China (Oct to Dec 2013)
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I went to China to join the IBM CSC project and travelled thereafter through China ( #ibmcsc China ) I have blogged separatly about my journey, but herewith a consolidation of the photos, day by day. |
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Before packing luggage |
After packing luggage |
Frank |
Lesley |
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Cecily and Christy |
Fishmarket (with a smell): left side dead fish - right side alive |
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Fishmarket: think a kind of stingray |
Returning to the hotel and received fresh fruit |
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Crowded shopping street |
Local food market |
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| Day 2 - Knowing our team (and work off the jetlag) | 
Kid along the shoreline |
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Locals having Tea |
Local bookshop |
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Sleeping at a busy crossroad |
Nanputuo Temple |
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Xiamen University |
Beach |
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| Let me introduce our team members who joined the second day: | ||
Kishore (India) |
Amit (India) |
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Elizabeth (US) |
Ryan (South Africa) |
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Mukund (India) |
Megan (US) |
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Michael (Germany) |
Valeria (Hungary) |
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| Day 3 – First gathering with the full team | 
The China 22 team |
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| Let me introduce the rest of our team: |
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Vani (US) |
Sabari (Sweden) |
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Shrikant (India) |
Just to make it complete: myself from Belgium |
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| Our third day: |
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Taking the ferry to Gu Lang Island |
Gu Lang Yu |
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Trying to getting around |
Gu Lang Yu is a famous place in China to make wedding photos |
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Temple |
Temple |
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Monks |
Crowded Ferry |
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Boy on the Ferry |
Team Dinner with Hot Pot |
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Happy Birthday Mukund and Megan |
Happy Birthday Mukund and Megan |
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| Day 4 – The official kick-off of the CSC China 22 program in Xiamen, China | 
The China 22 team Kick-off |
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Kick-off meeting in the boardroom |
Jasmine (梁伟娜), Corporate Citizenship & Corporate Affairs, IBM China |
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My profile in Mandarin |
My profile in Mandarin |
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Our Host of Xiamen High Tech Institute |
David, GM IBM China |
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| Day 5 – First work session with our first local company | 
Our interns having dinner |
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Cleaning vegetables in the guest place |
The food to choose from |
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| Day 6 – Getting started with Lizhou | 
Daily newspaper |
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Welcome at Lizhou |
Discussion at Lizhou boardroom |
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Getting around afterwards |
Local street where we had dinner |
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| Day 7 – Working with a headache and feeling bad |
Lesley demonstrating Tai Chi |
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Dinner |
Animal = food |
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The dinner aftermath |
Taking pictures of the dinner aftermath |
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| Day 8 – Made it on the front page of the newspaper |  IBM CSC project on the front of the newspaper |
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| Day 9 – Experience the local culture at the village of Quanzhou | 
Safety first on a busy road? |
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Kaiyuan Temple |
Offers at the Kaiyuan Temple |
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Kaiyuan Temple |
Cecile explaining at the Kaiyuan Temple |
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Street crossing |
Local food (black chicken) |
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Happy Megan at the restaurant |
On the street |
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Confucius Temple |
Confucius Temple |
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On the street |
On the street |
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On the street |
On the street |
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| Day 10 – Sunday in Xiamen, actually Rainday and catching up work |  Entrance to the hot springs and pools |
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Hot spring |
Local tree |
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Tree |
Yin Yang Hot spring |
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50m pool |
Around the pool |
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| Day 11 – Unexpected hick-up | 
Gathering around a table with colleagues with laptops and a few bottles of water to prepare the community workshop. |
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| Day 12 – Feeling the air pollution in Xiamen, experiencing myself the urgent need to make cities smarter and more sustainable | ||
Xiamen City |
Meeting at the client |
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| Day 13 – The barrier of the Chinese language | ||
Taking notes during the meeting, and practicing Chinese |
The fish ordered using translation by mobile phone |
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| Day 14 – Seems everything can be eaten in China, as long as it doesn’t harm you | ||
Frogs |
An exception: bilingual buffet sign |
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An exception: bilingual buffet sign |
A great looking dessert (mine) |
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Another great looking dessert (Cecily) |
Delicious Sushi |
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| Day 15 – Three lessons in ‘Nothing is easy’ | 
Elaine and Cecily helping us to survive through translation |
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Tree on Gu Lang Yu |
Tree on Gu Lang Yu |
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Xiamen by night, view from Gu Lang Yu |
Bridge between Xiamen and mainland |
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Statue on Gu Lang Yu |
Walkway towards the statue |
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Favorite sport from youngsters, taking selfies |
On the local market |
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| Day 16 – Going to the countryside visiting unique Fujian Tulou structures | ||
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Along the road |
Along the road |
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Tea |
Along the road |
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The group in front of the Chengqilou Tulou (the king of tulou) |
