Dali tourch festiavl. Ha! English health and safety departments would have a field day! Picture this: hundreds of people stood around a bonfire clutching 5ft long torches...people dancing in circles around mini bonfires (bit like a scene from Lord of the flies!)...people HOLDING fireworks as they go off TOWARD the masses...young kids swinging and spinning their enflamed torches as their parents smile on... teenagers engaging in playful banter (ie trying to set each other on fire)...firecrackers going off in every direction...sweet little old ladies trying to capitalise on the event by selling gunpowder... We watched the majority of the 'fun' from a safe and sensible distance (ie from the bar at one of the local pubs!) Today Dean once again got involved in the Thai Chi action...and once again I copped out in aid of the sleeping action...maybe tomorrow... This afternoon we went horse riding to see the three pragodas across town. It was really good, though I got assigned to a really slow horse (ie he took three steps then stopped) Our guide handed me a big whip and encouraged me to give hime a bit of a whack. I was having none of it though, cruelty to animals 'nall that. Besides, I had visions of the horse bolting off into the wilderness... This afternoon I am going to watch Dean do his Kung Fu, then this evening will probably involve a date with the Dali beer (30p a pint) Tomorrow we are heading back to Kunming and I have a feeling we may end up going a bit mad with the (stupidly) cheap DVDs...again. Don't think we're gonna get through customs at this rate! Claire x