As previously noted two of my brothers are currently on a four week tour of Mongolia, China and Hong Kong. Going to Mongolia had been a goal of theirs for four years. As for China and Hong Kong, they were in the area.
The following are some highlights of their trip.
Hong Kong:
We have seen lots of cool things, HK is an amazing city especially so at night! I was saying to Pete, it must be one of the greatest after dark cities in the world if not the greatest, I can’t personally imagine any city still pumping like crazy and looking so awesome after night. (Bangkok doesnt even come close)
China:
There’s lots of ads trying to train Beijingers to have good manners in time for the Olympics - like not hocking up heaps of phlegm and spitting it anywhere, standing on one side of the escalator so people can pass and queuing up for things.
That last one has been very interesting indeed. They do not like queuing. They HATE queuing! I was just about to buy tickets for one attraction and this woman literally grabbed me and pulled me back and went ahead and bought a ticket.
Mongolia:
The first thing we did after checking into our hostel was to check out the main square- Sukhbaatar Square. Well it’s a square I can guarantee you that. The city only has 1 million people, but it’s pretty crazy. They drive on the right hand side. most of the time. It’s also not a very pretty city- Soviet architecture mixed with a nice shade of dirt.
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On the way we even saw some reindeer! And drank some reindeer milk tea. I’m really adding quite a lot of animals to my list of things eaten/drunk.
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Our last ger camp was on the edge of the Gobi desert so we were able to see a bit of different scenery. On the way there though we passed by Khakhorum and a large monastery (Erdene Zuu for those interested) and saw a Buddhist statue in the shape of a penis. Yes, you read that right. Apparently it has spiritual significance.
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June 30, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Jason
I am truly enjoying the reading of their travel notes, in particular, some of the experiences that I could share from my first journey to Shanghai China from Paris France in 2001. I believe this one will make a lasting memory for both of them and you may well be tempted to make such an adventure….. not by what they told you but by your desires to experience “fire cupping” and touch the real “YAK” perhaps to taste the flavour of YAK milk and that could provide some inspirations for you!
July 2, 2007 at 7:58 am
themolk
Get them to go Yak-tipping.
…and I am with them, Bangkok has nothing on Hong Kong. Although Shanghai is full of surprises!
July 2, 2007 at 1:26 pm
markk
Yak milk? Eeewww. Although I’ll try anything once (within reason).
I definitely want to do more travelling, anywhere overseas really, but Taiwan or China or south east Asia would be near the top of the list.
Brother Peter is also going to Europe and Egypt later this year. I’m so jealous.
Sally and Tania are in Israel at the moment; which is definitely a must visit country for me.