As I flew into Shangri-la it was still dark and the moon was big and bright in the sky illuminating the snow covered mountains below.  In the distance there was another mountain range that could have been the Himalayas but I’m not sure, either way it was a spectacular introduction to Shangri-la.

I got picked up at the airport and taken to my hotel called the Cozy Inn but it did not look very cosy. The room was ok but no heating although I do have an electric blanket. I went for breakfast which consisted of two plates of steamed dumplings. After breakfast I went back to my hotel and slept for about 4 hours. I put on the electric blanket and died. 

When I awoke I felt a little better but now my head began to hurt.  The altitude was starting to affect me.  I walked outside and sat in the sun for a while. In the middle of the day it’s very pleasant. The sky is blue and the air is clean  although you can smell a few wood burning fires. After about an hour of contemplating life, the universe and everything I went for some noodles and returned to the Cozy Inn and took some drugs to try and cure my headache. It felt like my head was in a vice and so there was nothing else for it but to put on the electric blanket and close the curtains and go to sleep. 

Kunming airport is so busy and it’s just around 5am but there are so many people here and many are having breakfast. And the breakfast of choice is a giant sized Pot Noodle. 

I’m up way before the sun because I need to catch the early flight to Shangri-la. I’ve spent the night in Kunming arriving at the hotel at about 7pm so I’ve only just caught a few hours sleep before I’m up again.

I didn’t really sleep,  I guess I was worried about sleeping in, but I shouldn’t have been because I got an early morning alarm call.  I had organised the bus to pick me up to take me to the airport.

When I awoke this morn there was a strange smell and taste in the air and I’m not sure what it was, but it tasted foul. It reminded me of my trip to Harbin earlier in the year.  The air there was thick and heavy with what seemed to be coal dust,  this smell was a little different. I would say this had more of an oil based smell or tar or something similar. I arrived in the dark and I left in the dark so I have no idea what was around the hotel. 

The area my hotel was in seemed old and the roads were in poor condition.  When I left just after 4am there was already businesses preparing food and washing dishes out on the street. 

The hotel itself was old but comfortable. A throw back to the communist era. The foyer was big and golden. The furniture was huge but looked ok in the space.  The wifi worked surprising well and so that was a bonus.  I didn’t have a shower because the water was too cold so I’ll just blast on more smelly stuff to cover up any odour.

So now I’m at the airport waiting for my flight to Shangri-la and I’m hoping that I can check into my hotel when I arrive so that I can hopefully have a hot shower and then a snooze. 

Why is it do difficult to get a good strong coffee at the airport, they’re always too weak and no flavour?.  
Even if you only use half the water it’s a struggle to find it, the flavour that is. 
 Oh I know the answer come to think, too many Starbucks lowering the bar to just below rubbish!!!!!!

My six weeks at my Airbnb digs are up tomorrow and so that means I’m heading off on the first part of my travels. It’s gone so quickly but I’m looking forward to my next adventure. First stop Kunming and then the mythical Shangri-la which I’m really looking forward too. The air should be clean and fresh. I hope I don’t get altitude sickness when I arrive. Many folk suffer from this and it can affect any age, but I have a feeling I will be ok and if not I’ll let you know. 

It’s not often that you see the metro empty but I waited until I was the last person aboard and then I got this picture.  Usually you have to fight for a space nevermind a seat.  The metro in Suzhou is very good and cheap. Maximum fare is 8 rmb. The layout is really good because you can go from the north of the city to the south in less than an hour which is quicker than driving.  

 

It’s cold outside; it’s still and white,

The stars abound and the moon is bright,

A UFO appears and streaks across the sky,

We are not alone, who is this guy?

 

His annual visit is upon us once more,

His work is tireless but he will just laugh and roar,

There is never too much work; there is never an end,

How can he deliver all these presents my friend?

Well he runs a very modern sleigh, pulled by reindeer you say,

They are not normal of course but special indeed,

They feed on special grass which gives them more speed,

They’re as high as kites no matter the weather,

They can’t feel a thing just more pleasure and pleasure,

They’re here to help Santa on the one night of the year,

They park the sleigh on the roof while he nips doon the chimney for a beer,

 

So what happens if there is no chimney?

Do you think he might just climb in a windy?

