Day 76 - Menglun to Jinghong - Fri 10 May 2013

Day 76 - Menglun to Jinghong - Fri 10 May 2013
Pleasant morning exploring Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden Chinese Academy of Sciences - beautiful extensive gardens on an island of over 1000ha in middle of Luosuo River, divided into sections including medicinal (Chinese and ethnic including Dai, Hani, Jinuo), national trees and flowers (64countries), arboretum and arch paths, museum, ponds and fountains, mirror-tile walkway over ponds etc. Small birds and squirrels darted throughout.

Following lunch (where we envied the bus drivers having a siesta in their hammocks) we departed for Jinghong – travelling was easy with the huge roadsigns, English underneath Chinese lettering. Had one heart-stopping moment, almost running over the head of a driver who crawled out unexpectedly from under his stopped truck in the middle of road. Much discussion ensued on whether we needed more extensive third party coverage….











Parked in city near large bank and supermarket, travellers still needed to get sim/data cards for their various devices. KFC provided a clean toilet, although it was a new one for those collecting dunny photos, a ceramic oval with hood on ground and no hose, no discernible flushing mechanism (which way to stand/aim?) Andy took GirlRob to a place where she could “fix your broken leg” (eyeglass repair!).

It took an interminable time for five couples to get set up with sim/data cards of choice – had to consider price and coverage (2G is all China, 3G selected cities only, but faster). Andy helped one by one sort through monthly plans, top up credit systems etc. Walked back from phone precinct at Peacock Lake, past footpath food market, men playing cards in the street, dentist performing in shop window. Had dinner beside Mekong with Jon and Jude (got the chicken beak this time!) and watched brightly lit riverboat sail by. Youthful waiters with LED name badges and head bopping music a la karaoke….

Walked back to camp via night markets, almost getting run over several times by electric scooters (might be good for reducing smog emissions, but you can't hear them sneak up behind you!). Markets sported tattooists under floodlights and bongs for smoking normal cigarettes (or so we were told…)