Total Eclipse (of the heart, sun)

Asia » China » Xinjiang » Hami
August 19th 2008

Published: August 20th 2008

One lazy day in Tiger Leaping Gorge (Yunnan province), we started planning our next adventures. As we consulted our guidebook and prepared to travel further south, a nice British lad suggested we check out Xinjiang. Xinjiang - the Chinese province that borders Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and Tibet and houses the Taklamakan and part of the Gobi Dese... Read Full Entry

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stephanie and cody

stephanieandcodyinchina

We found ourselves a bit directionless and with wide open schedules after graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2007 with degrees in Psychology (Stephanie) and Spanish (Cody). So one sunny afternoon in July, we booked a couple of one-way tickets and found our direction -- China. We now sit in Hong Kong with objective one being get visas, objective two - navigate our way through the next month? year?two years? three? as we find employment, learn the language, soak in the flavors and ride the wave. Join us!... full info

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Kanas Lounging

A moderately treacherous scramble to this picturesque recliner.

Noodles and Tea in Urumqi

If you want to, you can eat fantastic food for amazingly cheap. Great noodles (stir-fried, with green beans and Xinjiang spices) for 4 RMB ($0.60). The tea is free.

Ming Sha Shan Fence Advice

If you go to Dunhuang's famous 'Sand Mountain' and you only want to enjoy the dunes (not the crescent lake or available camel rides), you can make your way to the right along the fence-- it ends eventually-- allowing you to avoid paying the extortionate entrance fee. We took bikes past Charlie Johng's Guest House (which seems very nice, with friendly staff) and went down a back road toward the dunes. From there we parked our bikes and just walked up the dunes, no hassle! Quite a bit of sand in our shoes though. Pictured: the end of the fence! And our shadows.

Downtown Dune town, Dunhuang, Gansu

We found the end of the fence (after a short bike ride) and climbed the dunes without paying the ridiculous entrance fee (120RMB)!

Harder Than it Looks

This short walk took 4 hours.

Snaaaaake!

Or you know... unidentified desert monster.

Tally-ho Ladythorne!

Let the camel trek begin!

Camel Train

Location: Gobi Desert

Camel Train View

Fascinating animals; their feet look like Nike "Shox" they're great for riding, and they only drink at noon every day. They are also a little grumpy and like cucumbers.

Kickin' it Old School

H-Money and Peanut.

Camel Wranglin

Camels on the loose! After a chaotic 5 minutes, our guide-man led all of the camels to their individual grazing bushes.

Campsite in the distance

View from the top of a dune. The walk from camp to this location actually took about 1.5 hrs.

Olympic-inspired Dune Jumping

Three attempts, only the best score is recorded.

Fellow Camel Trekkers

Four Austrians and a German. Stephanie pictured in cow-roping hat.

Rolling Dune-scape

Right before sunset.

Dune at Sundown

Stephanie and the sun.

Dune Buddies

Satori Imports Representation

...In the Gobi Desert!

Good Morning!

Pictured: our sleeping quarters. Quite an amazing star showing at night-- very clear and very bright.

After a Night under the Stars

Sunrise

Watching the Sunrise

on a comfy sand dune.

20th August 2008

janet/mom
non-member comment

The Northwest
Wow! I'd love to go on a camel caravan! How hot was it in the desert? I take it you didn't see any scorpions! And to see the total eclipse--what a super experience. The bathouse looks like pampering at its finest. What a grand way to watch the start of the Olympics--and it must have been great to watch it with people from China and experience their pride firsthand. Love ya!

24th August 2008

Maxine
non-member comment

Sand dunes, camel riding, camping in the Gobi - makes me speechless. What extraordinary experiences. Love your photos of the dunes. So, you traveled part of the Silk Road. Amazing. I just read a little something about Marco Polo, and you are giving him a run for the money.

10th September 2008

Christeen
non-member comment

Couples Weekend 2008
OMG-LOL-LYLAS. I'm so jealous right now, mainly of those sweet jammies, but also of the camel ride. I can't imagine how funny that night on the luxury recliner would have been with you guys. I think I have found the location of the next couples weekend.

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