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" Walking can add minutes to your LIFE ! "
" LIFE is a choice. It is your LIFE. Choose consciously. Choose wisely. Choose honestly. Choose happiness "
" LIFE is precious. Value it. "
" My 22 days visit to China (Guilin, Chengdu, Beichuan, Xian, Xining, Golmud, Yushu, Garze, Kangding & Fenghuang; from 1-22/9/2012) - taking the treacherous mountain roads from Qinghai to Sichuan (stunning scenery) and visiting the earthquake stricken towns of Beichuan & Yushu (grief & a lifetime of sorrow for the affected families) "
Total Expenses Incurred in China (22 days) : Y3,308 + Rm776 = Rm2,420 (Euro$605)
- Air Asia promo ticket (booking date 17/10/2011): RM758 (incl airport tax, insurance, meals & luggage fee; KL > Guilin (06.25>10.25); Guilin > KL (11.10>15.20)
- Airport shuttle bus (LCCT): Rm18
- Hostels (14 nights) : Y690 (dorms)
- Airport shuttle bus (Guilin) : Y40
- Trains: Y805
- Long distance bus: Y799
- Taxi / pubic bus: Y122
- Metro: Y24
- Food: Y684
- Sundries: Y144
Exchange Rate: Rm$1 = Y0.497; US$1=Rm3.05; Euro$1=Rm4.0
- Airport shuttle bus (LCCT): Rm18
- Hostels (14 nights) : Y690 (dorms)
- Airport shuttle bus (Guilin) : Y40
- Trains: Y805
- Long distance bus: Y799
- Taxi / pubic bus: Y122
- Metro: Y24
- Food: Y684
- Sundries: Y144
Exchange Rate: Rm$1 = Y0.497; US$1=Rm3.05; Euro$1=Rm4.0
Travel itinerary: KL > Guilin > Chengdu > Beichuan > Xian > Xining > Golmud > Xining > Yushu > Garze > Kangding > Chengdu > Huaihua > Fenghuang > Liuzhou > Guilin
This was my 5th free & easy trip to China. The first was in 2006. In the past few visits to China, I spent a total of 3-4 weeks for each trip. To date, I had visited all the provinces and municipal cities in China except the provinces of Hainan & Tibet. China has 27 provinces and 4 municipal cities (ie Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai & Chongqing).
Due to the strict entry protocol, my attempts of visiting Tibet as a solo traveler had not been successful this time. So for this trip, I focused my visits exploring Qinghai (Xining, Golmud & Yushu) & south-west of Sichuan (Garze & Kangding) which have a strong Tibet culture. The Qinghai to Sichuan route is less traveled due to the treacherous mountain roads, deep valleys, vast grasslands, poor public amenities & infrastructure, high altitude (3,000-5,000m above sea level), sub zero temperature at night even in Spring, basic accommodation etc. The scenery from Xining to Golmud is rather monotonous but from Xining to Yushu , Garze and Kangding, the scenery en route is magnificent.
Buying a hard or soft sleeper bed train ticket in China is a major challenge in most of the train stations as these tickets are easily sold out unless you book them 5-6 days in advance. So quite often, we end up taking a hard seat (or even a standing ticket) for an arduous 20 hr train journey !
My fellow Qigong mate from USJ, Mr Choy joined me for the first 10 days of the trip and both of us had a jolly good time visiting some selected places of interest around Guilin, Chengdu & Xian.
For this trip, I had the opportunity of visiting two grief-stricken towns which were devastated by major earthquakes in 2008 & 2010 ie Beichuan (Sichuan) and Yushu (Qinghai).
Before ending my visit, I had a relaxing 3 day rest in Fenghuang (Phoenix City) in the Hunan province.
I shall return to China in 2013 and focused on those UNESCO heritage sites that I have yet to visit and not to forget the last two Chinese provinces I yearn to see ie Hainan & Tibet.
Travel Highlights:
1) Guilin, Guanxi
Due to the strict entry protocol, my attempts of visiting Tibet as a solo traveler had not been successful this time. So for this trip, I focused my visits exploring Qinghai (Xining, Golmud & Yushu) & south-west of Sichuan (Garze & Kangding) which have a strong Tibet culture. The Qinghai to Sichuan route is less traveled due to the treacherous mountain roads, deep valleys, vast grasslands, poor public amenities & infrastructure, high altitude (3,000-5,000m above sea level), sub zero temperature at night even in Spring, basic accommodation etc. The scenery from Xining to Golmud is rather monotonous but from Xining to Yushu , Garze and Kangding, the scenery en route is magnificent.
Buying a hard or soft sleeper bed train ticket in China is a major challenge in most of the train stations as these tickets are easily sold out unless you book them 5-6 days in advance. So quite often, we end up taking a hard seat (or even a standing ticket) for an arduous 20 hr train journey !
My fellow Qigong mate from USJ, Mr Choy joined me for the first 10 days of the trip and both of us had a jolly good time visiting some selected places of interest around Guilin, Chengdu & Xian.
For this trip, I had the opportunity of visiting two grief-stricken towns which were devastated by major earthquakes in 2008 & 2010 ie Beichuan (Sichuan) and Yushu (Qinghai).
Before ending my visit, I had a relaxing 3 day rest in Fenghuang (Phoenix City) in the Hunan province.
I shall return to China in 2013 and focused on those UNESCO heritage sites that I have yet to visit and not to forget the last two Chinese provinces I yearn to see ie Hainan & Tibet.
Travel Highlights:
1) Guilin, Guanxi
2) Chengdu, Sichuan
3) Beichuan, Sichuan
4) Xian, Shaanxi
6) Yushu, Qinghai
7) Garze, Sichuan
8) Kangding, Sichuan
9) Fenghuang, Hunan
The secret of life is not to do what you like, but to like what you do "
"The above sign was put up in a small village in Qinghai province . It simply said a fine of Y$100 is to be imposed on anyone for passing urine or motion freely in public places - One up for China in preserving the public health environment"
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