The China Tibet Train Story - Part 6 New Tingri

We arrived in a town called New Tingri in the late afternoon. It was a small town and the last stop before the Mt. Everest base camp. I didn’t know how many people were living there, but it was definitely less than the barking dogs who kept us awake all night long.

The China Tibet Train Story - Part 5 Road Trip

The China Tibet Train Story - Part 5 Road Trip

All started about 5 days ago, when our Tibetan guide and our driver picked us up in front of the Hotel. We packed our bag, put our gear in the trunk of a black Toyota Land cruiser, everyone seemed to drive up here, and drove off.

The first stop on our literary was Lake Gyantse. It was actually a very nice spot, but despite the horde of wild Chinese tourists who took pictures like crazy and a 40 Yuan fee just to go out of the car rated the whole thing down.

The second stop was in a small town called Gyantse. We checked into a hotel and spend the night there.

After the check-in we walked around the old city. The small path next to the houses was doted with cows and stray dogs and the still water in front of the old houses seemed to be the perfect herd for all kind of bacteria.

The next day was a two hour drive from Gyantse to the Sakya Monastery. It was a small detour, but we managed to get there for lunch. The guide took us on a tour, to an old monastery and for an extra 10 Yuan we cold see the secret ‘wall of scripts’.

A few hours later we arrived in Shigatse, a town mostly controlled by the Chinese.

It had the first pedestrian zone, I have ever seen, who was not actually built for the pedestrians rather for cars and trucks.

There was a nice walking course along the city, up a hill that was covered with prayer flags and prayer wheels along the way.

On our way back we had lunch at a restaurant called 3 eyes. It wasn’t the best Yak burger I ever had and the stuff was anything else but friendly, but hey, I don’t know how many tourists they put trough a day. I guess they just had enough from the napping and complaining tourists.

The China Tibet Train Story - Part 4 On the road to Mt. Everest

This was the most breathtaking experience on my whole China/Tibet Trip. Just to see the Mt. Everest if front of you is something you should’t miss. It really was worth the adventure.

We were bout screaming when we stood on the Mt. Everest Base Camp at 5600m.

All the lack of oxygen we had to face on our way up was gone. We really did it, traveled by train from Shanghai all the way to Tibet and to the Mt. Everest. It was literally breathtaking.

To the “main Base Camp” it was just a two hours walk and the two hours were the hardest hike I ever did. Breathing felt heavy and every move was so hard due the lack of oxygen.

We stayed for the last few days at an average height of 4000m, so I got used to it.

We did a 5000m pass a few hours before, walked to the top of a hill to get an incredible amazing view and a few pics from Mt. Everest from the distance. This was one of my life changing memories and also a proof that were a will is there is a way.

I dreamed about this moment for quiet some time and when it came for real it was so a relief. We really did it!

The China Tibet Train Story - Part 3 Eine Story aus Tibet

Ein paar Gedanken aus Lhasa und ein Aufschrei fuer das unterdrueckte Tibet.

Als wir mit dem Zug in Lhasa angekommen waren,wurden wir von einer Herde wildgewordener chinesischen Touristen ueberrumpelt, die alles fotografierten was sich ihnen in den Weg stellte. Das Militaer, die kommunistische Mao Armee, hatte alle Haende voll zu tun die wildgewordenen Hobby Fotografen einzuweisen und zu den Bussen zu bringen, die am Ausgang des Bahnhofes warteten. Es war nicht erlaubt einfach drauflos zu Fotografieren.

Es war auch der erste Touch mit der harten Realitaet, wie die Dinge hier gehandhabt wurden und die Tibetaner unter der eisernen Hand der Chinesen leiden mussten.

Laut den Ansagen im Zug, wie harmonievoll China und Tibet zusammenleben und das die Chinesen mit der Eisenbahnerschliessung den Tibetanern nur helfen, musste Tibet das Friedvollste Land sein.

So was machen dann die fielen Soldaten hier? Was machen die X mundert Mao-Waechter auf den Daechern ueber Lhasa unter ihren “Carlsberg” Sonnenschirmen oder die bewaffneten Soldaten die die strassen patroulierten?

Sie kummern sich um das Wohl und die Sicherheit der Touristen wurde uns gesagt.. Oh, gut zu wissen, da fuehle ich mich ja noch sicherer im sonst schon friedlichen Tibet.

Das die Tibetaner keinen Reisepass bekommen haengt sicher auch davon ab das sie gar keinen wollen. Wer will schon so ein sicheres und harmonievolles Land verlassen und in der boesen weiten Welt herumreisen?

