Travel Plan

Archive for December, 2010

Silk Road Adventures

The Silk Road

There is something very remarkable about this story. Not the fact that it covers part of the ancient Silk Road route from Xian in China to Islamabad in Pakistan. Its not the fact that we crossed desserts remote wilderness and the highest border crossing in the world. Nor is it because we explored the worlds greatest market in Kashgar or stayed with Kazakhs in traditional yurts during a blizzard. These are all special in their own right but what made this such a memorable trip was the group I travelled with. Four girls and youll have to wait until the end to find out why they where so remarkable.

We start in Xian ancient capital of China and regarded as the true start of the Silk Road. I was escorting four girls on an Imaginative Traveller tour to Islamabad on what I consider to be a pretty hard going trip into some of China and Pakistans remote corners. After meeting the girls and having dinner in a very local street restaurant I was confident we would have a successful journey.

Back to Xian. Xian is perhaps my favourite Chinese city. I love the way ancient and modern blend effortlessly in its architecture and local culture. The history is long sights are everywhere and there seems to be a surprise around every corner. But what really brings travellers to Xian are the Terracotta Warriors. I will not write about them as Im sure others can and have described this ancient wonder better than I. I will give you a tip though find out what time the doors to the warriors open and get there first. When I was there is was 8 am. You see most of tourists coming that day are in Xian one hours drive away having breakfast at their hotel at 8am. The crowds start arriving around 9 9.30 so getting there early means you get the warriors for at least one hour without the crowds.

Now we head west and leave the tour buses behind. We are going to the end of the Great Wall to a small town called Jiayuguan. Famous for being at the edge of ancient imperial China the Last Pass Under Heaven is the fort we have come to visit. In ancient times an imperial guard was considered very unlucky or must have upset the wrong person to be posted so far away from the centre of the universe. Its really not that bad! The fort is fine for a few hours but the beauty is in the towns remoteness and the surrounding snow capped mountains. A couple of us hired bicycles and gently explored the local villages and countryside.

The Silk Road traders took Silk to India and returned with Buddhism which although didnt take a hold in India spread throughout the Far East. Dunhuang our next town was a popular stop for the traders and a large Buddhist community grew there. They built the Magao Grottoes a spectacular series of Buddhist carvings murals and statues that if were closer to tourist China would in my opinion be one of her greatest sights. There are more than 492 caves carved from the cliff face featuring 2415 coloured statues and murals covering an area of more than 45000m. Incredible.

The desert is harsh in this part of China. Mountains of stone become mountains of sand the suns heat is fierce and will run its course of relentless torment everyday. Crossing these deserts in search of wealth on slow and stubborn camels must have been daunting. Sitting on our bus travelling on a tarmac road we were silent trying to grasp the enormity of the trek taken by Silk Road traders that came before us. But the desert can occasionally be kind and the oasis town of Turpan was more than kind for the passing trader it meant survival.

Turpan sits in a depression meaning it is lower than sea level. A basin that holds heat even during the winter months when nighttime temperatures in the surrounding desert mirror the summer suns heat. This can be stifling during the summer but Turpan holds life for the desert traveller in the form of water. It comes from a unique system of ancient aqua ducts bringing water from the distant snow mountains. Grapes are grown everywhere even on the back streets where the vines are trained on trellises to provide shade during the hot still days.

The great thing about this trip is its diversity of different landscapes culture and peoples. Urumqi is in the mountains and the worlds remotest city from the sea 2500 km from the nearest coast. We came to spend a night at the Lake of Heaven in traditional Kazakh yurts felt tents. We had two options we could stay at the government fixed yurt camp that was very nice just off the main road and had an ablution block with hot showers. Or we could take a boat across the lake to see if any nomads were willing to let us spend a night with them. A quick vote and we were on the boat crossing this beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and alpine forest dusted with late spring snow.

