Thursday night in the Linden Centre, Brian and Jeanee invited some local Bai dancers to perform and teach us some traditional dances. Twenty men and women arrived dressed in beautiful costumes; the women were coiffed with a lovely headdress representing the snow, flowers, and splendor of the area. One of the men carried a long baton, at either end of which perched a comorant (a fishing bird which when working wears a loop over its neck so it won’t swallow the larger, more valuable prey). After a few demonstrations, the girls joined in, circling round and round stepping, kicking and swaying their arms to the festive songs.
On Friday we boarded our Kermit bus (it’s olive green with reflective mirrors that look like antennae) to Dali. Our first stop was the Three Pagodas (three independent pagodas forming a symmetrical triangle the largest celebrates the Buddhist tradition). We then continued on to the Old City where we explored the colorful markets, bought a few trinkets and feasted on a traditional noodle pot for lunch. After lunch, we mounted chair lifts up the Cangshan Mountain, famous for its snow, ever changing clouds and moon. We witnessed all of this and the Erhai Lake, the fifth largest lake in China, as we strolled leisurely around the paved path. Others followed our American guide up a steep but rapid ascent to one of the vistas. Fatigued after the exercise, we rode the lift back down and returned to the Linden Centre for a taste of Chinese ribs, cashews, multiple vegetables and fruit. Off to bed early – we were tired!
Today we'll wander through the village of Xizhou, stopping at the Saturday market and visiting some of the local homes.
The three attached photos are views along the main thoroughfare in the Old City of Dali. -- From Jenny Jervis, Upper School French teacher
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