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You can lose everything, but nobody will take away what you saw and what you experienced...
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Feb 27, 2016 09:00 PM 3600 m above sea level
Deqin, China. The doorstep of Tibet. You can see many people in Tibetan clothes. Early in the morning I start to hitchhike on Yunan-Tibet highway trying to get to Feilai Si – little Tibetan monastery, which is 10 km away. Taxi drivers wanted 40 yunas each way. I was surprised – in this remote corner of China hitchhiking is surprisingly good! First I Visited Little monastery, which lies below the highway. Nice place, but from here you cannot see the main attraction of the area: the ridge with the holy mountain Kawa Karpo. The magnificent view opens about 1 km west where they built recently many hotels. I was excited, the view is breathtaking. But they try to make a bbusiness on it. On the left side of the road they built the big terrace, put a fence, an they charge 150 y entry fee “to the national park”. Do not be stupid – take the pictures from the gate! The all range was in white – unforgettable view.
The mountain Kawa Karpo (Chinese: Meili Xue Shan) 6740 m is one of the most important sacred mountains in eastern Tibet. Kawa Karpo is part of a larger mountain range with 13 prominent summits. The mountain range has the name Taizi Shisan Feng (Mountain range of the 13 princesses). The highest peak, which is also named after the mountain god Kagebo, is seen as a perfect pyramid from many sides.
An ancient pilgrim route leads around the Kawa Karpo mountain range.
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Feb 26, 2016 09:00 PM On the doorstep of Tibet
Oh, yes - this was lucky day... The morning flight departed on time. Before landing in Shangri La I had opportunity to enjoy the panoramic view of the snowy mountains. Shangri La has new air terminal in Tibetan-like style. I was running through expecting that there will be city bus waiting in front of the stylish building. Nothing like that! Expensive taxis only (40y). But there were people vith little van collecting Tibetan monk from the same flight and they offer me free lift to the bus station. It took us about 20 minutes to cross the legendary city - I will be back here!
-I want to buy the ticket to Deqin!? - no problem - the lady in the window sold me the ticket for 58 yuans. Bus is departing at 10.30... It was around zero Celsius, but lovely sun was shining when I was waiting with other passengers in the courtyard of the bus station. Well, it is China... The bus was 1,5 hours delayed, but I was still happy.
We started to climb the mountains. Yunnan - Tibet highway offers wonderful views. Now I know that this segment (Shangri La - Deqin) can be added to the most beautiful mountain roads. We were climbing to the snows... The highest pass is on the level 4292 m! On the western side of the pass even more snow, but the road was passable. What a journey for just 9 US dollars!
We reached Deqin (they pronounce [decin] after 4,5 hours. Deqin is the last settlement before the border of Tibet. It lies in the valley, but still on 3500 m above sea. Deqin has strong Tibetan flavor... I found warm room in the hotel 200 m from bus station and in the eatery nearby ordered for 9 y a plate of my favorite dumplings. No, I cannot go west into Tibet - foreigners are not allowed to travel this route, even with the local escort. And that's why so few tourists are coming via this fantastic road!
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Feb 25, 2016 09:00 PM Little detour - Kunming
Just let you know, that Chinese superpower few years ago blocked access from China to my private website - I do not know why. My new diary was accessible during last few days, but today I cannot connect to it, so maybe the superpower decided to block also my travel log on kontynenty.net If this is true I will be able to publish there when I'll move back to Malaysia on March 9th. As you can see GS access is not blocked (yet) :)
In the morning in Chengdu aiport I saw that the only flight to Kangding was cancelled again, so my decision of rerouting was right: I bought new ticket and now I am already in Kunming/Yunan. I was here years ago so it if just a stopover. A chonce to adjust to the altitude -it is 1900 m here and I feel it. Tomorrow morning I will fly onward - close to the border of Tibet. See the Kunming airport imposing terminal on the picture.
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Feb 24, 2016 09:00 PM It is still snowing in Kangding...
Can you imagine the breakfast in the international hotel without a single piece of bread? That's China! I got rice, watered vegetable soup and a choice of boiled vegetables. Tea or coffee are not offered, spoons or forks too.
Hotel bus took us at 7.00 to the airport. I got my boarding pass, pass through security and took a long walk to the gate 136. Few people were waiting there but soon more arrived. I liked most smiling Tibetan monk - he did not know any English, but wanted so much to talk with me -see picture.
Ten minutes before scheduled departure time we got the annoucement: flight to Kangding is delayed. It is still snowing in Kangding... We were waiting an hour. They offered a box of juice and cookies. The second annoucement was the same. No flight to Kangding today!. They took us to the same hotel.
Sorry, I decided to change the plan - there is no guarantee, that it will not snowing tomorrow. I am working on the new route to Shangri La - probably via Kunming.
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Feb 23, 2016 09:00 PM First steps in China - not easy!
