Qinghai Hotel Xining

... of yellow lying on the ground. <br><br>It was this first day that would turn into the longest ride I have ever done, and (hopefully) the longest/one of the longest I will ever have to do. With conditions relatively favourable (apart from the wind being in our faces) we went the entire way from Jiayuguan to Zhange in one hit - some 158 miles. Hmmm. I would not really recommend it, at least with all your stuff on the bike. <br><br>Zhange itself has, on the face of ...

... last second, one of the controller, maybe smitten with remorse (?) did let Nishi go through the gate... To our biggest incomprehension..<br><br>Then we understood why.. After checking everybody's tickets we saw coming the train staff with the head controller. They tried to have Nishi pay another time the ticket (which would be normal procedure in Europe). Being the best English speaker, I argued that since the ticket had been paid once, there was no reason to pay once more ...

... kiinalaiset ovat innostuneet patikoimaan siinä määrin, että yläosan kapeilla vuoristopoluilla ihmisiä oli ruuhkaksi asti. Yllättävää kyllä, myös pienet lapset kiipesivät jyrkkiä portaita tukenaan vain teräsvaijeri.<br><br>Vaikka olimme varanneet runsaasti aikaa paluumatkaan lentokentälle, huomasimme olevamme myöhässä linja-auton verkkaisen menon ja tietöiden johdosta. Lentokentälle päästyämme totesimme kaiken ...

We didn't have too much time to spend in Xining as we arrived around 1 am due to the late flight, had a meeting with our travel agency at 9 am and our train departed at 11.30. So we didn't actually see anything in Xining, though it didn't actually matter as we were already looking forward to taking the train to Lhasa. In fact, I ...

... Last week, we met two music professors including one one who is a composer and knows Daryl's teachers! The other night, I met a young man who is a good friend of my close friend's son (from Massachusetts). What a small world!.<br><br>We feel so fortunate to have had this experience. (Thanks, Anne!) We also got to meet one of our department's PhD candidate's Mom and brother at a monastery. That was such a moving experience. Jessica brought a message for ...

... rules<br>about who sits where/who says what/when things happen in banquet/formal<br>settings here. It's amazing, and has been really eye opening.<br><br> <br>And, of course, I've had the opportunity to try even more exciting<br>new foods. This region is highly Muslim, so there are mad amounts of<br>mutton (everywhere!), and I've tried so many variations on it (and I've<br>enjoyed it all). I've also consumed lots of yak products. All<br ...

... I was over my cold and throat problems! It was still a busy place but not as hectic as some of the other places I'd been to in China, and the hostel was nice and friendly in a quieter part of town. A bonus was also that the agency we were using to get to Tibet were in the same place. During my time here I was recommended to visit the "Tibetan Medicine museum of China" which was a really interesting place. As well as the ...

So I am now writing from my in the hotel that Elise and I swear is a love motel in Xining. This morning I woke up and packed my bags. Then Elise and I went to get breakfast. It was one of those Chinese people trying to do American breakfast food. It was really surprisingly good. After breakfast we went to the Xi'an museum of history. Most of it felt like a way over crowded version of the British Museum. I was not able to see very much ...

... as I head into the Mongolian wilderness / Gobi desert, for sure there will be no updates till I'm back in Beijing. So there, miss me while I'm gone, and I sincerely hope for the best. Running out of money is my greatest fear now, so... i hope i have the discipline NOT to get McDonald's / Starbucks / Peking duck / too much expensive imported chocolate while in Beijing. **EDIT** Just called my Dad about 45min ago ...

Well, the Xining trip started well with just the fact that we were leaving Chengdu. We were sharing our compartment with only 2 others - a very nice couple who could speak no english, but were happy to keep us in fruit for the trip. The food situation was delightful as, along with the fruit, we had baguettes and edam cheese, compliments of Chengdu Carrefour. Also had the odd friendly policeman pop in to try to practice his ...