Masters School China 2009

Our trip in China so far has been interesting to say the least. From meal worms to getting drenched from the rain today, our trip abroad has been generally exciting and eventful, that's why the relaxing easy pace of yesterday was extremely welcome. Our day was spent first with our tour guide Johnny at a traditional Bai (the local minority in Dali) morning market and house, then on the bus finding our way to our next Yunnan destination. Lijiang, although similar to Dali, seems to be composed primarily of winding roads, crowded with shops, and scenic parks like the one we went to when we first arrived in the city. That and a museum of the Naxi people were the first activities that marked our stay in this traditional minority dominated city. The museum, though our stay was short, definitely left an impact on me and mirrored some of the traditional style items recognizable during our later shopping excursions.

At the park, along with scaring mussels in the pond and getting watermelon smoothies, our group decided to take on a mascot. This little dog, Bi Zee (or "water chestnut" in English) became the subject of many pictures and videos. We ended the day by looking in the little shops that are everywhere in the area of Lijiang near the guest house (though it's more like a hotel) where we are staying. Though in our little group from Masters we have many different kinds of people we all pretty much like to shop.