The best man am not

Great to hear that one of my colleague is finally going to tie the knot. I guess most of us has answer him enough questions on the when. I guess it just sort of gets a little too tired after all the answering. Beside, they already rom-ed so long ago. So legally speaking, I think they are man and wife, minus the fact that they have yet to host tea ceremony and the why-am-i-sponsoring-the-wedding dinner. Still any breakup now will become a divorce, in the eyes of the law. But of course I wish to hear of none such thing.

And not so great to know how much he has been forking out. I have nothing against marriage, its the union of two. And as a friend has put it across to me, marriage is like getting yourself a permanent parking lot. You can always go home every night to your parking lot without having to search high and low for a parking lot. Ops, side tracked again. And worst to think I dun even have the moolah for all these crap shit blissful events. Moohlah has been sipping out of my finance controller, aka my wallet, more often than not without much control. I just indulge in some life comfort, that's all. Afterall, I'm just an old fat fart, trying very hard to forget the its a living hell out there.

Ok, back to the crap shit blissful events. I offer myself to my colleague to help with the actual photography. I can even rope in another friend to handle it too, just in case my hands and eyes and camera and instinct and inspiration decided to fail me. In army, we are trained (are we again? then again, its always rifle cleaning exercise whenever a cat1 hit on us, how contingency is that?) for contingency planning. The cost of including a photographer for the actual isn't quite worth it at all, when someone like me willing to do it, even for free (selective friends may apply only). Ok, I'm not out to spoil market but I won't mind building up my portfolio and brush up my skills. Its get all rusty now. Oh yeah, he needs to discuss that with his to-be-wife (or is that already-wife).

Then he come back to me with an answer. An answer that left me disappointed and shocked. He says [insert wife's name] dowan you to be the photographer. Imagine my disappointment but oh well, I'm sure there are other opportunities for free shooting. However, he left that statement uncompleted and continues with but she has another task for you. Then I can see that grin that spread across his face. Now, why do I have this uneasy feeling. And then he continues with she wants you to be the best man. You should really see how big my eyes grew. This is no joke. I never even done the brother  (or you may call them groomsmen if you are that educated) part, and now I'm arrowed with the best man part?

Why me? That is the first reaction I have. And my instant response to that is dowan lah I dun even have a suit. No worries, suit we can settle one is his way of overruling my instant reply. And he happily added in [insert wife's name] want you lah if not if get someone she dunno well, then will be very boring, no one to talk to throughout. Excuse me, has the rules change without me knowing it? Since when did the best man selection gotta do with the bride? Should she be spending more time talking with her sisters (the bridesmaids) or even the maid of honor? How come she's including the best man into her selection?

If I'm the best man, why does she still marrying someone else? Ok, that is an old joke, used so often by comedian. Maybe it really is. I'm just not the bestest man. Probably she is marrying the bestest man. Yeah, I know. It might be an honour but still, I dun even know what the best man has to do. Was told to fight for best price to open the door to the bride's house and block the liqour from going down the groom. Did I mention that bargaining for the lowest price is not in my genre? A wise man says that problems that can be solved with moolah is not a problem. I no like problems but I also no have moolah, how? And the liquor blockage? The last time I saw was the best man down it. Siao liao. Me no LBT. I enjoy free liquor but I dun peculiarly adore the extras that come along the next day.

Now, I dun enjoy renting a suit for the occasion and making one seems a little too big of a mole out of a hill. Damn. Was telling the friend that I have no occasion for a suit when I went to this little island and even retorted that when the time comes for his wedding, and he ask me to be one of this brother (groomsmen), I would have my suit ready. At least I do not foresee that happens within this year. Then the S ingapore Dance Master 2005 incident came in. And now this again? Maybe I should just get myself a budget air ticket on that airline named a pussy, which is also used by a big local bank of our hostile and always giving us water trouble but shopping is cheap friendly northern neighbour, to get myself to the capital of the land of smiles. Of course smiling lah, I bring my moolah to them.

Or maybe, I am contemplating to tell the bride that if her sisters (bridesmaids) not chio enough, I will not be the best man. I must see first, then decide. That sound like a good idea, ain't it?

Hamster power!

It has finally happened! WAHAHAHHAA Or rather, I finally saw it -again-.

I'm always telling people to bring hamster along to help you charge watever you need to charge, and now its finally been done!

Here, read about it!

Batman the queer?

This is just so damn funny!

Have you seen a gay-ed Batman in contemporary art? This is so interesting. And talk about the interesting part, DC even send in their legal letter! Maybe fridae can consider buying the poster for their office.

Urban legend

What's up with all the Spectacular Mars? I know, August 27th coming soon and there's the flier going around saying about the CLOSEST distance between Mother Earth and Sister Mars. But hey, that happens TWO farking years ago. Thank you.

However, it does seems to that its not entirely false. They do come close to each other, though not as close as 2 TWO farking years ago. And that is going to occur in October. So 2 more months then. Get your camera and tripod ready then.

Anyway, dun even know how come I google around for the answer. Just so happened at that moment, feel like googling around for something, and sha-la-la, found that its one of the latest hoax going around. Not that I always doubt the person who spread the email. I swear.

May the virus be with you

WAHAHAH what kind of shit is this? Ignorances are such bliss, dun you think not?

Some 11 per cent of the British population are convinced that spyware is "a gadget from Star Wars", according to research published on Thursday.

Simple question

I must be at my boring mood again. Start to turn philosophical about a simple question thrown at me.

A friend send me a some photos of some supposedly babe. A nice question of chio? got me to reply in such philosophical answer.

looking at woman is always about looking at the right angle in the right light with the right makeup in the right time of the day

I must be mad. Or bored.

Probably I'm having a conversation too many on women of late.

Must be. Must be.

Happy happy sha-la-la

人逢喜事精神爽.

What lovely evening I have. Just feeling happy. And then I come across this rainbow in the red sky. Nice, dun you think? Only think I dun have a decent camera to snap it down. And I dun recall any raining within the last hour. I wonder where it comes from.

Fancy a cover?

The Japanese are ever so creative. If not they are producing such covers for my mobile, I would mind getting some of it! Fancy talking to a piece or cheese? Or picking up a bull when your phone goes off? Or you got the Initial D in you to prefer the rubber tyre? Effective advertising, I must say. I wonder if we will get to see this over on our island.

They can be view here.

Restoring life back

One knows one is so addicted to the PC when the first thing one switch on when one wakes up is one's PC. One knows one is so addicted to the PC when one watches movies from the PC even if the TV is much much bigger. One knows one is so addicted to the PC when one choose not to turn on the TV to concentrate on the PC.

The first thing I turn on is my PC when I got home, after I touched down on Sillypore soil from my roof of the world adventure, or maybe its the 2nd thing. First thing is the lights, of course. You dun expect me to move around in the dark, do you? And boy am I going to be so upset. My PC has decided to throw its tantrum at me. After using her for so many years, it choose to play punk with me on the day I was so tired. And unpacking most of the major items, I just got to get back fixing her. She's such a sore eyes when she is not well and up and running. I know she works very hard. 365 X 24 X 7. So when I go on a break, I also give her break, but its like she wanna take on permanent leave. So I decided to retire her for good and get myself a new her. Now, must know who is master wahhhhhhhh. Then the goddamn new her also wanna give me problems. KNS! This is is really lang suay qi jiao bian guay.

Think now my TV has to work extra hard. It has been on for the past few days. Maybe its about time it wakes up from its sleep and start serving. That is when I learnt that Channel U and Channel 8 look disgustingly crossover. I miss the good ol' days when they are separate entities. Look like good things never seems to last long. As I always says, Sillypore golden age are over.

Had dinner with some colleagues last night to post celebrate a colleague birthday. Its actually belated. They all waiting for me to come back wah. What to do. Its been an annual affair all these years, so how can skip this year? But this year is abit the different. We actually head off down to Sillypore infamous redlight district for an all time favourite. The stimulating aroma. The smooth texture. The melt-in-your-mouth aftertaste. Its the king, king of the fruit.

In fact its all spontaneous on how we actaully ended up going for the king after dinner. We were having land-of-the-rising-sun fare at where-the-ah-gua-used-to-perform-long-time-ago. Its some new restuarant replacing another restaurant, so thinking we can try it out. The food is so so. They actaully have this land-of-the-rising-sun version of claypot rice, except they use metal pot instead. Was telling them about my last day of my roof of the world adventure where I visited the 武侯祠, the museum that pay tributes to the one of the greatest strategist of that era, and also the very famous 桃園结义 act. There's even a temple in it, and a tea restaurant where you can sit down to drink tea and watch classic performance like Opera or acts of swallowing fire. I din see anything, I saw the signboard.

Then next to this museum is the Jin Li Jie (錦里街), a street with a lot of food fare, or rather finger food might be better term. Its easier to do the buy-eat-walk-buy-eat-walk(边 走边 吃) then to try to find a place to sit down and eat. Skipping the noodles is a good choice. Then I tumbled onto the fermented beancurd (臭 豆腐). No smell one. Well, I never try the real thing before wah. I was expecting a lot of smell but .... Oh well. Bought one stick of it and try, and its salty like hell. As if I'm eating salt directly. Those people not scare high blood pressure or heart attack ah? Put so much salt.

From that smell brought me to the subject of the smell-less the king I found in Chengdu supermarket. I sniff very hard and still no smell. No smell king is no good king, experiences tells me that. Now I know why the first guide I had in my roof of the world adventure dun like the king he eaten back in his own place. He loves the king. I promise him I will bring some over to him if I'm going back to look for him again. I have already figure out a way to bring it over. Then one of the colleagues mention that she loves the king, so dun talk about it else she will craves for it.

Nothing to crave about. So we are not that far away from the infamous redlight district, we can just head on down. Its also consider to be on the way for us to go home, with 2 of us staying so near to it. That of course is on the way. Furthermore I'm a believer of 擇日不如撞日(now rather than another chosen time). So we just hopped onto the cab and head down for the king.

One word to describe. B-l-o-a-t-e-d.

Roof of the world Part XIV

Finally going home. Its been a fun, tiring, exciting, sleepy, crazy, too much monastery, too much oily/salty food, so much food, hi-lo, not enough air trip.

Today is own time own target day. The girls already planned out their day. They are going to go straight for breakfast once its ready, and that is 7am. After that its shopping and shopping for them till we meet an 5pm for the guide to bring us to the airport. Their first stop is the distribution centre. Heard open at 4am. Oh they check out room with no intention of going back.

We (the guys) take our own sweet time. Wake up at 9am. Had breakfast then we go out for a walk. Went to the distribution centre. One word. BORED. Less than 30 minutes, we left the place. Go back to the hotel for final packing. Then we go our separate ways, me and my buddy.

I go to the museum, Wu Hou Ci. Yeah you heard me right. I go to the museum. A museum dedicated to Zhuge Kongming, one of the greatest strategist during the period of Romance of 3 Kingdoms. Chengdu is the capital of Shu kingdom. Since I have a lot of time, I seriously walk as slowly as I could. Walk until I lost. The place is built based on the design of the buildings of that era. There is also a food alley next to it. I just walk along and different type of finger food.

After walking for 3 hours, time to go off. Getting bored already. Still got 2 more hours before meeting with the rest. So head on to a nearby cafe for hi-tea. TMD. Their hi-tea is all fruits and a few pastries. Waiting for to tick away. Typing this for you people to read.

Time's up. Going to meet them. See u back in Sillypore.

Roof of the world Part XIII

Early bird catches the worm. We were told that we will be spending 4-5 hours going up Mount Er Mei. The ladies are dying to get to their shopping spree. So we have our breakfast at 6.30am.

At 7am, we walk to the boarding area for visitors to go up Mount Er Mei. Its even more crowded than Mount Le. Argh. Damn commercial. We have 2 options again. Mid mountain or mountain top. Our initial plan is mountain top. Its has 3 amazing sights.

The cloud sea. The sunrise. The buddha light. But now Chengdu is raining, so sunrise is probably a gone case. Buddha light needs the right timing and right sunlight. Only appears once or twice a year. But according to the guide, the top is undergoing construction, so a lot of view is obstructed. So seems like mid mountain is a more sensible choice.

We are handed over to a local guide for our tour. We first have to take a coach to a cable car point. The cable car will send us further up to the Wan Nien Shi (Wan Nien Monastery). We have to ascend a flight of stairs before we reach the monastery. A very commercialized monastery as we all agreed.

Next attraction on the route is Bai Long Dong (White Dragon Cave). Its the legendary place where bai she (white snake) train herself. No one interested, so we just passby the place. Then we descend 1km to Qing Ying Ke (Qing Ying Pavilion) to prepare ourselves to enter the main attraction of Mount Er Mei. Its the natural monkey zone. Up and down. Up and down. After traveling like another 500m, someone overheard that the monkeys are in hiding. No monkey sighted. Damn. We decided to u-turn and travel back to the pavilion.

Then we have to first climb up what seems like endless flight of stairs, then descend at twice the distances before we can board the bus to leave. We climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and climb and I still cannot see the top. ^.%#*$

By the time I get to the top, I am literally steaming. Someone can see me smoking away, thinking someone is smoking behind me only to realise the smoke is emitting from me. I say I'm probably at boiling point. In army, favorite phrase would be any sweat lotsa sweat, underwear also wet. I'm totally soak through. Perspire like turn on tap.

Some are asking if not seeing the monkeys is considered this Mount Er Mei a failure. My reply is I dun give a damn about the monkeys, I climb it once is more than enough. All agree with me. A regular jogger is not the same as regular climber. Hopefully no aching tomorrow.

After lunch its back to Chengdu. Some of the girls are dying to get back to shopping. These are hardcore cheaplo shoppers. They are having the intention of buying additional luggage just to dump their loots in. SIAO.

But before that, we are stopping by our last tourist attraction, Huang Long Xi Gu Zhen. An old town with 1700 years of history. Its also probably the most dead attraction but also most clean town I have seen. There are always some cleaners sweeping the litters. We are reminded not to throw on the floor! First time told NOT to throw on the ground!

We had Chongqing steamboat for dinner. We merge yesterday's lunch, today's dinner aud tomorrow's lunch for this one meal. We go for the 88 per head type. Not bad sia. We get our own room. Everything is free flow, including beer.

