February 7, 2007 Kunming

Wow...I am not sure where to begin...we had an amazing day today...but I guess I should start with yesterday since I didnt write. We spent the first 2 hours of yesterday applying for Kari's exit visa and then we went to Super Walmart...yes, I said walmart. I must say that a walmart in China is nothing like ones in the states. In fact I nearly threw up as we walked through the meat deptartment...if you would like to know more about it...ask me when we return..for now I dont want to relive it! After Kari's nap we took her to the beautiful park across the street, it is huge and goes on and on...it reminds me somewhat of golden gate park in San Francisco. We got lots and lots of strange looks from the people. It is not common here to see US citizens with Chinese children...when we go to our next city...they are much more used to it. We also went to a traditional Kunming style restaurant for dinner. I ate things that I never knew even existed and I likely will never eat them again.

Today...we started our adventures at 8:30 this morning as we headed out to the Stone Forest which is located about 90 minutes out of Kunming....it was tremendous and while there is only a few pictures here...we took over 200 throughout the day! When we were done with the Stone Forest we ate more local food :( Mommy and Kari loved it...Daddy is losing weight! I think I would kill someone if they were walking by with a pizza! After our lovely lunch it was off to see another site...called Jiuxiang area...it was beyond words...it started with a descent down into a gorge where we boarded boats and paddled up the waters...looking hundreds of feet up at incredible formations and vegatation. Once that was done we walked into the most amazing cave I have ever seen...I cannot describe it in words...again...you will have to see the pictures, however even those will not do it. I would have to say that it outranks Niagara Falls (which I love), The Grand Canyon....anything that I have ever seen. It was unbelievable...I wish that you could have all been with us. It was not even very crowded...it is somehow not well known. Once we completed the walk/hike...it had taken at least 2 hours and we had to climb up 300 steps to get out! After that you took a ski lift through the mountains back to the top. Then on our return we took small roads through the mountains winding through numerous small villages and seeing parts of China that I am certain not many westerners ever see.

The one negative that I have for Kunming is the traffic...it is outrageous and I am certain that if someone either drove in a single lane or dared to use a turn signal they would be arrested. I have not yet taken any video of it...but maybe tomorrow I will....you truly cannot appreciate it until you see it. My sister Julie would have a nervous breakdown within the first 5 minutes!

Kari is doing so well...she was just so funny today...walking and laughing and yelling inside of the cave...imagine how her world has changed in the last 48 hours!

Thanks for reading my longwinded daily blogs.

Good night.
Gregg