Lijiang, China

The best start of a flight is when you find out that the airline from which you have a frequent flyer gold card has an alliance with the airline you are flying with. In this case, China Southern just joined the Skyteam alliance (KLM/AirFrance). This meant we could check in without standing in line, wait and eat in the lounge, were brought to the airplane in a luxury van and our seats were nicely separated from the rest (and the business class, it was no upgrade, just special). In Kunming we made a short stop and were asked to leave the plane. When we arrived in the arrival hall, the staff told us the use the exit and then go to the departure hall. Which we did (expecting it not to be a good plan). When we turned up at the China Southern desk in the departure hall, the nervous reaction of the young lady at the desk told us that it had indeed not been such a great idea.We were rushed through the staff entrance/security check and ran to the plane. We just made it.

At Lijiang airport we met two Australian guys who offered to share a cab with us. A cab with a female driver.....no I'm not having any issues with female drivers, but she definitely had an issue with driving. If this one is representative for all female drivers, the world is in great danger! On a two lane (four lane in both directions) road, she tried to drive exactly in the middle of the two, cars coming up from behind were not ignored, just not never noticed. Head lights were big lights. Fortunately, the speed never came over 30 km/h...

Our Aussie new found friends knew of a place they stayed the year before. However, on arrival it turned out the place had doubled its prices (trippled for the 'luxury' rooms). Fortunately for us, the entrepreneurial neighbour had decided to turn his small house in a guesthouse. No heating of the room but a lot of blankets and a heated bed (although we did not dare to leave it on at night).

Lijiang is probably one of the most picturesque towns in China, or since this is my first Chinese town, just a very picturesque town inhabited by a minority people. Tourists are mainly Chinese: during the day with huge cameras, at night drunk and vomiting on the street. (ok, the picture is not really of the pitoreque part, but still)


At night the town is lit by orange electric lights that make it look like the town is lit by candles. Fire is not appreciated though, the houses are made of easy flammable wood. The big thing is a small canal with bars on both sides. Waitresses sing songs and try to sing more loud than the other side, thus making it a song contest.