Booked the bus from dali, departing at 8.30am, picked up was suppose to be 8.20am but by 8.50am none came. Then my accomodation received a call saying they can't find the driver and ask if I mind taking the 9am mini bus instead. So I took. Pick up came and brought me to the minibus. Only the last row was available with a Chinese guy there. I went over and sat on the opposite side and he spoke to me. Apprently, he is a Korean(born in 86) studying Chinese in Beijing Uni. So we communicate in mandarin.
It's weird to say this but it was very comfortable speaking with him. There was no awkwardness between us and no obligations to make small talk. 好久没有的感觉.Does travelling alone makes you feel this way?
更巧的是，we were both wearing blue Alibaba pants, army green long sleeves top with sneakers. Typical backpackers attire but still, weird. When we started comparing our itineries, we realised that we actually flew in to kunming on the same day, go straight to Dali, stayed for 2 days and head down to lijiang. And we will be leaving from kunming on the same day.
I ended up following him to his pre booked accomodation, shared a 6 beds dorm with him and 3 others, and spent the whole day with him. We walked through 束和古城，sat in one of the many typical cafes, drank yunnan small bean roast, read our own book, chat about his unreadiness to step into the working world then went for dinner with his 2 new found Korean friends who are also studying in China. It was a very enjoying and eventful day and we ended up going to 丽江古城 for dinner.
今天又变回我自己一个了。东和与朋友去了虎跳峡。开始有一点不习惯自己一个的感觉。有一点迷失，不知道要做什么，怎样走。讨厌这种感觉。明明就是一个人的路程，怎还这样吗!
看了地图，问一问路，说了再见就走了。先到了黑龙潭(80rmb)，走着，累了就坐下歇一歇，吃片饼，发发呆，听听歌。心静了再起步。花了四个钟走完了一个四十分钟的潭。真是物有所值。看完了黑龙潭就慢慢的走到丽江古城。绕着绕着就回了束和古城，加住一晚后就去外面的小巴黎点了一个pizza(40rmb),一个人坐在那吃。边吃边想明天去哪玩呢？还要在丽江多一天吗，还是该走了。也想了应该在丽江等东和回来一快去香格里拉吗?想着想着又开始问自己出走的原因。明明就是不想为别人着想，只想为自己做打算怎么还一直这样呢？结果决定了买沪沽湖的单程车票(120rmb)，明日一早下湖去。
Day 5 lijiang - 泸沽湖
早上七点半的车。连早食也没吃就抱着包包check out 了。到了束和古城门口看到了几辆巴士去泸沽湖但就没有我的。等着等着终于等到了。上了车才发现只是七人位的。人人到了就出发了。
车程应该只有六个钟但到时太阳都在下山了。原因是，路上停了吃饭(30rmb)，又停来游湖(30rmb)。这样就花了十个钟才到达。跟着同车的一起住进了青年宿舍(30rmb)，接着就一起共进晚饭(30rmb). 吃饱了，就去湖边走走。
这群人都来至不同的省所以口音也有不同。和他们闲谈时还听得懂但一当他们说起中国历史之类我就跟不上，又开始发呆了。当他们知道我是独自来云南背包旅游时都会待别照顾我。其实中国人还蛮好的! 好温馨。
其中一位小弟(86 年)也很喜欢叫我读出华话字。真丢人了。如果有一天他来到新加坡，我一定找菜单来给他读。不过人家是去当医生的，英语应该也不赖吧。
Day 6 泸沾湖
一早起来就去找了一日游(30rmb)去绕湖了。 在车上认识了两位西安的小妹妹, 小尚和要妮。她们才二十二岁所以一直'姐姐，姐姐'的叫我。还蛮温馨的。那两位小妹妹告诉我这里的讲解，还一直和我闲聊。所以决定和她们明天一快回丽江。在她们的YHA住宿买了一张80rmb的车票后我就去找午餐吃了。
走到昨天吃晚饭的店，点了一碗面吃。吃饱了就慢步走到一间有湖景的咖啡屋，点了一杯latte在那读我的书。这本书跟了我十天我都还没读，感觉有点对不起它。
本来只有我一个人的咖啡屋，不久就来了一对小夫妻和他们四个月大的 border collie。非常活泼，一直坐立不安。好想达西! 和他们聊了才知道他们来自北京。和狗狗一起驾车来到泸沽湖。真羡慕! 如果达西有护照那有多好!
