London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 49 – 15 October 2016
Electric Scooters, a Near Miss, and Fresh Fish by the Lake
After several days of long-distance driving through the mountains and valleys of southern China, Team Kontiki decided to take things easy today.
For once, there was no strict itinerary, no early departure, and no hundreds of miles to cover.
The weather was also kinder than it had been recently. Although the skies were still a little cloudy, the temperature was noticeably warmer than yesterday, making it a pleasant day to simply relax and enjoy our surroundings in beautiful Dali.
The morning passed quietly as we wandered through the local streets, chatting with residents, browsing shops, and soaking up the atmosphere of this charming town. Dali had a relaxed and friendly feel about it, quite different from the larger cities we had visited earlier in China.
Then, just when we thought the day would be uneventful, our guide Abby appeared with a surprise.
A row of electric scooters.
With a big smile, she suggested we take a ride to a nearby lake.
Naturally, Team Kontiki needed very little persuasion.
Before long, Abby and Ramesh were confidently riding their own scooters, while I volunteered to carry Dayal on the back of mine.
At least, it seemed like a good idea at the time.
What I had perhaps underestimated was the combined effect of a slightly inexperienced rider and a rather enthusiastic passenger.
As we set off, my scooter began to wobble alarmingly. Dayal’s extra weight certainly wasn’t helping matters, and for a few moments it felt as though the scooter had developed a mind of its own.
The situation became even more exciting when we headed directly towards a wall.
For a brief second, I imagined tomorrow’s blog headline:
“Team Kontiki’s Journey Ends in Chinese Wall Incident!”
Fortunately, disaster was avoided at the last moment.
We managed to regain control and escape with nothing more than a few scratches and a healthy dose of embarrassment.
Dayal, naturally, found the whole episode highly amusing.
After our dramatic start, the remainder of the journey was considerably smoother.
The lake itself was beautiful.
Surrounded by mountains and countryside, it stretched far into the distance and attracted large numbers of visitors. Along the shoreline, we saw families enjoying the scenery, couples taking photographs, and numerous local fishermen patiently trying their luck.
The atmosphere was peaceful and relaxing.
We spent several hours exploring the area, taking photographs, watching the fishermen, and enjoying a slower pace of life than we had experienced on the road.
Eventually, it was time to head back.
Of course, being Team Kontiki, things could never be completely straightforward.
Somewhere along the route we managed to lose our bearings and took a wrong turn. What should have been a simple ride back became a small adventure in itself as we attempted to navigate our way through unfamiliar roads.
Thankfully, after a little confusion and plenty of laughter, we eventually found our way back to the hostel at around 6:00 pm.
By now everyone was ready to relax.
Out came the local beer, and Team Kontiki settled down to share stories of the day’s adventures.
Meanwhile, Chef Ramesh was hard at work preparing dinner.
The star attraction was a fresh fish obtained from the lake area earlier in the day. Combined with his carefully selected spices, it soon became a delicious fish curry accompanied by steaming rice.
The result was outstanding.
Fresh fish always tastes better, and tonight’s meal was one of the finest we had enjoyed in China. The rich flavours, combined with a cold local beer, made for a perfect end to a wonderfully relaxed day.
Compliments were plentiful.
As usual, Chef Ramesh accepted them with modesty while quietly enjoying every one of them.
As darkness fell over Dali, Team Kontiki reflected on another memorable day.
There had been no famous landmarks, no major border crossings, and no long drives.
Just a scooter adventure, a near collision, a beautiful lake, good company, and an excellent meal.
Sometimes those are the days that stay with you the longest.
Location: Dali, Yunnan Province, China
Weather: Mild, warmer than previous days, and pleasant
Highlights: Exploring the lake by electric scooter and enjoying a relaxed day with Abby and Team USA
Most memorable moment: Nearly crashing the scooter into a wall while carrying Dayal as a passenger
Dinner: Fresh fish curry with rice and local beer
Chef of the day: Ramesh, once again earning rave reviews
Mood of the day: Relaxed, humorous, and thoroughly enjoying the slower pace of travel
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki leaves Dali behind and continues south towards the Myanmar border, where new challenges, rougher roads, and another fascinating country await on our epic London-to-Mumbai road journey.
