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.