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We arrived in Kunming after taking a hard sleeper overnight from Dali. We arrived at the Cloudland Hostel around 7am.
First impressions were that it was a typical Chinese big city and for the most part we weren't wrong. We spent most of our first day acquainting ourselves with the number 22 bus. We both now know the route of this bus well. After catching the bus in the right direction we bought bus tickets at the East Kunming Bus Station. First two tickets to Hekou and a single ticket to the Stone Forest for me.
I ventured to the Stone Forest hoping to find some rock to climb on and even better some climbers to show me around. I found the rock but that was about it. The Stone Forest National Park doesn't allow climbing so it was a bit of a wasted journey in that respect but the rock formations there are pretty cool none the less. I'm sure with some local knowledge the rock not inside the park is fair game.
That night we met Alex from Madchester who invited us out to dinner. It was a kind of buffet, one where you choose what you want to eat from the buffet and THEN they cook it for you. We were very conservative in our choices and enjoyed the on-premieses brewed stout. Definitely the best beer so far in China.
The day after we caught a cochroach infested overnight bus to Hekou on the China/Vietnamese border. The sleeping cots were not designed with people over five foot ten in mind so Helena was just fine (apart from the cochroaches). The choice of onboard music interestingly leaning towards early 90s dance, Haddaway anyone?
We arrived at Hekou just before dawn, about two hours before the border opened and we were glad for the company and conversation Jamie and Katy provided (we'd met briefly in Kunming). We watched the morning joggers and tai chi and did a bit of on street currency converting.
Once safely through the border we had to kick start our brains to 29 times table mode. Easier said than done. The four of us caught a mini-bus to Sapa for 150,000 Dong. Gooooooooooood Morning Vietnam!
Andy + Helena
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Joey Sweet. Cockroaches though...have you managed a decent nights sleep yet? x
Andy Managed a few nights kip Joey. I can sleep for 5 hours in a 4ft by 2ft bed on a bus with leaf spring suspension. :)