Ah mean how does he do it? I’ve never worked it oot,

Our house had no chimney, yet the pressies were there,

Sometimes there were many, sometimes the tree was bare,

But it didn’t matter ‘cause that’s not what it’s about,

But I hear people say and I hear them shout,

That it’s Christmas and the kids should have plenty,

But all this seems to do is make them greedy and make their hearts empty,

The more they get, the less they appreciate,

The meaning is lost and the credit card is in deficit,

Too much is spent because we are told that we must,

The winner is the retail but the pressure will bust.

 

It’s a pagan festival after all high jacked by the Christians,

St Nick was used in as an example of tradition,

A poem in 1823 made the first reference to thee,

But it was Coca Cola that finally set you free,

They made you this big fat happy chappy,

With long flowing beard and hair to match,

Bright red clothes with a big red hat,

An invention of the commercial to make us drink coke,

But now we say he is Christmas, what a bloody joke,

Millions are fed a story of fake news,

But I don’t see many people condemning because the money is huge,

The almighty dollar is the truth and the reason,

Wrapped up in some pretty paper to appease even the heathen,

So we don’t mind celebrating Christmas because we know that it’s pagan,

And celebrates no more than a change in the season,

The days will get longer and we will be nice to our friends,

Hell we will even be nice to family although it makes you go round the bend,

We must enjoy ourselves, ‘cause it’s the season to be jolly,

But my friends I say that this could be a folly,

Although I do like the Christmas lights but that won’t make me believe,

I enjoy the Christmas carols but I’m not so naïve.

 

The shops are too busy and I only want to buy a loaf,

But instead I have to fight my way through all the oafs,

Panicking about how much they spent,

Panicking about what friend they missed,

I have to buy bigger ‘cause that’s what you do,

It’s not the thought that counts anymore,

Its’ the price tag or name,

Christmas could be so good but now it’s a shame.

 

You celebrate Christmas and this is your right,

Stop changing the language to suit the minority,

If the foreigners are not happy then they can grab the first flight,

You know you want to say it but no one will stand up and fight,

If the schools tradition is there from the first stone,

And you celebrate Christmas then carry on,

If your city or village is similar too,

Tell them all to bugger off and stick their head doon the loo

But every year it gets bigger and bigger,

Although the rules change and I begin to snigger,

There are more gutless wonders that can’t make a decision,

Christ I feel that I’m on a bit of a mission.

 

We should say Merry Christmas and nothing else,

We should not be sensitive to other religions,

Sensitive to a poor ethnic that complains about tradition,

Well I say bugger off and shove your petition,

This is a Christian country and I am a heathen,

But I believe in tradition and culture,

And we must protect it because of the future and for the past,

We must be more proud of our heritage and help make it last,

We celebrate Christmas and that’s just fine,

But don’t ask me to enjoy it, but I will have a wine………….

 

 

 

 

I finally did my tax return this evening and unfortunately I will not be getting a big fat tax return this year, mainly because I haven’t earned enough money. The only income I have is the rent that I get for the house and of course that is just enough to cover the expenses and have a wee bit left over to buy me dumplings in China. Pity I can’t get me brew money while I’m here………………………..

I also applied for my Myanmar visa this evening and so that means that the time will soon be here for me to jump on a jet plane once more and head of with the selfie stick in hand.

Of course before I leave China I will be going to the mythical Shangri-la.

The visa for Myanmar is $50 US dollars which I think is quite expensive. Maybe they don’t want to have too many tourists at this stage, but I have been wanting to go here for quite a long time and I have plans as far as Mandalay and then it’s going to be where the wind takes me for a while. I’m hoping to travel across to the border to Thailand at Mae Sai and then I’ll come down to Chiang Mai and stay there for a wee while if I can. My friend Anne lives in Chiang Mai and it will be good to catch up with her again. I have many places I wish to go but it will all depend if the wind is blowing in the right direction and of course if the visa card keeps working along the way.

I paid another visit to the True Colour Museum yesterday with my young friend Kang. She is studying Chinese Culture and Heritage and hopes that she can help to protect the history of China from the rampant development that can take place here at an incredible pace.

I’ve been to the museum before but, I had heard they had a new exhibition which to my disappointment was not really as good as the previous in my eyes. But it was still good to go and spend an afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of Suzhou city life.

I did enjoy these little caricatures of the crazy monks……………