Kunming update

Kunming has been pleasant. I've met some interesting people, including an Australian fellow who is the most COMPLETE conspiracy-theory devotee I have EVER seen. He believes the Pope controls the world, and that he and the Illuminati (and Rothchilds and Windsors) control the goverments of the United States, Russia, AND China. The things some people believe. I'll have to include a link to the fellows website, once he sends it to me.

Yesterday, I headed out to the West Hills, outside of Kunming. Did some walking. I'd say "hiking" but it was on roads. Still, the scenery was pretty, and smelling air the was filled with vegetation rather than the various city air smells was a very good change.

I went to the HuaTing temple. It is a very old temple, but has recently be restored. Here's a photo (left) of one of the temple guardians, which flank the entrances of all temples. A fearsome looking fellow, indeed!

I'll be getting on the train shortly, taking a sleeper train to Kaili, in Guizhou province. Up in the hills around Kaili, apparently, there are number of villages of the local minority groups, so it is a nice place to make village to village treks and see some pretty scenery. That should be nice, after this time in urban areas.