10/23 Kunming we have arrived!

October 23rd

Today we head to Kunming. The oldest aunt's son arranged for cars to pick us up to take us to airport. We said our goodbyes at the airport to the uncle and aunts. Then caught our flight to Kunming.

The flight was smooth and we got a snack of peas and water on the flight. We arrived in Kunming and caught a bus towards the city and Leon's home. We got off the bus near Leon's apartment and has to drag our bags through the neighborhood. Let's just say by the end I was ready to leave some bags behind and Leon could have used a good strangling.

We were greeted by Leon's good friend Zack's parents. They are letting my parents and I stay in their unit which is just four stories below where Leon lives. Zack's parents also prepared lunch for us - rice noodles with chicken, eggs, and mushroom. It was delicious and it was nice to have something simple.

Note about Zack: his real name is Zing and he is currently living in Sweden. He spent a summer at Purdue and I got to know him there. Leon, Zack, and I took trips to Chicago, Indianapolis, went to the movies, watched some baseball games, and played wii. Zack even met my parents when they were visiting. His mother has sent me gifts since then - I have a beautiful bracelet and scarf that she sent through Leon and his mom.  Here is a picture of us when he was in Indiana.

We had a chance to relax around the apartment and then Leon came to get my mom and I to walk around his neighborhood. Things have changed according to Leon - remember it has been 7 years since he was here last. The neighborhood has a lot of tech stuff now - computers, printers, and modems are on sale in each store.

This is Leon's apartment building (his apartment is in the tallest building on the top floor)

We got ready for a nice dinner out. This dinner was our best one yet. They ordered way too much food but the food was scrumptious - we had broccoli, fish, steak, beef, chicken in broth, noodles, sweet sticky rice, shrimp, boch choy, flower root, Peking duck, and more. It was all so good - I think I ate more tonight than any other night! The duck and fish were both really good but I was ready for the fresh broccoli. I asked Leon what his favorite dish was for the evening and he said the chicken in broth. This made me laugh because of all the dishes this was the most basic and plain. To each his own!

Leon with his favorite dish

We took the bus to and from the restaurant. After getting back from dinner, we relaxed and then were ready for bed. Since living in St. Petersburg, I forgot how loud a city could be - tonight was a loud white noise night!