Kunming Back For More.
Trip Start
Mar 03, 2005
1
10
235
Trip End
Ongoing
Kunming,
China
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
The Chinese are a unique bunch - it's their habits. I've previously mentioned the spitting, and the staring, but there's another that they partake in on a regular basis....
It is not uncommon to see Chinese men with a finger rammed right up their nose, picking away. But its the combined stare at you while they pick their nose that is the most horrible part about it. You'll look around cos you can feel someone's eyes burning on you, and you'll find a local there, still staring, somewhere near wrist level up a nostril. I'm often one to follow the "when in Rome" theory, but in this case I've decided to refrain.
The Chinese system of driving is quite unique. Each nation in Asia has its own 'system'. For instance, the Thai's give a short beep of the horn for recognition and the give way system is based on the size of the vehicle, while the Vietnamese all are prepared to give way to everyone, so all can keep moving forward rather than stopping or slowing. But the Chinese system is a little different.
The Chinese system of driving is based on a combination of size, speed, horn beep length but most importantly the body language of the vehicle. They constantly jump on the horn and hold it down, in a "get out of the flipping way I'm coming through" manner. When two vehicles are approaching the same lane, it basically comes down to a game of chicken as to who lets the other one through. Hence if a small minibus six seater (such as the one I was in this morning to head out to Xi Shan, about 15 clicks from the centre of Kunming) takes a corner with a gas tanker bearing down, it basically comes down to who has the strongest vehicular body language. Today, the six seater minibus was the winner, due to my drivers hectic speed and refusal to acxknowledge that a bigger vehicle was about to crush us under a tyre.
Kunming is situated beside a giant 40 kilometre long lake, and a large mountain range, with Xi Shan being the highest at a little over 2300 metres. I made the afore-mentioned minibus ride there and climbed the remainder of the stairs to the peak at Dragon Gate. There was a chairlift that could take you up, but for some reason it was out of action today.
China also has an unusual pricing structure at public loos. Normally if you are at a tourist venue (such as up the top of a mountain like today), the price will be 3 Yuan, and you'll get inside and it'll reak of all kind of sh.... well you know what I mean. Yet for 2 Yuan I can have a McPee and an ice cream down at the Golden Arches, in hygenic comfort. Ahhh, the ying and yang of the WC.
As a city Kunming is ok without being that exciting. There really are too many shopping malls around, all selling the same items. Hence one full day here after one day in Shilin is enough.
Murray's Law Of Travel #4 - Before travelling to China, if you are female, do some squat strengthening exercises in the weeks leading up to your trip, and every time you need to take a pee in a non-Western toilet, don't.
