Sunday 17 June 2012

Day 10, 09 June 2012 Xicang to Meigu

Today total distance travelled 250km

We set out to Meigu early morning after breakfast in Xicang. This is because one of our main itinerary for today is to visit the village of the minority Yi people.

Early morning carwash at Xicang hotel carpark

The Yi people are an ethnic group in China, they are the seventh largest of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China. They live primarily in rural areas of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guangxi, usually in mountainous regions. Most Yi are farmers and herders of cattle, sheep and goats. The Yi people are among the poorest minority in the whole of China and we hope to understand the living condition and lifestyle of the children among the Yi community.

The drive to Meigu was fantastic and the weather was foggy in the early part of the journey and our visibility was down to 10meter or less.



During our drive to Yi village, we were lucky because we had the opportunity to visit a local Yi wet market which only happens once in 9days.

 The Yi minority marketplace

 Yi kids around the marketplace


Soon after we left the wet market, we came by a small Yi community along the road and decided to distribute our gifts in this village.


 Kek Fei sharing candies with a Yi boy. 







It didn't take long before all the children in the village came and greet us with curiosity and smile on their faces.

Not too long after we moved on from the Yi village, we came to a scenic spot where all of us decided to stop by for a photo taking session. It was during this time a small group of Yi boys from the highland came by our vehicle. They were not able to understand Mandarin Chinese because schooling is almost impossible for them and all they know is Yi language.



The Yi boys

We arrived Meigu safely at 1700hrs.

I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank our sponsors, Kendall Motor Oil and Penang Global Tourism for their kind gifts. Gifts are not measured in monetary value but it is the kind gesture that matters lot.  



 Meigu locals

Meigu town






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