Advertisement
Published: September 17th 2012
Edit Blog Post
One again entered Yunnan into Funing, one of my favour spot where a easy going atmosphere and many great markets could be find in the region, but this time...all my favour Cantonese restaurant was disappeared. Why???? perhaps those gold digger from Guangdong looking for better prospect somewhere eles. Funing expand a bit each time I came here, there will be new train station, a harbour will be setup after the huge dam complete, said one could get a ferry all the way to Hongkong, should be lovely try this way home in the future! looking at my map....where this time? I spot Donggan, a place where I still got unfinished business! 2001 I went there the first time, I got send away by military police right after I'd sort out all the market date. There was no reason needed, the police just said I wasn't allowed to be in Donggan. so I departed Donggan first bus in the morning with a market list but no picture. 2004 my 2nd time visited Donggan, the small town was under renovation...chaos! I was so worried will encountered the police so I hided myself most of the time inside the room of the local vendor,
with whom I would get the ride to the border market early in the morning. 6am...I wondered why they need to go that early, dark and cold! stuck in the back of the minivan I remebered I saw school kids salute our car went we speed pass...border area I guess!!! A long market day for me in Mabeng, as I need to waited until the vendor finished their business for the ride home, beside...I was scare whenever I spot any sign of military. I hated this sensation so after the Donggan market the next day, I left without checking out more other market on my list, as I just didn't like that feeling, hiding myself like a thief while walking the street. And 2008 and 2009 I tried again in Donggan but had been stopped by rain, but I did feel the atmosphere was freer in town, some local guesthouses doing business and less military in sight. and this time...a new bus station, better looking guesthouse and even KTV! And I did spot there were minibus run between small villages, it sure made market visit more flexible. I walked into one of the nice looking brand new hotel and asked
for a room. "30 kuai"! woahhh...a big clean standard room...what a bargain!!! I did pay to sleep in a store room for 50 yuan 10 year ago! I ready for tomorrow and finish the business in Dongan. But weather seem changing dark once into Yunnan, the forecasting claimed there will be rain in the coming week. I crossed my fingers! This time I could sleep after 7am as there are bus service nowaday. still....gathered up enough passenger need lot of patient! as people usually came out in the morning and going back in the afternoon. finally we set out after 90 mins...only because the driver suddenly got an errand from Malin(where I was heading to for the market), the 16km did not take long, the bus drove onto the distant wall of hilly mountain tops which dominated the border with Vietnam. Sky began to spray out powder rain when I got there. Malin is a small market with great atmosphere set on a single street, many of the tribal people are came from Vietnam on the other side of the border I would say. the market was dominated by Miao, the metalic-Miao that I call them! but this time the
tone seem lighter, perhaps because of the effect by sour grey sky! there also the Black Dai came from Vietnam. "Baiyi" is what they call themselve. you could also find them in the market along the border area in Maguan area. Suddenly I was alerted by 2 military dress guys coming from behind me, but they took no notice of me even I had my camera out posing as a tourist! they were sticking poster on the wall, it said "new kind of H5N1 virus appear in Vietnam, people should aware and report back to the authority when find something suspicious". well...would it be the other way round that the virus begin in China and infected Vietnam????!!!! Rain did start pouring so I took the next ready bus back to Donggan, although I was sure I will had no trouble nowaday while walking in town without the worry about police matter, but I still choose to stay indoor because of the rain, and beside...Donggan was too small for a 4th visit! Unlucky with the weather the next 2 days, and it doesn't seem like it would clear up soon, so...I left Donggan again...leaving some unfinish business still for future!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.05s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 9; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0301s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb