...actually we werent. WE WERE RAFTING!! 4 hours safari with 22km river and more than 20 rapids. This tops both the Wall and Tibet I tell you!!!! More stuff from Nepal comes next week!
/Dolan (with Anna, Olli and Jenna)
torstai 27. helmikuuta 2014
Sailing
...actually we werent. WE WERE RAFTING!! 4 hours safari with 22km river and more than 20 rapids. This tops both the Wall and Tibet I tell you!!!! More stuff from Nepal comes next week!
/Dolan (with Anna, Olli and Jenna)
Never been this high
Internet café in
Thamel KTM, Day 36
Tibet is something
very unique. Like I told before, getting there was not so easy because the
Tibetian new year was to come in the end of Febuary. Also, it is not a place
for individual road trip! But yes, we managed to book a tour for us guided by
mr. Pesci. The first days we spent in Lahsa. All that time it was already
little uncertain if our original plan to drive to Zhangmu, Nepali border would
workor not. Two reasons for that: Tibeitan government and weather conditions.
Lhasa is in altitude
3600meters. Soon after our start we were driving trough shigzhag/roads and
passes that took us up to 5300m. After the first knck/off I had absolutely no
problems with the altitudes. It/s pretty much useless to try to describe all
the scenery. It was f***ing amazing!
First night on road
we spent in a five star hotel in Shigatse. Nice town,but all the views from car
window topped it ten times. Beein practically on the road almost whole day did
not mind, because we course stopped all the time for everythinginteresting. 9
kilometers separated us from EBC but as you cansee from the photo, we were
really close. And if you are wondering why didn’t we clumb up…for example 0
people did it. Seeing Everest was actually not a climax after all because views
were breathtaking all the time.
Until very long we
were unsure if we d have to drive back to Lhasa and fly to KTM. In a cozy but
freezing guest house in Thingri we met a Swedish/Scottish traveler duo who were
sure that the road would be open to Nepali border.
After almost a sleepless
night and more and more spectacular views we made it to Zhangmu. Mr.Pesci and
our driver mr.Pasanen talked us trough morethan 20 road check points and of
course shared so much information about local culture. This road trip
experience I will never forget! More details available for you next time we
meet. Should we do it in Kreuzberg, Molpe, San Francisco, Kallio or where?
Tibet road trip bottom 2: Cold feet and road check points
TOP 2: Amazing views and special unique experience!
Tibet road trip bottom 2: Cold feet and road check points
TOP 2: Amazing views and special unique experience!
Timothy
P1, On the road again
P3, Tyre failure. Extra break. Stefa laittaa nii se o jampti!
P7, Olli, Timo, Pasanen and Everest
P8, The Friendship Bridge. Time to go to Nepal...
sunnuntai 23. helmikuuta 2014
Savolainen Tibetissä
Yak hotel Lhasa, day 24
Wear your passport, come back to hotel before dark and do not take a photo of a policeman. These were the hot tips of our guide mr. Pesci after our first walk in Lhasa center soon after arrival to this city of gods, located in altitude of 3600m. The excitement of reaching Tibet (after having had a huge hassle with getting the entry permits) and thin air together knocked me off to bed way before sunset on the first day although we just had chilled out 44 hours in train.
No time for laziness. During the weekend mr. Pesci took us to four incredible Budhism monastarys, including of course Putala, which nowadays is protected by Unesco WHL and was Dalai Lama's home before the poor guy was pushed to escape Tibet bit more than 50 years ago. The Stupas/ Tombs of previous Dalai Lamas were really interesting to seee and a päräyttävä experience to sense. Though we were practically the only non-Chinese people in the monastarys, we did not have to be alone. Since Tibetian new year is coming next week, loads of Tibetians have gathered to Lhasa and are of course getting their bleasing from Budha by visiting the chapels. mr, Pesci shared such a great amount of Information about history of Tibet and Budhism that in order to get it all I have to refresh my memory with Couple of study sessions later on...
Lhasa is beautiful in the mornings. A sign of afternoon is that all people take their dust masks out of the pockets. Funny how the same phenomenon happens every day. My weapon against pollution is the thought that in less than three months I'll be breathing world's most fresh air again..hahaha. . So fast goes time and almost one month of ttavelling is behind.
