Kunming: The Random Scenes

Yesterday, early morning, I just arrived in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province was my last stop in China. Just like usual, travel is always hurt at its parting moment. I'm sort of missing China. No matter how difficult it was (because of my language problem) or how, after almost a month, I barely could understand what it was, China deserves more of my time and I believe it will be worth of it. Here I posted some of my shots from Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province. Most of them I took during the second day upon my arrival.

Hope that you enjoyed it :)

Will post more later.

China: A Short Retrospective

Within 3 days, China, or oficially the People's Republic of China (PRC), will celebrate its 62th establishment. Yesterday, while wandering below the grey sky of Chengdu and its crowded street, I saw its on-going preparation. Some huge flower bouquet were stacked near Tainfu Square, while at the same time, hundreds of workers were deployed.

62 years after its establishment, PRC is one of nowadays world's major power. Looking at it today left me wondering, how could a country that decades ago were considerably poor (not mentioning its record of Great Chinese Famine) lately turned into an economic powerhouse, military power, and an important player in world politic.

By looking even deeper into its people, decades ago, they hardly could afford more than a small radio. Don't ask about cars because washing machine was once a luxury. But today, many Chinese drive the latest cars possible; Mercedes Benz, BMW, Buick, or even a Lamborghini that I saw the other day. Many Chinese today enjoy an amount of money that could be never imagined by their own parents before. It's not to mention its cities parking lot which always full and shopping center in almost every corners. PRC is living to its fullest.

Of course, what's written above is not probably all true. Far from its teeming cities, in its rural part, many Chinese still live for less than a dollar a day. Making life seemed impossible. However, by comparing it as a whole, 62 years after proclaimed by Chairman Mao, PRC has never been so bright.

Chengdu On China Railway

Departing from Kunming to Chengdu, I started my first experience on China Railway yesterday at 10.11am. Earlier, I was a little bit nervous. At 7am I was still in Kunming South Bus Station, half asleep in a comfortable night bus couch which transported me back from Yuanyang (will post about this one later) to Kunming. Luckily, I was with Santa, an accomplished photographer from Hungary, which became a very good company for the last few days. So we could work out a mess for those last 3 hours; my luggage was kept in my former hotel in central Kunming 15km apart and I had to deal with several taxi drivers who don't get English even for a word.

To my surprised, everything went quite well. At 9.30 We were on Kunming Train Station. Santa decided to go to Guilin. At this point we said goodbye to each other.

The China Railway yesterday wasn't as busy as I expected. And I found my coach less than one minute‒thanks for being there right below the staircase where I walked down. So I jumped on board, put down the bone-cracking luggage, and wandered around.

I always love being on a train. For me it's much better than buses, or even flying high on an airplane. It's because both have missing one important thing; a colorful social life on board. During my travel in India of 2009, train has transported me for thousands of kilometers with comfort and ability to meet some of the warmest individuals during my trip.

China Railway wouldn't be far away from that. With some basic Chinese I started to learn after the mess with taxi driver earlier, I was able to communicate for a few times. Not bad. And yes, Kunming to Chengdu trip also offered something more, a 1048 km of nothing but stunning scenery between Yunnan & Sichuan province flashing from my window.

Now I'm in Chengdu :)

Back to Kunming

Today, we'll be traveling back to Kunming. After 4 days in some remote corners of Yunnan‒we spent half of it on the bus‒I am starving to see a bigger city scene, relaxing, and simply doing nothing. But it will be a merely 9 to 10 hours. By the time you read this (this post will be published automatically), I'll be rubbing my back, smoking a chinese cigarette, having a chat with the fellow photographers, or sleeping uncomfortably while our bus passing the rugged terrain of Yunnan. That's possibly the best thing I can do to enjoy the last part of the trip.

The day before, we've missed the lively city scene of Nan Sa, just like we've missed Gengma, the first city of the trip. Yesterday, we arrived in Lincang quite early. So, as the last stop I didn't want to miss the last opportunity getting around the city.Lincang, a modest developing city, was small enough to be roamed on foot.

I decided to left my dinner at the hotel and explored some parts of Lincang. With Marko Rupena, my company a photographer from Serbia, we were able to capture some shots. We manage ourself photographing some street scene, beauty shop, street stall, and motorcycle workshop. Even we went to an electronic shop, this time was nothing to do with taking photographs at all; I couldn't resist to buy a portable loudspeaker which is incredibly cheap. Made in China for sure.

My experience of visiting some Chinese cities of is memorable. I am all new to China, but all that I can say, its people are one of the warmest and most kind-hearted I ever encounted anywhere. I cannot speak Chinese/Mandarin‒and very few Chinese speak English. But there's one language that everyone understands; a smile. And the Chinese are just never get bored to smile.

That's all for now, I'll keep you posted :)