Phew~ Finally got hold of a computer with internet access after 4 days of oblivion! And having said that, surely you'd expect 4 days worth of blogging backlog. Oh well, I shall attempt to make this entry a less painful read than it is for me typing it. By the way, I am writing this in an internet cafe right smack in the middle of Kunming while waiting for our overnight bus to Lijiang. So pardon me if the entry gets 'cut off' prematurely as it would probably mean that I would have to rush off to the bus station...
17 Dec 07 - Juan Tana Mera
Ok, that was lame~ anyhoots, it was indeed our last day with Juan, and Fabius. Juan will be off to Halong Bay while Fabs will be making his way back home to attend a cousin's wedding (bummer!). How did I start the day off? the usuals, off course. So, I got up at around 6.30am and wandered the depth of the streets (the infamous Hanoi old Quarter, mind you) alone. Yup, I figured that it's the best time to get inspiration for nice photographs. This time round, inspiration came in the form of an elderly Ang Moh who, I assumed having lived, or visited, Hanoi for some time now, offered a photography tip as I was triggering happily on the shores of Hoan Kiem Lake. It was timely off course as I wouldn't want to waste good photo opportunities high up in the Tibetan highlands with my dismal photographic skills.
The rest of the day was pretty much mundane as we were rather lethargic by midday. Had lunch at the Whole Earth Restaurant where I met a mid-aged Australian who was waiting outside the restaurant waiting for an Irish couple for lunch (you would hear of him again later!). We purchased train tickets to Lao Cai (as they no longer offer a straight route to Kunming) at 82000D for hard seats (yes, we're 'budget through and through) and then later walked back to Shoe Street to have my broken sandals repaired.
Later that night, we had our last dinner with Juan who had had quite an interesting day out at the Municipal Water Puppet Theatre. Now, here's where the mid-aged Australian appeared again, this time startling me from the back as I was engrossed viewing the display of a DVD shop waiting for Aly and Fabs to rummage for great buys. It was odd, we thought, as we bumped into him plying the streets of the Old Quarter thrice that very day. I hope it's not any sort of a lucky charm...
After dinner, we headed for a local 'beer garden' which was, really, 3 stalls offering local beer for 2500D a glass at a back alley junction. Aly insisted that, despite the many photographs taken of him nd Juan engaged in a hearty conversation flanked by two glasses of beer at the forefront, only Fabs and Juan had their generous share of alcohol that night. Nonetheless, the 'humbling' experience (sitting on low stools by a less-than-hygienic roadside al fresco style) was a memorable seal to the night...
*Shitzer, the bus' calling... watch this space!*
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