Sep 29, 2008 - Tashkurgan, China

Left noon local/2 pm Beijing time in a big sleeper(3 rows, 2 beds high) bus after picking up a Chinese work crew at train station + others along the way. First on a narrow 1 1/2 lane 'road' which ended up joining a new cement 4 laner. The narrow 'road' was lined with poplars densely planted both sides - nice shade. The 4 laner w/ meridian ended in a regular 2 lane after half an hour, very smooth ride. Lots of agric plots on both sides, poplars lining these plots like 30' fencing. We cross 2 wide river beds - not much water running...

Oct 28, 2005 - Karakoram Highway - Karakul Lake

So awoke at 9am to go get a bus ticket to Karakul Lake, which we had passed on the way to Tashkurgan, hit the toilets, they wreaked, worst smelling bogs I have ever smelt, have these guys not heard of bleach or what. In the bus station we managed to get the Chinese queueing like good British citizens, after we organised the usual mass of people crowding round the ticket window thrusting their money at the ticket guy. Got to Karakul about midday lucky for us really as it gave the sun a chance to warm the place up slightly, it was still ruddy...

Oct 27, 2005 - Karakoram Highway - Tashkurgan

Was kept up half night thanks to one the crap singing from the KTV joint below our room and secondly the Marley that was blarring out next door, so woke up in a bit of stinker as you do when you factor in the lack of sleep. We jumped in a taxi to get us down to the bus station in time for our 10am departure to Tashkurgan down the famous Karakoram highway. The taxi driver was useless, I had to tell him where to go, and I had been in the city two days, he started drving the wrong bloody way. Boarded the bus after dealing with 'Mouth' as I...

Sep 13, 2005 - Safely in China

Today we crossed the Khunjerab pass. The weather was perfect - a beautiful blue sky and medium temperatures. The climb was gradual - only a few wide hairpins - enabling us and the car to acclimatise. The car did not appreciate the altitude but, with a small adjustment, managed very well. The scenery was all it should be. The mountains are very steep in Pakistan. They are over 7000m in some cases. We could see Rakaposhi as we drove out of Gulmit and they just kept coming. The valleys to the side were often the most attractive views with...