Yunnan Province - Incredible.

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[youtube=BNnqTvxCWm4]

I visited Dali, Lijiang and Shangri-la.
Amazing.
I finally got my milk... and yogurt... from a YAK!!

Summary of Photos
Funny signs
Joni got cupped
Old lady getting water from a well (yes, not everyone has running water!)
typical out-house (public toilet)
Chilies
Difference between men/women perspective on washing clothes (I hope it makes you laugh, I do know that men really do laundry)
Karly - my travel buddy
Chinese herbs... even kids take herbs! and I got some for myself...
Food pictures
Local art

Question for the Americans:
Why don't more Americans travel?

Do you know that only 30%!o(MISSING)f Americans have passports as of last year?
And that number dramatically rose (to 30%!)(MISSING) only in the last year or so because you now need a passport to travel to Canada and Mexico. Also, because of the war, many soldiers needed to get a passport.

So I ask you: Why don't more Americans travel? Why do I travel and meet Europeans, Israelis, Canadians, Ozzies, etc, but almost NEVER do I meet an American? and if I do meet an American, s/he is either from New York or California. Also, this American lives overseas. I meet American restaurant owners, and English teachers, but not travelers.
We cannot say that money is an issue because... however low our currency is, it is even lower in other countries like Israel where so many come from to travel here. I meet many from Holland which is the same size as Israel (super small), and yet... not many Americans. When I say this, I mean for every 200 travelers I meet, maybe one is American. This... is no embellishment. I am serious here. I can count on ONE hand how many Americans I have met since I left 2 months ago.

Do we just have everything we need in the US? Are we so complacent that we don't need to travel because everything we have is in the US already? (Even though almost everything is imported-it's not really from us, we just have it in the US.)

I ask you this seriously: are we getting lazy?
Our grandparents knew what it was to work hard. They fought in the war, and they came out stronger and with a strong will to work hard, save money, and be happy. Even my grandparents have traveled in almost every continent. Why have we stopped traveling? Most of my friends who read this blog are travelers, so maybe you have a similar experience. Can someone answer this question for me?

Book Recommendations:
What Do You Care What Other People Think? by Richard Feynman

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Photos

Save water. Don't wash your hands!
found this in the bathroom.

Safety first
If you fall, fall on your ass, not your face.

I got cupped
It hurt like HELL. I'm not kidding. I was gritting my teeth, and squeezing my legs to spread out the pain. I might have shed a few tears, as well.

This Old Lady
Pulled water form the well, and is now carrying the buckets home. I have it on video, and will upload that later.

You haven't lived
until you peed/pooed in one of these... with someone doing it next to you.

Chilis
Who likes it HOT?

Drying chilies
for your hot pleasure.

She thinks: Just do it!
Clean clothes makes people happy!

Men's perspective on washing clothes:
He thinks: Let's bring our clothes and detergent out, and take a nap.

Joni and Doctor Karly
Here is Karly... we traveled for a few days in Dali and had a grand time. I hope that American healthcare can follow in Australia's footsteps soon.

See Karly in the background
Karly was my beautiful travel buddy for a while in Dali. See her in the background? She is an M.D. and I had loads of fun talking med stuff with her.

Dali mountains
Here is a street with the mountains in the background.
Felt so spiritual here!

Cute little kid
You can see the little slit in their pants... so their parents open their legs and let them pee in the streets.

Kid pooping outside
Wow. This mother puts a piece of paper under her child's bum. WOW... first time I saw that! Usually they just leave it.

Doctor Yi Yi
Doctor Yi Yi is gorgeous, smart and friendly. She speaks fluent English and wants to work and teach TCM in America or Oz. Any job openings??

Even kids get herbs
They wrap them up in paper and they take them before meals in hot water.

Keen for a fix
sorting out my blow... just kidding. I am separating my Chinese herbs that Doctor Yi Yi prescribed for me.
They worked like a charm!!

Comments

[Mat]

Great photos
Ahhh, great photos. They make me realize I miss China. What a great place Yunnan. Nice views of the lakes and the mountains. I think that area has the best food too. Do the restaurants still lay out there fresh vegetables in the fronts of the stores so you can pick which ones you want to eat? Nice pics.