Last night in China ... sleep tight. Good nite.

Roof of the world Part XII

Shopping is never part of my interest when going on a travel. Unless I'm there with a specific agenda, shop for some particular things.

This time round, I'm the one in the group to be buying the most amount of local products. Stroll, see, take. Stroll, see, take. The next thing I know, my basket full liao. Shit. That is the problem when you have a sales girl holding your basket. Think I'm going to have a big problem squeezing the stuffs into my bag.

Its finally the last day in Tibet. With the end of Tibet will come the end of the trip soon. Its about time to go back to the real world. The urban world. No more mountains. No more streams. No more glaciers. No more villages. No more bake cake in the wild. No more water the plant in the wild. Chengdu here I come.

Its another new guide, but this time its 2 guides (lady guide with a male representative from head office) and a driver. We are a little surprised at having so many people. I wonder if the guide is understudying or that our first guide is making sure that the Chengdu side is taking good care of us. To my understanding, the first guide is the boss himself. We machiam like VIP.

This is also probably the most packed vehicle we have been seated. A little crammed but still will do. The only one where we totally need the aircon turn out. Afterall, 2 more days only. Its those MPV, so actually quite comfortable.

This time round, most will just sleep during the journey. Nothing much to see. After so many days of the real nature, rural side of Chengdu just pale in comparison. Only need to visit Le Shan (Mount Le) to see the big buddha for today. Slow and easy. We have 2 options. Either take the ferry and see from a distance or walk in and up and down and return walk. Luckx we choose ferry. Walking in is really a poor choice. Its crowded. I hate crowded place. And queues too.

The big buddha is about 71m high. Only from the ferry can you see it in full view. Its like that lor. Once you see it, no big deal. Similar to the one they CG-ed in the Feng Yun (Storm raiders) drama. After about 10 minutes, it head further for all to see the sleeping buddha. The sleeping buddha actually is a composition of the islands and trees. You will need imagination and good viewpoint to figure out the sleeping buddha. The head is quite obvious to me. The rest is a little tough.

After that we head to Er Mei Shan (Mount Er Mei) for our lodging. Our hotel is quite nice, very cheena garden style. The lobby is on the 5th floor. Our rooms on the 3rd floor while the restaurant is on the 1st floor. One will arrive on the 5th floor straight. No lift though.

We walk around the town at the foot of Mount Er Mei. Its goddamn commercial.

Roof of the world Part XI

Tibetan locals can easily drink a case of beer. And they like to ask people to drink. Their favourite phrase for drinking is three mouth one glass (San Kou Yi Pei). They likes to cheer, and then bottle up! My driver jio me for a drink last night. I drink until I scare man. The bottle like dowan to finish. I finish one glass, he poured again. I finish again, he poured again. When the bottle emptied, the waitress brought out more bottles! Dun think I ever drink so much in my life. Think I just stress test my liver.

And the guide fell ill yesterday. By dinner time, she's feeling quite terrible. Ended up we are trying to take care of her. See lah, this kind of guide, dun complain can anot? I dunno man. There's a bitch among us, so she might make a big fuse out of it. Not my problem. I very shui pian one lor. Maybe she's abit too young and inexperiences. Afterall, she's even many years younger than me and I'm the youngest in the group. -shrug-

We wake up very early in the morning so as to rush back to Lhasa. So we the ladies can shop again. And I'm feeling very stony from the way too much of beer from last night. I dun even have a good night sleep. Its damn cold, and if you turn too much, the many many many layers of brankets might let some cold air slip in and its no fun. And very very stereo snoring is keeping me awake. I have no idea whose it is. Either me, or my buddy or the driver. Damnit. @$%^%#$

After breakfast, we set off immediately, trying to find a clinic for the guide. The first town we get to, think the doctor still sleeping, refuse to open door. Then head off for another bigger town. Finally get her to a clinic. Wanna give her some drip (seems like over here, everything can be solved with the drip). When told to wait for 2 hours, the driver say cannot wait that long. So an injection is used. Heard she feel so terrible that she cried. So poor thing, but she's the guide leh.

Today's journey is ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... damn arse pain. I just sleep as much as I can, trying to ignore the pain in my arse. Afterall, its the same route back, so dun feel like taking any more photos, except for a handful misses that we had when we travel to Nyingchi.

The ladies are terribly hungry by the time we reach Lhasa for lunch. Since the rest of the days is ours, we request from the guide to merge the cost of lunch and dinner into the lunch, so that we can go out on our own to have dinner. I tell you, 8 of us (get the driver and the guide in for the meal as well) had like more than 14 dishes of food. I eat until I scare. And everything here is goddamn oily! Like oil no need moolah one. And finally get to try my favourite dish, the fish. So many tiny bones until I give up eating it. But their Ma Po Tou Fu is nothing like Sillypore. Very fragrance, very nice, very hot, very spicy, and comes with this overburnt taste. The original taste!

The guys decided to move on their own. I definitely dowan to get stuck with the chabors, and their shopping is killing me. So we go back to the Octagon Street (Ba Jiao Jie) again to get some stuffs that I din get during our first trip there. And now typing this at the internet cafe for you people to read lorrrr.

I never is a massage person. So only try them when I'm oversea. And of course the price must be attractive. I'm not complaining about the massage last night. A full body massage for 2 hours, working from your feet to your head, at that price. Very decent hor, dun let your mind wonder.

After our recommendations, the ladies also went after their shopping. Heng. Heard they were still shopping at Ba Jiao Jie at 8pm whereas the guys were done before 6pm. They must seriously be looking into every single booth.

Its our last night in Lhasa. Finally going to be leaving Tibet tomorrow. Tonight we are going to spend the night at a hotel next to the airport. We head for breakfast at this restaurant called Yu Bao Zi. Its our 2nd time there for breakfast. All of us like it there.

We are so sick of the hotel breakfast. No change in style even though we had spent the night in a different hotel almost every night. Its nice for some changes. The century egg porridge with you tiao is just fabulous.

This morning, we had for our last attraction in the city, Drepung Monastry (Zhe Pan Shi). Its built on top or rather midway of a mountain. We have to climb on foot all the way up to monastry. Along the way, we are been harassed by the kids. Its those kids that are horrifying. They will pull your shirt or pants, push against you or even hold onto your leg.

The best on can do is continue walking, and not stop to give anything. The moment you give one, you will find a swarm of them appearing. What is frustrating when you take aim and snap, then they harass you for moolah. I got it again. Even give already still want to ask for more.

This monastry allow the taking of photos, as long as you pay. And its different pricing at different chamber. The lamas are much friendlier. Some more our guide (its the representative on our first day in Lhasa, our original guide need to go on drip for 3 days) try to help us bargain for better pricing, say we are exchange students from Sillypore at Tibet University.

So even the photography fees also bargain for half price. Solid man, this guide. Trying her best to entertain us. So next time I need to travel those backpacking mountainous routes, I know who to contact directly.

We are quite lucky. Just when we are leaving, the monastry is having this praying session. Its an irregular session, so not a lot of people get to see it. Damn lucky. Must take the opportunity to take photo, else dunno when such opportunity will come again.

We head for lunch. Try this beef noodles suggested by the guide. Not too bad. Noodles are hand made. Have cold noodles as well but not exactly my type of food. Its actually taste like hor fun except its much thicker.

Next is Yang Zuo Yong Cuo. We have to scale Mount xxx, to more than 5000m above sea level to see the spectacular lake. Its a magnificent sight. Beautiful sky color. Beautiful lake color. Beautiful mountain color. I can barely describe it. Pictures describe a thousand words. Wait for my photos. The only thing that marred the place are the harassing locals bugging you to ride their animals or kids begging asking for food or moolah.

Even the roads are very nicely done. Its a new road, use official in use this month. We then drive to another location to take more photos of the magnificent lake. Oh we ain't even having any problem at that altitude.

Next is to see a glacier. Everyone is hoping for snow. KNN! Snow again. Dun care liao. I bet such dun have. Stomach been rumbling the whole day. Concentration is all on the stomach. We have to descend from the lake before ascending again to more than 5000m above sea level to see the glacier.

No snow. Nevermind about it already. My only concern is to find a place to bake cake. Water the plant activity also scare. Not easy to control both side output. Its a totally different feeling doing your business out in the wild. Stop the vehicle. Look for some large rock for concealment.

Damn stress man. The rock can only conceal a small potion of me from the main road. The ladies have taken the much bigger rock to my right and can probably see me when they come out of their area. There's local people with their dogs to my left plucking what I believe are herbs, and their dogs will normally attack stranger when provoked. Then we are warned against touching certain plant that will leave your flesh numb, and my bake cake area do have a fair bit of that plant. Scary man.

But still a fair bit of experience to be doing your business out in the wild at 5000m above sea level. My first time bakeing cake out in the wild. If not for the cake threatening me that its forcing its way out, I would wait till I reach the hotel. The ladies love to do it in the wild. Why? After you come here, you will probably hate built toilet as much as we do. The air is a million times fresher than built toilet. And you are doing a good deed, giving the plant herb nutrition.

Finally get to play with the handheld fireworks and firecrackers we bought a few days ago. We suaku wah. Got the driver and guide to help us get it. Got to carry it around with us for so many days caused city and forest are banned from playing with those. Its our last chance to play with it before we reach the airport. As we play with it, we attract some of the locals attention. They cycle to where we are to see what is going on.

When we get to the Airpot hotel, its almost midnight. When told that we cannot bath, everyone almost get hysterical. What is the point of giving me a suite room yet I cannot bath?

And happy National Day. All of us celebrate it in our small way. Everyone wears red.

Roof of the world Part X

Tibetan locals can easily drink a case of beer. And they like to ask people to drink. Their favourite phrase for drinking is three mouth one glass (San Kou Yi Pei). They likes to cheer, and then bottle up! My driver jio me for a drink last night. I drink until I scare man. The bottle like dowan to finish. I finish one glass, he poured again. I finish again, he poured again. When the bottle emptied, the waitress brought out more bottles! Dun think I ever drink so much in my life. Think I just stress test my liver.

And the guide fell ill yesterday. By dinner time, she's feeling quite terrible. Ended up we are trying to take care of her. See lah, this kind of guide, dun complain can anot? I dunno man. There's a bitch among us, so she might make a big fuse out of it. Not my problem. I very shui pian one lor. Maybe she's abit too young and inexperiences. Afterall, she's even many years younger than me and I'm the youngest in the group. -shrug-

We wake up very early in the morning so as to rush back to Lhasa. So we the ladies can shop again. And I'm feeling very stony from the way too much of beer from last night. I dun even have a good night sleep. Its damn cold, and if you turn too much, the many many many layers of brankets might let some cold air slip in and its no fun. And very very stereo snoring is keeping me awake. I have no idea whose it is. Either me, or my buddy or the driver. Damnit. @$%^%#$

After breakfast, we set off immediately, trying to find a clinic for the guide. The first town we get to, think the doctor still sleeping, refuse to open door. Then head off for another bigger town. Finally get her to a clinic. Wanna give her some drip (seems like over here, everything can be solved with the drip). When told to wait for 2 hours, the driver say cannot wait that long. So an injection is used. Heard she feel so terrible that she cried. So poor thing, but she's the guide leh.

Today's journey is ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... damn arse pain. I just sleep as much as I can, trying to ignore the pain in my arse. Afterall, its the same route back, so dun feel like taking any more photos, except for a handful misses that we had when we travel to Nyingchi.

The ladies are terribly hungry by the time we reach Lhasa for lunch. Since the rest of the days is ours, we request from the guide to merge the cost of lunch and dinner into the lunch, so that we can go out on our own to have dinner. I tell you, 8 of us (get the driver and the guide in for the meal as well) had like more than 14 dishes of food. I eat until I scare. And everything here is goddamn oily! Like oil no need moolah one. And finally get to try my favourite dish, the fish. So many tiny bones until I give up eating it. But their Ma Po Tou Fu is nothing like Sillypore. Very fragrance, very nice, very hot, very spicy, and comes with this overburnt taste. The original taste!

The guys decided to move on their own. I definitely dowan to get stuck with the chabors, and their shopping is killing me. So we go back to the Octagon Street (Ba Jiao Jie) again to get some stuffs that I din get during our first trip there. And now typing this at the internet cafe for you people to read lorrrr.

Ok, times up. My buddy getting restless. We are heading for the massage liao. I'm sure I'm going to enjoy it. Now wonder what favour should I get.

Roof of the world Part IX

So far today's assembly is the latest. The time that we meet for breakfast is normally the time we would have been on the road. Because of the late assembly, everyone decided to sleep late. The girls gathered to gossip while the guys stick to watching TV in the room. Anywya its showing this drama that I quite like.

Just when I entered my room and turn on the light, the phone in the room rang. Was taken aback, wondering who was calling. Its the previous guide! Caused I SMS him earlier on about the Tibet Tricholoma Matsutake, to see if he knows much about it. Any recommendation for price range.

By the time he called, I have made my I-suspect-I-kena-conned purchase already. It does not really matters. Just take it that I should be filial lor. Then he checked if our side is ok, if the room was acceptable. Told him that after Tuo Tuo He, what could be worse than that?

Kept reminding me that if we have any problems, informed him immediately especially in Chengdu. A very reliable and responsible person. He even ji me to go trekking with him to I-can't-remember-where. I'm tempted liao. Time to talk to boss and arrange my leaves.

We head for this Garden of the World Cypress King first. Inside the garden reside a 2600 years old cypress. I wonder if that is the oldest living things alive. Its truk has somehow splits 3 ways and continue to grow upwards. The local tibetan are responsible for its daily protection, against people idiots that like to engrave on the trunk.

After the garden, next is Lulang Forest Sea (Lu Lang Lin Hai). Before that we have to scale to 4700m above sea level. At Mount Se Ji La entrance, its empty with nothing interesting in sight. We din even bother to stop for any I-have-been-here photo session.

They actually built a pavilion that goes down and out a bit for visitors to enjoy the forest sea. What goes down must come up as well. I know it the moment we travel downward, that we are going to be breathless when coming up. Die. Though it only look like 3 stories in height but at such altitude, its still not easy, especially for those who never exercise.

Too bad its drizzling when we reach the top, so its a little disappointing but worth the view and walk. You can see a sea of tress on the mountain side beneath the pavilion. We actually ended up taking more photos of ourselves than the surrounding.

On the way down the mountain, we stop over at this partway stone partway wood bridge for photo taking session again. We must be behaving like suaku people cause the driver is always sniggering away. As I cross the bridge, I see a piglet at the other end of the bridge. The closer I get to it, the more it wants to get away from me.

Maybe it sees in my eyes the sparkling delicious shape of a saucy pork chop. Yummy. I finally corner it to the end of the bridge by a tree. Or rather it choose to take the dead end corner instead of runaway corner. Then I snap and snap and I retreat once I'm done with it. Someone go up close to shoot and I can see the piglet trying to dash back to the main road side. That someone gives way to the piglet and it really dashes across the bridge, knocking my buddy's leg and sending some of the girls screaming away. Its a funny and priceless moment. Damn. My hands action not fast enough to snap it. Damn again.

We then head for Ba Song Cuo (Basong Lake), the Jiu Zhai Gou of Tibet. Along the way, we pick up some backpackers whose vehicle breaks down along the way. The driver find them pitiful, having to walk uphill and still some 30km away from Ba Song Cuo. But of course the driver does ask for our permission. Afterall, we are the clients.

There is an island (Hu Xin Dao) within the lake. On the island is a temple built around the end of the Tang dynasty era. There is a peach and pine tree that interweave together like they are one single tree. Then touch for dunno what reason. Think its some good luck or something like that. I just use my hand to touch bit bit nia. Can see people hugging it like its some teddy bear. Wah kauz. Dirty lehhhhhh.

There is a dunno if its a wolf or dog animal kept by the monks. The monk brought it back from the mountain when tis very young, after its mother died. Can see lotsa visitors taking photo of/with it. Many asking if its a dog or wolf. Some say dog, some say wolf. You ask me? I dunno. Ears look like wolf, eyes look like dog, stand like wolf, fur like dunno what. So poor thing, machiam like exhibition item.

Tonight's lodging is at this resort inside Ba Song Cuo. Its of acceptable condition. We are given a cabin with exactly 8 beds. 5 beds in a room with the toilet and 3 beds in another room with the TV. Weird combo. Its kind of inconvenient to walk over to the ladies room to use the toilet. So the guys decided to upgrade to the villa class.

Villa class sure does look better. Bigger toilet. Bigger room. Same TV though. And walking inside the room can feel the whole room shakes! Like those container office.

Its going to be a cold night to sleep on the mountain top.

Roof of the world Part VIII

The massage must have done me a good deed. The moment I closed my eyes last night, I entered slumberland immediately. Guess the long walk must had tired me out too. The only time I'm sitting down is meal time.

Today we assemble early cause we have a long way to go to get to Nyingchi (Lin Zhi). Its an 8 hours journey according to the guide. Look like my arse is going to get really really sore.

We get to see one of the 3 big rivers in Tibet, Niyang River. The view is -yawn-. Its not that its not spectacular but I'm just so sleepy. I guess the little bit of sleep (less number of sleep hours compared to the rest of the traveling days) is biting me, causing me to prefer to nap during the journey. Trust me, after so many days of mountains and lakes and rivers and streams and misty mountains and snowy streams, all look almost the same except there is much more forest and vegetation along this route.

First stop is this big rock that actually fell off the mountain and slammed itself in the middle of hte river. Some kind of attraction man. Luckily dun need to pay, else...... else still gotta pay lor. Sighz. Tourist wahhh. Dun con you, con who??

Then we scale up Mount Minla entrance at more than 5000m alove sea level. I guess our experiences at Mount Tang Ku La have prepare us for this one. This time no one feels terrible or anything else except damn cold strong wind. AS with all mountain attractions, there will always be local people bugging you to buy their stuffs.

There is a lot of people at this point. Taking photos gotta be fast. Those people idiots will not give spaces to you. Even if you aim your camera there for quite a while, people idiots will still come into your viewfinder one after another and spoil the picture. Another golden rule is never give anything to beggers. However the ladies wanna give away the milk we bought in Xining. I tell you, those brats kids snatch very fast and then snatch among themselves. Her intention is to give a few packets, not the WHOLE bag. FARK! I have drink my milk yet! $*&%#&%^&*

We stop for lunch in a small town. While having lunch, got this vagabond style musician playing his guitar and singing at our table. We simply ignore the person and carry on eating. Then he keeps standing there asking for moolah. Its only a while later then the restaurant owner request the musician to come back later.

Then everyone is complaing that the current guide is not good enough, or rather pale in comparison. If its the previous guide he will stop all these soliciting for us. I guess we are too pampered by the previous guide. Always checking on us to ensure that everything is alright with us. And when that is happening, she is sitting down there eating lunch and watching TV!

Nothing much eventful till we reach Lamaling Temple. Its the temple for the founder of the Ningma Sect (Red Sect) built by his disciple. We are required to take off our shoes when entering. We are told that the living buddha for this sect is inheritance, which is to say, if the father is the living buddha, then the son can inherit as the living buddha.

The lamas of this sect are allow to marry. Someone ask what is there's twins. Even the lama on duty is laughing at the question. Just like the emperors and kings, only one can inherit the throne, so does this living buddha. Even woman can become living buddha. There is only 1 left now, as we are told. I wonder how it is like to marry a living buddha. Must be very stressful.

We head back to Nyingchi for dinner. We are brought to this rather posh looking place. You have to walk through a large hall of products which the sales persons will try their best to sell you. I think I should just be filial and buy the Tibetan Tricholoma Matsuke for my mom to cook for me to eat. Got a feeling that I kena chopped but at least I'm assured that its the real thing. Heard its expensive and hard to find. -shrug-

Night time, we just walk around their shopping area. What to do, got charbor in the group, shopping is always on their mind. Even found Baleno and Samuel and Kevin boutique here. Buy CD also must bargain and got this really happening tibetan album. I buy liao, of cause original lah... or say so the sales person.

We stop by for some beer and snacks in a cafe. Never realise got beer taste lighter than Archor. Tried their Blue Sword Beer and Snow Beer.

Roof of the world Part VII

Its just kind of weird that when you want to set your alarm clock to wake you up at the designated time, you can have problems trying to wake up. Then when you choose not to set, then you will wake up earlier than you wish to. Now I wonder what is wrong. Why am I getting up earlier than I want to?

Seems like the meals in western China are all very similar stuffs. Fried potatoes. Green vegetables soup (with tomatoes or cucumber sometimes). Green eggplant. Hard boiled egg. Fried noodles seems non-existence here, only soup noodle.

We get to know your new guide during breakfast. Young chubby looking lady. The driver, a handsome man that the representative describe as handsome and look like La Ting minus the beard. We call Osama for short but here they call La Ting. We have to think so hard who the hell is La Ting.

So now we are in Lhasa, so travelling is within the city. Finally no more long mountainous road to each an attaction. We first head for Da Zhao Shi (Jokhang Temple). Bladie smoky and crowded place. Got what buddha, use for what, forgotten liao. One way in, one way out. Its some grand temple and you can see the long queue of people going in to pray. Tourists another lawless queue. No polite, no give way, else you can be forever standing there and no one gives way to you. From 8 years old to 80 years old (plus minus 10 years) bash their way in and out.

The temple is surround by this Octagon Street (Ba Jiao Jie). Great shopping hunting ground to shop hunt for whatever you want and practice your bargaining skill. Most All the things displayed by the street vendors are counterfeit. Lotsa jewelry stuffs for bargaining.

We The ladies plan to change the itinerary on the initla plan, to bring forward our visit to Norbulingka (Lou Bu Lin Ka) to before lunch. So they can do some shopping in the evening.

KNN! When the word shopping enter the itinerary list, all other plans can be shelved. More than 2 hours spent walking and buying and bargaining along this street, which is only like 500m only. Their bags are filled with their loots.

As usual we break for lunch, at a restaurant near Potala Palace (Bu Ta La Gong) since our next attrraction is the palace. While we are having our lunch, the guide go about getting our tickets for our entrance to the palace. The palace limit about 800 visitors a day and there are time slots allocated for entry.

While eating halfway, the guide calls to inform us that she only manage to get us 1 ticket for 1pm entry and 5 tickets for 2 pm entry. So I stop lunch, offer to go in earlier and wait for them inside. Some kind of screw up lor.

For outside, its really great. Tall. Bright color. Grand. Mystic. Religious. We ascend and ascend. We walk and walk. We climb and climb. We squeeze and squeeze. In and out. In and out. Totally lost track of which chamber is which buddha. Listen to the story till I'm lost. Who was what, who done what, who why what.

There are 5 types of burial for the tibetan. Sky, water, earth, fire and pagoda. Pagoda burials are only given to very high ranking monk, like Dalai Lama. Think of the Pope in the Christian world. The 5th Dalai Lama's pagoda is made of 3721 of gold and countless priceless gems. Its valued at 1 billion RMB. Some of the other padodas that we can see are made of few hundreds of kg of gold and countless priceless gems as well. The Potala Palace is estimated to be worth the construction of 7 Shanghai. No shitting me. See, I always know religion makes good moolah.

Next is Norbulingka, which reside inside a very big park. Tibetan like to bring their families to the park and enjoy the weekend. Norbulingka is Dalai Lama's summer palace. There is quite a number of century old trees.

During dinner, the ladies discussed about shopping place and ask teh guide and driver for suggestions. The driver suggest a night market to shop. Things are cheap according to him. And leaves room for your bargaining skill again. My roommate suggest massage since we done a lot of walking today. The driver recommend this quite reputable massage palour which is very near the night market. Neat!

The driver drop us at the night market. So my buddy and I roam the place for a while since its still early for massage, we just had a filling dinner. We are done with the night market within 20 minutes, then head on to the nearby internet cafe to surf for something.

The parlour is actually 3 stories high. 1st floor is for your hair, 2nd floor is the beauty salon while the 3rd floor is for massage. We decide to do foot instead of body massage. Even foot massage comes in several favours. See until blur. Dunno what herbs for dunno what purposes. Read also read till sian. Just random choose their newest flavour. I find it cheap and good. I'm already thinking of going back again when I'm back from Nyingchi (Lin Zhi) if I can afford the time.

The ladies can seriously shop. Then again, I think this must be a stupid and idiot statement. Everyone knows that. Oh well. Think they shop for a few hours. Heard one of them bought as much as 7 pairs of shoes. Why? Cause they say very cheap. The shoes price cost her only a good pair of socks in Sillypore. You say cheap anot?

Roof of the world Part VI

Sees like our bodies have adopt to the altitude. Everyone seems to have a good rest even though we are staying at around 4200m above sea level. Most of us still not feeling too well and have taken medicine before going to bed. I must be doing well, without the need for any medication.

Everyone seems to love the cup noodles, and can go to bed after their filling meal. I am damn full after my cup noodle. How to sleep with a full stomach? This I have to surrender. Some more go to bed so early, its a rarity to me. Early means before midnight.

Somehow, one way or another, there must be something in my room that will not function too well. Leaking basin. Not enough wind blowing into the room caused by too many trees in front of the window. Toilet ventilation system not working. Toilet door unclosable. And best of all, toilet bowl doesn't seems to flush very well.

We head for the Na Mu Cuo Lake, situated at 4700m above sea level, making it the highest salt water lake in the world. We were supposed to go yesterday for the sunset shoot but... sigh. When we got there, its raining lightly. Everyone starts putting on raincoat or windbreaker. I have to quickly take off my clothes to put on a 3rd layer of clothing underneath my sweater.

Everyone brave the rain and strong wind to go out. Then when we get off the vehicle, the tibetan locals start hogging us to buy stuffs or ride their horses. Everyone take pictures as fast as we can, then rush up the vehicle. Damn. Going to see droplets of water on my photo. And fugly sky color. %^%^$#%^#$&

Heard that a group left very early in teh morning to go there to catch sunrise. Sunrise my arse. Think the disappointment one will get to go up to find it raining. Snow kilan. Who the hell told me got snow? The driver tells me that you will need for it to rain continously for 3 days before it will snow. I suaku can anot?

On the way down the mountain, we stop by one of the tibetan family to take photo. I tell you, those kids rush onto you asking for food or moolah. Some even ask for the photos to be mailed to them. Walking along the grass gotta be careful. Lotsa landmines on the ground.

We head back to Dang Xiong for lunch before embarking on our main destination, Lhasa. We stop over at this hotspring at Yang Ba Zhi. The guide is surprised to see the place developed till there are lodging and restaurant available.

The cheapest entrance fees is to the swimming pool outisde. Outside where visitors can see you in bikini and take photos. And also where the cold wind can blow at you. But I think its still quite an enjoyment to soak in teh hotspring swimming pool, enjoy the mountainous view where snow mountains are in sight, and nice cold wind blowing at you.

Somehow I think my balls will shrink when I get out of the pool. The guide gives us 30 minutes to soak but no one all ladies except for one prepares bikini. They will not mind buying the tibetan styles bikini but I heard there is only han styles and tis fugly.

It seems that we managed to reach Lhasa eralier than expected. We got to this hotel with really strong local flavor, owned by dunno which living buddha's daughter. They say the daughter is very pretty but I din get to see her. Its not the best hotel in town but service is really good. One of the staffs is nanny to the dunno which living buddha. So things are cheap and service charge free. Half the place is owned by the lamas.

Today is our last day with our current guide. We will be switching to another guide in Lhasa and the rest of the tibet trip. Our current guide is a good and experienced guide. He has been taking good care of us. We have gotten his contact,sonext time can go straight to him and skip those damn commission. The new guide is not able to meet us, so another representive come to pick us up.

Our current guide tell us that this representative is good at deciphering handwriting. So all of us have a go and its really accuate. Look like I gotta look at my life again.

Finally tried some true blue tibetan food during dinner. Most of us like it, so thinking if we can buy backl to Sillypore. After dinner, the representative bring us to this local pub owned by this local who is very popular in his own rights and sings very nice tibetan song. The place is always packed, all lure there by the famous owner-cum-singer. Heard he finally release his Cd. Hopefully I can lay my hands on it. Very niceeeeee.

Try the local beer, Lhasa beer and Lhasa ice beer. The taste is lighter than our local beer back in Sillypore. The ice beer is quite interesting, having a piece of ice floating inside the bottle. Look like I have a little too much beer. My heart is pumping too fast. Damn.

Time for bed.... after the show Swordman II

Roof of the world Part V

There is a wise saying that goes to rest is to travel a longer journey. To have ample rest is very important, especially if you are in an environment that can be quite tough to one that is not accustomed to it.

The driver made a casual remark yesterday,about us not able to sleep well the night. I was puzzled why did he made that comment. Indeed when I tried to sleep, its terrible. I kept tossing in bed, trying very hard to sleep. Even when finally did managed to doze off, would still jerked awake after what seems like minutes of rest.

Then gotta took really deep and slow breathing, else the headache wouild resume again. So throughout the night, the process kept repeating itself. I was seriously praying for the night to end and resume our journey. Like that how to rest?

When I did hear people walking and talking along the corridor, I as kind of overjoy. It could mean its morning but kind of sad to see the guide still sleeping. I refuse to check the time for fear it could still be a long way from day break. Good to have the guide in the same room. No need to set alarm clock.

Seems like places dun take reservation seriously. You may have done your booking but if someone comes along and offer more moolah, they will give your room away! So the guides are all fighting for room cells for their group.

During breakfast, the guide tell us that it is very common for tourist to feel very comfortable during our night stay at Tuo Tuo He. He have taken group that request to leave the place in the middle of the night. Vomiting and terrible headache are common.

The other groups who are staying at the same place have people vomiting all over the plcae, in the cell and outside the building. Heard from the guide that someone went outside to vomit, then when wanted to come back in, the dog refused to let them go back in. Yesh, you heard me right. The dog. Its was barking and wanted to bite them. I wonder where did they sleep in the end.

So now I know its no joke to be even sleeping at moe than 4000m above sea level. Lucky thing our guide belong to some company that is afflicted with the railway association, hence we are promised our accommodation for tonight. The railway association is kind of privileged in this part of China

Major attraction for today is to go all the way up to 5200m above sea level. Along the way, the guide keep checking our condition. The air gets thinner. Sleeping on the minibus is a bad idea causes you will wake up with a headache. When stopping for the photo taking and water the plant activities, donig anything that will increase yur heartbeat and consume more air is going to give you a bad headache. Then you are to practice very hard on your taiji breathing. Xi... Hu... Xi... Hu...

When we get to the entry point of Mount Tang Ku La, everyone is doing things as slowly as we can. The view isn't really as magnificent as said but still quite an achievement to reach there with as little problems. So everyone get busy ith photo taking and the I-have-been-here pictures. A tibetian mother and son even keenly let me take photos without the bugging problem of what I experience in Qinghai Lake. Then everyone gets excited over taking photos with the skull of the long hair ox cow bull.

TMD. No snow, kena conned. Its tomorrow, not today. I'm even wearing 3 layers of clothes. Some of the ladies have 5 layers on. No snow but still damn cold and strong wind. My hands are cold frozen.

After leaving Mount Tang Ku La, we are descending down to as low as about 3000m above sea level. Everyone starts to recover from whatever sickness that is bugging. Most of us do not have a good sleep last night, so we starts to doze off to catch up on the loss sleep.

Nothing eventful nor spectacular is sighted. Cows and sheeps crossing the road is getting boring. Had a little toomuch of mountains and plains and small rivers. Stop over at this rather posh restaurant at Na Qu for lunch. They even have a room catered for tibetan wedding. Nicely decorated and put aside for the purpose. Though posh restaurant, but the toilet still cannot make it. Think its using the public toilet.

Minibus having its hiccup again. So after dropping us at the restaurant, the driver send his vehicle for serving. After all of us are done with lunch, the driver is still not bad. The guide dun feel quite right to start without the driver. Finally when the driver is back, he is exasperated, exclaiming to the guide about how one of the technicians goes off to goin in a fight after dismantle his vehicle. No one else is around to fit it. Then after that NO PARTS!!

Because of the car hiccup, we fall behind time and miss the Na Mu Cuo sunset shoot. Suppose to be spectacular. Sigh. What to do, cannot be helped. The drivert is even more irritated than us. By the time we get to our destination, Dang Xiong,its really late. Luckily, we plan to clear our cup noddles, so dun need to go search for restaurant.

Finally can bathe again.

Roof of the world Part IV

Human are very fragile creatures. Nature forces are one of the most powerful forces on earth. Bring us high up or deep down, we will just break down quite easily. Prepared or not.

Tuo Tuo He (Tuo Tuo River) is our next destination. Right after breakfast, off we go to hit the road. It will be another 400km on the road, at least. Again our guide keep advising us not to get too excited and whatever we do, be very slow. Do not even attempt to run. Laugh to hard or pee to hard is a no-no. Trying doing a dash, chances are you will be panting real hard within 15 steps.

First to reach is the Yi Bu Tian Xian (A step of grave danger). Its a small river which used to be only about 3m wide but 50m deep. A person can actually run and leap cross safely but if slip, then good luck. But now, caused of construction of bridge and dam, so the place is pretty much spoilt.

Next attraction is the entrance to an ancient site. The ancient site is where taoism was founded back in dunno when. Founder is Mr Jiang Zi Ya aka Jiang Tai Gong aka Lü Sheng. So I guess should be around the end of Shang dynasty and beginning of Zhou dynasty. Oh we din even go cause its 240km in from the entrance.

First photo site to hit is a very scenic view of the snow mountain. As with all suaku people tourists, we stop for the usual I-have-been-here photo session. In fact, just when we found the best view spot to park our minibus, there is a herd of goats lambs sheeps running towards our best view spot. So we have to chase the herd away by driving and horning towards them. Really nice to see them leaping and run in group and not all over the place.

Along the way, we see the chinese army conducting their exercise. There are infantries, artilleries, armor, and dunno what else. The guide warns us against taking photos. It can lead to a lot of problems. But we the ladies do take some photos with them when one tonner truck load of them visit the same ancient site as us.

Then its all the way up to the top of Mount Kunlun, which is 4700km above sea level. Strong cold wind is seriously killing. Have to do everything slowly. Its no joke at that height. Oh, also get to pee up there. So I contribute by trying to raise the water level there.

When we get to Ke Ke Xi Li, the thing I'm searching high and low for is the highly endangered tibetan goat. Its not easy to spot them due to their blanding color and they stay far away from the road. They seem to be only in groups of 2-3 till we spot one whole herd of them near a side road. We got so excited and up to as close as we can and take as much photos as we can. And I leave the area a satisfied man.

After that, not much incidents except the minibus broke down twice. The first time in the town where we have lunch. So we get one of the service shop to service it. Then again much later along the way. Good thing the driver manages to fix else we are seriously in deep shit.

By the time we got to Tuo Tuo He, some of us are feeling not too well. The river point is goddamn cold as well. All of us got headache. I guess the height and coldness is finally kicking on us.

After dinner, we head for our accommodation which is an army camp. We ain't the only group around. Everyone sleeps in a cell-like room. Toilet is unisex and its the ONLY one, hence guys are stopped by the girls inside. Everyone is fighting for toilet but no different sexes is using at the same time.

We just head for bed with everything on, wrap from head to toes without washing up. Think I better sleep as well. Tomorrow will be even higher at more than 5000km above sea level. Up the snow mountain.

Damn, I should have brought a sleeping bag. Shit. Stomachache. No way am I going to do my business in the extreme pungent toilet.

Roof of the world Part III

Chaka is quite a boring town, with nothing but that salt lake. However, our hotel seems to have some pretty happening people and activities staying there. I get techno hokkien song through the windows. Or people banging on doors or shouting for someone. Or even drunken people singing along the corridor.

Just outside the hotel, there is a couple of pool table. I'm surprise to see pool table there, or maybe its me who is layward. But the tables are placed on the outside in the open without any shelters. I wonder how long can the velvet top last. Then again, its a dry place with very little rain.

We were warned yesterday morning against bathing on the night itself cause the place will get cold. The guide dun wish to have anyone catching a cold, else it is going to affect the trip. Damn! No bathing! Argh. Machiam going back for incamp reservist training.

After breakfast, next destination is Ke Er Mu, which is more than 700km from Chaka. So we are going to spend a good deal of time on the minibus. The morning started off pretty gloomy. Hate those gray overcast, always give a gloomy finishing to the photos.

Because of the damn rain, we have to take a slightly longer than the original route. Because of the damn rain, the original route condition is very tough for our minibus to travel across but ok for 4-wheel drive vehicles. Because of the damn rain, we miss some attractions. Its about some road with super thin and super shaky road crust yet super strong road crust. Its suppose to be some kind of strange phenomenon. Damn the rain

Nothing that exciting along the way, except to stop for water break, photo sessions of the numerous mountains, nice postcard-like photo shoot, wild flowers and butterflies. After a while, the next hour landscape look too much alike that I think taking a short nap seems more appealing.

Suddenly I am jerk awake by my buddy and look in the direction of his finger. Guess what. A mini sand typhoon. Then again it may not be so mini afterall, seems its a little difficult to judge distances when its a damn huge patch of sand.

What follow suit is another sight known as Hai Shi Shen Lou. Looking far beyond into the desert, one will see a forest growing in the middle of a sea. According to the guide, its totally illusional!! The forest nor the sea exists. I guess its the effect of mirage.

After that nothing much happens. Finally reach our destination of Ke Er Mu after 8 hours on the road. We are 'forced' to take up a hotel that is determined by the office that issue the permit for entry into Tibet. Damn. I believe the hotel owner must have given some kopi moolah to the office or owned by someone of high ranking in the office.

Have a sumptuous late lunch at this rather famous dumping restaurant in this city. Done some wet marketing for fruits and vegetables. I tell you, you should see the amount of food we stock up on the minibus for consumption while on the road.

Those crazy shopaholic ladies just shop and buy cheap shoes. Siao! So heavy leh! Had dinner at the restaurant in the hotel. Siao. Everyday eating a 8-courses dinner is no joke. Dunno how many clicks I have to run to burn off all these oily food. Take a walk around the area and we bump into the distribution area. Again because of the cheap price, the ladies are wacking on the thermal clothes and stocking. Woman

Receive so much warning and advises for tomorrow travel cause we are going up to 4800m above sea level. No laughing too hard. No sudden movement. No quick action. 1 small minor problems can lead to next few days of big problems. Sigh. I guess precaution is more important than cure.

Guess its time to sleep. Its going to be a cold and slow day tomorrow. The TCS verson of Return of the Condor Heroes on TV is seriously boring.

Roof of the world Part II

Did mention that the food over in Xining seems abit too salty for our sillyporeans' taste bud. And mutton is one of their food. Almost Every meal consume in a restaurant where you order a couple of dishes definitely include mutton, except for breakfast which I get to try donkey meat. It taste almost like beef, if I still remember the taste.

I think what look like sweet potato porridge to me is actually century egg porridge. The century egg is yellow in colour and taste like a cross between salted egg yolk and century egg. Or maybe its just me. After that, the salty-ness level drop to an acceptable level.

After breakfast, we head for Ta Er Shi (Ta Er Monastery). Its suppose to be a very grand one. The buddha worshipped there is like rank number 2 in the buddhist world, behind number 1. I am sure you know who is the number 1, if you dun, ask your buddhist friends. If they dunno, its time they change or reflect on their religion (links & research on gprs is expensive lah, especially if you are roaming).

The monastery guide told us a lot of things, so much so that I almost forgotten what the pretty guide said the moment I step out. You have screen out your guide voice when there are other guides giving similar speech on the ground. Remind me of the Chengdu airport. They can bloody made 2 flight announcement at the same time. They probably think you can screen out which statement is for you. And their english announcement seriously sound like spanish to me.

Suppose to go Xining museum next but cause of some event.going on over at the place, so its cancelled. So hop over to the nearby shopping centre for some groceries shopping.

Ri Yue Mountain (sun moon mountain) is next. Nothing really exciting except you experiment who it is like to be more than 3000m above sea level. The guide just stress to do everything very very slowly. Walking very leisurely can be almost like taking a slow jog. And lots of people bugging you to sit on their long hair ox cow bull. They can even tell you that his ong hair ox cow bull has big ears and double eyelids!

Then we head on to Qinghai lake, the biggest lake in China. Along the way, we stop by for scenic view. Have lunch here and food is ok. However there is a particular dish that we have no idea what meat is that. First we think its mutton cause of the strong taste, then the guide come over and tell us that it ain't no beef nor mutton. He does not know and he say he will go and ask but never come back to us on that.

First lesson learn is be very who you are taking photographs of. If its some -human- wearing some tribal or custom costumes and dancing around, make sure check if its payable to take photo. We are told that if you take with them, its chargable but not if you take photo of them.

I tell you, they can hog you. Those goddamn kids hog us, and later I have no idea why only me, for more than 5 mins. Its horrifying. They just keep demanding me to pay, singing louder and louder uncle pay money. Fark! What uncle? KNS! I just keep walking and take photos of other stuffs, till the guide come over to settle it for the 2nd time. They complain of too little moolah the first time round.

Aheading to our rest point is next. Along the way, we have to travel up a mountain at more than 3800m. Nothing to see but stop for water release. The guys does it quickly after walking a short distance away. The ladies refuse to do cause they cannot find any concealment. So we just gotta drive along till we find some place with concealment for them.

Since we are slightly ahead of time when we reach Chaka, so the guide decides to bring us to the Chaka Salt Lake which is actually next day itinerary. Good to be ahead of time, instead of having to rush. But a pity that its the high tide season now, so the railway track is partially submerged in water. Else we are suppose to take the train to the other side of the lake.

After dinner, we are informed that there is some mongolian festival going on. So the guide ask if we are interested. Most of us want to experience it, so we agree to go. However most got too tired waiting, so we cancel it. Its 9 already and we are still waiting. I guess its also they want to wait for nightfall. At that hour, some skylight still manage to sneak in.

Damn. Another chance waste for more photos and experiences