April 03, 2004

First Impressions

Dali, Yunnan Province, China

After ten weeks in Indochina it's strange travelling in a semi-industrialised country. So many things are different.

The immigration people in Hekou were about the nicest I've ever encountered. Helping me with the forms and telling me about the bus and train times. I left the building and was immediately approached by a young man claiming to be an english translator and offering help. Alarms bells start going off big time as he offers to escort me to the bus station or the bank. Turns out, he really is an english translator enployed by the government to just stroll around and help lost looking foreigners. Amazing!

There's very little hassle to buy things, take motos, or go to guest-houses. Everyone is generally honest over prices. A bit dazed after a long bus ride I offered 35 Yuan for a 3.5 Yuan purchase. The nice young lady just gently corrected me. The Vietnamese would take the cash and laugh to their friends.

There are real mountains now looming overhead. With snow!

Strange thing though. I sort of miss the hurly-burly of Indochina. It was fun.

Posted by David at April 3, 2004 02:01 PM