大理／Dali

不知道是不是大理不欢迎我，一下车就开始下雨。糟糕的是，下车的地方离古城中心还有一公里多的路程。背着那么大的背包，还被雨淋，只有两个字可以形容——狼狈。更惨的是，手中那本旅游指南是旧的，好不容易走到要到达的街，才发现想要入住的宿舍已经关闭。

在自叹倒霉的当儿，又有人上来拉拢生意，要我考虑入住他们的民宿。参考的几个地方不是太昂贵，就是设备不完全。于是决定碰碰运气，看看这家民宿到底有多好，结果捡到了宝。

民宿坐落在一个安静的小巷，地方大又干净。双人房，带厕所（中国人叫卫生间），24小时热水澡，附电视机。最重要的是，可以在房间内免费无线上网。一切只要40元（约8新元），你说划不划算？

Dali doesn't seemed to welcome me. It started raining the moment I got off the bus. It was bad enough that the place where the bus dropped me off was more than 1km from the heart of the old city. Worse still, the Lonely Planet guidebook I have on hand is an old edition. After tramping for half an hour in the rain, I would have thought that I can finally put down the huge backpack, only to discover that the hostel I intend to put up with has long been torn down.

Just when I thought that it was my unlucky day, along came one of those ever present locals trying to get me to put up at her house. Since the place I wanted to stay was long gone, and the few places I tried were either to expensive or unsatisfactory, I decided that I might as well check out this guesthouse. It turned out to be the best decision I made on this trip so far.

It seemed a long way to the guesthouse and I kept complaining along the way. But the lady pointed out that it felt far only because of the heavy backpack on my back. When we finally reached, I saw a large clean building housed in a quiet lane. The lady showed me a double room, with attached bathroom, hot showers round the clock, with a TV and free WiFi access. All these for only 40RMB (about 8SGD). What a steal!

安顿好后，先到克敏家作客。几天没有吃到家常菜了，虽然罗妈妈表示菜色简单，但对我来说却是好吃得不得了。之后就是好好探索大理的时候。

After finally settling down, I went to Kemin's place for some home-cooked food. Although Kemin's parents were apologising for the simple fares, but to someone like me who has not smelled home-cooking for a week, the simple dishes were the most delicious food I had in weeks. Then it was time to explore Dali.

与丽江一样，大理也有一个古城。不过与丽江不同的是，大理的古城少了一份味道和特色。大理古城的街道宽宽的，直直的，不像丽江老街那样又窄，又弯弯曲曲。大理古城街道两旁的商店大部分都在售卖白族的衣物或白族制造的商品。

Just like every city in the world seems to have a chinatown, there seems to be an old town in most of China cities. However, Dali Old City is not anything like Lijiang Old City. Here the streets are wider and straighter, no quiet corners for you to discover. The whole city do not have as much character and feel than that of Lijiang's. Most of the shops here sell clothes and other items made by the Bai minority tribe.

在大理故城发现了不少有趣的建筑，如这个挂着特别招牌的商店－－《天堂阶梯》。

There were lots of interesting buildings in Dali. For example, this shop with an interesting signboard－－Stairway to Heavan.

然后还有这个不像厕所的厕所。这是我到目前为止在中国看到的厕所中，最漂亮的一个。每次使用只需要五角钱（大约新元一毛钱）。

And then there is this public toilet. This is the most beautiful public toilet I have seen in China so far and it is cheap too, 50 cents (SGD 0.10) per visit.另外，还有青少年常去的舞厅和迪斯科。

There are also pubs and discos, Dali style.

以及很有特色的咖啡厅和餐厅。其实这里的咖啡厅和餐厅很多都是由外国人开的，他们大多都是来到这里之后爱上这个地方，而决定在此落地生根。

And also cafes and restaurants, each with their own character. Actually, many of these pubs and restaurants are owned by foreigners who decided to call Dali home after falling in love with this place upon arrival.

当然也少不了各种云南小吃。

Of course, you can also find stalls selling food unique to Yunnan lining both sides of the streets.

在大理新城，即下关，也有不少好吃的东西。

Good snacks can also be found in the new part of Dali, ie. Xiaguan.

看完大理城内，是时候到大理周围看一看了。先到有多达19个顶峰的苍山走走。坐索道到苍山山顶，不只可以眺望整个大理，还可以看到大理人引以为傲的洱海湖。而苍山顶上非常宁静，各种各样绽放着的花朵让这里显得更美丽。

After walking up and down the streets of Dali, it is time to explore its surroundings. First up, Cangshan Mountains. Taking the chairlift to the summit of the mountains，not only can you see the 19 peaks of this mountain, you will get a bird's eye view of Dali and the famous Erhai Lake.

最后还到了洱海湖旁的小村——才村走一走。原本想要乘船看看风景，还有探一探在湖另一边的白族生活，可是船票太贵了，只好站在码头拍几张照片就走。　　～伟

Last but not least, went to one of the village by Erhai Lake, Caicun. At first, I wanted to take a boat out to the opposite side of the lake to check out the Bai minority tribe villages. But I was so put off by the ridiculous boat ticket price, that in the end I made do with taking pictures of the opposite side from the ferry point. 　　～wei