Kunming, Sapa, Hanoi & Halong Bay: China to Vietnam, the joys of Chinese air travel, and the Great Leg Debacle Part II: Photos 63 to 78

The remainder of my time in China ended up being a lot more relaxing than planned, for reasons I will go into later . . .

After leaving Yangshuo, I took a minibus to Guilin and then an overnight train to Kunming. The train journey was a similar experience to the Guangzhuo - Guilin one, in that the resounding noises were the ubiquitous snoring, hocking and spitting that by that time I had more or less come to expect from the Chinese, if not gotten used to.

Upon arrival at my hostel in Kunming (the most excellent Cloudland Hostel) I quickly made a plan for the next week, as I was intending to stay in China only another week before heading into Vietnam. I had booked a flight to Shangri-La (in the north of Yunnan province) as I was interested to see the mountainous landscape there, and as it is one of the nearest Chinese towns to the Tibetan border, I was keen to check out the Tibetan monastery in the area, given that I wasn't going to have time to actually get to Tibet proper. The plan was to spend a couple of nights in Kunming before flying

Full Text Entry: Kunming, Sapa, Hanoi & Halong Bay: China to Vietnam, the joys of Chinese air travel, and the Great Leg Debacle Part II

Nothging clever to add. Just Hi Your blogs must be next best thing to travelling myself Keep nursing the mysterious knee XX

Amazing, gorgeous place. I am so happy for you Em! Take care of that knee! xx Sara

I've been rather out of the frame for a while mainly as a result of too much work and applying for anothetr job that I didn't get. I loved the pictures of the bikes with their enormous loads. It reminds me of me when I used to pop into Sainsburys in Streatham. I would do the weekly shop 'on my bike' and sometimes I really did buy too much. This was a few years ago when my boys were small and drank about 10 litres of apple juice a week EACH! I used to load my panniers, two rucksacs (one on back; one on chest) and numerous pastic bags balance over the crossbar and the handlebars. On one occasion I had to get off and walk as the weight of the rucksacs was too concentrated upon the part of me that met the saddle!!! I must have a bit of Chinese in me! Stephanie told me about your leg; apparently it was too much ice. I thought that was just a problem with consuming gin! Ah! Gotta gotta go as I'm teaching!

Hey Em! Glad you liked Hanoi!! We were there for New Years and it was magical!! Sorry to hear you are missing Laos though...it was definitly the highlight of Asia for me, but totally understand that you will want to be fit and healthy for that bit of the trip! The buses there are notoriously bad!! Let me know when you get back to Hastings and maybe we can hook up and compare travel stories?

It all sounds wonderful but watch that knee! you are definitely improving my Geography and increasing my ever present lust to travel. enjoy your time with your mum.

What an amazing place, hope the knee improves soon, could it be that you are filling up with beer?

So glad you've enjoyed Hanoi - a fascinating place with so much history. Thanks for bringing back many memories, Em, and we'll be sure to share some when you get back. The photos continue to amaze, when words are not enough. What a shame about the knee - you have to watch the local brew, though ... Take care for the rest of your trip, and if you need an editor for your Book later, I am first in line! Loads of love, T.

Blimey!!! I have to for a drink with you when you get back!!! Bloody hell, it leaves me speechless (well, almost). Keep that knee in check though... Don't want it falling off mid-flight :) Kx

Nothging clever to add. Just Hi Your blogs must be next best thing to travelling myself Keep nursing the mysterious knee XX

Amazing, gorgeous place. I am so happy for you Em! Take care of that knee! xx Sara

I've been rather out of the frame for a while mainly as a result of too much work and applying for anothetr job that I didn't get. I loved the pictures of the bikes with their enormous loads. It reminds me of me when I used to pop into Sainsburys in Streatham. I would do the weekly shop 'on my bike' and sometimes I really did buy too much. This was a few years ago when my boys were small and drank about 10 litres of apple juice a week EACH! I used to load my panniers, two rucksacs (one on back; one on chest) and numerous pastic bags balance over the crossbar and the handlebars. On one occasion I had to get off and walk as the weight of the rucksacs was too concentrated upon the part of me that met the saddle!!! I must have a bit of Chinese in me! Stephanie told me about your leg; apparently it was too much ice. I thought that was just a problem with consuming gin! Ah! Gotta gotta go as I'm teaching!

Hey Em! Glad you liked Hanoi!! We were there for New Years and it was magical!! Sorry to hear you are missing Laos though...it was definitly the highlight of Asia for me, but totally understand that you will want to be fit and healthy for that bit of the trip! The buses there are notoriously bad!! Let me know when you get back to Hastings and maybe we can hook up and compare travel stories?

It all sounds wonderful but watch that knee! you are definitely improving my Geography and increasing my ever present lust to travel. enjoy your time with your mum.

What an amazing place, hope the knee improves soon, could it be that you are filling up with beer?

So glad you've enjoyed Hanoi - a fascinating place with so much history. Thanks for bringing back many memories, Em, and we'll be sure to share some when you get back. The photos continue to amaze, when words are not enough. What a shame about the knee - you have to watch the local brew, though ... Take care for the rest of your trip, and if you need an editor for your Book later, I am first in line! Loads of love, T.

Blimey!!! I have to for a drink with you when you get back!!! Bloody hell, it leaves me speechless (well, almost). Keep that knee in check though... Don't want it falling off mid-flight :) Kx