Packing for a river trip can yank one from the smokey-loud-busy-crowded-sweaty cloud that is city life to get a glimpse of the horizon. Since traveling with an 8ft bag on planes, buses and taxis is one of the most annoying activities a person can undertake, we opt to ship our kayaks and gear on a train. We’ll pick them up when we arrive several days later. The rest of the trip gear will also travel by train, but luckily we don’t have to deal with it this time.
Just as we are tying up random lose ends our last few days in Kunming I come down with the standard stomach bug that prevents any vertical activities, unless it is walking to the bathroom. Yet it is perfect timing because I’m not on a train. Adam leaves for Vietnam to renew his multi-entry visa. There goes my soup-cracker-water provider. Oh well.
Enter world: “Ha! Made ya think you were traveling soon. Well think again”
Adam returns, unable to leave China due to a mistake in Visa technicalities. Long story short we remain in Kunming for nearly 10 more days as he pleads officials, weasles out of large fines and arranges travel to Hong Kong. Suddenly kayaking is pushed further over the horizon line and we are left to amuse ourselves for another week in the city.
Ok, breathe, relax, this isn’t so bad I remind myself. The rivers aren’t going anywhere.
I’ve said that too much this year unfortunately.
So we make a point to eat different and amazingly delicious (and cheap) food every night. Even the Indian restaurant provides one of the best Mutton dishes I've ever had. Not to mention dumplings every morning for breakfast.
photo by Adam Elliot
We share a bottle of wine and walk through Green Lakes Park several evenings after dinner. Groups of musicians and singers come together to play into the night. Women practice dancing routines to song after song after song. Just behind them children rollerblade around miniature cones, each with more padding than I have ever seen on one person. Thier coaches, not wearing any safety gear, organize races and courses for them to test their maneuvering skills. All of the city seems to be in the streets and parks at night. With so much to do, I would be too.
I leave you with one of the many funny translations here. Menus are sometimes hilarious. This one, on one of the biggest banks, was surprising. Could they not find one native english speaker to translate this?
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