Dali

We traveled to Dali by bus. We made a scheduled pit stop at a building place built as a pit stop where tourists paid to use the facilities. Across the street were these men and women all working together to mix and spread cement. Quite the crew.


The first place we visited in Dali was the Batik or tie-die demonstration and store. The ladies first put a pattern on and then stitch so that areas can't receive dye, next it is dipped in the dye, rinsed, hung to dry until gathered and then spread out. Next I'll show pictures of two that I bought- neither here a this store.

My 2 tie-dye tablecloths.

We visited a Bai style building and watched a fake wedding and tea ceremony with singing and dancing. They have a three course tea which dates back thousands of years. The first tea was a bitter one, the second a sweet and the third an "aftertaste tea" made of cinnamon and
ginger. (We tasted the last two.)

Dali is a wonderful historic city with a stunning backdrop of the Cangshan mountain range and the 7th largest lake in China, Erhai Lake. The 3 Pagodas are amazing. The 2 smaller ones are tipping. There is temple after temple as you climb the hill. The big new one is named the Chongsheng Temple.

This was our most deluxe hotel ( with the poorest meal). The gift shops and artworks displayed around the hotel must have been worth millions. There were five different areas like this one that our room faced.

We are on our own with our friends from Mt P and a couple from our Branch here. Our "no-smoking" room conveniently kept the sign in an ashtray and another ashtray in the bathroom. We had to ask to change rooms because it was so strong.

Our travel agent had arranged a tour guide and driver for us. She was good in some ways but certainly wanted to take us to all the places that give her a cut. We first went to this place where they make miniature models of the terracotta warriors. Mike looks fine in the suits don't you think? He is standing by one of the kilns in the other picture.

We were sure glad that they warned us because we were just about to do some trampling when we saw this sign.