The weekend taught me also facts about life of a celebrity. People stare, wawe, shout funny things at me! I find it nice posing in groupp photos with random folks! Hey wait, maybe I'm not famous after all. I just look Kinda different here...
Lhasa bottom2: pollution & small confusion about all the Lamas
Lhasa top2: Yak momos (dunplings filled with the meat hunted very near) & hanging arround in tea houses and drinking local sweet Tea with Tibetian dudes
Lhasa was bit too exciting for VIP-observatuons, but I promise to post a few photos if I find a proper computer from Nepal. But before that, next stop: Himalaya! Ayeiuuuuiiiii!!!
TV
First momnts in Tibet
Putala Palace, Lhasa
You are not allowed to take photos in the chapels!!!
Oh, how good the local tea is in this atmosphere!
Wear your passport, come back to hotel before dark and do not take a photo of a policeman. These were the hot tips of our guide mr. Pesci after our first walk in Lhasa center soon after arrival to this city of gods, located in altitude of 3600m. The excitement of reaching Tibet (after having had a huge hassle with getting the entry permits) and thin air together knocked me off to bed way before sunset on the first day although we just had chilled out 44 hours in train.
No time for laziness. During the weekend mr. Pesci took us to four incredible Budhism monastarys, including of course Putala, which nowadays is protected by Unesco WHL and was Dalai Lama's home before the poor guy was pushed to escape Tibet bit more than 50 years ago. The Stupas/ Tombs of previous Dalai Lamas were really interesting to seee and a päräyttävä experience to sense. Though we were practically the only non-Chinese people in the monastarys, we did not have to be alone. Since Tibetian new year is coming next week, loads of Tibetians have gathered to Lhasa and are of course getting their bleasing from Budha by visiting the chapels. mr, Pesci shared such a great amount of Information about history of Tibet and Budhism that in order to get it all I have to refresh my memory with Couple of study sessions later on...
Lhasa is beautiful in the mornings. A sign of afternoon is that all people take their dust masks out of the pockets. Funny how the same phenomenon happens every day. My weapon against pollution is the thought that in less than three months I'll be breathing world's most fresh air again..hahaha. . So fast goes time and almost one month of ttavelling is behind.
The weekend taught me also facts about life of a celebrity. People stare, wawe, shout funny things at me! I find it nice posing in groupp photos with random folks! Hey wait, maybe I'm not famous after all. I just look Kinda different here...
Lhasa bottom2: pollution & small confusion about all the Lamas
Lhasa top2: Yak momos (dunplings filled with the meat hunted very near) & hanging arround in tea houses and drinking local sweet Tea with Tibetian dudes
Lhasa was bit too exciting for VIP-observatuons, but I promise to post a few photos if I find a proper computer from Nepal. But before that, next stop: Himalaya! Ayeiuuuuiiiii!!!
TV
First momnts in Tibet
Miracle
HappyDragon Hostel Peking, Day 18
What goes up, mus come down!! Oh, my friends I have climbed up to a lot of towers in my life but today was different. We kicked off this week by taking a day trip to the Great wall of China. That is one of musts of course once I have found my way all the way this far. The Wall is one of world’s seven wonders and not in vain! We visited the part of Mutianyu, about 80km away from Beijing. For a nice suprise there was almost no people there so we did not feel like mass tourists. A chair lift ride from the village couple of hundrad meters up saved alot of strenght for the actual hike at the Wall.
And that really was needed. The spectacular building seams to have absolute no flat surface. There were steps, normal steps, unfrequently strange steps, giant steps and enormous steps. Since we were supposed to return back to the same point, it meant all ups and downs. The weather is stil subzero degrees (although fells like nothing after Irkutsk) so I was wrapped in a lot of clothes. This created a nice heat for some moments! After three hours of hiking (=walking and moving like a clubsy animal) I was able to say that I can skip my daily evening jog. Hahaa. Funny end for the excursion was the summer tobbogan slide that took us back to the bus. What goes up, mus come down!
Since we arrived in China's capital 3 days ago, things have gone better and better. Eating with sticks is like riding the bicycle! No starvation anymore. We have also seen Forbidden city, Tienanmen square, Panjiayan dirt market and the Olympic village.
Who was it that told me that moving arround in Beijing is difficult for Europeans? Well, maybe it can be if you are using sign language with taxi drivers but who says you have to?
The metro here seams to be maybe the best one I have ever experienced ever!! (Watch out, Berlin!) Everything is in English (Incl: very loud stop announcements, big signs of stop names and logical maps!! ) It is easy for a VIP and makes it even easier for a foreigner! Best of all, the network is amazingly big. With one change you can reach almost any part of the city.
Another exploration notice is that there is a VIP's guideline (for cane) on every singe sidewalk!! I have never seen anything like that. Anywhere. Often small print menus are also not a problem since many restarurants have menus with pictures. Also thanks to that we are not starving here!
Beijing bottom2: Freezing hostel and mastercard-unfriendly ATMs.
Beijing top2: The Wall and suprisingly easy to get along with English.
We had just arrived in Irkutsk 1,5 weeks ago when we heard that our original Plan to visit Tibet had collapsed. Nice. Since that me and Olli have used too much computers trying to solve this and just one hour ago we got some kind of confirmation that it is going to work out after all. The departure is on Wednesday. Byeaaaah!
Timo
Ps. Despite the time above, this was written Feb 10th in Beijing. Posted from Nepal because the Great People’s Rep of China has not only banned FB but Blogspot also. Schade.
Photo1, Miracle
Photo2, Must se: Gate to th Forbiddn city
Photo3, We went swimming
Photo4, Just another strt view from Beijing
Photo5, a VIP=observation from Beijing West station. Can you see al the info?
Last but not least> Hot pot dinner. The fish swam in. Little wait. Then we ate it!
What goes up, mus come down!! Oh, my friends I have climbed up to a lot of towers in my life but today was different. We kicked off this week by taking a day trip to the Great wall of China. That is one of musts of course once I have found my way all the way this far. The Wall is one of world’s seven wonders and not in vain! We visited the part of Mutianyu, about 80km away from Beijing. For a nice suprise there was almost no people there so we did not feel like mass tourists. A chair lift ride from the village couple of hundrad meters up saved alot of strenght for the actual hike at the Wall.
And that really was needed. The spectacular building seams to have absolute no flat surface. There were steps, normal steps, unfrequently strange steps, giant steps and enormous steps. Since we were supposed to return back to the same point, it meant all ups and downs. The weather is stil subzero degrees (although fells like nothing after Irkutsk) so I was wrapped in a lot of clothes. This created a nice heat for some moments! After three hours of hiking (=walking and moving like a clubsy animal) I was able to say that I can skip my daily evening jog. Hahaa. Funny end for the excursion was the summer tobbogan slide that took us back to the bus. What goes up, mus come down!
Since we arrived in China's capital 3 days ago, things have gone better and better. Eating with sticks is like riding the bicycle! No starvation anymore. We have also seen Forbidden city, Tienanmen square, Panjiayan dirt market and the Olympic village.
Who was it that told me that moving arround in Beijing is difficult for Europeans? Well, maybe it can be if you are using sign language with taxi drivers but who says you have to?
The metro here seams to be maybe the best one I have ever experienced ever!! (Watch out, Berlin!) Everything is in English (Incl: very loud stop announcements, big signs of stop names and logical maps!! ) It is easy for a VIP and makes it even easier for a foreigner! Best of all, the network is amazingly big. With one change you can reach almost any part of the city.
Another exploration notice is that there is a VIP's guideline (for cane) on every singe sidewalk!! I have never seen anything like that. Anywhere. Often small print menus are also not a problem since many restarurants have menus with pictures. Also thanks to that we are not starving here!
Beijing bottom2: Freezing hostel and mastercard-unfriendly ATMs.
Beijing top2: The Wall and suprisingly easy to get along with English.
We had just arrived in Irkutsk 1,5 weeks ago when we heard that our original Plan to visit Tibet had collapsed. Nice. Since that me and Olli have used too much computers trying to solve this and just one hour ago we got some kind of confirmation that it is going to work out after all. The departure is on Wednesday. Byeaaaah!
