My Travels

Although you’ll hear from other tourists and guide books that Vang Vieng is commercial and touristy, and that the popular T.V. series “Friends” plays in every café and restaurant in town, if you are traveling through Laos, an extended stop-off in this “traveler’s haven” is a must.

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Moving on to China’s southern neighbor, Laos is a small country with a relaxed vibe. Because of the hot climate, people work when they need to, and get out of the sun for a restful meal or a snooze when they can. The land is fertile and produces generous crops. Many people believe that when the land is good in an area, the people are generally happier and more at ease. If you think about it, that idea fits well in many areas of the world. Travel in Laos is not as dependable as in other neighboring countries such as Vietnam or Thailand, but you’ll also experience less hassle and more tranquility in the Laotian approach to tourism.

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After a good meal you can tool your way to the central area where, on nice days, older ladies in their minority garb are dancing. Most of the dancing is done by Naxi locals. They are happy for anybody to get in on the fun. I asked if they were being paid for their performance, and they said yes, they got a small weekly pay for dancing. They usually come with friends, so it probably isn’t a bad way to earn an extra few yuan. Certainly beats buying a gym membership.

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Yunnan rocks. Between the warm nature of the people, the diversity in ethnicity, and the natural beauty of the land, Yunnan has to be one of the hippest places for Chinese tourists to visit that Westerners don’t have a clue about. That may sound a bit harsh, but few Western tourists make it all the way over to the most Southwest province of China, and it would be well worth their time. The capitol city of Yunnan is Kunming, a city that Chinese people connect with the expression “sìjì-rúchūn” “Four Seasons Like Spring” because of its wonderfully temperate climate. While Kunming may be similar to many other large Chinese cities, the number of people out and about is quite amazing. Because of the great climate, old and young people spend much of the day outside dancing, singing, shopping, and walking their dogs. I was surprised that so many people had dogs in the city, and Kunming must be one of China’s most dog-friendly places.

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Just south of Jiuzhaigou is the county of Songpan, a mountainous region that boasts a growing tourist economy. Horseback riding into the outlying areas might take you to Ice Mountain, where you can hike a bit to a clear lake not unlike those at Jiuzhaigou, and on the way back you might run into Tibetan children playing outside. Often in the Songpan area, you will see Tibetan prayer wheels, large metal scroll-like columns that spin to say a prayer. Watch the locals spin the wheel because you should go around the prayer wheels clock-wise and spin clock-wise as well. I’m not sure if it’s bad luck to spin them counter clock-wise, or if it’s just not the custom, but you will be quickly corrected if performing the prayers improperly.

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“Sichuan” may not be the spelling you know, but “Szechwan” might ring a bell as part of the name of a spicy dish at your corner Chinese restaurant. However you spell it, Sichuan, or Szechwan, is a province in Western China known throughout the world for its spicy Chinese food.

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