Yinglong Hotel Xining

... the top of the list of 'most useless towns so far in China'. The prize, currently, goes to one in Xinjiang, where the town was just a sign. That was it. There was a sign, and just desert. Sweet nothing at all. <br><br>I feel I should mention this somewhat unexpected journey into the mountains. Wanting a break from the long vistas of peasant farming, as well as a somewhat different route to Xining, over the hills it was. However, the map only marked one pass (the ...

... the train company already had he money. And the ticket was just a peace of paper.. Who would benefit from another 700RMB did we say..?? (everybody knew what we were talking about here) The discusion went on for 1 hour, then seeing that we were pretty determined as a group they gave up after having jot down our names on a little carnet.<br><br>After slurping some instant noodle (theoritical taste: roast beef and tomato) and drinking a beer we called this day a end!<br><br><br><br>

... 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 ...

... of water, to grasslands, to desert is<br>unbelievable. I took many pictures, but am at an internet cafe right<br>now, and unable to upload them to this computer.<br><br> <br>Tomorrow we leave for eight days in the villages. I am greatly<br>looking forward to it, but I will miss Xining - so far, this is one of<br>my favorite places in this great country. <br> <br>I hope all is well for you! Miss you all dearly.<br> <br>From the land of the Silk Road,<br>Jess

We splashed out a hard sleeper to Xining - which was to be our last stop before Tibet. It was worth it - the beds were 3 high - 6 to a cabin - which were open to the corridor, it wasn't so crowded and it was good to stretch out and get a nights sleep. In Xining we planned just to take a few days out to relax and make sure we were in good health for Tibet - it would be my first time at a high altitude and so I needed to make ...

11.2 - 13.2.08 Junamatka Lhasasta seuraavaan maaranpaahamme: Chengduun. Luokka: Hard Sleeper Matkustus aika: 48 Tuntia Niinkuin aikaisemminkin juna nousi taas yli 5000 metriin. Lisahappea ei tallakaan kertaa meidan porukassa tarvittu mutta joku ...

... when i get to Ulaan Bataar -- Singaporeans get to stay for 14days w/o a Visa. So i'll need something to last me till June 20th. Remember my bank acct no.: UOB Current 144 304 6939. I may need help getting back if Thai Airways refuses to let me depart from Beijing instead :P I'm so happy, we're gonna have hotpot for dinner tonight to celebrate, weeeeee! - Feli "Off to Beijing tomorrow" Wong

... s instructions on how to get there, we wandered aimlessly in a Sports Arena carpark looking for a bus. We gave up and popped into a nearby tourist agency to see if they could help. The ridiculously nice travel agent there then proceeded to walk us the 1km to where we could pick up a shared taxi to it. 40mins and only 10RMB later, we were dropped off at the gates, and headed in. Of course, the price had doubled since the ...