21st Oct - Lijiang

Wow! Have survived the bus ride! Apparently, it take only around 9 hrs, we reached around 615 am. I did managed to sleep (here and there), but woke up several times during the night. I had some weird dreams. Really weird and bizzare ! Woke up with a backache! The bus ride was pretty bumpy, with several toilet breaks.

Can feel the morning coldness. Luckily, the bus driver only require us to get down the bus at around 730 am. Several locals at the bus station, start to approach us, asking if we need any accomodation, taxi to the old town, guided tours.

Ignoring all of them. We start to walk from the bus station to 丽江古城. In no time, we reach the old town. Decide to turn in. Almost all the shops or hostels (Yes .. they close their doors) are not open. Walked down several lanes, look pretty confusing, the maps wasnt helpful at all.

After many turns, we finally reached 四方街 (this is like the old town city centre). We decide to start looking for our accomodations. Walked into several hostels, check their rates, start bargaining. Finally, we settled for 茶马客栈，since we are begining to feel the weight of our bags.
The price was reasonable, RMB70 for a 标间 （room with attached bathroom) with 24 hrs hot water (yes .. dont always assume they have hot water !)

Since our room was not ready, we left our bags with them and went to look for breakfast !
We had 云南粑粑 for breakfast at this small alley. We walked back to 四方街 in a bid to look for more food. Its around 9 am now, and the crowd are coming in - there are group and group of tourists ! *Horrible!*

<<导游>> wanted something hot. We went into this vegetarian place and ordered soya milk. This one taste quite similar to the ones we have in Spore, but super diluted ! The ones I had in China before had a much stronger soya taste, which I am not used to it.

1 lady approached us whilst in the cafe. She recommended us to go 拉市海。This place was not mentioned at all by Lonely planet, however, it was featured in the chinese guidebook. Maybe, this is not a place for Westerners ? After some discussion, we decide to go tommorrow, the transport will cost us RMB40 to and fro.

Went to Naxi Family place for lunch. We order (1) stir-fried Brinjai, (2) Tofu & vege soup, (3) Chinese sausage and (4) 鸡豆凉粉 - this is one of Lijiang 特色小吃.

鸡豆是一种豆类，产于高海拔地区，产量极低，由该种豆制作的凉粉， 有冷热两种。

Dont like the dish though, it is like eating some flour like stuff being fried. Carbo-loading ??

Walk around the old town, it seems like all the road will eventually leads back to 四方街.

Went up to 文昌宫, you can have a good overview of 丽江古城.

Started to rain. Decide to take a break @ SAKURA restaurant. This place is opened by a Korean who married a Chinese. They actually have a wide selection of food - Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Chinese and English.