Day 10: Shilin (石林) then leaving for Dali (大理)

Today we went to a rock park in Shilin, about an hour drive southeast of Kunming. Again after spending 2.5 hours from leaving the hostel to get there, we realized they upped the price to enter, but we had spent so much time getting there we still went. Once inside a group of people asked if we wanted to join their tour and it would be cheaper for everyone the larger the group was so we decided to join them. I should have known this before, but today would solidify my understanding of the differences between the Asian tour groups idea of site seeing and mine (which I think is pretty common among American and European travelers). For two hours our group followed our guide to scenic overlooks, sometimes she got us there alone, other times we were joined by 500+ Chinese tourists all looking to get the same picture of the most important scenery. During this time we kept passing hiking trails and I never saw anyone on them. Tired of fighting for pictures and having pictures ruined by hundreds of people in the background I told Charlotte I wanted to leave the tour and meet up with them later. The tour guide pointed me in a direction and told me where to meet. Within seconds I was in an isolated piece of the park hiking through the rocks with some of the best scenery. In the end it worked out for both of us, Charlotte got to stay in the shade and see what she wanted, while i explored on my own finding less seen parts. So for the future I will probably just avoid all tours, but Charlotte will still take them as she does not mind being with all the rest of the people.

Afterward another one of the couples offered to drive us back to Kunming so we wouldn't need to take the bus. Getting into their car I was immediately yelled at for trying to put on my seatbelt in the backseat. They did not understand why I would want to put it on since the laws say only the driver needs to wear it. I will make a post later about all the driving things I have noticed.

Below are pictures from the park 

an explanation about the rocks

The Rocks from a distance don't seem that impressive

Getting closer they start getting larger

Right up close there are some taller than trees!

They make Charlotte seem so tiny

A lot have two pieces, a rock sitting on top of another one

Charlotte dressed as a native with the Chinese Tours walking by

Finally got a shot without too many people in the background

It says Shilin, in case you forgot where you are

Huge rocks looking to fall at any moment

More rocks towering above

Charlotte with out tour guide

Our next stop is on to Dali tonight by overnight train