thanks for the advice guys! i think i may just buy a ticket for it (no customer service reps are saying a 'yes' to guitar carry-ons). i'm moving there so i've got a lot of stuff..plus my guitar is a custom martin (yeah i'm no django..was given to me as heirloom type gift from my uncle..my thought was why have it just sitting in a closet at my moms house..but now regretting it). i was given specific instructions not to check it..i assume les pauls and other electrics are much more durable and can withstand the temperature extremes a lot better. i'm afraid the temperatures under the cabin will warp the precision craftsmanship. plus i don't have the lock for the case..extra worry. was thinking non-air mail because of the temperature extremes. well, if you guys have any other pieces of advice, i'd appreciate it!
Getting Away: Tiger Leaping Gorge
Posted byGreat photos Yereth!
Donglianhua: Muslim outpost on the Tea Horse Road
Posted byGreat article! More like these would be great GoKunming! There are a few people in Yunnan with a tremendous array of knowledge about history, geography, minorities, etc. that I believe a lot of people would be interested in. How about a 'Social Studies' section of GKM?? :) Having recently done a bike trip with Geogramatt, I was amazed at his level of local knowledge! (Sorry Matt for perhaps some unwanted attention!) GKM can be a bastion of 'new' historical information that's difficult to find anywhere. Just a thought ;)
On a side note, there's a great mountain/temple complex southeast of Dali, outside Midu. I believe it's called 水目寺 (Shuimusi, 'water eye temple'). There's tremendous history there but with my limited Chinese, I could only gather that it is/was one of the most popular temples of Yunnan in it's prime, if not the greatest—comparable to Shizhongshan in Shaxi, amongst others. An extremely peaceful mountain, the untouched pine forests around the complex area are home to some very interestingly formed 1000+ year old trees. It definitely deserves the respect given to it by locals and the old monks that once inhabited it as a zen mountain. If you have access to a car, it's worth the side trip from the tourist frenzy of Dali.