不久来了两位喷烟的龙，说话又带点中国人的嚣张。实在是待不下了。我买单了就慢慢走去湖边的小凳子，读我的书。虽知来了一群招不满的人。就一直站在我周围大声喊骂司机骗了他们。烦死了。里格村这么大，为什么偏偏要站在我旁边呢? 竟然是晚饭时间了，我再次回去了那间饭店。一进门就看见了昨天同车的四人。他们问了我跑到哪了，找不到我。他们一起包车游湖了。 好可惜啊! 和他们一块一定有好吃的!
因为他们已经吃饱了，所以我就自己到一桌坐着点菜。不久，和我同房的香港小妹妹(89年)和朋友们进来了。作晚我还跟他介绍了这里，今天就来了。她请我和他们一起吃但我也推了。还已为会自己吃，虽知店里的生意太好了，连老外也进来了。就放在我这桌。于是就和他们聊了起来。他们来自 Israel，会在中国五个星期。就谈到他们的国家，我的国家。也真好谈的。或许是我们太久没用英语沟通了，所以都很愉快有人可以谈天。一谈就三个钟头过呢，看着明天还要移动，我就说了再见回去收东西了。
Day 7 泸沽湖 - 丽江
Check out at 7.45am and made my way to the meeting point. Saw the 2 girls and we board the bus, getting the last seats available in the last row. When everyone has board, the driver discovered he has oversold the seats resulting in 1 extra passenger. He didn't say anything and let the last lady who board sit beside him. Then he drove to a minority house claiming a house visit. With that we waited for an hour for those interested to go in for a walk around. Once everyone is back on board, the driver wants 1 of the three of us to get down the bus and board the supposedly 10am bus. He claimed he will refund the money to the one getting off. WTF. Everyone knows there is no 10am bus. Due to the poor road conditions, the 210km distance from lijiang to luguhu requires 6hrs minimum to travel. Hence all buses will set off early in the morning at the same time. As he brought us to this house visit so he can earn a commission, all the buses had already left. He claims that because I'm alone, not part of any group I should be the one getting off. Fucker. The Xiao mei then said "不要欺负外国人。" He denied, saying he is not. So we asked what is wrong with the seating arrangements now and the bitch who board the bus last said she do not want to sit there because she is afraid she will fall. Now I know the whole story. No wonder the lady beside me was asking if I am alone and such. Because I saw her texted her friend, asked her friend aka bitch to check her phone and saw that bitch whisper to the driver. All these took place right before my eyes. I can't believe that they will stab me like that. In the end, one of the Xiao mei gave up her seat to that bitch and sat on the cushion beside the driver for the entire journey.
The things that made me pissed was that it was the driver's fault in the first place to oversell the tickets and he still has the guts to yell at me to get off the bus AFTER WASTING AN HOUR WAITING AT THE HOUSE VISIT. Then the bitches to be so selfish as to do something like that for her own benefits. And the guys in the bus, my god. They are all fit and well built and not a single one offered to give up their seats. Seriously, wtf!
Once that bitch has a seat, the driver drove off saying I can take the other bus that we will be meeting at our lunch place. During our halfway stop, I took a picture of him and the bus as well as the bus plate infront of him and stare at him in hatred. He better go home and thank his ancestors that I will not be complaining about him to whatever association I can come into contact with because the Xiao mei who gave up her seat threw in some nice words for him. Super pissed at him for turning my good impressions of luguhu to nothing. Seriously, Fuckers.
We finally reached lijiang at 4plus. Instead of taking the bus to Shangrila, I decided to stay a night in lj and spend the remaining day with the 2 Xiao meis. I followed them to their prebooked accomodation then we went for dinner. All this while, as long as I'm eating alone, I will choose the safest option I can find. But they brought me out and taste some of the street food which is so yum! I had been surviving on smelling them all these while so you can image my happiness when I taste some, since a bite won't kill. After dinner, we walked into one of the many shops selling 掏碟 and sat there listening to music and choosing the discs we like. It was still bright when we entered and by the time we left, it was already dark. Surprisingly, one of the Xiao mei and I have similar music preferences. Another common topic we can touch on is Korean dramas. The other Xiao mei will tell me about China cultures and history. Really had a nice time with them. We almost couldn't find our way back but somehow we got back.
