Archive for May, 2007

3-4 More Months in this Lovely Place

I’m just guessing at this point, but I’m sure I’m not coming back in May. Whoops! That’s what the lawyer told me, but that’s not what the US Embassy in Guangzhou told me.

Just fyi, for all the people asking, “Where the hell are you Bob?”

– In China, for now.

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Sunset in Chuxiong, China [pic]

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I know, I know. It’s just great.

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Purple field in China w/ butterfly [pic]

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Title says it all. This plant is used for fertilizer after it is picked. Taken somewhere between Lugu Lake and Lijiang.

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Lugu Lake Panoramic [pic] and Other Shots of China

Lugu Lake in China, by Robert ThompsonView Large Panoramic Photo of Lugu Hu, Lugu Lake

The results are in for Lugu Lake. There is one thing that is stunning to see — the panoramic above. After you see that, and go on the 10 minute boat ride, there is absolutely nothing else to do there.

Another surprising factor is that it takes 14-16 hours to get there from Kunming. And not to mention that the road is dangerous! We saw five head-on collisions, and I counted 15 broken down cars on the total trip.

A four day trip, driving about 466 miles on a one-lane (but two-way) road with a series of sharp zigzags, and five head on collisions.

Here is a shot of what a one lane, two-way road looks like, with a huge dump truck lining the cliff, squeezing between a bunch of cars.

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I can’t count the number of times the Chinese drivers would pass on a blind turn, at double the speed limit.

On to more happy things…

Boat Ride Photos

Boat Ride on Lugu Lake in China

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via China Travel Guide on the local ethnic minorities, the Mosuo people:

Mosuo people who live there form a matriarchal society. There is no marriage. Children are brought up by women. Women operate production and management, and hold the principal position in the society, forming a modern day ‘woman’s kingdom’.

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Lugu Lake and China

See my panoramic shot of Lugu Hu, or Lugu Lake.

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Lugu Lake, first impression. Wow I found wireless internet and a place to stay. The water is clear, the mountains are magnificent. Besides the free boat ride and a view of Sichuan, well. Ain’t much to do here.

Good place for photographers, though. But after 12 hours of driving from Chuxiong to Lijiang to Lugu Lake, I’m cool with walking up the side of any mountains.

Did I mention the drive? The one-lane road? The 18-wheeler trucks coming head on? The dilapidated roads, falling off the mountain side? Wow, was that stressful. Plus, you have to be aware of the “mountain people” who throw boards rigged with nails in the street, and after your tires pop, you get mobbed. (Happened to a friend of ours.) Let’s just say they have a little work to do here.

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Off to Lugu Lake (Lugu Hu)

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Will post some pictures when I get back on Friday.

Read more about Lugu Lake.

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For Pete Sake Be Careful!

cx.jpgWATCH VIDEO

China is a spooky place. If you don’t believe me, see the Sanya beach photos below. Be careful!

BTW, the video is choppy for one reason and one reason only: I bought the value pack of TDK DVs from Costco in 2003. I didn’t know DVs went bad. But every tape I is pretty much corrupted. Well, it could be the Diet Coke spill all over my camera, I dunno. Time for an upgrade.

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