Es hat auch geheissen es koennte Probleme geben wenn wir die Soldaten fotografieren. Ist doch verstaentlich. Unsere einen haetten sicher auch nicht freude wenn wir sie am schlafen unter ihren Sonnenschirmen knipsen wuerden. Wuerde ja ein schlechtes Image auf die eiserne Armee werfen…nun ja, kann ja nichts machen, bin ja nur ein Tourist.

red junction レッド ジャンクジョン

Haikyo

I just finished my 2nd screenplay titled "Haikyo" here is the teaser one sheet.

Story:

After the sudden loss of his family, Hiro hears strange voices and starts to talk to his mirror reflection. Is he getting crazy or is there really somebody calling out for him? He drifts further away from reality till he meets a young girl named Aki, who struggles with her own demons. When they discover why they were brought together they reveal something that better should be left alone.

Haikyo "Queen Chateau Soapland" Part 2

Haikyo "Queen Chateau Soapland" Part 1

The Queen Chateau Soapland is located in the center of Mito city, close to the Keisei Department store. Nobody seems to pay attention to the abandoned 5 floor, castle like fairy tail brothel of a long lost era anymore. The entrance was easy to find, round the back trough the girl’s service entrance.

It was my first Haiyko Expedition, and it was worth the experience and the thrill.

Entering trough the pitch black service entrance was the scariest part.

Once arrived in the main hall, there were stairs leading up to the roof. It really seemed the people who owned the place left in a hurry and left all the interior and belongings/garbage here.

I just can imagine what things went down in that place and why they left so suddenly.

red junction design

some new designs for the red junction flyer

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Something for all Travelers who search a travel notebook to write down their travel stories.
Its only in japanese, but check it out on:

http://www.midori-japan.co.jp/tr/

or for online order:

http://item.rakuten.co.jp/p-creation/c/0000000196/

The China Tibet Train Story first steps

The preparation for the China - Tibet Train is coming to an end. I finally decided what company I'm going to take for the Trip to Tibet.

The Company is called Tibetan Connections and its located in Xining. They have a office in the Lete Youth Hostel, International Village Apartments, Bldg. 5 on the 16th floor.

http://www.tibetanconnections.com

Here is one of their Itineraries (June 12th, 2009) and a Q&A for the Trip from Lhasa to the Mt. Everest Base camp along the friendship highway:

Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake-Shigatse-Everest
Day 1: Take the train from Xining-Lhasa
Day 2: Arrive in Lhasa in the evening
Day 3: Lhasa
Day 4: Lhasa
Day 5: Lhasa-Yamdrok Lake-Gyantse
Day 6: Gyantse-Sakya
Day 7: Sakya-Everest Base Camp
Day 8: Everest Base Camp-Lhatse
Day 9: Lhatse-Shigatse
Day 10: Shigatse-Lhasa
Day 11: Depart from Lhasa

Q: Tell me something about your company.

Tibetan Connections is a small Tibetan staffed and managed travel agency based in the Amdo region of Tibet in the city of Xining. We pride ourselves on being experts on Tibet travel. All of our staff are well traveled across the Tibetan Plateau. Our tours to Tibet all begin with taking the train from Xining to Lhasa. We do not begin any tours from Chengdu, Beijing, Shanghai or any other city in China besides Xining. Our goals are to provide an international level of customer service, give an excellent tour of Tibet while offering the best prices possible on Tibet tours. We are sure that if you compare our prices to other travel agencies, you will find our prices to be among the lowest. We partner with many Tibetan owned hotels, guesthouses and restaurants to ensure that your tourism money stays in Tibet and goes to the Tibetan people. A percentage of our business profits go to aid projects in the rural and nomadic regions of Tibet.

Q: How much are the hotels on the trip?

Hotels along the way from Lhasa to Everest usually offer double rooms (2 people) with private bathrooms for between Y200 and Y260 per night. There are also clean dorm style rooms available for between Y40 and Y50 per night per person.]

Q: How much would I have to spend on the meals along the way?

For meals, plan on spending between Y60 and Y85 per day per person. Of course, if you plan on eating at western restaurants the entire time, it will be more.

Q: What kind of hotels would we get in Lhasa?

We partner with many Tibetan owned hotels in Tibet. In Lhasa, we put most of our customers at the Yak Hotel. The Yak Hotel is one of the best run hotels in Lhasa and is located in the heart of the Tibetan district, only a 3 minute walk from Lhasa's famous Jokhang Temple. Double rooms here are Y260 and dorm style rooms are around Y50 per night per person. If you let me know which type of room you prefer (double room with private bathroom or clean dorm style room) then I will make the reservations for you. Outside of Lhasa, each place will have 2 to 4 different choices to choose from. If you don't like a certain place, the driver can take you to another. I am quite sure you will like the Yak Hotel in Lhasa as it is one of the most famous hotels in Tibet.

