on the way to the mountains, these ethenic chinese lined up the first few meters... they are gorgeous 

these two ladies behind me are 100 and 105 years old. They never got married. they curahkan theri life to the art of music 

something like this picture made the second page of Yuxi Daily news paper.. i brought it home as souvineer 

this is the park we went to.... 

One of the arches of gateway to the top of the mountain... i was sooooo tired by the time i reached the top... 

This tree is about 500 hundred years old... it spewed honey and the ants eat it away... that is why the bark is uniquely shaped 

this seat is supposed to add 100 years to your life.... I should not have sat on it... but i was too tired.... good trick 

I've climed a mountain to see this and many more... I was too exhausted to take pictures... but because this reminded me of CERITA CINA.. i just had to take a picture... 

We were singing in the bus... all the countries of ASEAN had to sing.... except Malaysia... Spoils sport! 

This is the rich part of Yuxi Xity 

This is the Bruneian team... crazy as always :) I like this team, despited flaws :) less stressful 

One of the interesting stories to tell about china is the toilet. and this is me in the toilet, standing... after doing my bussiness... with another lady next door... he he he he... if you understand "maksiat mata" that is what i am exposed to ;P 

The school children also lined up the street where we were walking down... it reminded me of Brunei ;) 

This is a Minority Chinese from one of the tribe from the mountains. again... a line of boys from this tribe lined up the street to the garden 

These are just some of the minority chinese that lived in the mountanous area of Yunan. And these girls' hair are real from head to tip! They lined up the whole road.. 

This is my bus that brought me throught out the city of Yuxi. I didn't get car sick :) I think i have have been 'cured' ;) 

This is the path we took to go to the ecological park. Notice the stepping stones... it goes all the way and is actually enjoyable :) 

One of the activities we have to do is planting a tree to commomerate our historical being there. This is the Brunei Tree... and I, with the others are planting it in the ecological garden :) Lots of photographers were present everywhere. A pictures of the Bruneians planting their tree made it to the front page of Yuxi Daily :) 

These girls dressed in red are the ones that greeted us at the airport, opened the doors for us, waited for us at the lifts, ride up the lifts and walk us to our rooms, they also waited for us alongside the red carpet everywhere... They are college students... 

They gave us all a flag of china and our country in our room, alongside a free basket of fruits. Its replenished as well ;) 

This is my room, in the midst of packing. What you cannot see is the other bed on the other side of the room. One person has a room to her/himself. Its really nice to be in your own room. One complaint though... the air con in the room is not properly functioning, so i had to open the window every night, as you can see from the picture ;) 

Few of the banners hanging in the hotel's lobby. Its actually a nice lobby... a shame i didn't take a lot of pictures when i was there... 

Ms Zhang and Faisal (Head of delegation for Brunei Darussalam). Faisal is a man of few words and Ms Zhang is very worried of him. I am the mediator :) 

Siti and Yaumi, sitting on a bench a while, after they had finished exploring Kunming Airport for some necessary shopping *wink* 

The Brunei Contingent with our interpreter, Ms Zhang at Kunming Airport, Yunan, before our last farewell. Tears were exhanged with promises to write. 

Yunan, China

Dearest People,

I AM IN CHINA.. Specifically, I am in Jiang Chan, Yunan, south west of China. I was travelling with a group of people from Brunei yesterday from 10 in the morning, arriving at 10 pm at the airport, and another 2 hours drive to reach the hotel and conference venue!

We were exhausterd, but seeing that the people were friendly and greeted us lavishly with flowers and more... We were humbled. We also thought that we would be staying in the "middle of nowhere" since its another 2 hours drive... but was PLESANTLY suprised when we arrived.

The hotel is a 4 star hotel.. and it is just nest to a lake.. a fresh water lake... and the second largest and deepest in the whole of the land. I also get to sleep in my own room... NO SHARING! I have 2 single beds to myself... and a TV and also a clean toilet :) its exciting.

ON top of that... we are being served HALAL food by this muslim chef, waiter and waitress... While we eat and drink, they stand still to wait for our need. And its no ordinary dishes we are getting. We are served like 13 dishes per meal!!! From chicken to meat to vegetables to mushrooms and more... its really a pleasure... wasted are the food I brought along thinking I would be starving again like i did on my trip to THAILAND!!!

This morning, since the conference starts tomorrow, we walked along the coast of the lake. We had a magnificient view of this island in the middle of the lake. You can even see 10 meters deep into the lake. The deepest being 102 meters. Its really beautiful. Even if we do not have the opportunity to shop since we are evry far away from the city, the scenery is breathtaking... and does my brain and heart a LOT of good.

The people are friendly even if we do not understand a word they are saying. The more you try to communicate with them, the more they shy away from you. Its interesteing because, from certain people, i get this impression that they are manipulative and blood suckers! They are different from that!

Okay... I think i would blog this only... just to let you know that I am still around... and that I am think of what to write next. When I do not have to pay for what i write, i'll write more... till then, you all take care... and I will have FUN :) and mingle with the others.

several things had happened. Some are hurtful, and I believe its best to forget. I am still unsure how to react to being "snapped" at... I guess, my exterior shell will tighten its pores, so the delicate, soft flesh inside is protected.

Only tonight, an old friend called... and we chatted and chatted... must be at least an hour plus! It was nice to talk to a friendly person ;) and exchange stories... You never really know how much you miss a person until it hits you... It was an amazing experience...

I have been meaning to blog... about several things:
i) woman's health
ii) special education in Brunei
iii) renewed friendship contract
iv) 'makan gaji'

and a few others... When I am in bed, trying to sleep, I have these beautiful words in my head dying to be written. However, while waiting for the computer to heat up, I fell asleep till morning. Pretty useless...

I'm going to Yunan, China. I won't lie. I am looking forward to it... Getting away from the clinic is all I am thinking of nowadays. I can't wait to be burdeoned with Kuala Belait and Tutong at the same time! *mixed feelings actually!*