Hiya, oh dear me my memory is shocking. Last blog was sent in Chengdu I think? Anyway that was then and this is now. So where are we and what are we doing? Well we are now in Dali and nearly out of China and onto the next leg, crazy how time flies!
From here we passed some beautiful scenery as we headed to Lijian, a real picture postcard sort of a place, old buildings and great back drops...and for a us a fantastic night out at the New Amsterdam bar. We have for the last month been in the real China, no other foreigners but as we approach S E Asia the tentacles of colonial Europe start to creep in. And here in Dali this is even more apparent as there are quite literally streets full of western bars and cafes...a very welcome break for those of us that regard dumplings as nice but not really breakfast material. Ok, think that brings us up to date. Not sure where the next entry will be from but there is a good chance it will be from Laos...check out a map and have a look at the distance we have already covered. Odyssey really is delivering on its promise of the trip of a lifetime...and we still have so much more to look forward to.
Right, signing off now with a hi to Lyn, finally found the blog I hope...see you for a Guinness and a catch up when back in the UK. Laters CJ
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| The photo of the girls in the local paper |
The Beijing guys aka Ben and his Beijing babes arrived safe and rested in Beijing after a very comfortable sleeper train ride, see photos attached. In fact they sort of dominate the photo stash this time, but then that seems only right when one considers the wealth of sites in and around Beijing.The Wall, The Forbidden City, the tombs, Olympic stadium..the list is endless.
They were a little delayed on returning but still managed to squeeze in the Pandas and the Irish bar! We then set off to Leshan and Emei mountain, saw a massive Buddha and had the chance to visit George’s family as he lives here. From here we slogged our way down, well off the beaten track to Xichang and Panzhihua, a real sooty dark, polluted under belly of the big red Dragon that is China. It is a massive iron mining centre, where in the late 60’s there were only 7 families there is now a Dickension mass of factories and plants, the air positively filthy...dread to think of what the life expectancy is.
From here we passed some beautiful scenery as we headed to Lijian, a real picture postcard sort of a place, old buildings and great back drops...and for a us a fantastic night out at the New Amsterdam bar. We have for the last month been in the real China, no other foreigners but as we approach S E Asia the tentacles of colonial Europe start to creep in. And here in Dali this is even more apparent as there are quite literally streets full of western bars and cafes...a very welcome break for those of us that regard dumplings as nice but not really breakfast material. Ok, think that brings us up to date. Not sure where the next entry will be from but there is a good chance it will be from Laos...check out a map and have a look at the distance we have already covered. Odyssey really is delivering on its promise of the trip of a lifetime...and we still have so much more to look forward to.
Right, signing off now with a hi to Lyn, finally found the blog I hope...see you for a Guinness and a catch up when back in the UK. Laters CJ
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