Our hosts welcomed us the way nomads do. No big fuss just an instinctive show of hospitality and a safe warm place to stay given to all passing travellers. We paid them the same as we would have paid the state camp but this was so much better. The group helped cook food and milk some goats while I and our local guide helped feed the horses and yaks. After dinner we sat in the yurt around a pot belly stove with the family and finished the bottle of scotch I was carrying. It was probably the scotch that made me sleep through the howling blizzard that night. About 4 am one of our hosts brought in two young goat kids to shelter from the snow. After calling for their mums and trying to eat my hair two of my group took them and snuggled the goats into their blankets to sleep. Sun rose and my guide expressed his concern about the blizzard we had a plane to catch later that day and the boat couldnt launch in the snow to take us back to the bus. We had no choice other than take the horses through the forest to the main road. Wrapping up I put three of the group horses while waiting for Peggy the fourth member to put on her lipstick! She never left the house without makeup she explained. The trek took two hours and the snow wasnt so bad in the forest. Ok it was cold and not the most comfortable ride but what an adventure! We were going to make our flight with time to spare so we stopped at the guides house to have lunch with his wife and kids before heading to the airport.

Half way through the trip and so far so good and the group were in high spirits. It had been pretty hard going so far with long days strange food harsh climate and hard beds but for a pick me up exploring Kashgars Sunday Market is better than any energy drink.
Kashgar is the trading centre for many different tribes Tajiks Kyrgyz Kazakhs Uzbeks Uigers to name a few and there has been a market in Kashgar for over 2000 years. Being from the west we are used to traffic jams but a donkey cart jam is another thing all together. Tens of thousands of tribes people make the trip into Kashgar to trade on a Sunday creating one of the worlds largest and most outstanding markets. The animal market is the biggest draw where many come to watch the horses being put through their paces. Boys are paid to gallop horses over a short distance on a dusty track so the potential buyer can see how it performs. The faces and dress of different tribes and their wares makes Kashgar a photographic nirvana.

Xian seemed an age ago we had done a lot in a little over a fortnight. Terracotta warriors desert oasis snow blizzards and ancient markets so what now? Now we needed to get to Pakistan over the worlds highest border crossing the Khunjerab Pass which will take us onto the Karakoram Highway down to Islamabad.

Our crossing date coincided with the opening day of the pass for the season 1st May and I wanted us to be the first group through that year. I was informed by the operator that I didnt need a visa as that year Pakistan were issuing tourist visas free on arrival. I knew that the operator knew that and even the Pakistani government knew that but forgot to inform immigration officials at the border. The most magnificent black moustache I have ever seen told me there was a problem because I had no visa and his subordinate needed to phone Islamabad to sort this confusion out. While I was waiting he insisted we drunk tea and discussed the up and coming football world cup he was a big Manchester United fan. As we had the most surreal discussion on David Beckhams right foot the all clear came from Islamabad to let me enter Pakistan. A make shift entry stamp was made up and he asked how long do you intend to stay for ten days was my reply Ill give you 60 days Im sure you will like it here

The pass we came over is 4693 m./15397 ft high but to look at the mountains around you would think you were at sea level. This part of Pakistan boasts the highest concentration of mountains over 7000 meters in the world it is truly breathtaking. We spent a week in this area and to this day I cannot get over the extreme beauty of this place. Looking down at the Indus River you raise your head slowly pass fruit orchards in blossom pass mighty glaciers up through the clouds to the top of mountains almost the height of Everest.

From here South to the Pakistani version of Canberra Islamabad. A city designed to house government departments its clean green and very modern. A nice change to the wild remote places we had experienced over the last 21 days and I soon got bored of it. Hopped in a taxi and took a short drive to Rawalpindi. This was more like it. Dust noise people chaos smells and life a good way to end a journey like this.

My group and I had experienced a lot and it wasnt always plane sailing. This route is away from the tourist trail so hotels food and transport are all basic and not what we are used to. We were taken out of our comfort zone practically for the whole trip but there was no alternative and maybe that added to the experience. So what is so extraordinary about my group of four girls? Well the youngest was 67 years old and the eldest Peggy remember the girl with the makeup? was 72.

About the writer:  Spencer Neal has worked in adventure travel since 1997. His many adventures and passion for travel has led him to part own an online adventure travel agency Travel Light www.travellight.co.za specialising in world wide adventures for South Africans. You can contact him at spencertravellight.co.za

Romantic Beaches Fort Desoto Park St. Andrews Sra Sand Key Park

Fort Desoto Park.

