June 1, 2007

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  To Smoke Or Not To Smoke?

  
  

  That is the question. To be more specific, if you enter into a relationship with someone who is a non-smoker, and you’re the one with the filthy habit, would you endeavour to quit for him/her? It’s all very well to step outside the vicinity for a puff but the unmistakeable pungent aroma of tobacco will linger long after the cigarette is snuffed out.

  
  

  And if you don’t want to kick the addiction, how much of a strain will it place on the relationship?

  
  

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  Asian Trip: Kunming, China

  
  

  Sunday 29th April 2007

  
  

  Late night to bed, early morning rise. It was an interesting Saturday night as I was taken to a couple of local bars by the hotel receptionist who spoke the best English. He was on his way out as I’d returned to the hotel and as he’d fancied a drink, I was asked to accompany him. No surprise then that the majority of bars were of the karaoke variety. Beer drinkers will be thrilled to learn that a standard size bottle of the local brew in China is about three times the size of one anywhere else. And it only cost RMB10 – roughly 70 pence or US$1.30 (at least in Kunming)!

  
  

  The lure of breakfast was too difficult to resist with the added incentive of it being inclusive of the price of the room. I was hopelessly glad I didn’t miss it because the range on offer was astounding. The Western variety consisted of American and European continental style that include cakes, mango pudding and strawberry juice. The Asian side offered local noodles, congee, fried rice, dim sum and sushi. Besides, another visit to the Camellia Hotel was required in order to book a trip to the Stone Forest for the following day. When I’d arrived there, I was told to come back at 6.30pm to purchase the ticket.     

  
  

  
  All pics below taken with camera phone

  
  

  

  
  

  Early morning tai chi

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Mopeds and bicycles tend to trawl the pavements in Kunming and these security guards are deployed in the main square in Dong Feng Road to prevent them from entering the zone.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  A distinctive design with a colonial European flavour  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Shops with interesting architecture

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Skewers containing various meats for grilling are quite popular in Yunnan

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Food court – ideal for trying a variety of different local cuisine

  
  

  
  

  
  

  It helps if you can speak Mandarin or can read some Chinese because there is nothing in English. Alternatively, just point and hope for the best.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Kunming apparently has duck with various and distinctive flavours. This stall housed some interesting poultry and some other meats which I couldn’t identify. This pic was stealthily taken as photo-taking was frowned upon.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Main square in the Jinmabiji area.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Right nearby is the Hump Guesthouse. The Hump bar is situated on the ground floor beneath this sign. The entrance to the hostel itself is around the corner and up a couple of flight of stairs. The cafe inside is pretty laid-back with a roof terrace and internet terminals are available at RMB3 an hour.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Lost in translation: don’t they mean My Favourite Cafe? There is also a My Favour Restaurant and a My Favour Coffee in the same building.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Why be modest #1

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Why be modest #2

  
  

  
  After lunch, I’d took a nap back at the hotel and didn’t wake up until 7pm! The travel agent inside the Cameilla Hotel was well and truly closed. The alternative method to purchase the ticket to the Stone Forest was to just turn up tomorrow morning before the bus departs at 9am.

  
  

  A parade was held further down Dong Feng Road at around 9pm to promote and celebrate the various ethnic people in Yunnan. Traditional attire were donned by the participants amid the colourful floats in the promotion of tourism in the Province. Unfortunately, I had annoyingly left my mobile phone at the hotel so no photographs could be shot.   

  
  

  
  Monday 30th April 2007

  
  

  Stone Forest, Kunming

  
  

  I’d arrived at the Camellia Hotel at 8.30am and the travel agency inside was already open. In fact, all the travel agencies I’d passed along the way were all opened for business. RMB70 bought me a round-trip ticket to the Stone Forest only. Admission is extra at the rate of RMB140.

  
  

  My travelling companions consisted of a Canadian named Mark who taught English in China, a Frenchman who has been working in China for a French chemical company for the past two years and who could speak fluent Mandarin, his French friend who was visiting him, and another French couple who were snuggled comfortably at the back of the mini-bus. During the two hour journey my conversation was mainly with Mark who I’d learnt originated from Vancouver and who was providing an education on places to see in and around the British Columbia state. I plan to combine San Francisco and Vancouver as one trip either later this year or next.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  The Stone Forest was formed through a process of adverse weather and erosion resulting in stone pillars and boulders that looked like they sprung from the ground.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Traditional costumes can be hired for photographic excursions

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  The ethinic Sani people are inhabitants of the Stone Forest selling souvenirs to the mostly Chinese Han tourists.  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  Mark being sold some souvenirs

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  After two hours of wandering around, the rocks all began to look the same so Mark and I headed out to grab a late lunch. When I’d returned to Kunming, there was a dress rehearsal for the show on Labour Day the next day on the erected stage on the main square.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  
  

  
  Once I’d returned to the hotel, I saw my reflection in the bathroom and noticed my face and neck were sunburnt. It doesn’t mode well for my trip to Lijiang the following day.  

  
  

  
  If you love Asia and all that it offers, come and join my blogring!

  
  

  
  

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  Death Money

  
  

  There was a man who had worked all of his life, he had saved all of his money and was a real miser when it came to his money. Just before he died, he said to his wife, “When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the after life with me.”

  
  

  And so he got his wife to promise him with all of her heart that when he died, she would put all of the money in the casket with him.

  
  

  Then he died. He was stretched out in the casket, his wife was sitting there in black, and her friend was sitting next to her. When they finished the ceremony, just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said, “Wait a minute!”

  
  

   

  
  

  She had a box with her, she came over with the box and put it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down, and they rolled it away. So her friend said, “Girl, I know you weren’t fool enough to put all that money in there with your husband.”

  
  

   

  
  

  The loyal wife replied, “Listen, I’m a Christian, I can’t go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to put that money in that casket with him”. “You mean to tell me you put that money in the casket with him?”

  
  

  
  “I sure did,” said the wife. “I got it all together, put it into my account and wrote him a cheque. If he can cash it, he can spend it!”

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

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  A Man’s Reason For Beer

  
  

   
  

  
  

   

  • 6:34 pm
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