Rivers & Roadworks - descending from the Tibetan Plateau - mile 10222

Asia » China » Sichuan » Kangding
June 18th 2010

Published: September 13th 2010

A few miles from our overnight stop at Rawok Lake we get to Anju pass (4462m). Its not the most spectacular pass of our journey, in fact its just a large grassy plain, but it feels really significant - this is the watershed between India and Asia: to the west of us the rivers join the Brahmaputra and head off into India, to the east of us the rivers join the Yangtze, Mekong or Salween and flow i... Read Full Entry

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heading into what looks like another rocky canyon but turns out to be ....

...an idyllic wooded valley complete with babbling brook and wildflowers.

confusion - which way do we go?

the road is blocked by vegetation and the diversion (to the left) is blocked by stones. But then the vegetation starts moving and turns into 2 donkeys carrying their supper home.

oops- the landslide seems to have taken the road with it

the last pass - from here its down all the way to Kangding

people we met along the way

a Khampa gent with typical long braided hair. Monks using a tent like the one we bought in Lhasa. And more pilgrims prostrating their way to Lhasa.

stupas of all shapes and sizes line the route

changing architecture

as we head east the white washed Tibetan houses gain more Chinese features; plainer windows, less colour, ying/yang tiled roofs, upturned eaves

13th September 2010

David & Diana
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Floal altimeters
Interesting how have been able to read the altitude via the plant life. Some scary roadworks on a knife edge.... David & Diana

14th September 2010

Carol & James
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roadworks
MMM - I'm pondering whether you will be going back and doing the road once its completed? I guess all tarmac would be quite dull motorbike riding, but you must have nerves of steel after some of those stretches of road and roadworks! You certainly get some interesting scenery and its fascinating how the river colours are already so different and yet all the waters are from a similar region? I thought the prostraters were at first road workmen but seeing them in action can understand how they need a bit of protection - that must be their lifetime journey. Those 'roads' are just amazing - nice to see there are some pretty flowers as well. Carol and James

14th September 2010

Mike
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Flipping eck I thought the M1 was bad!

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Rivers & Roadworks - descending from the Tibetan Plateau - mile 10222

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