Journal
Wednesday, July 4, 2007

Kunming (population 6 million) is located in south central China at an altitude of 6,500ft (1,800m) with moderate temperatures year round

Collin lived, and Mom and I were guests at the Yunnan University Center for Chinese Studies building in Kunming, China

The Western style hotel rooms converted into a dormitory for foreign students

The kitchen had no stove or oven, just an electric hotplate

We were thankful the bathroom had a Western style toilet seat, not the typical Chinese floor squat toilets we would encounter later

The bedroom bed mattresses were as firm as a wood plank

The view below the window was a mosaic tiled courtyard

A variety of plants were in the courtyard

The exterior of the building (right side of photo) is covered with one inch square bathroom tiles

The view out the living room window

The view out the living room window

The view out the bedroom window with mountains in the background

Construction cranes in the distance and an unusual dish tower building to the right which we will see again from the Golden Temple

The devices covering the roofs are assumed to be solar water heaters

Street with pedestrian overpasses

View of our room on the fifth floor of the Yunnan University Center for Chinese Studies building from the pedestrian overpass

Anther view of our room on the fifth floor from the pedestrian overpass

Street in front of the Yunnan University Center for Chinese Studies building

A market near the Yunnan University Center for Chinese Studies building

We frequented breakfast on the outdoor barstools at the Western restaurant named Salvador on the right

Street tailor with a stockpile of zippers and foot powered sewing machine

View of a lake in the distance

Produce market

Street

At 9AM, some stores have not opened yet

Old buildings with grass growing on the roof

Busses packed with passengers

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End is playing at the movie theater

Streets have automobile lanes and bicycle/moped lanes (maybe Renmin Xi Lu or Xichang Lu street)

Chinese people seem to interpret traffic laws as suggestions because we experienced taxi drivers drive in the bicycle lane to avoid traffic

Traffic control officer manually operating the traffic signals

Entrance to the Golden Temple Park also know as Jindian Park

Next gateway into the Golden Temple

Next archway into the Golden Temple

Bonsai plants

Buddha

Lady Buddha

Gazebo

Golden Temple Belltower

Big bell and lesser bell in the belltower

Ring the bell for two yuan (26¢)

View of Kunming and the unusual dish tower building seen from our room

View of Kunming from the belltower

View of Kunming and mountains from the belltower

Pathway in the park

Greenhouse with Collin examining tropical plants

Greenhouse with tropical plants

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