Day 8 丽江 - 香格里拉
I woke up before dawn breaks somehow without the alarm going off, washed, packed and set off to the bus terminal at 7.15am. Took a cab(10rmb) to the bus terminal bought the earliest bus ticket available (78rmb) at 8.50am and waited for time to past. Finally, got onboard bus, after 4hrs, I reached shangrila. Found the bus(1rmb) to the ancient town and reached after 20mins. Luckily I didn't walk there as advised by others. I think I would have died of hunger.
Once at ancient city, I started looking for accomodations. Went to the first hostel, and thought of spurging on a private room but somehow something is holding me back. This is not the one. So I walked on and arrived at a YHA. My fav sign nowadays. I went in, asked to inspect the dorm, somehow decided to take it (40rmb per night) and went to make the necessary paperwork. Once everything is done, took my bag and when I was about to walk out of the reception area, I saw donghe walking in. It's funny how timing is always with us. He was quite shocked to see me, I was too hot and hungry to have any drastic reaction. I asked him to have lunch with me and he went to sit there as he has just eaten. Then we went for a little walk around and then to the Tibetan temple. Took a cab(10rmb) there and paid admission fee of 87rmb. We spent 3hrs there and went back for steamboat dinner(35rmb). As we were walking back to the hostel, we heard music in 四方街 so we went to check it out. It's actually the locals doing their nightly dance exercise. He went to join in while I sit out and enjoy. Afterwhich, I went on for a walk around while he went back to the hostel.
After an hour or so, I went back and was chilling in the courtyard when he came out. He was reading and writing his journal and getting lost in thoughts while I read on Shangrila and the to dos. Then we started talking again. From this trip to Korea to the relationship between north and south Korea. I think because he is very informed on global affair hence being very easy to talk with.
As our trips are coming to an end, I guess we are more depress with the thoughts of going back to work. The feelings are rather heavy and dull, I guess especially more for him than me as he will be stepping into the workforce soon and he still feel lost.
I don't remember feeling that way when I was about to graduate, all I knew was to get a job in the bank and then slowly figure out what I want. This "slowly" took me more than 3yrs and I am still "slowly" finding my way around. I know I am not happy with my job, its just a job not a career. But what do I want. Will I be contented with going to work everyday and waiting for payday and making travelling plans or do I want more than that?
Day 9 香格里拉
Woke up not knowing what to do. Maybe just walk around, find a cafe and read my book. Went out and suddenly remembered that one of my to-dos is to go horseridding in shangrila. So, I made arrangements for transport (40rmb) and went. The driver was very nice and in the end even drove me to the bus terminal to get my bus ticket back to kunming (240rmb) for the following day. The horse riding(300rmb) was not too bad although it doesn't feel like the correct season but well. I know it is super overpriced but well, my last few days here and Im feeling rich and silly. The ride only took 1 and a half hour. It is so much more expansive than Australia. So, just forget it ba.
I went back to the hostel and the staffs there were about to have their lunch and they invited me to join them. I did and it was good. They didn't allow me to do the washing up after that. There are indeed nice people in China.
Donghe having arrived in shangrila 2 days before me left today for lijiang then overnight train to kunming. A night in kunming and back to Beijing. This time saying goodbye was much easier. Although we have each others e-mail address, but I guess these are just on the surface. What can I expect from 一日之交? But this passerby did somehow play a minor role in my trip. 缘分，时机，说的就是这吧!
现在坐在四方街看着眼前的活动。抬头看到比澳大利亚还要蓝的天空。白云懒洋洋的飘着。冷冷的天气。好舒服。希望这一目我能永远记住。这种心静的感觉，可以永久的保留着。
After my break, I went shopping for souvenirs. Hate it but gonna get it. Then went back to my hostel to put the stuff down. There I met my dorm mate Candy, a 29 yrs old white lady from south Africa who is teaching English in shanghai. She asked what I will be doing and if she can join and we ended up spending the remaining day together. We went shopping, went to a cafe to try the Tibetan milk tea, both salty and sweet(20rmb each for a jar) then went for dinner together. It was nice. She told me of the guy she met in lijiang, her work, her family, and her views on certain issues are pretty interesting.
Day 10 香格里拉 - 昆明
Woke up at 7.20am, did the necessary, check out, made my way to the bus terminal (7rmb) by cab. Board the 9am bus to kunming. It was so cold this morning. I can see every breath I breath out. It was that cold. The temp inside the bus is showing as 7 degree and the temp outside is 3. My hands are all dry and cold.
The journey requires 13hrs. It's like another trip from Singapore to Hat yat. Just that I am covering it in the day. Many choose to bus back to lijiang then night train to kunming but I'm still a bus person despite the winding mountainous roads.
