Odyssey Overland 2011 London to Australia: It’s all Chinese to me

Hiya, So how do, I am actually writing this as we drive to Turpan..so yep we are in China. Trying to remember where my last blog came from...not something I can check here as certain websites are not permitted, blogspot being one but think we were in Karakol and about to head up to Song kul lake before tackling the Torugart pass border.

We had a big drive to the lake from Karakol and arrived and set up just before the heavens opened on us. Not much to report save that it was a humdinger of a storm, but we all survived and the next day was a joy with walks and horse riding as well as a great game of goat polo. Well great for all save the poor goat who, minus his head becomes the ball. A top glimpse at some local culture. Speaking of culture, or rather a complete lack thereof, the day was topped off with a bad taste party...brilliant, and slightly worrying. How can something so wrong feel so right?!

Pass to Song Kul Lake

Wilderness camp, Lake Song Kul

Wide open spaces

School time, Odyssey style

Jim gets up close and personal with the goat polo players

Jim gets up close and personal with the goat polo action

Bad taste party

We decided two nights was enough at the lake and so descended and started the drive to the border...a night was had en route where Denis and Jim rescued a car stuck in a river, again a chance for some great and very genuine interaction with the friendly Kyrgyz people. The road was terrible and bumpy, currently under construction, courtesy of the great Chinese road building giant but the border was actually not bad and we were out of Kyrgyzstan in under and hour. Sadly we said good bye to the delightful guide Anastasia. A short wait and a drive through the border revealed a very different culture and some great new tarmac! A short drive saw us arrive at the fabled city of Kashgar where sights were seen, great food eaten and for some of us it was a great chance to sort the truck and meet old friends. Kashgar a centre of the great game played host to new players, or overlanders as we sank a few cheeky brewskies and caught up, yep another truck was in town!

So refreshed and ready we headed out into the Taklamakan desert with Turpan our destination a snip at 1500kms away! One longish day and a bushcamp saw us up to some terrible road, rain, wind, and sand. Things improved in the afternoon and albeit a bit late we arrived at Turpan. With a reasonable timed start we were off to yet another fabled silk road city, followed by some shopping. It was then time to tackle yet more of the desert as we descended below sea level and had what may be our last bush camp on the drive to Dunhuang and the massive Mogao Caves, a real world class site of wonder!

So I reckon that brings us up to date with things. Saw the caves today and are off to see “the end” section of the great wall, going to try and camp by it, tomorrow as we head ever eastward. Xi’an and the warriors are almost within our grasp. Right, will leave it there, more photos of the stunning bushcamp at Jeti Orguz in Kyrgyzstan below, must just go balance the books and send them back to base for a once over......laters, CJ