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It's been a while since my most recent blog entry, but I've been on the road (and the rails) a little more than I was previously. Since my Yangshuo entry I've travelled by train to Kunming (capital of Yunnan province), by bus to Dali, and by bus to Zhongdian, where I am now.
The train to Kunming was 19 hours long, but the journey went fairly quickly, in part due to the stunning scenery as you enter Yunnan province (mountains and lakes everywhere), but also due to the people I talked to. I spent a good while talking to an English girl and an Irish guy, and we found a hostel in Kunming together. We also had a good couple of days in Kunming, mainly chilling out. The city doesn't boast many attractions, but it was really laid back and a pleasant place to spend a couple of nights. I went the whole 2 days without anyone trying to sell me something, and we probably got less funny looks too.
However, there's lots to see and do in Yunnan, so early on the morning of the 17th I got the 5 hour bus up to Dali, home to the Bai minority people. For my first two nights there I stayed in an isolated mountain retreat, requiring a 30 minute chair lift up the Cang Shan mountain, and a 10 minute climb. But it was so worth it. The hostel was great - perched 2700 metres above sea level (and maybe 700 metres above Dali), the views were spectacular, and there was plenty of nature to see - lots of birds, butterflies and wildflowers. One night it was just me staying there, and it was so peaceful! The third night in Dali I stayed in a hostel in town, and probably experienced the worst toilets yet. But I had fun in the day, wondering aroud with a couple of girls from Newton Abbot (small world huh?). Dali is a tourist trap, but we went for a walk to one of the neighbouring villages, which was a little more 'normal'.
Yesterday I decided to delve a little deeper into Yunnan, by coming up to Zhongdian (recently renamed Shangri-La by the government). The bus journey took 9 hours in total, and although not the most comfortable journey I've taken, it was easily the most spectacular! Zhongdian is perched on a plateaux 3300 metres above sea level, and the climb from the Yangzi valley past snow capped peaks (we're pretty close to the edge of the Himalayas here) was amazing. Plus there was the added drama of a landslip on the road at one point, which delayed us by an hour! Zhongdian's population is predominently Tibetan, so the town has quite a different feel to it. So far I've just visited the Lama monastery north of the town (the biggest outside Tibet I think), and wandered around a bit. I'm looking to go for a couple of walks in the next 2 days - there's supposed to be some good lakes and forest nearby, although you do require a taxi, making it a little more costly.
I still haven't got round to fixing the transfer problem with my camera, so no photos for the time being.
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