2010 Summer Yunan: Kunming & Dali
8/5 Took morning flight to Kunming. Hotel is very centrally located in the middle of the pedestrian streets. We had lunch at the famous food court near the hotel. Dinner at the famous "Old house Restaurant".
8/6 LG played golf while we strolled around the hotel in the much cooler weather.
8/7 Took 10am express bus toward Dali and arrived in Dali (下关) after nearly 6hrs & ~380km on the bus. Part of the road was under-construction which caused long delays.
8/8 day tour of Er Hai on a cruise ship and rode cable car up to Cang Shan.
8/9 LG played golf while we strolled old Dali town
"Feng Hua Xue Yue" - Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon 下关风、上关花、苍山雪、洱海月, Unfortunately we didn't see or experience any of it. Maybe we didn't come at the right season, I was just not impressed with the mountain and the lake though the old Dali town is quite interesting. I really like the ancient town setting, the white-walled traditional buildings by the Bai minority group, and the local cuisine.
Er Hai (洱海) - 普陀岛 which is a very small island with a temple and 南诏岛
Cang Shan (苍山) - took 感通大索道 to visit 清碧溪, 苍山大峡谷
8/15 finally no more express bus, no more winding roads, no more traffic delays, took 50-mins flight back to Kunming which was quick and painless. After lunch at a nearby rice noodle place, we rested and took a nap. Dinner and after-dinner stroll around Cui Lake.
8/16 Took Ethan to the zoo nearby, unfortunately it started to rain relentlessly, and we finally made it home soaking wet. Rain finally stopped in the late afternoon, and we could enjoy our last dinner and stroll in the cool and refreshing weather before going back to SH's heat. Dinner was at a famous old house that's being renovated into a restaurant: 石屏会馆.
8/17 heading home to Ian who was recovering from his broken leg