View from bedroom window in Da Qaidam

1 May Da Qaidam

Today we had excellent roads, all new and done in bitumen. Covered
700km from Xining. We travelled north of Qinhai lake via Delingha.

Stopped for noodles and beef for lunch. The weather was quite variable
with rain and sleet during the middle of the day and low cloud for
most of the journey.

The temperature ranged from 1 degree to 23. The land was rolling and
absolutely barren the whole way. Very little farming since the area is
semi arid.

All the way there were huge road and rail construction projects
underway with billions being spent on road, rail and new high voltage
power lines.

Our new travel colleague is very funny, with lots of ideas about what
the government should do to improve the regional economy.

We arrived into Da Qaidam about 6.00pm and booked into the hotel used
by the local security services. They promptly turned up in force (4 of
them) and told us the town was closed to foreigners, but informed us
we could stay if we took no photos and left first thing in the
morning. Apparently there is a gold mine nearby controlled by the army
which is a sensitive issue, pitched gun battles having been fought in
the streets between police and locals in the past over ownership. I
guess the army won.

Dinner was local chow in the hotel restaurant.

Tomorrow we head for Qiemo or Qarqan on the southern side of the
Taklimakan desert.

Lunch at Tianjin

Having shaken the dust from our colonial sandals in Xining we are
heading West, we are now about 200km from Xining, having stopped for
noodles and beef BBQ.

John at Lake Quinghai

Bleak day heading East to Delhi

Still on the big open rolling countryside but at 3400m above sea level
it's only 1 degree outside and sleeting. This photo taken on the 315
highway at the closest point where the road runs on the northern side
of Lake Quinghai.

Hotel in Garze

Not sure if this blog was posted. Our accommodation for the 27th. Huge
rooms but an effort to walk up the 2 flights of stairs at 3300m above
sea level.

Day in Xining

Well it's April 30 and we've had a rest day. We went to Toyota to get the battery tray secured, but the dealership could not or would not do the job. We found a street mechanic who did a great job in about half an hour.
Then Stephan wanted to find a model airplane shop! No luck but when we get back to Shanghai he and I plan to go shopping. Stephan flew out today to catch a flight to Paris for his nephew's christening. Tomorrow Bheto, another friend of Paddy's joins us as we head off for Urumqi. This is a trip of about 2600km or so. We will probably take about 6 or 7 days to do the journey.
Xining is not that big a city, 2.3m according to Wikipedia. The distribution storm has departed today but it's still a dry dusty sort of place.
The traffic and pedestrian interaction in China is something to see to be believed. No one seems to take any notice of traffic lights or pedestrian crossings.
So we get a good bed, fine food and a shower again tonight before heading off into the wilds.