Q: How much would the whole trip cost me?

Unfortunately, since I emailed you the price estimate on May 28th, the government is now requiring an additional permit for all foreigners traveling outside of Lhasa. Also, fuel prices in Tibet have gone up. With these two things I unfortunately have to slightly raise the price of your tour. The new price will be around Y325 more per person for a group of 4 than the original price I gave you. Even though I have had to slightly adjust the price, I am quite sure you will have a hard time find travel agency offering as low of prices as we do. We recently contacted the top 15 travel agencies arranging tours to Tibet and our prices were an average of Y800 per person cheaper for the route from Xining to Lhasa to Everest. Again, I am so sorry we have to change your price and I hope you understand that we do everything possible to keep our prices as low as possible. Here is the new prices for your tour to Everest:

1 person: Y8525
2 people: Y4925/per
3 people: Y3750/per
4 people: Y3125per

Prices include hard sleeper train tickets from Xining to Lhasa, all permits, guide, vehicle and driver.

Prices do not include your meals, accommodations, air or train tickets departing Lhasa, the bus from Rongbhu Monastery to Everest Base Camp or entrance tickets into monasteries, temples or the Everest Nature Preserve.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING TRAVEL IN TIBET

Travel regulations in Tibet change often and are unpredictable. Sometimes, though not often, monasteries or small towns close without any warning meaning that small changes will need to be made to your itinerary. Permit prices change, fuel prices surge, train tickets become difficult to obtain and additional taxes sometime come up which mean we may have to slightly adjust the price of your trip. All prices given are estimates and could change slightly before your departure date. Usually we have no problem getting train tickets to Lhasa, but occasionally they are sold out soon after they go on sale to the public. In that case we have ways of getting the train tickets still, but we have to pay additional surcharges and handling fees, which will add between Y50 and Y150 per person to the total price. We will always do our best to keep the price as close to the estimate as possible.

Q: What kind of train tickets should we get?

Soft sleeper tickets are extremely difficult to get. Many soft sleeper tickets are reserved for government and military officials. If we are able to get soft sleeper tickets, the price will be Y500 more per person. If we cannot get soft sleeper tickets, we will get hard sleeper tickets. Despite having an uncomfortable sounding name, hard sleeper berths are actually quite comfortable and are used by most foreign travelers to Tibet.

Q: Are there any additional fees we would have to pay?

There are 2 required tickets for the Everest Nature Preserve that the customer is responsible to pay. The first is a Y400 vehicle entrance fee. The second is a Y180 entrance fee per person. The Everest Nature Preserve is the only place where the customers will be responsible to pay for the guide’s entrance ticket. All other places for the guide will be free. Our vehicles are only permitted to go to the “Tent City” located about 4kms past Rongbhu Monastery. From this “Tent City”, the only way to travel the remaining 3kms to Everest Base Camp is to take an environmentally safe bus that costs Y25 per person. This Y25 is not included in your tour price. You will also be responsible to pay for your guides Y25 bus fare as well. Your guide will need to accompany you to Base Camp.

Entrance fees to monasteries and temples are not included in your tour price. Entrance fees usually range from Y20 per person to Y80 per person. The Potala Palace costs Y100 per person to enter.

Q: How can I get there from Shanghai, and how long does it takes by train to Xining?

There are two trains per day from Shanghai to Xining. The express train takes about 24 hours, but tickets for this train are difficult to get. The slower train takes about 32 hours.

Q: How about the payment for the trip?

I am willing to waive our required deposit, but the full balance would need to be paid in Chinese RMB when you arrive at our office in Xining.

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you can find more of my pictures on my Flickr Photostream on

http://www.flickr.com/photos/redjunction

Tochigi Prefecture

The world largest Wisteria Tree in Ashikaga Flower Park Tochigi Prefecture
for more info check www.ashikaga.co.jp

Seaside Park

I took the picture with a Canon EOS 50D and a SIGMA 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 DC Lens

The JSA

The DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) is the only connection between North and South Korea.
The DMZ is about 248 km (155 miles) long and about 4 km (2.5 miles) wide and the most heavily militarized border in the world.

how to get thereYou can take a tour from Soul to the DMZ and the JSA (Joint Security Area).
It takes about one hour and includes a Korean style lunch.
The bus drops you in the JSA, where you have to change to a military bus and sign some papers "In case of a kidnapping or death...." that the tour operator and the Military don't take responsibility and there you go into the JSA.

Its a guided tour from there and you are able to visit the conference Room and step "into north Korea". Everything is watched by the North Korean Military, so they also might take pictures of you if you visit the JSA.