Westbound note on August 24, 2002 These days, I was sitting in a quiet classroom, watching the scenery outside the window a daze, as if sitting on the same train. The only difference lies out at the scenery solidification, and stand still. It is difficult to recall the original back luggage Sheung feelings, only know that I am now calm comfortable. Since this is not to go out every day to write, and some are subsequently written, so can not be called diary, can only be recorded on. Am looking for someone to share this trip, because I often travel in the sense of solitude. If you read my travels, could you tell me, I will know, and there are a traveling companion.
August 3, 2002
Departure Lingyun (my classmates) to send me to the train station, Avenue of the sound, "bon voyage" and began my westward journey.
Starting from Changsha, the destination is Lanzhou. 11:50 pulls into the train at midnight. Many people on the bus. Would also have expected to find a seat, I now they asked for a local station satisfied. 32 hours later I get to Lanzhou, really endless waiting! ! !
August 4, 2002 the train flew all the way across the rivers, lakes, through the steep mountains of the collar. Into people's houses from far behind, leaving a golden corn, in the sun absolutely shine. This is a typical scene in rural northern China.
August 5, 2002
Lanzhou - Lanzhou, Xining, 8:00 to reach the station. 8:30 in Lanzhou to Xining Zhang bought the ticket, at noon to arrive in Xining.
In Xining found a place to live, and then go around in circles. Xining's main street to go again, feeling nothing Xining bare trees, air dry, people quite inappropriate. In the bus station bought a ticket to the Bird Island in Qinghai Lake. Ready for dry food and water. An early start tomorrow.
August 6, 2002 6:00 am wake up, the sky is already bright. After the rush to wash cough, went to the bus station. In the waiting hall, I am alone, chewing bread, beside her is a Tibetan woman. She would like to say something to me, but I did not know. So she began to hand gestures. At first I thought she wanted me bread to eat, so I handed her one, but she refused. Later, he took out tickets to hand gestures, I realized that she did not know what trip car ride, needs my help. I looked at her ticket to determine a trip she and I sat with the car, then asked her to follow me. Bouza her hair red tail up, do not know if Kham Tibetan. Kham Tibetan man, a red cloth around his head are, but everyone saber. I led that she got on, apparently she was very grateful to me, but because of language barriers, we can not exchange, were dropped. Starting a car carrying three passengers. Just started among cars driving in the mountains, but also difficult to walk the rugged road. The more the more smooth the road next to go, and have a gangca (names) became a grassland. The sun came out this time, illuminate the sky blue, and clouds is very low, almost hand touch. The road flanked by endless green , has been extended to Tianjin Tou. Here you can Mile, nothing will stop you. You can bluster, no one will blame you. So I bolted, until exhaustion. So I going to Heaven and bluster, many people want to be heard from afar. In between heaven and earth have my dream, the dream for many years has not been relieved. Only birds can understand, can it flew away, and I need mad rush to catch up with it. Only grasslands can understand, can it remain silent, I would like bluster to tell it. Front Nazhi frightened birds, flapping wings to fly far away. In the distance, the end of grasslands, it is a bright touch of the Qinghai Lake.
August 7, 2002
Bird Island Bird Island on the know, most of the birds had been driven off. Leaving only a pale blue lake water. Sometimes a few birds flying in the lake, circled and flew away after a few weeks. This is an immense blue lake, is the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. Quickly took out his camera relentlessly few. Beat tired, they sat resting on the pier, listening to the voices of the lake shore of Lake beat. The sky is really the envy of birds that can fly here free.
When walking, picking up stones to throw to the lake is to tell the Qinghai Lake, I came in! I think I forget that the blue lake water, to keep coming back, perhaps in reality, perhaps in a dream.
August 8, 2002
Huangyuan station car out from the Bird Island, to get off Huangyuan. Huangyuan is next to a small county in Xining, sand blowing everywhere and could see that hiding behind. I rented motor vehicles, three straight huangyuan station. huangyuan train station is very small, looks like a small farm homes. I walked in, and did not find a person, not even the conductor, looked at the wall of paper did not know until the train to Golmud began to be six o'clock selling tickets, but now only four o'clock. no alternative but to sit and other bar! waiting room where people do not have one, is very quiet. looked out the window, you can see a small courtyard there are various kinds of colors of chrysanthemum, In the sunlight is extremely bright. trees at the tall plane trees planted patches of shade of a tree, the wind had issued the sound of rustling. Northwest weather is cold, even in bright sunshine outside the window, but I still feel the bursts of coolness. I looked blankly out the window of the listening room, the clock at bus drip drip clatter clatter of ringing, slowly, and I feel so heavy, and would like to have sat down on the way. This is the kinds of feel? loneliness? yes tired? may all have this, I started homesick. could in any case, I can not stop the next stop, Golmud!
