Well I am halfway through the first part of my madventure and I can’t believe how quickly it’s going.
Anyway so what has stuck out in month three? Without doubt the children of Alichur in Tajikistan.
Honestly when we pulled up in the home stay we all thought we’d been dropped off in the back of beyond.
Yes they had no electricity yes the plumbing needed a lot to be desired and there were no showers but the children were just the best. Smiling, happy and bright. Riding on bikes four times too big for them. All wanting to say hello to the foreign looking people on the big orange truck. They were brill and I will never forget them.
We met the ladies who made so many things from little resources and in cramped buildings.
It was a truly wonderful and humbling experience. I felt privileged to stay with them.
Not forgetting reaching our highest point above sea level – 4620 metres. I didn’t suffer from altitude sickness but boy it was hard breathing at times.
From Tajikistan we travelled to Kyrgyzstan and a night in a yurt.
Travelling to Son Kul was a scary experience hairpin bends, ice covered mountains and sheer drops.
Adam our driver was brilliant and we all knew we were in safe hands. He even had to help fix another broken down lorry so we could carry on with our journey.
When we finally arrived at the yurt it was like we had travelled back in time. The yurts were great even if they had the now familiar smell of horse poo which was the only form of heating they had.
I went horse riding (well walking and yes it was a horse not a donkey) and helped make the deep fried batter things for dinner. I have to admit to taking a liking to plov – google it.
Our final Stan was Kazakhstan and the capital Almaty. The contrast between Tajikistan and this is immense. This is a huge city with lots of wealth Prada, Gucci etc were everywhere.
It was great to be in a city but I missed the simplicity and generosity of the small villages.
Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed my glass of Prosecco at “Barfly” on the 26th floor of the Kazakhstan Hotel. I will especially remember Jane’s encounter with the revolving door after one too many daiquiris.
Sad times when we said goodbye to Sew and Kiki but we will see each other next year. Bring on the Eurovision Song Contest!
Finally it was China. We had to say goodbye to Adam and the truck because the Chinese changed the law about foreign drivers. No one over the age of 50 is permitted to drive now. So it’s public transport for us now.
Not quite planes trains and automobiles but sleeper coaches/trains, bullet trains (190+ kilometres per hour) and mini buses! It’s an experience.
As for the sights. The western end of the Great Wall was a taste of things to come.
Going up the sand dunes was knackering and coming down hilarious.
But my highlight so far was the mogoe caves. The statues are amazing. It’s a shame we couldn’t take pictures but they need to be preserved for future generations.
Eating a lambs penis on the other hand was not a highlight!
Good news my knee has finally recovered. Bad news the deli belly has been replaced with “ring of fire”.
Anyway more of China to come especially looking forward to the terracotta warriors
Stay safe and keep well xxx
A park in Jiayuguan City. Sorry, but I don’t know the name. It’s nameless on Google Maps also. It is located between Jainshe West Road and Yingbin West Road.
A group exercising in the park.
A lake within the grounds of the park containing an island with a pagoda.
Sun reflecting on the lake and beginning to go down behind the Jiayuguan skyline.
Just one of many parks in Jiayuguan City providing an open space for residents and visitors.
Entrance to the park.
He could have combed his hair before going out.
Another group exercising in the park.
A statue within the park. The statue seems to portray an event, with both figures clasping scrolls with another scroll unrolled in front of them.
A small pagoda with seating in the grounds of the park.
Another statue in the park. Looks like a senior member speaking to a junior member of a dynasty.
Man-made waterfall.
With the sun gone down the decorative lighting around the side of the lake has come on.
Not sure what the inscription says, obviously, but it’s normally words of wisdom for passers-by. The gentlemen are using traditional long handled writing brushes to apply the ink to the paving slabs.
Zhangye.
A lion carved into a stone pillar at Dafo Temple complex.
Ancient building at the Dafo Temple.
A sheep carved into a stone pillar at the Dafo Temple complex.
A sheep carved into a stone pillar at the Dafo Temple complex.
A lion carved into a stone pillar at Dafo Temple complex.
A concave roof with decorative roof ridges.
Lantern design street lighting at the Defo Temple complex.
Muta Temple.
Architecture detail on a building located next to the Muta Temple.
Muta Temple.
“Strictly Come Dancing” in the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Tropical fish for sale in shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Dafo Temple, also known as the Giant Buddha Temple.
An incense burner/holder.
A parade of shops outside the Dafo Temple complex.
Dragon’s tailed wrapped around a stone pillar.
Stone guardian lion.
Gautama Buddha in Dafo Hall at Dafo Temple. Some times referred to as the “Giant Buddha”, “Sleeping Buddha” or “Reclining Buddha” because of it being in a horizontal position as opposed to the traditional vertical position.
A statue of a Buddha within a dark recess of the Dafo Temple.
Light shining through closed doors of Dafo Hall at Dafo Temple.
One of two statues guarding the Gautama Buddha. This statue is at the foot of the Buddha, behind which you can see the Buddha’s feet.
Behind the Gautama Buddha is his 10 disciples, 5 of which can be see in this photo.
A statue of a Buddha sitting on a lion. At the base of the statue is monetary offerings left by worshippers.
A Buddha statue within the dark recess of the Dafo Temple.
A statue of a Buddha sitting cross-legged within the dark recess of the Dafo Temple.
The head of the Gautama Buddha is depicted resting on a cushion.
To give you some idea of the size of the Gautama Buddha, which is all made out of clay, the nose in the photo is 1.5 metres in length. The overall length of the Buddha is 34.5 metres long, and 7.5 metres wide between it’s two shoulders. The feet are 4 metres in length. The length of the ears are 3 metres, equivalent to roughly 8 people standing side by side.
This is the second of the two statues guarding the Gautama Buddha, this one at the head end.
The Dafo Temple complex comprises of small temples, the Muta Temple, as well the hall containing the Guatama Buddha and a hall of scriptures.
You will see a swastika in the wall, whilst this may provoke thoughts on the Nazis in more modern times, this is an ancient religious icon in Asia. The Gautama Buddha also has a swastika on it’s chest.
Stone garden lantern with a swastika carved out at Dafo Temple.
The Ming Dynasty Earth Stupa at the Great Buddha Temple complex.
Decorative incense burner in the design of a temple.
Closer inspection of the decorative incense burner reveals a detailed dragon on a roof ridge of the temple.
A worshipper with incense sticks in his hand, bowing and praying at Dafo Temple complex.
Stone fish water feature in a park.
Small pond with water fountains.
Fountains with pagoda style entrance in the background.
Ganquan Park entrance lined with small shops.