It was 10.30 pm when I landed in Chengdu. There were only 6 of foreigners on the plane so no line to the immigration desk. At the customs they just screen fast all the luggage, no problem! Then I changed money in the kiosk (they charge 60 yuan of commission) and I went out. A guys from the hotels were waiting there, but, sorry not for me. Well ahead I booked a room in the hotel near airport with a pick-up. Friendly Chinese student called them – just to tell me that the hotel for unknown reason cancelled my reservation. That’s China. Very poor communication with the locals… What should I do in the dark?
My next flight to Kangding was departing at 6.35 in the morning. I decided to walk to the domestic terminal 2 – some 800 m and spend few hours in the waiting room.
This was not my best night. But I survived. At 5.30 am I went to get my boarding pass, then through the security to the gate 144. Everything was nice until they aannounced that my flight -the only one to Kangding is cancelled due to the heavy snow in the destination. Just let you know thet it is the second- highest aiport in the world – it lies on the level of around 4120 m. Bad luck! But the China Eastern took all passengers to the hotel, offered meal and aaccommodation. Let’wait until tomorrow! And keep your fingers crossed, dear Friends, please!
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Feb 22, 2016 09:00 PM May I have the hot water?
It was 7 am when I was walking from the YH to the Gold Cost airport. It is walking distance. Soon I checked for Air Asia flight to Kuala Lumpur. One carry-on bag only! They have a limit of 8 kg. My backpack has more, but nobody cares... 8 hours flight ahead of me.
Airbus 330 started on time, then they distributed prepaid meals. Extra cost. Few people knows that you can ask just for the free hot water and the will bring you covered plastic cup. Just take a tea or cofee bag in your pocket and you will enjoy free hog drink... Great views of the Australian outback and the islands from the plane.
In Kuala Lumpur I am waiting 3 hours for the connection to Chengdu - China. Free internet in the airport - that's why I can send you this message: all goes well, dear Friends. I am just changing the climate :)
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Feb 21, 2016 09:00 PM Easternmost Australia
The last day of driving around Australia. We are heading north, along the coast of NSW. A lot of roadworks on the way - it is not possible to drive 100 km per hour - as it was in the other states. Pacific Highway is the motorway only in some segments - there are still long distances where it is only the ordinary road, with 50 kmph speed limit in the settlements. Is it rich Australia? I am disappointed!
In the early afternoon we reached Byron Bay -some 6 kms off the main highway. On the hilly peninsula there is a cape Byron - the easternmost point of Australian continent. Little but very nice lighthouse was built here in 1901.
There is nice, panoramic view and... 8 dollars parking fee for an hour of stay near the lighthouse. Profitable business!
In the late afternoon, after 17 days of driving around Australia I returned the car in Gold Coast airport. We drove 8860 kms in total!. Youth hostel is just nearby. I am getting ready for tomorrow's flights via KUL to China.
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Feb 20, 2016 09:00 PM Through Blue Mountains to Sydney
Blue Mountains were in the little fog when we were driving from Gilgandra to Sydney. Going to the coast you have to cross them - that's what we did today. The highest point -Mt Victoria is more than a 1000m above sea level. It was Sunday, so the roads were full of cars - for the Australians it is popular weekend destination.
In addition there are road works. We were enjoying the views going slowly down to Sydney.
I have been to Sydney already 4 times, but my companion is for the first time in Australi so... we reached Blues Point with the magnificent view of the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera at 1.10 pm. He was impressed and satisfied. We found there picnic table to have our lunch with a view... What a view - better then from the classy restaurant!
Then we found Pacific Highway A1 to get out of the city and later - the M1 motorway going north along the coast. At sunset we arrived to our 80-dollar motel in Port Macquaire. Tiring day, but so nice!
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Feb 19, 2016 09:00 PM 780 km to Gilgandra
New South Wales is a huge state, offering great diversity of the landscapes. We started early in the morning from Broken Hill driving first few hours through empty steppe. After 2 hours the bush was already around. And in the afternoon we enjoyed already eucalyptus forests. At the end of the day after 9 hours of driving we reached wheat fields around little town of Gilgandra. I did not count the died kangaroos on our way but I am sure that threre were more then hundred of them. In the day they sleep in the bush. They die in collissions during the night. That's why I do not drive after sunset.
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Feb 18, 2016 09:00 PM Broken Hill - Australia
In the morning we were driving east - through the empty and hot steppe to the border of New South Wales. Many died kangaroos along the road. At the state border just a little marker and... no they do not change the time!
Only 50 kms east we saw a big mining town of Broken Hill. In 19th century they found hhere silver and other metalls and the boom began. In 20th century they operated even a tram in the center oc the town. The mines still work. The sreets are named after minerals. We found old Grand guesthouse in the main Argent street. Once it was Grand Hotel, but till now little of the charm remained. But you canstill find many elegant buildings from the past.
Some 25 kms north I visited the ghost city of Silverton. 5000 people were living there mining silver. Now -50 only. Few buildings remained along the dusty streets: goal, city chambers, court, Silverton hotel pictured in the moves and little churches. 38 deg Celsius, donkeys and horses are wondering around. People, yes - few in the bar...
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