March 20, 2007
Rest Day in Dali: Tour around Lake Erhai
We booked a tour yesterday to take us around Lake Erhai. We're mostly interested in visiting the market in Wase on the opposite side of the lake, that is held every 10 days. It's easier just to do a tour all the way around for 300 yuan. We found a cheaper guy but decide to go with Michael because his wife gives us a good explanation of the tour...or so we think....the day doesn't go as well as we hoped.
We have a great breakfast at the Tibetan Cafe and meet the two Dutch cyclists we met very briefly in Krabi Thailand a long long time ago. They are headed out this morning, North towards Zongdian. Another interesting guy we meet is John Pola, an American retiree who's van is parked at the Boise airport and who has a daughter that teaches in Sun Valley ID, small world indeed. (Addendum update: after we returned home, John visited us several times).
We have to hurry back and meet the waiting mini van at our hotel. Michael is the guide, there is a driver as well. First stop is in Xishou, about 30km North of Dali. We visit an old Dai homestead in the village and see a traditional tea ceremony. Patrick is a little surprised by the 50 yuan fee...and asks Michael about it. There will be a few places today that require entrance fees he says. Okay, something to remember to check in arranging future tours what is included in the tour price.
The next stop, we walk through the bustling market of Xishou, very nice for photos. Then onto a village where they make Batik. We are shuttled straight for the sales area and get a lot of pressure from Michael to buy something. The price seems okay, we just don't want to carry it and are not sure if we are going to mail a box home from Dali. Michael is very upset because the batik lady missed her "first sale of the day" which is bad luck....
From there on things go downhill fast with our tour guide.
Next stop is an obvious tourist trap with a cable car, cave and tigers...60 yuan entrance fee! We refuse and go on to the a temple at the North side of the lake. "It's free" Michael says. Good! He is obviously mad that he is missing out on kick backs today. The market in Wase is nice, lots of pictures and we have lunch.
Next we see a small temple offshore in the lake, then another temple that is surrounded by a wall so you can't see it before you pay an entrance fee...No thanks, just take us back to Dali. He stopped speaking to us. We're back by 4pm.
Time to catch up on emails, then back to the Tibetan Cafe for dinner. We see John Pola walk by, Rachel asks him to join us. He has heard that it might be possible to buy a Tibetan Travel Permit individually in Lijang, he is heading there tomorrow and will keep us posted on his success. This might change our plans again, just as we decided to not extend our visa and do a jeep tour from Szechuan to Lhasa.
Maybe it is possible to cycle from Yunnan to Lhasa?
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