Day 47 Thursday 19 October Kunming, China

Bit of contrast to have western breakfast in a 5star hotel having spent the last two mornings breakfasting squatting on the pavement. An action packed day starting with dropping the car at the BMW dealer for a quick service (10,000km with no apparent problems). Phyllis at BMW was v helpful but seemed surprised we wanted the car servicing if there was nothing wrong with it.

Then by taxi to the lake shore for a boat ride on the vivid pea soup green lake. Edward explains it's colour is a result of algae introduced to clean it up. The trip on a speedboat, although obligatory is a bit pointless but it does get us to the cable car station for a ride across the lake and up to dragon gate, a pathway and grotto or tunnel hacked by a penitent in the late 1700s with accompanying temples clinging to the cliff face high above the lake. Quite spectacular if one ignores all the souvenir stalls which are a feature of Chinese tourist sites.
Then back down in the cable car to pick up the car which apparently had passed the service with no broken axles or burned out brakes. Phyllis assures us it’s good for another 10,000km to Pakistan, but then rings later with some phone numbers in case we get into trouble. She doesnt tell us about the roads in Tibet. Apart from some X5s in the dealers, we see more on the road than anywhere since Sydney or Penang.

By mid afternoon we head out to the Stone Forest, a unique karst formation of limestone monoliths of all shapes and sizes. Its not as big as G remembered from a visit in 1987 but nevertheless and interesting trip.

Weather 19.5, Misty
Distance today 196km
Distance from start 10,063km
X5s 3