My visit to Dali University, Yunnan, China, as
Visiting Professor...
Part-1
Origin of this trip:
Mr. Lu Zonglong, one
of the research scholars at Mae Fah Luang University, Chiang Rai, Thailand,
asked me last year while I was there as a Visiting Professor, whether I would consider
a visit to his University for a short duration.... On query, he replied that he
comes from Dali University, Yunnan Province, China and his supervisor Prof
Hongyan Su, Dean, College of Agriculture & Biotechnology, Dali University,
handles a major research project on aquatic fungi of mountain streams of Yunnan
Province in south-western China, including the upper Mekong river catchment
area. My curiosity naturally rose when he said it is regarding looking at aquatic
micro-fungi which is very dear to me...
Preparations:
Mr Zonglong and his
mentor at Dali University Prof Su worked out a brief programme and invited me as
Visiting Professor to Dali University for a short duration of my choice time.
We agreed upon that convenient time would be later half of August 2017. Along
with an invitation letter, they sent return travel tickets to me and my wife,
the route being Goa-Delhi-Kunming by fight and Kunming-Dali by road. I obtained
our travel Visa from Chinese Consulate in New Delhi.
Our
trip to Dali via Kunming:
We set out to Dali, Yunnan, China, on
14th August 2017. We left Goa at 8:30 am, our flights were on time
and we reached Kunming airport at 10:30 pm local time. Authorities at both
Delhi and Kunming airports were very courteous and helpful. As we came out of
the airport in Kunming, Mr. Zonglong received us with an affectionate smile and
hug. He accommodated us in a nice place ‘Nissi Holiday Hotel’ in Kunming that night.
At departure lounge, Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport
Overnight stay in Kunming
Located about 1900 m above
sea level, Kunming, the capital of Yunnan
Province in south-west of China, is known as the ‘city of eternal cool’ for
its pleasant climate and greenery round the year. It was said to be the gateway to
‘silk road’ in early times that facilitated trade with India, Myanmar and beyond. Today it is
the provincial modern capital of Yunnan and most popular tourist destination in
southwest China.
Road travel from Kunming to Dali:
We got ready early next day. Taking bread-butter, baked beans, fruits and coffee as breakfast in the hotel, along with Mr Zonglong we set out to Dali in a hired car at 9:00 am. Kunming to Dali, 330 km 6-lane highway, was a pleasant drive. Though we had intermittent rain on the way, the car took us to our destination in 4 hours. For my queries, our friend Zonglong gave detailed explanations on places, people and culture of the region. Beautifully landscaped motorway from Kunming to Dali with several well-lit tunnels, it’s picturesque all along! High mountains, valleys and cultivated fields, it is green everywhere. People of north-west of China cultivate predominantly maize along the slopes this time of the year and besides we saw stretches of fruit orchards and pine forests. At intervals along the road, there are gas stations coupled with restaurants and washrooms.
We got ready early next day. Taking bread-butter, baked beans, fruits and coffee as breakfast in the hotel, along with Mr Zonglong we set out to Dali in a hired car at 9:00 am. Kunming to Dali, 330 km 6-lane highway, was a pleasant drive. Though we had intermittent rain on the way, the car took us to our destination in 4 hours. For my queries, our friend Zonglong gave detailed explanations on places, people and culture of the region. Beautifully landscaped motorway from Kunming to Dali with several well-lit tunnels, it’s picturesque all along! High mountains, valleys and cultivated fields, it is green everywhere. People of north-west of China cultivate predominantly maize along the slopes this time of the year and besides we saw stretches of fruit orchards and pine forests. At intervals along the road, there are gas stations coupled with restaurants and washrooms.
I particularly
noticed that the cities of Kunming, Dali and entire stretch of Kunming-Dali
highway are absolutely clean. We didn’t see even a piece of paper or plastic littered
anywhere on the roadsides, public places and parks. Those washrooms along the
motorway were absolutely clean and sparkling...! Such clean places are
prerequisites for a good living....
6-lane highway from Kunming to Dali is a high-speed motorway...
Maize cultivation along the slopes in Yunnan province
Amazing road network in China
Roads, crisscrossed by road and rail-flyovers.....
On reaching Dali:
We reached Dali at
1:30 pm local time. Prof. Hongyan Su fondly received us at the entrance of City
of Dali and took us straight to a restaurant named ‘84000WAYS’ for lunch. Her research
students also joined for lunch. It was a sumptuous vegetarian meal with rice,
noodles, curry, mushroom pizza, baked vegetables and an aromatic spicy pumpkin
soup. I queried with chief chef on the name of the hotel; she replied that it
meant Lord Buddha preaching 84000 ways of attaining peace and enlightenment.....
Noble thought indeed!
After lunch, we were taken to the place of our stay, a nice accommodation in the proximity of Dali University, where we resided next two weeks...
With Prof Su (in black) and her research students
After lunch, we were taken to the place of our stay, a nice accommodation in the proximity of Dali University, where we resided next two weeks...
D. Jayarama Bhat
(To continue....)
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