Fort Desoto is situated on the island now called Fort De Soto Park. This place can offer not only unforgettable sightseeing water entertainments but other types of amusements as well. It is an ideal ares for wondering walking fishing boating and camping! It can provide some with impressions on to the following year! This beach will hardly leave somebody indifferent.

St. Andrews SRA.

St. Andrews SRA beach is situated in the State Recreation Area. In 1995 it was announced The Worlds Best Beach. Why? Because of its white sand beaches and unusual color of water light green! It proposes various types of activities the most popular among them are snorkeling and fishing. It has unsurpassed marine world so it attracts a lot of divers.

Sand Key Park

Sand Key Park is a large complex of entertainments. It was opened in 1984. This park offers nearly 100 acres of incredible activities. Sand Key Park is situated in natural conditions and its beach is one the most attractive sightseeing as every year it is possible to find here sea turtles deposit eggs.

About the writer:  My name is Nancy and I adore travelling! I visited a lot of places and countries and I invite you to experience the world through my eyes!

River Jehlum- The Life Line Of Kashmir

The much revered and the very enchanting river Jehlum is one of the seven rivers collectively referred to as saptasandhu. The river finds its mention in the ancient Indian scriptures of the RigVeda where is called as Vitasta. The ancient Greeks called the mighty river as Hydaspes after the titan descended god born to Thaumasthe sea god and Elektrathe cloud goddess. Hydaspes was the brother of the goddess of rainbowIris and Harpies the lord of snatching winds. The historical battle between Alexander the Great and King Porus of Jehlum in 326B.C is documented as the Battle of Hydaspes. Mogul Emperor Jahangir was very fond of this river with clear blue waters and called it Bebat though its initial course is a bit muddy.

This 772 km long river of which 177 km is covered in India has an aura about it. It is sheltered amidst the huge Himalayas and moves through the beautiful Kashmir valley along its meandering course. In Srinagar alone seven bridges are built across its width at a number of places to facilitate movement of people goods and vehicles over it. The charming and enthralling capital city of Jammu and Kashmir Srinagar is located on either side of the valley benefiting from its rich waters to sooth its land and give life to its people. The fishermen spreading their nets in the early mornings into its wide lap sitting on their shikaras boats the floating lotustheir deep rooted stems are collected for preparing Kashmiri dish popular as nadu set as balls in rich tomato curry and relished with steamed rice is the normal everyday scene along this Grand River.

The most enchanting sight is the presence of full equipped houseboats on River Jehlum and on the Dal Lake and the equally beautiful Nagin Lake where Kashmiri families actually live. They often rent a part of these floating homes to tourists and guests at reasonable prices. During mornings and afternoons children from families living in houseboat can be seen going and coming back from regular schools. They climb down their houseboats and set on to their journey to school located on the land on the shikaras vigorously rafted by someone from the family and come back the same way. Interestingly there are markets and small size field beds on River Jehlum and the Dal Lake to cater to the regular needs of the locals living on the water abodes. Tourists love to see this unique arrangement. When tourists pass by through the Dal Lake riding on the shikaras whilst enjoying the scenic beauty of the valley shop keepers and their agents whisk on their shikaras to display and demonstrate their Kashmiri made products to the tourists.

River Jehlum is the tributary of River Indus. It finds its birth from the womb of a deep spring at Verinag. This is somewhere located in the southeastern side of Kashmir at the foot of the great Pir Panjal Mountains. It gets widened as it flows in characteristic loops and curves through the heart of Srinagar until it merges with the Wular Lakethe largest freshwater lake of Asia. It then travels along a deep narrow Baramulla gorge before entering the Pakistan part of Punjab. However once it enters the deep Baramulla gorge the river ceases to be navigable as it forms a deep bed and takes up a rapid flow. It is the most western and largest flowing rivers that enter the plains of Punjab giving life and relief to its heat drenched soil. The impressive river finally sleeps upon its mergence with river Chenab at Trimmu in Jhang in Pakistan. The Chenab then joins Satluj when it is referred to as River Panjnad. At Mithankot the Panjnad finally confluences with River Indus and enters the Arabian Sea.

About the writer:  Rosy vohra works for online books india