isolation... OMG - how would you feel being thrown through that gate and having nothing and no one to help you and facing a desert and marauding tribes from Mongolia. The wall (i have to say) looks absolutely amazing and more so than back at Beijing, purely because of it's remoteness and immensness (is that a word?) in the landscape. Fabulous pics Matt - safe travels. D x
Hi sory you missed my last geetings however enjoying your blogs. continue to enjoy the trip. looking forward to hearing it all on your return. Grandies.
Merry Xmas Hi Matt - Merry Xmas, what a place to spend it in - very memorable! Matt on a Yak does have a ring to it, but I dont think you will find or be able to keep a Yak in Melbourne! Slush at EBC is timely with Big camp about to start. Have fun D x
Beautiful mountains.. Hi Matt, what a fantastic area you are in - the mountains are fantastic and yes, it does look so much like Nepal (funny that really when you think about it!) EBC for Xmas day (or very close to) will make a magnificent memory. Enjoy Tibet, loving your photos Dx
Mountain Climbing! Wow, first of all the Yak Burger looked pretty good, not at all how I imagined! Secondly your only experience of climbing mountains was the indoor centre at Nunawading - now you are doing the real thing - well done - the views were awesome! Photo's once again are fantastic - keep up the good work! Safe travel to Tibet! Mxx
Burgers... Sounds fantastic and your walk up the river looked great. I hope your Yak burger was to your expectations but more importantly if they were locked up at 8pm I hope you got in to your room when you got back from dinner and the 'disco'! Look forward to hearing that you did get a bed albeit cold. Dx
Thanks! Thanks Debbie, I'm glad that you are enjoying reading it! It has been amazing so far and if it keeps up like this I wll find it very hard to come back for work!
Very jealous Matt, I have been 'lurking' here since day 1. I must say, it is brilliant. You are really conveying the feeling of the place. I hope you continue enjoying it as much as you have so far.
stampede! Hey a monk stampede! straight out of, or maybe shud go straight into, a Monty Python movie! The urinal would have to be a long one or spare a thought for the poor monk who got there last! Fantastic experience - great pics! Dx
Life's experiences What a fantastic place, it sounds like you have really enjoyed Xiahe and its people. I remember the first time we saw a sky burial site, I think it was in Northern India, it was marked by a circle of vultures (picture a tornado) at various levels up to maybe 300mtrs above it, all circling the platform. Unfortunately through chemical mis-use I understand they are all dying (the vultures!). These sites used to be everywhere and easily spotted by the vultures and crows. The 'disco' sounds brilliant and will be one to remember for a long time - safe travels. Dx
tibetan sky burial wow, i just looked it up. it seems pretty gruesome! i can't see how it would be a good mourning process. but each to their own i guess.
Amazing Hi Matt now I am jealous, it looks absolutely magical, a little like Kurdisatan up on the plateau's and crossed with Afghanistan in the Bamian Valley - ahh memories! Not a lot of vehicles in your pics and the sky and air gives a sense of crisp and clean - beautiful. Love the pic of your little 'mate' - happy and safe travels. D x
Thats fantastic! I am envious of you just looking at the photos :) I can't believe how many that they built! All that to honour one man! Still very awesome photos chief, loving it!
Sardines! I thought you were in China NOT Japan - the bunks look like Japanese hotel!! Glad you got some sleep anyway - Warriors should be good - catch up soon. Love M xx
the beginning.. Hi Matt, Beijing sounds like it has been magical but really it has only been the beginning of your adventure. Whilst at the Temple of Prayer for Good Harvests I hope you stopped and thought about our situation here in Oz ! Ahhh in the name of progress - such a wonderful thing, very sad I agree. Hope the train was OK..D x
Good luck chief with the travels! Awesome posts so far, glad to hear that it has been worth while and that all that planning is paying off! Excited to hear from you when you reach Xian
After finishing my six year long law degree and before I join the real world of working life as an Articled Clerk, I am going on a bit of an adventure. I will be travelling solo along the Northern Silk Road from Beijing to Central Asia, with a few extra stops along the way: Xiahe, Langmusi and Tibet.
I intend to follow this rough itinerary:
China - Beijing, Xian, Lanzhou, Xiahe, Langmusi, Tibet (Lhasa, Namtso, Yamdrok, Shigatse, Everest Base Camp), Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Urumqi, Kashgar.
Kyrgyzstan - Osh.
Uzbekistan - Tashkent.
My journey starts on 26 November, so stay tuned!... full info
Michael
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Thats awesome man, very impressive and remote. The best kind of travel i think, where there is no one else but you! :)