Hey Hey and a Big G'Day to you all,

Woke feeling like death this morning. I had felt my energy levels falling since the night I fell asleep in Yangshuo with the aircon on full. It's ok to do this if you sleep in the other bed, the one that isn't directly under the jet stream. I remember waking feeling like it was the dead of winter and jumping under the blankets to then wake in the morning sweating like it was the dead of summer...which it was!

This morning I woke all congested and nasally and with a head that was about to explode. When you wake feeling like this, there is only one thing you need, no, sorry, two.

1: More sleep &

2: A Coffee or six!

FOOD: I followed the guidelines and after a few more hours sleep I headed to 'Stella's Cafe for breakfast and a coffee or two. Between mouthfulls of coffee and scrambled eggs I began talking to an Israely lady whom was sitting at the Korean Cafe accross the little laneway. It was so funny as most people could only see me as I was lower down. They looked at me like I was insane as they thought I was talking to myself. Some just stared at me until I yelled 'HELLOW' at them and pointed accross to my conversation partner.

Anyhow, after breakfast or lunch or Brunch we decided to head down to Erhai Hu or Lake Erhai. We left the city walls and made our way through the fields stopping to say hello to all the women farming the land. When we arrived at the foreshore we spent a few hours walking the streets of the village of what I think was Longkan. If Longkan is big then it wasn't Longkan as this was a tiny cobble stone village. Everything was so old and beautiful. One family invited us in to sit and listen to a band of friends as friends and family made offerings around them. All the instruments were traditional Chinese including a bellman whom constantly chanted.

Another family invited us in for tea and to watch as the mother and daughter continued work on a ten metre high cross stitch. It was one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. We all sat in a court yard beneath a huge old vine that protected us from the sun and it's heat. It was a beautiful time. The entire time we walked, children followed us and danced around filling the streets with their joyous laughter. It was a beautiful day indeed.

After so many hours walking we decided on a horse and cart ride back to the walled city. Two beautiful girls whom we thought were Chinese boarded and we all smiled and chugged our way up the road. We found out the girls were actually Korean and were students in Beijing. MMMmmm mmmMMM!!! Korean girls are very very beautiful. A well kept secret by Korea. I remember six years ago when I was there I was stunned by the women.

FOOD & CAFE: After the normal Koren/Japanese hello/goodbye photos Israel and I headed to meet her friend at the Lazy Book Cafe. We all then headed to the Sister Cafe for an awesome meal. I had walked past this cafe a few times but never stopped. It was AWESOME. If you are in Dali, give the Sisers Cafe a go! After dinner we headed back to the Lazy Book Cafe where I purchased another book to begin some time in the near future. It becomes hard to buy even second hand books here in China even in places like Dali or Yangshuo. Most Cafe's want to swap Your TWO books for Their ONE book.

Most will not sell! so if you are travelling or planning, make sure you always have atleast TWO books on you. If you are travellign for a short time, give them to other travellers when you are finnished. Believe me, we WILL buy you many beers in return!

If you are travelling for a long time, DO NOT give even one of them away. I don't care how beautiful the girl was last night, when you have finished the last one you have, it will take some time before you can find a place that will actually take your money in return for a book!

The three of us spent a beautiful evening outside playing cards and pickup sticks. I can't believe how hard pick up sticks is after even several beers. By the end of the night sticks were flying all over the place. They taught me a card game from Israel but I could remember let along pronounce the words I was supposed to say at several points during the game.

Needless to say I lost, but they gave in on many occassions and let me say certain English names that to me sounded Scottish. It worked and to them was close enough to Israel lingo.

It was a fantastic way to end an awesome day.
Beers n Noodles to ya...shane