2011 - NZ To SF - Day 90

Day 90: (11 August 2011):
- Morning: breakfast then walk to museum. (After museum?) Change 10EUR for spending cash.
- Some effort in museum. Some random dioramas. Communist logo on entry. Dinosaurs, history, models of Vat Phu, Plain of Jars, some monolith site, etc. Charming. A few artefacts. Old schoolhouse-like building. Stairs curve along walls. The Buddha statues in metal cage as have been stolen once before. Caught at border. Can barely see them. Dominoe Buddhas.
- History (communist) of Laos. Painting of French colonialists whipping people & throwing child in wells. Photo of dead people with caption saying people killed by poision gas in American prison camp.
- Always refer to “American imperialist.” Some funny propaganda captions.
- Display for each of the ministries. No photos allowed, but I couldn’t resist.
- Walk around a bit. Hilarious “wanted for public drunkeness” photo spot at a bar. Some bars & stuff around.
- Check out. Didn’t get chance to exchange contacts with Korean.
- Tuktuk ask 60k. “Oh, too expensive.” & walk. Ask how much, I say 30, settle @ 40. Negotiator is not the driver.
- Early. Wait a bit & check in when open. Eat at Japanese restaurant on 2nd floor. Modern but small airport. Check in person has just printed sheet with 14 names on it. I crossed off.
- Waiting area: After Hanoi flight boarded, only Chinese left.
- ~ 15 on plane. Sandwich.
- Arrive Kunming. Only one filling form. Ask in Chinese if I’m Lao. Say Canada passport, ask if is hua qiao. Chinese always curious.
- Not stamp last page as requested. Chinese customs usually nice (surprisingly).
- Modern & busy. Happy back to modern place. Lots of stores.
- A few change is lines. group-> transfer (desk closed?) -> individual. Fly in from “wan xiang.”
- Enter security. No cash machines. Didn’t see cash machines in quick walk in lobby.
- Plane a bit late. A plane going to Shangri-la. Didn’t know was real.
- Meal on flight. Arrive Beijing late.
- Run around to find right ATM & call uncle. Uncle suggest bus, not much slower than taxi.
- Just missed bus. Leave @ 12:15 or so.
- Random road drop-off. Watched to find intersection, but when others get taxi, I wait & get one no problem. Long queue.
- To Minzhuyuan. Didn’t see hotel, so drop across from it.
- “Chinatown” - in Beijing, the capital of China, which was strange.
- Ask guard. Walk & use map, find no problems.
- Uncle on outside.
- Give me some stuff, call dad, he leave. Wasn’t sure if he was staying here. Used one bed, TV, shower, etc. Apparently said we both stay, I am an invited specialist of some kind to get cheaper rate. Have feeling both were eyeing my passport at check-in in curiosity.
- Wash clothes, sink fall out. Full, so can’t change rooms.
- Arranged to meet at 11:30 next day for lunch.