Now, 6-7hrs into the ride, we are back in the outskirts of Dali. Along the way, we have pass by many many fields and most are being harvested now. Manually. Maybe the next trip I can experience it. Now that I know what to expect from China.
好饿啊。好想吃杯面，薯片，鸡蛋，肉! 6 more hours to go.
Bought some tibits at the next stop(12rmb). 4 more hours to go.
Had cup noodles and green tea for dinner(11rmb). 2.5 more hours to go.
Finally reached at 10pm. Freaking tired. Board a private taxi to the backpacker, (30rmb). Got a bed(40rmb) in a 6 pax dorm. Now I'm left with only 20rmb after paying the deposit. I think I need to find a money changer tomorrow as my flight is at 10pm. Should I allow myself a starbucks?
Day 11 - 昆明
10am, Sitting at the balcony looking at the city sight in front of me, I raise my head and I saw the pale blue skies. Disappointed. Listening to the sound of heavy traffic and all sorts of noise pollution, will I be able to endure the next few months?
Flying off in 12 more hours, leaving this accomodation at 7pm, I have 9 hours to go. My last 9 hours here. Shopping? Cafe? I need a money changer. Shld I change 50sgd or 100sgd?
Never thought it will be so difficult to find a place to exchange money. They only have it in banks and from sgd to rmb, only Bank of China has it. And I need to fill in 2 forms and get my passport photocopied to exchange just sgd100. Wow. Amazing!
Finally got my money, went to have my breakfast, 蒸饺 (8rmb) then walk on. My face lights up when I see the lady in green, STARBUCKS! 31rmb for a caramel latte. Not as nice as sing, but can do lar. Sitting here in the outdoors, looking at those passerbys going places, I feel so bored! What should I do? 7 more hrs to go.
Went to buy pu er tea for my friend but they does not accept visa or.masters. In the end, called xy for help and she suggested ATM. It works! But she got a fright when she received my call, she thought something had happened to me. Haha.. Yah. No money. Shld have sign up for the China credit card the other time. But who would have know that I will be coming to China so soon.
Now, sitting on their shopping street, sheltered by the maple trees. It's Autumn, hence the leaves have turned yellow and under direct sunlight, they look golden. Kinda like back in Melbourne, Swanston street just that its noiser here and everything is in Chinese. 3.5 more hours to go.
Bought a Taiwan sausage dusted with chili flakes(3rmb), then a cup of mala potatoes(4rmb), to eat it in their seating area, I need to order a drink, lemon soda(15rmb). My stomach feels funny now. Haha. Shit. 1.5 more hours more to go. 200sgd poorer. Shit!
Question: 洋芋和士豆有区别吗?
常常出国时都不注意打扮，头发乱乱的也不在乎。只要护肤品插上，防晒做足就出门了。因为这样，穿得还蛮随便的，所以进商场时遭到狗眼看人低的对待。其实还蛮好的。没人来烦我。
好不容易才叫到车，很幸运的师傅是好人，没带我多走。路途中也和他聊了。很多人知道我是新加坡人后都很惊讶。然后都夸我华语太好了。 真是不敢当啊! Haha.
Waiting at the airport for check in, I'm half an hour early. Hungry again. What should I eat? Kept forgetting that there is food provided in the plane. Too used too budget airlines.
Finally home. Darcy couldn't recognise me. He sat there and looked at me not knowing who I am, then when he saw my mum, he went to greet her and jump at her. Until I made some sound then he realised its me. Reckon I smell like China to him. Oh dear.
This trip, I feel more like a tourist than a traveller. Many times I will look for a coffee place to chill like a tourist because I have the mindset that I can afford it, so why not. Partly because I didn't want to burn myself out by pushing myself too far hence I spoilt myself rotten with treats here and there.
Counting the alone time I had, only 2 days in Dali, 1 day in Lijiang, 1day spent travelling back to kunming and 1 day in kunming, the others are all spent with someone else. Surprisingly. After spending 11 days alone yet not so alone, all i can say is, I'm enjoying it and I am addicted to it. Where will I go next? Another 2 weeks, alone.
大草园，高山，广阔的蓝天，我几时才能再见呢?
Out of touch with the World, in touch with Earth.
不孤单的寂寞，还是不寂寞的孤单?
Route: Kunming - Dali - Lijiang - Lugu Lake - Lijiang - Zhongdian aka Shangri-la - Kunming
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