Timo
Ps. Despite the time above, this was written Feb 10th in Beijing. Posted from Nepal because the Great People’s Rep of China has not only banned FB but Blogspot also. Schade.
Photo1, Miracle
Photo2, Must se: Gate to th Forbiddn city
Photo3, We went swimming
Photo4, Just another strt view from Beijing
Photo5, a VIP=observation from Beijing West station. Can you see al the info?
Last but not least> Hot pot dinner. The fish swam in. Little wait. Then we ate it!
perjantai 21. helmikuuta 2014
Kylmästä lämpimään
Freak street Kathmandu, Day 28
Still alive. China and Tibet were just great! Now in warm Nepal enjoying pohjalaainen hospitality. Lots of updates coming up!
LG, Tino
keskiviikko 5. helmikuuta 2014
Hei kuule Suomi
LG guesthouse Ulanbatar, Day 13
UB is very good! A a nice litle one million city in the middle of nowhere. O wait, it is in Mongolia!!The country uses no coins, has just two neighbors (good+bad) and used to be home of Tsinghis Kahn. After a dead borring day in train at the border we were really curious and keen to se this place. Turned out that people were really eager to help, starting from drunken taxi drivers at train station. We decided to walk.
Wondering arround led to somethimg funny and interesting like it so often does.we bumped into Babu, a local German teacher slash life enjoyer and ended up spending the whole day with her. Uncle Timo's free tip: If you sometimes have just one day in a country, find yourself this kind of a coincidence. moving arround, Getting info and communication was today really smooth.
From VIP-perspective Ulanbatar is tricky. Sidewalk materials are whatever, sebra crossings have often faded away, busses drive like crazy and lights in shops and restaurants are often poor. On the other hand i saw alot of guidelines and the street map layout is simple.
UB bottom2: Short time here & chaotic and dangerous traffic for pedesyrians. (Yeav, i know it Wont get any better during the next weeks...)
UB too2; prices & local hospitality
Oh and today's captions & explorations:
1 comfy illegal taxi ride
2 two Mongolian ways to live. Witch is warmer?
3 & 4 VIP-friendly contrast in these important signs
Tomorow shall our path of experiences continue to the land where internet is controlled! So stay tuned for cencored blog texts!
LG, Taimou
maanantai 3. helmikuuta 2014
Kasvot kohti itää
Irkutsk, day 11.
When you start to speak English for a local guy here 3 things can happen. A) he/she smiles and says in Russian "i don't understand". Then it is time top ravitse my sign language Akilla and all cleaning well. Option C is fluent English (borring!) and B is the most.common and interesting one. People answer my question right away"no"or "just a bit". Then is my time to be funny and break the ice. Result : progress in whatever i'm doing. Getting along with the nice people here in Siberia is easy!
We are leaving Russia tomorow. Let's see if there are compiters in Mongolia so i could update couple more things. First photo below is again one of many VIP-explorations, demonstrating that regognising the right team stop can be tricky when -30 conditions bring frost to windows! The other photo is fish from Baikal. Great taste, great lake wievs!
Irkutsk bottom2: cant think any!
top2: the hospitality and banya!!
TV
lauantai 1. helmikuuta 2014
Den glider in
Nerpa Hostel, Irkutsk, Day 9
6300km of travelling by train is behind us. TransSiberian dream has come true! I will reflect some stories and feelings from that bit later on. Today was a day of another city exploration after lazy days. And what a co-incidence... the (ice( Bandy World championships are here at the moment. We kisaturstit decided to go see the semifinal match FIN/RUS. What an experience, although the result was not optimal. What a winter classic! Siperia opettaa
TV
6300km of travelling by train is behind us. TransSiberian dream has come true! I will reflect some stories and feelings from that bit later on. Today was a day of another city exploration after lazy days. And what a co-incidence... the (ice( Bandy World championships are here at the moment. We kisaturstit decided to go see the semifinal match FIN/RUS. What an experience, although the result was not optimal. What a winter classic! Siperia opettaa
TV
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