I just returned from a trip to Dali and I took the cablecar to the Horse Washing Pond - Xi Ma Tang - My Goodness - what a ripoff - what a scam.
The Tian Long Ba Bu Movie Studio was built in 2006 - I visited this place once - only to locate the Japanese Monk Temple because this temple was destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and the movie studio now sits in its place and only a small stupa remains. Many people have realized that the Tian Long Movie studio is a ripoff so no one seems to visit this place any more except for the tour groups who are bused there daily. Ticket prices for the movie studio still remains at 52 RMB.
The cable car to the Horse Washing Pond has been conveniently placed at the top of the hill inside the movie studio so they managed to get people to pay for this ticket with the cable car as an excuse. I arrived at the studio at 8:30 am only to find that the area is closed off until 9:00 when the opening ceremony begins and lasts about 15 minutes. Once inside the studio you may either walk to the top of the hill or pay 20 RMB for an electric car shuttle. By the time we reached the first cable car it is now 9:30 am.
The prices to visit the pond is as follows.
Movie studio = 52 RMB
Cang Shan Protection Fee = 30 RMB
Cable Car = 200
Total = 280 RMB
I purchased my tickets at a travel agency in Dali Old Town (Corner of Foreigner Street/Yang Ren Jie and HuGuo Street) because they have discounted tickets so I only paid 220 RMB.
The scam continues - The Xi Ma Cable Car begins at the movie studio and stops at the top of the 7 Dragon Maiden Pool. At this point all passengers must disembark and go to a ticket window and get another ticket for the horse washing pond. The reason for this is because passengers are only allowed to the next stage of the cable car if the weather is good. If the weather is NOT good, then you just wasted your time and you can return to the movie studio and you will be refunded 100 RMB for the second half of the cablecar. However, you just paid 180 RMB for a cable car trip to nowhere. The 7 Maiden Pool is closed for repairs until at least the end of 2012. So no one is allowed to leave the viewing platform and there is absolutely nothing to see here.
The first cable car takes about 20 minutes and you must get in line to get your second ticket and then get in line to get in for the second cable car. By now it is 10:00 am.
With great weather and clear blue skies, I continued on the to the second leg of the cable car with the horse washing pond as my destination. The second cable car also takes about 20 minutes so by now it is 10:30 am. We were the first ones to arrive and we began our 1 km walk on the artificial wooden path with railings that has been built to keep tourists confined. There are several viewing platforms (rest areas) built along the way as well as 2 toilet facilities. As we reached near the end, the wooden path splits to the left and right. The path to the right (below and out of sight of the pond) was roped off so we went towards the left where the MAIN platform of the pond is located.
There are several viewing platforms along the way but only 2 platforms are in sight of the horse washing pond. We reached the lower platform that is at the same level as the pond but as we attempted to climb the last 100 meters to reach the main platform that is above the pond, we were stopped by a guard who did not permit us to climb to the top viewing platform that allows us to see and photograph the pond from above.
We were told that the platform is being repaired so my wife called the phone number on the ticket and demanded our money be refunded because the 7 maiden Pool was closed and the main viewing platform of the pond was also closed. Within minutes, another guard arrived as well as 2 policemen. There are several guards along the path as well as 4 police with binoculars who watch the surrounding area and make sure no one jumps the railing and gets off the wooden path. After speaking with someone from the complaint office we were told to hand the phone to the guard and we were permitted to climb the last 100 meters and reach the main platform.
The view here is exceptional. Some workers arrived that saw the commotion and told us that the main platform was built poorly and was lacking a foundation so the platform was slowly sinking into the
mud. Rather then rebuild or repair, they just close the platform off to tourists. The second toilet facilites is located on this main viewing platform. After 20 minutes of picture taking at the main platform we began to descend and we saw other tourists huffing and puffing at 3900 meters. As other tourists attempted to climb to the main platform, the guard stopped them and did not permit anyone to reach the top. We heard them complain and grumble and ask why the Lao wai was allowed up. My wife told them to call and complian but they just grumbled and were content to see the pond from the lower platform.
We took the cable car down to the 7 Maiden Pool but were NOT allowed to go to the viewing platform. We were told that we should have gone to the platform on our way up and we must go directly to the next cable car and return to the movie studio.
I went to the horse washing pond a few years ago by renting a horse. However, horses are no longer allowed to take tourists to the pond any more. I also, hiked to the pond a few years ago but now the police with binoculars monitor the area for hikers.
Because the 7 Maiden Pool is closed, there is no way to get into the Cloudy Tourist Trail that runs along the Cang Shan mountains. If any one is interested in visiting the Horse washing pond, I suggest you wait until the 7 Maiden Pool opens. This way you can get onto the Cloudy Tourist Trail after you see the horse washing pond and descend from the 7 Maiden Pool. Whether you pay 220 RMB or the full price of 280 RMB, I dont think its worth it to go to the pond especially if you are not allowed onto the main platform.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byAs long as it is not harmful to the person or his surroundings. This is the most important fact - I beleive people have the right to hurt themselves as much as they want - go at it - knock yourself out and take all the drugs you want. However, All, not some, take others with them. It is never a victimless crime. When a father spends his time and money drinking rather than spending time with his family, he is causing undue pain on others not only himself. Especially in times of economic hardship. When anyone spends money on any drug rather then using that money to benefit spouse or children than there certainly is an adverse effect on others. I believe all people have the right to do whatever they want, AS LONG AS THEY DO NOT HARM OTHERS. Unless, a drug user is an only child, with deceased parents and no living relatives, then that person can take all the drugs they want. But anyone with a family (spouse + kids) is definitely hurting his immediate family. I dont see myself as a good father when I am buying drugs for myself yet neglect my son and deny buying him food, medicine, books, etc.
