China was… very Chinese. The cities were hectic. The countryside was wonderful and the people were among the most inviting I’ve ever met. It was cold and windy and, at times, surprisingly hot. Not speaking anything other than a few basic words of Chinese, I spent a lot of time wandering around, looking, watching, seeing.
The trip wouldn’t have been possible without Ben. He’s a close, good friend, a kayaking buddy and a former co-worker. He’s been living in Beijing for the last eight months and studying Chinese for years and years. Ben had a month off for the Chinese New Year. I had enough cash to get there, and barely enough to get back.
Ben’s command of the language was amazing and impressive. I met a few foreigners who couldn’t speak much Chinese. All planned to stick to the cities, following the tourist track from Beijing to SE Asia. None planned to venture far afield. With Ben’s skills we were able to experience truly unique places in Yunnan, places that are just being discovered by Chinese tourists.
During a twelve day portion of the trip, we met only one other Westerner. Toward the end of the trip Ben got us out of a snow-bound town faster than a professional guide from France. We were stoked; and not just because that was the only option for me to make my plane flight home.
Below is another quick video, taken on our exceedingly hectic trip back to Beijing. The battery cuts off at the end, the lighting is poor and the volume is low, but I think you’ll get the idea.
My advice to others who want to have an adventure in China: 1) If it isn’t in Lonely Planet, that’s probably where you want to go. 2) Never look like you are in a hurry, when the opportunity comes, strike fast. 3) If someone invites you to go to church, you really really should attend. That was one of the most special experiences of my life.
I’m currently writing a longer piece about the whole adventure. A lot happened and I want to tell the story. You will like it. Thanks for reading.
All photos courtesy of Benjamin Liotta
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