Even in the wired age, travel's headaches still manage to endure

Traveling in the country has become more convenient in the mobile era. You can book your plane/train tickets, hotel rooms, and even car rides through various kinds of apps and arrange a trip from your home within minutes.

Yet, it doesn't mean everything will turn out fine. A careless choice on your mobile phone can still lead to an unpleasant experience. And in Yunnan, not everything is connected, as I was to find out.

I was in my colleague's car on the expressway to Kunming after an interview in Songming county. I had met her in the airport that afternoon and didn't think to book a hotel room until we were on the way to Kunming in the evening. My colleague suggested that I stay in a hotel close to where she lives, so that we would avoid the traffic jams during rush hour the next morning.