http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , China , Yunnan en-us Thu, 10 Dec 09 08:27:34 +0000 Thu, 10 Dec 09 08:27:34 +0000 After all the problems troubles hurdles which seemed to be not to overcome tears and struggling with getting used to living here came the time to celebrate my first 100 days in China.It seems to be only 100 days but I think they were my the most changing life 100 days. Many things happened I have experienced many bad things. But now I can tell I feel for many reasons happy. Except all th http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-459070.html Seagulls from Siberia flew to Kunming. It's a sign that to the city of an eternal spring came winter.Every year the seagulls are an attraction for the local people. Everyone gathers around the Green Lake park and takes photos. Seagulls don't only attract the local people but also people selling special bread. Special because the same kind of bread is used to make hot dogs in the summer time http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-458157.html So after months of hard work Hou Xia the owner of the AiKe bar 2923323458 in which I teach English together with her boyfriend and the managers opened a new bar MoreFun 3976426041 magic cube. Of course on the occasion of it was organized an opening party which lasted four days. Every day many guests around 80 100 people friends family and even my friends from the university http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-458105.html The Chinese people are famous for coming up with newer and newer products that spread around the world. Imagination has no limits though. One day while walking some street I noticed a guy selling... small chickens. In a few colors. As I got to know aftarwards they are dyed permanently and genetically modified so they don't grow up. And people are buying them as... pets.They eat dogs and cats http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-457924.html Ni Hao from LijiangWe have spent the last 7 days relaxing in the quaint ancient old town of Lijiang one of Yunnan provinces most prized locations. We left Lhasa on 14th by air managing to navigate two entire airports lhasa and Chengdu by ourselves and end up with luggage at the other end we were very proud of ourselves Arriving in the late evening we met our host for our stay one Mama N http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/blog-454756.html We had our first night at the New Era Hotel in Kunming last night and it was ok.The room is nice but there isnt the greatest sound proofing and we could hear all water usage from a nearby room bathroom not great when trying to sleep. Yet again our room is really hot and it's hard to sleep and breath in the hot air. All out hotels have been like this its crazy We also have 2 pillows each one n http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-454395.html We have arrived in Kunming today...This morning we had breaky at the hotel as usual had a wander around the hotel and found the pool. It is huge and to me looks finished just missing water. There were also 2 spa's a big one and smaller one I guess they will be different temperatures. It's a pity we won't get to use them ever as we don't think we will be going back to Lijiang in the future. It w http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-454122.html Today was a busy one but GREAT and made the trip to Lijiang worthwhile...We went to the Black Dragon Pond today and again noone spoke English. To get into the place we had to pay 806550915AU each which is only payable for nonresidents of which really we are the only ones in Lijiang The place has a huge lake bridge beautiful buildings waterfall and gardens. You could spend all day the http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Lijiang/blog-453880.html Our plan was to head up to the far northwest corner of Yunnan which borders with Sichuan province to the east Tibet to the north and northwest and Myanmar sorry Burma to the southwest. There is only one road up that way and it's incredibly steep windy dangerous and beautiful The reason for going up that way was the pure white crystal peaked mountain of Meili Xueshan which rises in Yunna http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Tiger-Leaping-Gorge/blog-453652.html Today we had a late start as we had a restless night last night. Our hotel room is just amazing but it was extremely hot in here. We both woke at 1am and tried every setting on the aircon and thought we had it figured and went to sleep. Didn't get a lot though as when we woke in the morning it was just as hot. Luckily the settings are fixed as the cleaner helped us and we are now comfortable.We h http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Lijiang/blog-453619.html This week I started to worry that I hadn't blogged recently and I didn't really have any material I felt like writing about. But I told myself not to be too concerned because new things always pop up here. I was sure something would come along soon and I was right. Be careful what you wish for...I have a history of losing my wallet. It happens a couple times a year and disaster usually ensues http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-453355.html We have spent the day in transit today and it has been very draining...We left our hotel in Xi'an this morning very early and went to the airport and caught our flight right on time to Kunming which was a 2hr flight. A bit of turbulance and not the nicest landing but we made it. We then had to wait 4 hours for our connected flight to Lijiang due to a delay. It was very boring there is nothing to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Lijiang/blog-453347.html Today we took a 2 hour or so bus ride from Lijiang to the Tiger Leaping Gorge. The history of Tiger Leaping Gorge is that a tiger leaped the gorge I know hence the name duh while escaping hunters. The gorge itself is one of the deepest in the world with one side of the gorge is the Jade Dragon Snow mountain. The area is very popular for hikingtrekking our tour took the easier option to t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Tiger-Leaping-Gorge/blog-453319.html After breakfast in Kunming we left for Lijiang. Of all the flights in China so far I havenrsquot managed score a window seat to view the passing scenery from the plane window. The flight from Kunming to Lijiang is the window seat that I was hoping for but alas I was unsuccessful. However my sister got a window and wasnrsquot interested in relinquish it to me ohh well too bad maybe nex http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Lijiang/blog-453317.html Autumn came. My favorite season. And together with autumn came first chilly nights and first cold. Days though are full of falling leaves still warm sun and sunny autumn nostagia.Sweater crochetneedled beretlike cap hot green tea and steam from rice pots rising into the air. Autumn reflections.Together with the autumn nostalgia came the decision of cancelling the return ticket. I decided to s http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-453027.html This blog entry is LONG overdue...but better late than never. For the October Holiday I travelled to Yunnan province in the South West of China. The first stop was Kunming. The flight took about 3 hours and when we flew over the city it looked very different than Shanghai. Still a big city but instead of 18 million people it has a population closer to that in Toronto. There were fewer tall buil http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-452888.html Llevo en Kunming varios das. No s an por qu porque ciertamente a parte de la publicidad que hay de Yunnan en general predicando bondades realmente en su capital Kunming hay muy poco que ver. Se trata de una ciudad especialmente fea y contaminada donde no me parece que destaquen tanto esos jardines de los que hablan. Con un urbanismo que ha arrasado con lo poco que tena y con pocas cosas qu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-452806.html Saturday morning saw us up at 6am and off the the airport for an early flight to Kunming. Our backup bus met us at the airport and took us on the 1 12 hour trip to the Stone Forest south of the airport. This is a forest of 100 acres or more of stones sticking out of the ground and weather worn over th last 2 million years. Many look like animals and people examples being the queen with her crown http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Kunming/blog-451771.html Die Fahrt von Dali nach Lijiang war recht angenehm. Es ging durch eine abwechslungsreiche Landschaft von Bergen und Tlern die Vegetation erinnerte mal an mediterrane Regionen war mal von drrem Gestrpp geprgt mal von grnen Nadelwldern und terrassenartigen Feldern. Die Strae war modern so dass es zgig voran ging.Lijiang befindet sich etwa 170 km nrdlich von Dali. Die vorherrschende Bev http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Lijiang/blog-451138.html Dali is a very beautiful and peaceful old city. I have ever seen many chinese films about this famous old townbut last year when I were there I knew it is even more pituresque than what I have seen and heard before. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Dali/blog-450440.html