August 9, 2002
Golmud is now 4:00, I sat on the train to Golmud write these words.
I have a fever, feeling very uncomfortable. I even thought of the Yu Chunshun died in the Lop Nor, I am the good luck than he. I probably will not go in Tibet! Because now I could not even stand up and walk around effort has also gone. The temperature will be getting lower and lower, it will only aggravate my condition. the train was late more than an hour, it seems to be to reach Golmud in 10:30. I want to go home. But not to Tibet, I will be very sorry, I was afraid he could not pass more than 5000 meters above sea level of the Tanggula. I think there should be a beautiful snow-capped mountains. I hesitate to want to consider how to go the next step . But the feeling of swollen head, limb weakness. or to Golmud then.
10:00, the train arrived in Golmud to spend 15 yuan opened a room, due to fever, fell asleep.
Three in the afternoon or so, I drowsily got up, feeling a bit burned back. Sitting in bed.
"Young man, just the top down?" Asked the passenger next to the bed.
I am puzzled by the question "What?"
"You're not from Lhasa down?"
"No, no, I'm going to Lhasa," I replied, "see you wearing so much, I thought you just do the top down!"
"A cold, so wearing a multi-point."
"Yo! Cold Do not go up, will trigger a series of SARS, be careful, never to return ah!."
"I know, the disease is cured I would be on." I smiled and replied.
August 10, 2002 morning and woke up feeling a lot of physical restoration, the sun shone into the room, people felt the warmth and hope. From the window looked out, I feel pretty Golmud, and then go outside to go back backpack go a bit Shunbian Mai medicine.
At noon I came to know Liu brother. Liu Costa Rica 40 years old, engaged in photography, and running all over the whole of China. This time he was prepared to go to Tibet and Afghanistan. Liu Costa Rica is from the north, a typical warm-hearted person. When he knows I want a man on the Lhasa, it is not assured that at last he determined to take me on.
We looked for the liberation of a cargo truck to Lhasa, and the driver said, okay, the prices of 120 yuan per person to take us on in Lhasa. 18:00 we hit the road.
August 11, 2002
Tibetan antelope car after a night of driving to reach the Kunlun Pass, a pity that the Kunlun Pass the stone has been broken, or can be pictures of the. Qinghai-Tibet Highway is very bad to go, and the roads bumpy powerful, 10:00, we have a traffic jam. Blocked a six - seven hours. Liu Brother told me in 2098, when he came along the way can often see Tibetan antelope and wild ass, but poaching is now so serious, good luck, might also be able to see 12. after we are near the Hoh Xil actually saw four Tibetan antelope. The car we were walking on the road, Tibetan antelope graze across the river, these guys seem stupid, or less fear of people. is not insisted heard gunshots, and you'll have to run it ?
August 12, 2002
Tanggula pass 2:00 I shiver a lot and the temperature is too low, and I do not want to talk about dead characters, but I truly feel the threat of death, if the vehicle stayed one night, is sure to be died of cold. Car is broken Liu brother is a fever. I have to get through the night.
3:00
Star I can not beat it, I have to write things that do not like the cold, the driver and Liu brother was asleep. I can wear all the clothes are put on, and they still got a bad shake.
I jumped out of car, is to look at the activities of the rigid body. Star plateau beautiful, twinkle stars, each in a flash, very bright, very.
Can clearly see the galaxy in the universe, feel that they are belittled in front, then I should be emotional and life is fragile. I gazed at the night sky, I towed back to the cold puts a reality.
4:00 Liu Brother told me to go up to bed. I put all the clothes off to give the pre-Han Liu brother put his own climb up the roof to sleep. In the quilt will no longer feel cold, but sitting in the cab, Liu brother heard breathing heavily in the Taikoudakou.
The morning the sun came out to drive away all the cold, cars or hair does not move,
As the temperature is too low, the engine point does not fire. Finally, we bake the fuel tank and engine fire. Finally, the engine turned. At that time can not tell how happy. "Plateau out of danger," Liu said Brother. "Let's go!!" We have started to run down the Qinghai-Tibet highway!
Plateau climate variability, just still snow, the next time and again out of the sun. Before long, they began to hail, rain. Surprised me the most is that while snow side of the sun.
