Blogs from Dali, Yunnan, China, Asia - page 4

It's not a popular site for a traveler, even couldn't find the proper second catalog for this place. So what brought me to here? At that moment I don't feel like to plan my next stop, just connected with a friend we just met on the tram from Guangzhou to Kunming, here is his hometown. Without any hestitate, took my backpack got on the bus, 3 hours from Dali, I'm in the place I've never thought I would visit. Yunlong is a very small town, Lancang river though the whole city and make a natural Tai Chi shape, on the mountain, there is a thousand bai monirity village, it make great ham because of the well salt and great weather.It's a place where isn't doveloped yet, original life style could be seen in there. I was ... read more

CHINGLISH...Wisdom to Those in Need of Instruction. I come from a country...where there are signs everywhere..."Stop"..."Walk"..."Do Not Walk"..."No Smoking"..."Speed Limits"...Arrows bent & straight..."Wrong Way, Turn Back"..."Hospital"..."Police"..."Road under Repair"..."Bushfire Warning"..."One Way"..."Give Way"..."Children Crossing". Then there are street signs...names of shops...names for everything. But it was not until I reached Dali in Yunnan Provence...on my first trip to China...that I saw the sign that said it all...made me stop and think...to reflect on its wisdom...yet still makes me wonder..."What does it mean?" Couldn't say it better myself: Dear Guestes: Don' t Garn Animals. Couldn't help but think "OK...I won't"...yet there were no animals within coo-ee to explain it to me..! ... read more

Next we traveled to a small town called "Dali". I think this was one of our favorite times on the trip. It was interesting and beautiful. The sun shown over mountains and a beautiful lake. The breeze blew warm and free on our faces. The air felt clean, which in China... is a treat. We ate good food and hiked around a bit. We were all shopped out from the last town, so we did not go into many shops, but instead turned our wants over to less material things- like viewing mountains and pagodas. We spent the night at a very nice hotel and woke up early the next morning to take the cable car up the mountain our flight. It was like living in a postcard. Even the taxis were clean. :) This trip ... read more

Sitting in the rooftop bar at Jim’s Tibetan Inn in Dali writing what will likely be my final notes from China this trip. Only 3 more days left, most of them mainly travel days. Dali is in the midst of the annual National Day holiday and is one of the more popular destinations for Chinese tourists. The place is a mob scene. I had heard only good things about Dali, but Dali Old Town isn’t as interesting or as nice as the old towns I’ve visited so far this trip. Like those old towns, this one is filled with restaurants and souvenir shops. Unlike those old towns, the quality of handicrafts and souvenirs is poor. The crowds only make it less attractive. Thankfully, I got out of town today on a day trip to some villages ... read more

I would like to share with you something I think every backpacker has experienced, and experienced a multiple of times. Indeed if you are still on the road you are experiencing it as we speak. It is the standard conversation between two random traveller's anywhere in the world. Perhaps the only traveller's out there who might not know about it are those true adventurers, the unique ones who go to far off the beaten track places every time they are on the road and don't actually meet any other traveller and don't care to meet them either. But I am not talking about them of course, I am referring to the standard backpacker, to which I humbly submit myself. I am one of them and thus what I will write should not be taken as criticism, ... read more