Ancient

The ancient town in Shangrila in stark contrast with the one in Lijiang. 

More ancient, traditionally Tibetan, stone and wood and cold. 

Onwards

Today is my last day in Lijiang and now the next stop is Shangrila. 

This has been a magnificent city. So much to it and so much more that I need to see. 

It deserves a second coming. 

And now

Cacti

When succulents are life! 

Flowers, stones, greens, water

Brand names

I'm beginning to wonder if negative marketing really works. 

Near water

Quite the location for a house. 

Breaking fast

Morning breakfast scenes. 

I am currently eating a pancake that is stuffed with flowers and sugar and it's much too delicious. 

Hair me out

People getting their hair braided with sparkly colourful threads of vacation. 

All this happening just a couple hours before midnight. 

No durian

All these years around this fruit and I've not been able to understand my utter hatred for the smell of durian which I've just not been able to get used to. 

It's disgusting but those who love this fruit can't get enough of it. 

Edible flower cakes

Yunnan does it absolutely right with these flower cakes. 

Believe me when I say this but these little colourful discs  are all stuffed with flowers, roses, jasmine but mostly roses in different flavors. The outer green shells have tea scented flowers doused with sugar syrup and faint redolence of all that is good in the world. 

These are sweet, flaky and moreish. 

Absolutely out of this world 

Beer with us

Nighttime revelries 

Flowers and lights

When Disneyland is on floral steroids 

Meat eats

The cavewoman swilling inside me

Food fiesta

At a local hotpot frequented by not tourists but locals and I am looking forward to some yunnan style hot stone clay pot hot pot. 

Whaa!??

People are getting high on oxygen here. 

I'm serious!! 

One needs these oxygen cans for some high altitude places and some people just randomly buy them and keep inhaling through the day and I'm like wtf. 

:)

I smile each time I see this 

Up in the mountains

The colours that be

What is this even? 

This shouldn't be. 

On the mountains today. 

It's been a long day with it's own bits of craziness that got involved. 

Anyway this is the blue moon valley. 

A waterbody that is so cerulean it hurts my eyes. 

No fish, no aquatic life but the beauty is all embodying. 

Theatrical

ROmance indeed

The show was beautifully breathtaking. 

There were dancers, acrobats, people suspended on ropes and flying about, waterfalls, horses and ballet. 

It was unbelievably grand and masterfully done. Everything painstakingly detailed. 

Five stars. 

Staged

Who me? 

Out to watch a stage performance. 

This one is called 'the legend of romance' 

Out and about

Another old town that was less crowded and a bit more stark as compared to the one from yesterday but just as lovely. 

These are all mostly cafes, restaurants, bars and other entertainment areas. 

There's a small canal running through the entire area which is clean and used by people to water their plants, sweep floors and some people even wash things in it but no one uses soap. It's all just water and nothing besides. 

Today

Breathe in

Oxygen in a bottle 

How lovely

The entrance of a house 

Photo ops

Afternoon meal

Lunch with a view 

Ancient town



Some bits



This city of lijian is divided into two parts. 

One is the city proper and the other is the ancient town which is sort of a heritage area and has been created into this absolutely happening hotspot that is thriving with everything tourism needs. 

There are hotels that are actually sort of inns and not hotels proper and absolutely everything imbibes the spirit of the all that isn't urban. 

There are no vehicles, the streets are cobbled and it's the entire area is divvied into colourful, tastefully articulated and intelligently curated alleys. 

It's picturesque, it's breathtaking and it's an absolute delight to actually live in such a space. 

Aha

Some bits

This city of lijian is divided into two parts. 

One is the city proper and the other is the ancient town which is sort of a heritage area and has been created into this absolutely happening hotspot that is thriving with everything tourism needs. 

There are hotels that are actually sort of inns and not hotels proper and absolutely everything imbibes the spirit of the all that isn't urban. 

There are no vehicles, the streets are cobbled and it's the entire area is divvied into colourful, tastefully articulated and intelligently curated alleys. 

It's picturesque, it's breathtaking and it's an absolute delight to actually live in such a space. 

Fruity

This didn't taste as fabulous as it looked. 

Hmm

Believe me when I say that this tea room is a hotel  reception. One of the many apparently.

This is literally how things run. 

You keep getting served tea while doing hotel reception stuff. 

Yes you want to check in? 

Let us prepare some tea while someone scans your passports. 

Yes, you want room keys. 

Drink tea while you wait. 

Also what's with this Chair? 

New city

In Lijiang and it's pretty and colourful.

This is towards the south west of China and the weather is beauteous. 

😂

When you're mixing business with Holi. 

Shit happened

And now

Mmmm

Deep dish delights 

Lunch heart

Lunch today was an oven baked bread crumbed salmon with veg and can I just say it's changed the way I look at breaded foods. 

This was non oily, non greasy and absolutely delightfully easy and delicious with the kind of crunch one would only expected from fried foods. 

This one's a winner 

Unhappy

There's a bit of annoyance happening today.
2 reasons to count.
One being my littlest cat has developed an eye infection. Nothing too concerning but he is discomforted and won't eat and has also somehow run off and I can't find him anywhere. This has been happening since the time of my workout and I've not been able to exercise with my heart.
Where my little twinkle?
I've been out a dozen times looking for him, calling out his name but If he can hear me he surely isn't interested in meeting me.

Second reason is that I'd ordered something off taobao and was excitedly expecting it today.
It's nothing big, just a bread knife but knives get me hyped, so imagine my surprise when I got a message for its delivery when in fact nothing got delivered.
I've been trying to track it down, Spoke to the delivery guy who told me he has an undelivered package and that he will update me on it when he can.
What?!!!
Perhaps I should have had a Chinese person call him.
However this has really bothered me because I mean you understand what I'm saying.
It's like a delivery is happening and it's happened except you never received it.
:(

Before and after