Jul 6, 2010 - Dali

Dali was a beautiful place set inbetween mountains and a big ear shaped lake. ... We were back down to 1000m above sea level as well which was lovely just not panting every time you climb the stairs.Dali was a beautiful place set inbetween mountains and a big ear shaped lake. ... We were back down to 1000m above sea level as well which was lovely just not panting every time you climb the stairs....

May 10, 2010 - Dali

Time to catch up! Today we came from Lijiang to Dali. ... We are in the old city in Dali also. ... Earlier we visited a Bai village and traditional house (built around a courtyard).Time to catch up! Today we came from Lijiang to Dali. ... We are in the old city in Dali also. ... Earlier we visited a Bai village and traditional house (built around a courtyard)....

May 7, 2010 - Ride Through the Villages

At first I was not sure if I would be able to walk after yesterday’s mammoth hike, but my legs felt surprisingly fit and thus I decided to do some cycling through the villages along the shore of the Erhai Hu. Since we couldn’t find any other bikes of that sort for rent in all Dali, we reluctantly rented two normal bikes and relied on our muscle strength. ... The bumpy road to the lake led us through rice fields and villages and although we were riding mountain bikes that are thought to be rode on rough terrain our bums got sore very quickly (and remained to be the following two days).At first I was not sure if I would be able to walk after yesterday’s mammoth hike, but my legs felt surprisingly fit and thus I decided to do some cycling through the villages along the shore of the Erhai Hu. Since we couldn’t find any other bikes of that sort for rent in all Dali, we reluctantly rented two normal bikes and relied on our muscle strength. ... The bumpy road to the lake led us through rice fields and villages and although we were riding mountain bikes that are thought to be rode on rough terrain our bums got sore very quickly (and remained to be the following two days)....

May 6, 2010 - Hiking Sucks - Overpowering Cang Shan Mountain

Yesterday I arrived in Dali together with Janet and Tom whom I had met at the Cloudland in Kunming. ... Today Tom convinced us to do some hiking on the Cang Shan, a 4000 m high mountain East of Dali. ... At first I considered it to be a good idea.Yesterday I arrived in Dali together with Janet and Tom whom I had met at the Cloudland in Kunming. ... Today Tom convinced us to do some hiking on the Cang Shan, a 4000 m high mountain East of Dali. ... At first I considered it to be a good idea....

Nov 15, 2009 - Xizhou - embroidery, art and comorants

Another guide on another boat would start singing something about Dali and Er Hai Lake and the other guides and boatmen and women on the other two or three boats would join in. ... Then Joan and I went down to Dali and had dinner at a Uigher cafe. ... I'd overheard him angling to get a round of golf at the Dali golf course so I jumped to the conclusion he was very straight and had probably been dragged along. ...

Nov 7, 2009 - Xizhou - and further reflections

We are staying in a Bai village called Xizhou ('Sheejo') near the Er Hai lake, 20 kilometres or so north of Dali in Yunnan. ... The sun is still low and I have to shield my eyes to look in the direction of Dali and the mountains to the south east. ... The West is stuffed, we agreed, and I took another sip of Dali beer and he of his Great Wall Red. ...

Nov 4, 2009 - Xizhou and an American dream

We did manage to get on the right 18 seater and also to give the driver the note written for us by Min (one of hosts) to drop us off at Xizhou before Dali. ... Xizhou is about 30 kms north of Dali and is full of heritage listed Bai mansions. ... Today we have come down to Dali to go to the bank and i am writing this in an Internet cafe. ...

Oct 19, 2009 - Dali

After another day on the bus, we arrived in Dali. ... Dali is a very pretty place with a South and North gate and only a small part of the original wall around the city still standing. ... Our free day in Dali was spent doing a tour of the local markets where we sampled a Chinese pizza – very tasty and bought a few knick-knacks. ... Dali is a lovely place that we will definitely remember. ...

Oct 9, 2009 - Marching on to Dali - Day 22, 23 & 24

Once we had bought our ticket we had about five hours until we were due to leave for Dali (further north in the same province: Yunnan). ... The bus to Dali goes along the famous Burma road. ... This has cut the traveling time to Dali and west, the views are beautiful. ... Dali old town is set up the hill at the foot of a mountain. ... Dali is a really nice place to spend some time and chill. ...

Sep 25, 2009 - Dali - "where theres poo theres hope"

I have literally just arrived in Dali after a 4-5 hour coach ride from Kunming. ... He tells me and asks if I'm going to old Dali (they call a big horrible city next to Dali, Dali on bus schedules) then offers me a lift to my hostel as his mum was waiting to pick him up! Now I know this sounds dodgy and I was abit reluctant but then I saw two old Chinese people waiting for him in a car and he seemed very genuine. ... It turns out his mum manages a hotel about 100 metres from my hostel! Anyway, the dude proceeds to drop his parents off and take me for a quick driven tour of Dali. ... Dali is very nice although at the moment it is wet and misty; it reminds me abit of England actually. ...

Aug 1, 2009 - Dali

Premier aout deja! J'ai bouge beaucoup dans les derniers temps. Finalement un bus m'a permis de rejoindre aujourd'hui Dali petit village fortifie avec de nombreuses portails qui ne manque pas de cachet. ... Je reste encore quelques jours dans la province du Yunnan avant d'aller voir les pandas a Chengdu.Premier aout deja! J'ai bouge beaucoup dans les derniers temps. Finalement un bus m'a permis de rejoindre aujourd'hui Dali petit village fortifie avec de nombreuses portails qui ne manque pas de cachet. ... Je reste encore quelques jours dans la province du Yunnan avant d'aller voir les pandas a Chengdu....

Jul 3, 2009 - On to Yunnan - Dali

We finally formed a wall foot-to-foot and snagged two tickets to Dali. ... After five hours, we landed at the Dali station. ... Dali's ancient (and touristy) town is some ten miles or so up the road from the new city. ... Dali sits in a valley just smaller than Flathead Valley, MT. ... We followed up our visit with another great meal at one of Dali's many great restaurants. ...