One huge difference about Yunnan than any other part of China we’ve visited is how devoted to Buddhism many of the people are. We got to visit a Buddhist temple in the city and we also got to venture out into a nearby town, their morning market and local temple. There are so many different people groups in Yunnan I won’t attempt to list them all, but we did get to capture some their life and culture on memory card.

We spent a few days in a port city in Yunnan Province called Jinghong. It is a beautiful city that reminded us of northern Thailand in the weather, food and style of architecture…but it was China, which we love. I am going to describe Jinghong in a way that you will probably never hear me describe many other cities in China…it was not only sunny, warm and beautiful, it was quiet. Little scooters, bicycles, and a few cabs were all that were on the roads. You can walk and get anywhere you want to go. No noise, no honking, no car exhaust. And nobody is rushing around to get anywhere. It was so laid back that the little shops and businesses that normally open at 6 in the morning (or don’t close at all) where we live, didn’t even open until 9 or 10 in the morning…some of the shopkeepers unlocking their doors in their pajamas. We had a great time there and recommend it for anyone needing some sun and quiet.

Instead of flying back home to China we took a boat up the Mekong River, passing by Laos and Myanmar…actually getting to stop in Myanmar to collect some rocks. Apparently they’re very valuable and sell for a good price in China. It was a beautiful boat ride, about 12 hours long and then a 3 hour bumpy bus ride through Chinese villages and farming communities. Even living in China, it’s rare that we get to see that part of the country…the country-side of China. It can seem like China is just a series of huge city after huge city, but it was a treat to get to see hillside after hillside of green instead.

Northern Thailand has some of the most beautiful tropical flowers in the world and we got to be there for the annual Flower Festival. There was a beautiful parade with floats made from those beautiful flowers, traditional Thai costumes, music and dance. It was amazing. The running gag we heard from a Chiang Mai expat was to try telling the difference between the real women and the guys in drag…it’s a pretty normal thing in Thailand to cross dress to the nines. Yes. Weird. But there it is.

One of the coolest things about staying in Thailand is how inexpensive it is to stay in really nice places.  There are plenty of big hotels in town, but we prefer to stay at these small, out of the way spots.  We stayed at this guest lodge, The 3 Sisters.

It’s so comfortable, relatively inexpensive and the staff are so friendly.  It’s right near the center of town so you can pretty much walk everywhere you want to go.  Plus, it’s right next to the famous Sunday Market street, which is a market for both locals and tourists.  It’s so packed you could pick up both feet off the ground and be just fine being carried along with everyone else.  Chiang Mai is a large city, but there are many little roads off the main ones with cute shops and hole-in-the-wall restaurants that are the best eateries in town.

Some of our best friends from Urumqi moved to Thailand last year and we’ve missed them so much.  We are so thankful to be able to visit them over our break.  Their kids are so dear to us and we got to spend some time with them at the Chiang Mai Zoo and Aquarium.  I enjoy the zoo, but it’s ten times more fun with little kids around.  Check out all our photos by clicking on the ‘photos’ icon.

We’re doing some traveling over the Chinese New Year while we’re off school and can get away from the freezing cold and smog for a while.  So.Needed.

So, I know that McDonald’s is, like, evil in the fast food world…well, any food world and , yes, I have seen “Super Size Me,” BUT, after being away from the US for so long, those golden arches are still a warm and fuzzy reminder of home.  And, so this is the introduction to the first stop, the first event, of our trip… Mmmm…Quarter Pounder with fries and a coke.  Real pickles and processed cheese food.  Yum.

We went to our neighborhood Carrefour (sort of like Walmart) yesterday - a Saturday - which was just asking for trouble.  It was insane!  Packed full of people, the only time I’d seen anything like it was probably last minute Christmas shopping at the mall.  Picture that minus the idea of personal space.  So, lots of pushing and shoving.  Plus, us being foreigners, we just get a lot of attention.  I never thought I’d cause a shopping cart traffic jam just from people wanting to see what was in my shopping cart (and yes, feminine hygiene products were ogled).

You guys know about my foray into the Chinese culinary arts… so I was also looking for a good quality wok, which took, not one, not two, but THREE, yes, THREE sales ladies to help me buy, all talking to me at the same time in Chinese.  One who thought that tugging at my clothes would help me decide better.  Part of me feels a little like a famous person, but part of me knows that it’s most probably because I’m seen as a clueless foreigner who knows nothing.

Then, we get into the checkout lane (which were all lined up to about 20 or 25 people).  We were thankfully in a fairly calm line and actually met two very nice fellow expats from Latin America standing in line behind us.  Jason wanted to practice his Spanish, but he knew it would just come out in Chinese.  But the line next to us broke out into a frenzy.  People were shoving each other and slamming shopping carts trying to get a spot closer to the front.  The impulse-buy rack even got shoved over to make room for line-cutters.  It was quite the spectacle.  I’m so glad I wasn’t in that line…I think I would’ve just broke down crying right then and there…that, or The Meena would’ve emerged in all her ugliness.  So glad I wasn’t in that line.

One of my goals (resolutions, whatever) for the year is to have fun studying Chinese.  I really, really didn’t think it could be possible, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised.  We’ve been watching movies in Chinese (I’ve learned how to say “I’m the king of the world!” from Titanic and “don’t suck my blood” after watching War of the Worlds…useful stuff, right?), listening to Chinese music (I can actually sing along to a few of them now!), reading in Chinese (We’ve been reading already, but mostly stuffy textbooky things, so I picked up a copy of the January Elle with Nicole Kidman on the cover-all in Chinese and so fun to read!).

If you know me well, you know that I love, LOVE to cook.  I’ve been cooking since I was a kid, making elaborate meals for my family, and can’t get enough of The Food Network, Saturday afternoon PBS cooking shows, recipe books and websites.  So, my friend, Alicia, and I went to the bookstore the other day and each bought a cookbook.  Hers is Sichuan style Chinese food (spicy) and mine is healthy Chinese food (not as much stir-fry and oil).  We decided that we would test out the recipes from our respective books and report to each other successes and failures and then recipe-swap the successes.  I’m so excited!

One day, our dining room table will look like this…

We had a great Christmas!  Here are some pictures you can check out.  Just click on the “view photos” link to see them.