| April 15, 2008 DAILY TRIP DIARY - Kunming |
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I beeped going through security and was subject to a search unlike anything I’ve ever been through! Once in Kunming we all had to change money and that in itself was a cultural experience. But I survived both and was rewarded with a delicious lunch. There was an awesome white pudding and really good beans. Our hotel is awesome and Jackie is a good roommate. Green Lake Park was beautiful and I like how all the people gather to dance and sing, play music and card games. We happened upon a Tibetan dance and one man started to show me something, but he walked away in a hurry when he saw Ms Simpson. Interesting. I think Brattleboro could benefit from a park like Green Lake. The Thai dinner was very good and I really like the lemon grass tea. I thought it was interesting how the owner of the restaurant wanted to take pictures with her Western clients.
Ms. Sopper writes: The return to Kunming means reconnecting with old friends, wonderful food, and great new adventures for our students. I am delighted that my favorite billboard still flies proudly over the airport parking lot admonishing departing passengers (in the international language of the red-slash-through) that firearms, machetes, and hand grenades are not allowed. It is good to have that clear and out of the way before we move on. After a memorable banking adventure (see April 20th’s write up) we are driven into town and treated to the first of many extraordinary meals selected with great care and enthusiasm by our local guide Yang Ye. She shares with us, on our first day, two of her favorite places. The lunch restaurant, -Hong duo yuan- is famous for its red bean dishes and I was extremely happy with the crispy, spicy red beans and peppers. If my unfortunate table-mates got some of this wonderful dish it was because I was distracted by the pork which attempted but did not succeed in hiding an amazing combination of mint, lemon grass, cilantro, lime and pepper and had to divide my attention between these two dishes. -->
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Ms. Sopper, con't: We have an easy, lovely afternoon around Green Lake Park. We visit the park and a military academy across the road from the park. Yunnan was the capital of China between 1912-1949 and somehow this gem of a building, mustard-colored in a Latin-colonial style wrapped around a large courtyard in which one can easily imagine troops and horses maneuvering has survived as a modest museum and tribute to its founder and the province. Two highlights of the day were getting mentally ready for our home-stays (more on that follows) and meeting Professor Wu. Our old friend came to the hotel to visit us and it was just a pleasure seeing him. He and his twins will join us Saturday on our trip to the Stone Forest. The only other food note I wish to add to the day, past saying that the Thai (often pronounced Dai) nationality restaurant’s amazing beef salad and fresh pineapple with red pepper flakes were among the best things I have ever eaten is more a question than a comment. We were given potato chips in our breakfast bags the other morning and I got around to eating some chili-flavored chips in a bag that had Lays-like marking but an entirely unfamiliar flavor. I actually felt some numbness on the roof of my mouth and looked at the ingredient list to see if I could figure out what was up. The fifth (of five) ingredient was something called Chinese Prickly Ash. I wonder if that might be MSG. Any thoughts?
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April
15, 2008. Rachel describes
a difficult travel day and the ultimate reward:
