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.