At a Rest Stop in Yunnan

China offers the most unique rest stop experience in the world, I opine. Dozens of grizzly men in dark jackets squat indiscriminately in the parking lot. They smoke, but more frequently and with more temerity they spit and snort. How Chinese people can deftly use their fingers on their face to pick, to blow and to examine truly amazes me. Yet, I still can't fathom how, in 5,000 years of continuous culture, what in Hong Kong is euphemistically referred to as "cough and sneeze manners" have failed to manifest themselves in the middle kingdom. Are tissues and anti-bacterial hand wash two of the five evils? (or more likely, is the longevity of Chinese culture owing to its unsanitary ways?) What I do know, however, is that I dare not park my bag on the floor upon re-boarding the bus after a rest stop. Dirty China lives on here.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• yunnan
• province
• kunming
• dali
• china
• chinese
• road
• highway
• bus
• trip
• journey
• rest
• pit
• stop
• parking
• lot
• backwards
• loitering