Yes, those who substitute illegal addictions with legal addictions are no longer drug addicts but can you honestly say that they have been rehabilitated and free of addicition? The answer is clearly NO!
When you see a loud mouth drunk yelling and fighting we call him an alcoholic but when you see an obese person you dont call him a food addict. The fact is that person does have an addiction. For those who disagree, then you are not educated on the real meaning of an addiction.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byI suggest that if we can't come up with something a bit more original then we all drop it -
You can drop it any time. No one is forcing you to reply. Do not put words in my mouth because I never said addicts are Aholes. Those are your words. I just stated that rehabilitation is NOT as easy as many people here make it sound as it is a much more complicated issue. I offered many examples of what rehabilitation is NOT.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted bySo what puts a nail on my coffin? What evidence is so overwhelming for you to come to this conclusion? The fact that 2 other people put their opinions which happen to agree with yours?
So let me tell you about rehabilitation. First understand what it means to be an addict and what it means to be in remission and what it means to be in recovery. So a cocaine addict stops using drugs but his smoking and pot use increases. He claims he is rehabilitated from cocaine. Next you must understand what it means to have multiple addictions and other undiagnosed addictions. Like a cocaine addict with a sex or food addiction or is also an alcoholic. He claims he is rehabilitated because he stopped using cocaine. Sorry!
Then we have the term Dry Drunk, this is a person who stopped drinking - we call it white knuckling it. He no longer drinks but he is still or even meaner then he was before when he was drinking.
Next we have the addicts who substitute an illegal addiction for a legal addiction. The cocaine addict no longer uses cocaine but he is now a 12 step addict. Everywhere he goes he must get his 12 step fix or he falls off the wagon in an instant. Or the one who becomes a bibble thumping Jesus Freak. He longer uses drugs but you can not get him to shut up about Jesus and how he saved his life and only Jesus is the answer. Same for those who become runners and now get a natural high. They still ignore their wife and kids and he must run a 10K every day, like a mailman, neither rain, nor sleet nor hail will stop him from running his daily 10K.
Just so you know, there are 12 step programs for any addiction. AA, NA, SLA and the list goes on.
So before you make a claim about rehabilitation you better take a look at the case file before you make such a sweeping comment.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byI just believe, that no one has the right to decide who should live and who should be put to death. Especially supporting it by saying everyone should serve a purpose.
The right, the ability, the people who control us and do whatever they want with the people of the world, they kill whoever they want and they never ask you or I for permission. This happens every day all over the world, regardless of what country you come from or what people they kill.
Perhaps you are as frustrated and feel helpless as I do about this issue. Perhaps you are empowered in some way by directing your comments to me.
People are dieing all around the world in real life yet you voice this problem to me as though I am the one doing this. Just to let you know, I am a nobody. I am not the president of any country or the UN. I have no guns or weapons of mass destruction in my back pocket, and I have no means or desire to kill anyone.
I do not have veto power to decide who should live or who should die. I am not on a panel to make decisions about who lives or who dies. This is a public forum. Perhaps you should write a letter to the US president, or UN president, or the leaders of the EU in Brussels. As a matter of fact, the headquaters of NATO is also in Brussels. Govts, NATO, the coalition of the willing, the CIA and MI5 and 6 are resposnsible for most of the murders that take place all over the world. These people have given themselves the right to decide who lives and who dies. They decide who is useful and serves a purpose and who does now, NOT me!
I am happy that you are passionate about this issue but I hope you can realize now how ridiculous you seem when you direct this comment to me. This is a public forum. People say many things here. Some people will even debate for hours about how McDonalds is better then Burger King.
Just to let you know, I have never tried, experimented or used any illegal drug in my life. I dont smoke cigaretts or cigars and I think Canabis is a very special medicine that can save lives. Unfortunately, the potheads have a bigger mouth and msirepresent the people who see cannabis as a medicine rather than a way to get high.
I want you to realize that when any person makes any comment about any issue on a public forum, the ones who reply have a vested interest in why they reply. So perhaps you are offended or hurt because you are or were a drug user and you feel persecuted by comment or think I am roaming the streets waiting to catch you so I can execute you. Or perhaps you are offended or hurt by people who are killed by others. I am neither of these so come back to reality.
A friendly suggestion. The most ridiculous person is NOT the one who makes stupid comments on a public forum, but the other person who takes it seriously and responds as though it was real, truth or reality. Sometimes - it is better to be thought a fool rather than open your mouth and prove it.
Laos extradites drug suspects to Yunnan
Posted byI love how stupid people make a big deal over an idiotic comment on a ridiculous forum. Yet with all that talk Kate, you say nothing about what is happening in real life all over the world. No idea where you are from but all the crap you talk about coming from a country without the death penalty. Well where the hell is that place you come from. The garbage that comes from your mouth makes me sick. Wake up and smell the coffee. See the condition of the world and go join an NGO so you can bark at someone else.