Re: Toll gate We were told 80Y for the road and 80Y for being in Lijiang. You're technically supposed to pay 80Y just for being the the UNESCO Heritage site. But that's tourism in China for you. Thanks for the read.
Toll Gate I just got done too. 160Y - they told me that 80Y was for the park and 80Y for a hotel in daju?? I said I just camp but they didn't understand so I paid (doh!). When I got to Daju they hadn't heard of the free accomodation. Probably language confusion rather than misleading me but annoying. The theme park - yeah it's well weird!
SAD it is sad to learn of what happened. arun must have been a wonderful person indeed. he went as an adventurer would like to go - on the mountain. your tribute to him is very moving. yes . danger and opportunity go hand in hand. the chinese have an incredible way of expressing the most profound thoughts. keep smiling through the tough times!
Hello!!
Nous nous sommes rencontrés brièvement à Xiahe, un soir au Yousth International Hotel, j'étais en voyage avec mon fils et vous nous avez raconté votre voyage qui nous a éblouit. Et ça continue, à la lecture de votre blog!! C'est un vrai bonheur de vous lire, votre voyage est riche et passionnant, les photos font rêver!!! Je ne comprends pas toujours tout, mon anglais n'étant pas terrible, mais les mots ne sont pas toujours nécessaires!!!! Continuez à partager votre voyage, là bas et ici, c'est un régal!!
Béatrice
yup Josh I did forget you mentioned but then again I think I mixed it with the info about TLG gate entrance another biker friend told us of. Thanks for the visit.
yay Shillong-ites I left the town many years ago but still miss the scent of pine and damp evening mist. Too bad the town's changed so much and streams no longer trickle clean. But I still do miss the place.
Thank ye much... Hey Jimmy, welcome to the blog. Thanks much for your little note of encouragement. Yup Shillong was a great place to grow up when it was still pinewood outback. The place has changed much but I hope the pine woods still fringe the town.
Thank ye much... Hi bobby, thanks for dropping by and leaving your little note of encouragement. Makes cycling more enjoyable. Do try a trip, however small yourself sometime.
Amazing Grace I too read about your trip in the local Mumbai papers. Surprised that Pearly Jacob is from Shillong. We have visited often and have very good family friends Family Swer. Do keep in touch . Jimmy
hi hello there. read about u in the papers here in india and got the link to your blog. what fun u guys are having. wish u all the very best. is three a crowd?!!!!!!
f**ing toll gate.. I had the same argument with them at the toll gate... after an hour or so they let me through for 80 also... you forgot i told you how to get around! Apparently after 6 you can get through as the workers are off at that time, or you can do some off-roading starting way before the gate...
I agree... that "park" is a travesty!
Amazed Hi Pearly! I just read thru your bio and could not believe the things you have done! Pretty awesome. Anyways, it is good to know that something very offbeat worked out for you. I am bookmarking your blog, and you can be assured of one more regular reader.. Godspeed! ... Ashok
if possible, try heading over to tailing/silung. apparently is one of the places the mizos/hmars might be from. when i checked on google maps, 'tailing' resolved to 'qujing', and is about 500 km away from you, on the other side of kunming.
@febbabonn sigh! true! I\\\'ve seen lots of gobblers (turkey) slightly skinny but turns out these are saved for weddings and fancy occasion. So we grill the common squirrel tonight. It's also me trying to rationalise.
laotian bushmeat no poultry/livestock? and leafy greens provide a good deal of protein too!
i'm beginning to wonder if we (all) have 'cultural addictions', and defend the choices we make saying we didn't have any other choice. meat, cars, computers, clothes...
Re2: Chinese Ethnic Tribes I might have misplaced my statistics bit I think compared to the mainland Han population, minorities make up 3% of the total Chinese population and Yunnan supports the majority of them. And they do have special privileges like exception from the 1 child policy imposed on Han Chinese. They are allowed to have 2 officially bit we did cross villages with people who didn't really seem to be keeping stock of their brood. Children are not a rarity here. They are very present and heard everywhere and they seem to have a blast.
Re: Chinese Ethnic tribes I'm still working on my Ethnic minority IQ but I now there are over 24 ethnic groups in Yunnan alone all with their distinct languages and adornments. The diversity is staggering. The way I see it it could considered similar to the tribes, sub-tribes and dialects we have in North East India but the differences in terms of dress and language seem a little more distinct. Well we do have similar tribal patterns and choice of colours when it comes to Nagas and Mizos back home but here it is really more diverse. The Hani wear a kind of pant suit blue being the colour of choice, the Miao almost gypsy like pleated skirts, the Bai again are distinct by their affiliation to white with heavy embroidery often in shades of pink for their pant suits while for the Yi black is the nobleman's colour while white for the serfs. As for cultural links...if old mizo folk tales were to be believed didn't we emerge from a cave which in all possibilities could have been an opening in the Great Wall? Hani belong to Tibeto-Burman Stock of the Sino -Tibetan Language Family so well I guess resemblances are unavoidable.
chinese ethnic tribes really good read.
i must admit i had never thought of the chinese as being divided into 'tribes' or ethnic groups, i thought of the 'chinese' as one whole. on retrospect, an extremely silly thought, considering the sheer insanity of the diversity on china's western and southern (i know little of northern) borders.
do you think the groups you have met have similarities/resemble any you have known? there seem to be some cultural links between the NE and the pacific islands, though it is too early to say if it is because of any shared heritage. the hani women headdress reminds me of the laddakhi one, or am i stretching it a bit far?
Born in Shillong, a small hill station in the rather obscure part of North East India. Met friend and companion from Bergerac, a rather distinguished small town in the South of France renowned for it's fine wines. Me, a little weary of my stint as Jockey beaming down dribble through satellite radio and him of his yearly business forays into India. Sharing a healthy passion for the outdoors and outdoor living we turned talk to do. A hike here, a trek there and we soon took up the challenge of a long nourished desire; travel to the high plains of Mongolia.
I have never cycled long distance b... full info
PedalledPennings
Pearly Jacob
Re: Toll gate
We were told 80Y for the road and 80Y for being in Lijiang. You're technically supposed to pay 80Y just for being the the UNESCO Heritage site. But that's tourism in China for you. Thanks for the read.