Looked to the distant, can clearly see the snow-capped mountains, Block 1, tall, imposing, mysterious and beautiful! Evening, we stop for tires, are catching up with a Tibetan singing of women in the grasslands, sonorous voice, could be heard far away. Cattle and sheep seem to have understood the like, and clouds of to drive home. Tent smoke plume of blue smoke, eating time has come to! Good tires for us to continue the road, the driver said, not far from Lhasa!
August 13, 2002
Lhasa, at 2:00 on the 13th after two days and three nights running, car is finally arrived in Lhasa. I try to try to have seen on television images and the immediate comparison. Trying to find similarities. In fact, I only know The Potala Palace, Lhasa, for me, is completely unknown. alighted and after looking for a place to sleep, but hotels are too expensive, and we can not afford to live. I would like to immediately go to the Potala Palace, take a look at, so I and Liu brother went to the Potala Palace. Lhasa at night is very quiet, very bright lights. More than an hour walking around, suddenly Liu Colombian middle finger to the sky to go, I homeopathic look past the distance a white palace stands quietly in the night sky. Is the Potala Palace, a rich and mysterious. Walking in the Potala Palace the following, I feel back to ancient times, forget where it comes from, where to turn.
4:00,
Potala Palace Potala Palace Square on a bench to sleep, can fall asleep looking at the Potala Palace, feel nice.
Morning wake up, and Liu along with Costa Rica found a place to eat breakfast. To see a lot of Tibetan knock knock came to pray in the Potala Palace, many people are holding the hands of a wheel, walking and shaking. Copper barrel reached even before the turn of copper barrels. I bought tickets to the Potala Palace, to bring student cards at discounted tickets.
The Potala Palace is really high-ah, I walked for a long time before I came to the palace entrance.
Into the Potala Palace, I feel gloomy, the staff led the visitors watch Buddha statues, and to introduce the history of Buddha, there is a more than 10 meters high golden Buddha gave me the impression that most, Buddha who is also a lot of precious stones inlaid. Lama, the Panchen Lama told me that this is a V in the middle. Because of his greatest achievements, it made the largest. Gold and precious stones are the Tibetans voluntarily donated. It can be said that the Potala Palace is a common base up the Tibetan people.
Into a lot of room, finally climbed the Jinding yes. Golden roof is made of gold. In the photo above you can (within the Potala Palace, the only photo of the place), but also overlooking the city of Lhasa.
The Potala Palace is the Tibetan belief in the crystallization of wisdom and piety.
18:00, I went back to Golmud by long-distance buses, I was tired, and want to go home. Good-bye the Potala Palace, Lhasa, goodbye, good-bye the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
August 16, 2002
Lanzhou
At 9:30 on the 16th, I was back to Lanzhou. 18:00 only to Changsha by train. I would like to use this time to look around in Lanzhou. First, I think, of course, Lanzhou noodles. Asked a lot of people, take a lot of way to find a long-established in Lanzhou Ramen Museum. Boss is authentic, Lanzhou people, a good deal. He told me that a good bowl of noodles in Lanzhou four characteristics: a red, two-ching, three white and four green. The so-called red, is to be red pepper. qing refers to the soup must be pure. White refers to white noodles. green refers to the green onions. After I taste, I feel Lanzhou Ramen is really well-deserved reputation Unfortunately, no chance to let you taste.
Lanzhou gave me the feeling is a very casual city. Afforestation well, planted many trees. In the streets and alleys can often see a lot of people get together to play chess, there are middle-aged, but also the elderly. If you sit down, look at them chess is a good way of relaxing.
I like this city, but love the simple people.
5:00, I arrived at the waiting room. There are many. I was sitting quietly rest, I heard a few next to the college students are discussing how the issue of Tibet, evidently they are ready to go to Tibet. I would like to talk to them in the past , I think I can answer their concerns. But I finally silent, because I am a human being, because I am tired.
August 18, 2002
To go home 3:30, the train arrived in Changsha. I put the last bowl of instant noodles to stay in the train, along the way too much to eat instant noodles, I vowed never eat in the future. Students were worried I had no car at the train station back to school. Cycling to the train station so I waited until 1:30, did not leave to see me has not come yet. For the students I can only say thank you, they always give me the most moving.
At half-past four, I went back to school. Beautiful campus at night, alas, past the din, quiet may be able to hear the calls of cricket! A person walking in the campus, feeling very cordial, after all, I will graduate next year. Back to the bedroom, the students were sleeping, knocking on the door a long time, and finally someone opened the door, and I heard the first sentence is: "Is there anything brought back to eat ah?"
Also can not blame them, at school, and who is not a semi-starvation.
Morning ride home 1:00 home.
"Mother, I'm back!!!" I rang the house door.
Author: mingmingontravel
