Day 12: Dali Old Town

Breakfast was just wrong and nothing like we ordered for example Kris’s consisted partly of broccoli and cauliflower which he generally would not want for dinner let alone breakfast! We checked out and got the guesthouse taxi to the long distance bus station. As we left they gave us an orange each and a necklace stuffed with a smelly plant which was lovely but we both agreed we would not attempting to take it back through customs just in case! Having arrived at the bus station at 9.40am we managed quite successfully to get on a minibus to Dali Old Town leaving at 10am.

Our driver was speedy which was slightly hair raising down the windy mountainside. We arrived at Dali Old Town 45mins ahead of schedule so the journey only took 3hrs 15min which was good as the bus was squashed with many flies in the soaring 31degrees! The driver had no intention of stopping so we had to pipe up in order to get off by following the very basic map in the lonely planet.

Dali is surrounded by a city wall where we were dropped off at the East Gate and were staying at a hostel close to the West Gate. As a result a plod across town with our gear in the heat was in order. Our home for the night is the Jade Emu Guesthouse which is not in the lonely planet but was recommended by several other travellers we have met who all say it made their stay in Dali.

As its not in the book we had no idea where it was but kept walking until we came across it and were instantly blown away. This place is our best stay to date. It is relatively new, run by an Australian guy and one rule of the place is that you have to play the boss at pool. If you win you get the night free of charge, if you lose you have to buy him a beer. We have not played him yet but will let you know the outcome.

We had lunch and a quick nap then walked into the old town. This place is just as nice as Lijang if not better as although it is still touristy it is quieter and the locals actually live in the town so it is not so fake. We walked for a bit then found a local supermarket and treated ourselves to snacks and alcohol as it was so cheap.

On the way back we came across a massage shop that was run by all deaf masseurs. We thought we would just find out the price and could not resist. We both had a neck, back and leg massage that was quite painful but amazing all the same. Both feeling fully relaxed we are now back at the hostel in the common room watching the disaster movie which is aptly named!

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