So you made it out alive!!! I hope Chris's knee healed during the 60 hour train trip. I also traveled to China, visiting Beijing then Lanzhou and Xiahe, Dunhuang, Jaiyuguan, Turpan and Urumqi; and onward to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Baltic Republics, and Helsinki, with a barely healed broken ankle wearing the large black boot all the way. I also need to revisit China without the pain.
Making it down alive Thats incredible you survived that trip with your ankle. Thay must be one lucky boot.
Your trip sounds inspiring. You really are a great world traveller. Don't know how you do it but I guess the travel bug was passed down from your parents hey. Great adventures.
As usual, great blog. It made me tired just reading it! I look forward to your next blog, you made me very curious by mention a 44 hour long train ride, which probably could have a blog for itself, just like Michael Palin's dhow episode on "Around the World in 80 Days"
60 hours cross country in China It sounds dreadful 60 hours hey but it was actually relaxing after what we had been through. We were so ready to put our feet up arriving at the train station until we found out we would have to make a mad dash to the actual station we would be travelling from. Ahh travels.
What Stamina! So, you masters of adventure finally found your match in the crumbling and not so Great Wall! After leaving us hanging with you on the crumbling Wall in your last blog, it was a relief here to see you make it down. I can't believe you did all that sight-seeing the next day with Chris' grapefruit knee and your still-wobbling selves. Ah, youth! Congrats on making it to the right station and having a relaxing 60-hour, knee-elevated journey ahead of you. Happy instant noodles! PS--I like Chris' new facial fringe.
Craziest experience. Got to say we was not prepared for such an adventure ourselves. Especially straight off the night train. One we will all remember I'm sure!
A few close calls! That sounds seriously scary. And in answer to your question on one of the photos - yes you two are crazy, but in a good way :) Hope Part 2 of this story isn't far off...
A few close calls I think we were. Lol. We do try to maintain some sensibility when travelling but I guess in search of the Great 'unrestored' wall all that sense got little lost. We should be able to upload the next one later. Not too much more to the story luckily ?
Jiankou Great Wall A harrowing story indeed. Really surprised the sections of the Great Wall you traversed were not closed but seeing one of the signs in your pics maybe it was. Gotta say accessing the wall from villages is the way to go but if you get a taxi driver who takes you to the wrong part your lives are then in your hands. A travel story that will remain with you always so having survived the memories are the bright side. Great yarn and pics to back it up.
Experts in the Wild China! You two are the most amazing climbers and adventurers--I remember you on vertical, limestone karsts, so if you were scared here, then it was really dangerous. Amazing that the path wasn't better marked since families were going up there, and they probably didn't have GPS. And thank goodness the flying rock his Chris' knee and not his head--I imagine it would be difficult to get a Chinese rescue team up there. Sorry you had to turn back in the end, but glad you did--I want to read more of your blogs!
Experts in Wild China Thanks Tara. Afterwards our minds were filled with what ifs as well. Luckily the worse did not materalise although when we were mid way up missing that landslide we were both panicked. Not wanting to move an inch but acknowledgong like you said that we had little chance of rescue. Our safety was in our own hands. We had to make it to the top to find the correct way down. Not an experience we ever want to repeat!!
Tells a good story however. One will will never forget.
Most Unforgetable Travel Adventure As i read through your article, I can imagine the excitement, the difficulties and the horrifying experience you have in China. But then you always have to consider that when you travel there's always a possibility of endangering yourself in any situation no matter how safe you think you are. Be prepared at all times and never take your safety for granted wherever you might want to be. Good thing is you were able to survive that experience and I'm sure that would leave a mark in you as long as you will hear the word Great Wall of China.
Most unforgettable travel adventure We certainly will have flashbacks when that term 'Great Wall' is ever used.
When reading over this blog, I did question whether we were too careless in getting to the point we did. A little yes. Although after 7 months of travel we would completely agree with your comment when you say that while travelling we are always at risk of danger even when danger does not cross our minds. We would be tad safer in an all inclusive resort but that simply is not us. We like to see the world find our own adventure.
Thanks for your thought provoking comment Amy.
Too scared! I'm not surprised you were too scared to climb this, it's nearly vertical and looks really crumbly. I also wonder how the heck did they manage to build it?
Too Scared Too scared. - I'm happy that you agree. Makes me feel more justified that I was a trembling mess. The way the rock crumbled was the scariest part as you had to quickly move your grip. I will also never forget the landslide of rocks... Saying all of this I would do it again but would either have a guide or pay far much more attention in following the right path and not others ?
Ps. I also thought of the people building this as we climbed up. The danger the people must have been in is unthinkable.
Staring It seems that while we consider staring rude, perhaps it just isn't for the Chinese, just as some cultures spit and belch while others don't. You two are handling this annoying behavior remarkably well! The city sounds charming--a bit of Chinese Disneyland. Can't wait to hear of your next wild adventure!
Staring Haha. I agree its completely the opposite to rude for them. Some cultural norms we encountered were very different from ours. Still made the experience exciting. We were some sort of celebrities for a month. China was a great place. Think one of my favourites so far. (I know I say that about everywhere, just love travelling). ?
Amazing! What an amazing trip you guys are having! You continue to take us to places that not only have we not been to, we have not even heard of! It is so fascinating reading of your adventures. We enjoy it so much when we actually feel we are blending in to a local community and not being noticed anymore, that it made us cringe to think of being stared at and even photographed continuously. Perhaps they are just curious (like we are as travelers, too) but I think I would have my limits for sure. I didn't envy your 19 hours on a train. I felt worn out just imagining it. Great pictures and blog, as always! Thanks for taking us along on your amazing trip!
Amazing. Thank you for your lovely comment. Its great to hear that they take you on our travels with us. Some blogs read well others don't so we ask ourselves whether we are boring people. We're not bored at all.
Trains in China are really not that bad. In sleeper class in India however..very different. Yes they're only curious. There cultural norms are very different from ours. Guess for them its not really rude. For us, that is a big no no. Lol.
Lighting Thank you. Early morning light can be really nice to capture.
Too mamy photos. One of the pitfalls of long term travelling. Hopefully it won't be too difficult as we sort them out as we go along for the blog (another great reason to write a blog) so we have a bunch of 20-40 pictures for most places already. Rather than a bunch of 200-400 good and bad pictures we start off with. Would not ever get round to sorting our pictures out otherwise. Will however need to choose the ones to be framed....That'l be a task.
Maybe we'll create a funky framed wall?? ?
Hi we're Chris and P. We have quit our jobs and sold our house to follow our dream of travelling around the world for 12 months!!!
Let’s jump back about 2 years - We're driving to P's friend’s house for an evening meal when she turns and says "I've been thinking..."
And what a thought that was indeed. That thought turned into buying a dilapidated property and spending a total of 2 years 'doing it up' ourselves coupled with a new job and a wedding thrown into the mix for good measure. We even questioned ourselves at times on whether travelling would actually become a reality or be j... full info
Home and Away
Bob Carlsen
So you made it out alive!!!
I hope Chris's knee healed during the 60 hour train trip. I also traveled to China, visiting Beijing then Lanzhou and Xiahe, Dunhuang, Jaiyuguan, Turpan and Urumqi; and onward to Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Baltic Republics, and Helsinki, with a barely healed broken ankle wearing the large black boot all the way. I also need to revisit China without the pain.