Travels in China during 2025

 

Tuesday 12^th December 2023 

Another busy day ahead, so I got up at 7.30, after Ling and had a shower and shave.

I made some porridge we’d brought with us, along with half of yesterday’s youtiao and we were ready to go out at 9.30.

We took the metro, which cost 5 yuan each for about 10 stops, to the huge flower market and spent an interesting hour here, during which time, Ling brought a large bouquet of flowers to send to Vicky in Shijiazhuang, which should arrive next day for 25 yuan.

 

As we were leaving, I bought Ling a bouquet of anemones and stocks, which we carried round with us the rest of the day. As I was feeling exhausted, we stopped at Luckin’ Coffee across the road, for a coffee and slice of banana bread, before taking the metro and a taxi to our next destination, Guandu ancient town. This was another typical ancient town with buildings being renovated, full of the same kind of shops as found in Dali and Lijiang.

As it was nearing lunchtime at 1.00 pm, we stopped at a well decorated restaurant and had a meal for two at 58 yuan, which I paid for using cash.

The meal included rice, carrot and vegetable soup, rice balls stuffed with minced pork and fried chicken, with chopped bones mixed up with the meat, but the taste was OK and it was nice surroundings, sitting outside, with lots of flowers etc.

Then we walked further on and passed a park, where loads of elderly people were singing, playing cards, erhu etc. From here we visited a well maintained temple, built around 1340.

 

From here, we caught a taxi to the Yunnan museum and stayed about an hour, during which I was interested in ore samples, as well as amazingly designed bronze figurines and cooking utensils from the Bronze age, plus a lot of dinosaur exhibits.

 

There was quite a long walk to the front of the taxi rank,from Kunming station, but there were plenty of them and it took about half an hour to reach our hotel, the Ha Lou, which was on 13^th floor of a large tower block. They didn’t accept Western credit cards, so I had to pay 533 yuan in cash for 3 nights. Last time we came to Kunming was 10 years ago, so we didn’t recognise anything.

Our room was on the 23^rd floor and quite well equipped, with fridge, radiator, safe, wardrobe, 2 armchairs and a desk for laptop etc, plus double bed and TV.

 

After we’d settled in the room, Ling noticed there was a Huang Luong  (Spring City) shopping mall. not far away, which is the same one we visit in Jinan, so we walked there for lunch on the 6^th floor.

There were quite a few Thai restaurants, but we chose a Hong Kong place and I had an excellent plate of fried spicy beef and garlic, with boiled rice. Ling had aubergine and salty fish with pak choy, and we enjoyed the food which came to 86 yuan.

Beware of Customs procedures

 

My wife purchased a bottle of Dewar's duty free whisky today, 12^th April 2023, £38.89 (including discount offer) at 06.41 a.m  at LGW North Main shop, using self service checkout, at store 000230 till 0111,Trans No 9928.

I was about take it away, when sales assist took it and put it in a black sealed bag, before handing it back to me.

 

I then caught my flight to Dohar, by Qatar airways, en route to my final destination, Beijing. On going through the transfers at Dohar, to go and wait for the flight to Beijing, I had to go through another security check and to my shock, I was accosted by a security guard, who confiscated the bottle of whisky, because it was in a bag that was not transparent. It was a sealed black bag at your shop, but this was not acceptable,to the authorities and I'm dismayed that your duty free shop don't seem to be aware of this scenario.

 

I spent an unpleasant 15 minutes arguing with a supervisor, but they were adamant and refused to let me have the purchase, which I'd made in good faith, due to your shop not putting it in a clear bag. If that had been done, I could have taken the bottle through.

 

I therefore expect a full refund from your department, along with compensation for the discomfort and disappointment, I had to put up with, including threats they were going to interview me with the police, during an already stressful period, including over 6 hours on the flight and this was a gift for a relative in Beijing. They wouldn't even let me open the bag, to show them the contents.