Hong Kong

Was too short.  I really like Hong Kong, it's familiar, it's multicultural and there's no shortage of things to do.  I stayed in Kowloon, in TST at the Chung King Mansions, which is an experience in itself.  Went up to Victoria Peak via tram, rode all over on the metro and took a ferry ride too.  It's the most expensive stop on my trip, but it was fun. 

Shanghai...

Is not my favorite place in China. I grow weary of the offers of pot,
hash, girls and watches. There are a lot more "practice english" scams
here as well.
(Whoops, I hit send before I was done and can't edit in China)
I did eat excellent street food and the Shanghai museum kicked ass. It's a world class museum. The bronze, ceramic and special gold exhibits were wonderful.

Damn, I'm Organized...

So, I have organized a train trip, two plane trips and two hostel bookings to get me to Bangkok on 10/15.  It's the most organizing I've done at once on the whole trip.  The train trip was handled at a local ticket window the plan to Shenzhen was arranged by the hostel I'm at now, it's cheaper flying there then to HK.  I was going to take a train, but it would only give me 24 hours in HK, the trains run every other day from Shanghai.  The plane ride to Bangkok was done via internet. 

 

So, I'm one night, one overnight train ride, then three nights, one plan ride, then two nights and one plane ride from seeing my girlfriend! 

 

Today is a day of rest. 

 

I might try to upload some photos.  If I get around to it I'll post a link.

 

 

Out of Mongolia, Back in China

The rest of the gobi trip was mainly lots of driving. Though we did
ride Mongolian horses for 30 minutes on the last day. Then it was 30
hours by train, back to Beijing.

My girlfriend booked me a night at the Grand Hyatt in Beijing! Best
after Mongolian adventure present ever! It has the best pool I've
ever seen in a hotel and a nifgt of comfort and privacy was spot on.

I'm in Xi'an now, here for one more night. Then off to Shanghai for a
few days.

Yesterday I went up on top of the city wall and rented a bike. It's
the only intact fully surrounding city wall in the world. It's 13.7 km
long. 3/4 of the way through it started raining. It's probably the
only safe, relaxing bike ride in any city in china. Was much fun.

Today I went out to see the Terracotta warriors! Holy fucking shit!
That first emporer dude was out of his freaking mind. And aren't we
glad... They have 3 pits, turned museums that have thousands of life
size warriors in them. It's a you have to see it kind of thing. Though
I did buy the newly updated picture book. They find new cool stuff all
the time. Talk about an archeologist's wet dream.

Apparently there are more amazing things hurried out there including
an underground city that's a model of China. Complete with mercury
rivers the emperor's tomb floats arround on, visiting his country.

In fairness, he was smart as well as crazy. Did lots off good stuff.
Esablished common caligraphy, money, weights and measures.

Another week and I'll meet up with my girlfriend in Bangkok! Hi
sweetheart!

First Day in the Gobi

We stopped and had lunch in Zorgol Khairkhan Mountain. Stopped to see a camle herd and saw what was left of a monastery that was destroyed during the Stalin purge.

We are staying with a nomad family for the night in Baga Gazaryn Chuluu. I'm standing here in the last of the days light writing. Waiting for the sunset.

More From the Gobi

Today we arrived at the Khongoryn Els sand dunes. The largest dunes in the Gobi and the largest I've ever seen. After we arrived we rode camels for a couple of hours. It was sort of meditative. Then I climbed the highest dune nearby. It was about 900 meters tall. The view was spectacular. It's the most fun I've had on the trip so far. The Gobi is freaking ginormous. We spend most of the day driving and a couple of hours at a destination. Yesterday we were at Yoln Am where there is usually a glacier, but not this time of year. We went on a 6 kilometre hike.

The day before we were at Ulaan Suvraga, the painted desert. It was quite pretty but we arrived at sunset. Time enough for some quick photos before speeding off to a small town to spend the night.

We've slept in a family ger, two tourist ger and a "hotel."

We have a driver and a guide/cook with us. The food has been good. Lots of mutton, but it's pretty tasty.

There's nothing much to do at night, mostly I read or watch video on my iPod. We've slept on the floor of a ger the first night. It was cold cramped and hard. We've had different variations of beds since then. Tonight's being the most comfortable.

I've eaten differt kinds of dried curds, milk tea, fermented mares milk and other weird milk stuff. It's not as bad as I thought it would be. But not very tasty. 

Gobi Trip Booked

I'm heading out to the Gobi and surrounding area for eight days starting on 9/26. Had to buy some warmer close so I don't freeze my ass off.


Synopsis:
Gobi desert, Orkhon waterfall,and Khar-Khorin monastery
7/8 dyas trip by jeep or minivan
You can see Gobi Desert, Bayanzag (unique shaped trees), Temeen shavar (place where dinosours lived million of years ago), and Moltsog sand dunes then leave Gobi to Kharhorin Monastery and visit Mongolian nomad herders family. Horse riding included
Day 1.Start from UB at 9 o'clock. Have lunch in Morin tsohio ger restaurant then drive to Bagagazariin chuluu.
Day 2. Drive to the Bayanzag and Temeenshavar. It's a place with trees and Dino fossils. Ride camel in short time. .
Day 3. Drive to the Khongor sand dune.
Day 4. Drive to the Arvaikheer and overnight near Arvaikheer.
Day 5. Orkhon water fall.
Day 6. Drive to Kharhorin Monastery.
Day 7. Drive to the area of Lun and visit in a Mongolian nomad herder's family. Ride horse, make horhog and fishing.
Day 8. After lunch back to UB.