Hello from Kunming

My travels have been successful so far; no major accidents or inconveniences. But it has been quite an adventure.


I managed to fall ill the night before I left for Chengdu. Because of the snow in Xi'an, we had to leave super early (4am) for the airport to catch our 8am flight. While I was still groggy from the Nyquil I took 4 hours before, we mangaged to catch a cab to the airport without too much hassle. Chengdu was a really nice city; the public buses were easy to navigate and there was lots to see and do. However, the weather there and my sickness contributed to me hating Chengdu with a passion. It was rainy and damp the entire time we were there, and because of it's position south of the "North-South" line in China, there is absolutely no heating indoors. The only source of heat they have is their supremely spicy cuisine which can't help but warm your insides. Our first day there, we were treated to a bowl of chilli peppers and duck heads (pictures to follow). It wasn't all bad, though, for our trip to the Panda Research Base and Breeding Center was the highlight of my short life. We had to get there early (between 8:30 and 9:30) to catch the pandas while they were feeding and before they fell asleep for the rest of the day. There's no words to describe the cuteness of the whole spectacle (especially the panda cubs), but I'll post pictures as soon as I get the chance.


Kunming has been really enjoyable so far, and it definitely buoyed my spirits after our stay in Chengdu. The weather here is much nicer, and you can actually see the sky! (as opposed to Xi'an) The first day here, we got our Vietnamese visas sorted out, which will be finished on Monday afternoon. Monday evening we're taking a loonng bus ride (there's no train on the Chinese side) to Hekou, the last stop in China before reaching Vietnam. The plan from there is to catch a train into Hanoi, where we'll stay for a few days. In the mean time, I'll be exploring Kunming's numerous parks and temples and enjoying all the coffee and Western food available.

Winter Wonderland

It snowed in Xi'an yesterday, just in time for me to head south for the winter.



Tomorrow I'll be heading on a grand tour of Southeast Asia via Southern China. Here's my itinerary so far:
January 14-15: Chengdu, China
The highlight of this stop will be the Panda Research Base and Breeding Center (ie. baby pandas!) and the spicy cuisine typical of Sichuan province.
January 15-19: Kunming, China
The main reason for this stay is to acquire visas from the Vietnamese and Cambodian consulates located in the city, but I've heard the coffee in Yunan province is especially good.

From there, I'll be heading into Vietnam, either by train or plane, but I'll try and keep you posted as I move. Until then, enjoy this picture of a snowman from the street behind my house. It looks a little pathetic, but I guess they couldn't spare the coal.

Off to the Big City

I'm leaving today for Shanghai, and I'll be there for about a week. I'm looking forward to catching up with the family, exploring a city even bigger than Xi'an and shopping, of course. (The Chinese all say that Shanghai is only good if you like to shop, since there's no 'culture' to speak of.) I'll be back briefly on the 9th before heading on vacation for real this time, but you can expect another post before that.