Miao Village

post image

Morning view from the hotel balcony           Out for breakfast Looking back up the alley leading to the hotel.   Wearing traditional Miao clothing.       A beef noodle soup. Nothing too heavy or spicy for a change. Then off to explore the streets and alleys A lot of theRead more

Old Shanghai

post image

Walk to Old Town I grab some of these fried street pancakes (filled with ground pork and spices) and head on a walk from the hotel to the Old Street and Yuyuan Gardens. I’ve been there before (in 2011) and it was too packed to be enjoyable, but that was at night and a differentRead more

Lijiang Old Town

post image

A beautiful morning in Lijiang old town. This is the view from the hotel.   Looking down on the courtyard of the hotel. This is where the owners play cards all night and keep me awake.   The street in front of the hotel.   Heading into old town   This canal comes from theRead more

Dali day 3

post image

Morning in Dali Old Town before train to Lijiang   A snack some sauce-covered flap of something on a stick. Not bad.     Streets right outside the old town have some good bargains. I bought a traditional Dali Blue tie-dye cloth here.       Killing some time in a temple in the oldRead more

Dali & Around Lake Erhai

post image

Starting the day with a wonderful breakfast at the hotel. Local noodle dish and some eggs.   The hotel is located near the old town in on the Southwest shore of Lake Erhai, in a revitalized area. A lot of indie businesses, art shops, bars, restaurants, and boutique hotels. This map outlines what attractions andRead more

Dali

post image

Took a flight into Dali, Yunnan. It was a silk road stop. I don’t really need to get into the importance and history of the Silk Road here. It’s pretty isolated up in the mountains, with a single Noth/South valley leading to other communities along the range. Dali Wood Carving and Marble are what theRead more

Lijiang Ancient City Zhongyi Market

post image

I don’t recall what this is… It’s the design above the doorway of a restaurant, I think.   My first experience with the “Open Air Market” (Ancient City Zhongyi Market) in Lijiang was frustrating. I couldn’t find my hotel, and I wandered into the opening of an alley from which market vendors expanded out fromRead more