KunMing-ling

Peter:

After Lijiang we returned to Kunming. Kunming is the capital of Yunnan province and called the city of eternal spring because its high elevation and subtropical location keep it pleasantly warm and in bloom year round. Unfortunately Vera got a touch of my stomach bug [Vera's note: "a touch" - hah!] the last night in Lijiang so when we arrive in Kunming we go straight to the hotel and manage an early check in. Our Yunnan guides have been so helpful in getting us through this difficult time. We spend day in the hotel, mostly sleeping and watching bad movies on HBO.

At least the hotel in Kunming had an english channel with movies. When I was laid up in Lijiang the TV was all chinese. I was too ill to read, so I lay there watching the chinese sports channel. Tremendous array of sport: English darts, English snooker, Chinese basketball, Asian curling, World ping pong. Still, it took the mind off the belly.

Our last day in Kunming our guide picked us up again. Unfortunately I'd had a relapse of the bug and it was a very gingerly day for me.

We went first to the Minorities museum. The people westerners think of as "Chinese" are the Han people, the overwhelming majority in China. But there are many minority groups as well such as the Tibetans, various central asian groups (Tajiks, Kazaks, etc), and others. In mountainous Yunnan province which borders Tibet, Burma, Laos, and Vietnam, there are many more such as the Dai, the Yi, the Bai, and the Naxi. The Minorities museum is a huge museum on the outskirts of Kunming with displays of dress, language, art, etc. There was hardly anyone there (Sunday morning) and one of the museum workers gave us a personal tour. I found this fascinating. The traditional dress, especially, was incredible and what struck me was the sense of aesthetic. There was an exhibit there of traditional clothing that was shown in Paris and this could easily have been this year's collection rather than traditional dress.

After a morning at the museum we went to Green Lake in the center of Kunming for a leisurely stroll and some lunch. Lots of people at the lake on a Sunday. Check out the photos of the kids in the giant plastic bubbles! The park also brings out groups of musicians - mostly middle aged men and women who perform in orchestras. All manner of instruments - bowed, plucked, woodwinds - and traditional singing as well. From there it was on to the old city gate of Kunming, flanked by the pagodas from the 9th century. Check out Vera's shots of city life on this Sunday