Nihow from China. We made it. As we quickly found out, very few people speak any English in China, but we managed to get a night bus from the border to Kunming, capital of the Yunnan province. That was amusing in itself, as Chinese night busses manage to have bunk beds. We both had top bunks, meaning each time we went round a bend we would almost fall out of bed (like we did when we were six). We got our first 'taste' of Chinese toilets in the early hours of the next day when the bus finally stopped for a break. They involve a trough in the floor, a heap of used toilet paper in the corner and no partition walls or doors. It was an unavoidable and new experience to us, being on full public display whilst using the loo. It was also a new experience having people spitting everywhere, even over people all the time. Its just the done thing. Our first morning was a bit of a marathon, as we couldnt find many places that would house us forigners for the night. Finally found a dorm in the youth hostel. We paid a visit to the Walmart, which was also a marathon in itself (pick&mix frenzy). A few days later, after exhausting Kunming's 1Yen bus services we moved onto Dali. Or so we thought... We got off the bus to Dali at Dali, whipped out our guidebook map of Dali and managed to match up the name of the main road we were on, to the main road on the map of Dali. After walking up and down the main road in 'Dali' we soon figured with the aid of a pocket compass (thanks daddy Harding), and a helpful local that we were in a place called Xiaguan also known as Dali and also with the same main road name. Not confusing at all. After a number 2 and a number 4 bus we arrived in the real Dali. WE LOVE DALI. YEAH WE DO. ITS THE BEST. As soon as we got here we fell straight into a great guesthouse. They have free internet, free laundry service, electric blankets and hot water. Our own room, all for 3 quid a night between us. Not long after we fell into this guesthouse we fell into Jacks cafe, which we now consider to be truly legendary. Especially the apple pie, which is served on a bed of lettuce but is still THE BEST. We've done a fair bit in Dali, including a T'ai Chi course with a local 'Kung Fu MASTER'. We also spent a few days hiking in the local snow-capped mountains. This involved spending a night in a mountain hut, where we encountered a real life cat-dog. No joke. So we're off to book a bus to Lijiang now, hopefully it will arrive in the Lijiang that we want. After getting off the free internet, picking up our free laundry and after some grub in Jacks cafe that is... Thanks for the messages Zoe & Sarah xxx