our sit on lawnmower. She used to keep the jerry can hidden away somewhere....I never did get that damned smell out of my clothes....

One good yarn
Hello - I'm only just catching up on my blog reading, so am a bit late sorry.... One lucky yuan and one great yarn! Loved this story, although I imagine panic stations at the time. All's well that ends well I guess....