Xishuangbanna: China Miami

After a fitful night's sleep, we (Lucas, Tom, Gareth, John Kuo, Monica, Laura, Sam, Ken, Rachel – Phoebe and David were a bus ride away) awoke to find that Xishuangbanna was a tropical paradise! Whoever did the city planning for this place... thank you. Thank you for showing me that China can be beautiful and not always a smelly wretched mess. There are statues of elephants everywhere. There's Western food. The sun was beaming; a pool was in the hotel next door!

Me and John with the same elephant

After each taking pictures with some elephants, we set about consuming as much Western food as possible. We found a café called Meimei's that had coffee, smoothies, spring rolls and creamy pasta! I couldn't say no and my stomach hurt all day. A worthy price to pay, I say!