Inside the Chengqilou Tulou |
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Inside the Chengqilou Tulou |
Inside the Chengqilou Tulou |
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Another Tulou |
Inside |
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Local people |
Streetview |
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And another Tulou |
Inside the Tulou |
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Women at work |
Fields |
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| Day 17 – Attempt to revitalize in the Xiamen Botanic Garden |
Xiamen Botanical Garden |
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Xiamen Botanical Garden |
Xiamen Botanical Garden |
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Xiamen Botanical Garden |
Xiamen Botanical Garden |
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Xiamen Botanical Garden |
Xiamen Botanical Garden |
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Xiamen Botanical Garden |
Xiamen Botanical Garden |
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Xiamen Botanical Garden |
Xiamen Botanical Garden |
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Xiamen Botanical Garden |
Xiamen Botanical Garden |
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Xiamen Botanical Garden |
BBQ |
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BBQ |
BBQ |
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BBQ |
BBQ |
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| Day 18 – Driving habits in China versus driving at home |
Make your way |
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Load anything |
Load anything |
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Safety helmet |
Chickens on the road |
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| Day 19 – Community Service workshop at the Xiamen Institute of Software Technology |
Local paparazzi awaiting for us at arrival |
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Paparazzi keep taking pictures |
Welcome photo |
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Welcome to the auditorium |
The audience |
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Student paying attention |
Ryan introducing our team |
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Head of the school |
Deng Chen Chen (Cecily) and Wei Fang doing a role play |
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Panel discussion, taking question on stage |
'Can I take a picture with you?' |
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'Can I take a picture with you?' |
Bye Bye! |
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| Day 20 – How about start writing Chinese? |
My writing exercise |
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My writing exercise |
My writing exercise |
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| Day 21 – Time to let you know our winning team! | ||
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The winning team |
Amit |
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Megan |
Christy |
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Cecily |
Bart |
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| Day 22 - What a day! |
Tweaking the TV set in the room |
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| Day 23 - Going to see those Wuyishan Mountains and the Nine Twist River! |
The 'Wuyi' team Kishore - Mukund - Elizabeth - Megan - Valeria - Bart and Vani (not on the photo) |
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Flight Xiamen - Wuyishan |
Crew added English translation for us |
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Float on the Nine Twist River |
View from the Nine Twist River |
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View from the Nine Twist River |
View from the Nine Twist River |
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Heaven Peak climb in front of us |
View from the Nine Twist River |
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View from the Nine Twist River |
Nine Twist River |
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Climb to the Heaven Peak |
Climb to the Heaven Peak |
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Climb to the Heaven Peak |
Nine Twist River |
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Nine Twist River |
Climb to the Heaven Peak |
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Climb to the Heaven Peak |
Tea ! |
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Descent from the Heaven Peak |
Leaving the park at moonlight |
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Musician at the local tea festival |
Flying back to Xiamen |
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| Day 24 – Getting lost in an old Chinese ghetto |
Viewpoint |
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Viewpoint |
Pathway along the shoreline |
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Missing plaking on the pathway along the shoreline |
Going swimming |
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Handcraft - painting |
Though spotting Durian (smelly fruit), but it's Jackfruit |
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Kids in the ghetto |
Another dead end |
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Old town view |
Boats in a dried up river |
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Need a wire? |
Work in progress |
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Playing a cardgame |
Metal recycling shop |
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Four on the bike |
Green bike |
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| Day 25 – Yeah got my Tibet Travel Permit! |
Backside Travel Permit |
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| Day 26 – Final recommendation to our first client Lizhou Group done! |
Presentation of final recommendations to Lizhou Group |
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Introduction by Megan |
The audience |
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Fruit served (notice the size of the oranges vs. the grapes) |
Foto session |
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me and Jimmy, the General Manager |
Thank you! |
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| Day 27 – Mission completed: final recommendation to our second client done! |
Round table with Gill Zhou |
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IBM Team after the round table |
Presenting Final Recommendations |
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Presenting Final Recommendations |
Break: Coffee ! |
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| Day 28 – Hey Bart, why don’t we see you? |
Scratch tickets from the restaurant We won 20 RMB! |
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Dinner for two |
Temple visit in Xiamen |
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Temple visit in Xiamen |
Busride to Quanzhou |
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Noisy bus to Tulou |
Counting travel money for Wuyishan |
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Welcome to the college |
Speaking at college |
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Questions and Answers session at College |
Flight to Wuyishan |
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You take mine? Got you! |
Float Nine Twist River |
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Float Nine Twist River |
Climb to the Heaven Peak |
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Climb to the Heaven Peak |
Break at Heaven Peak |
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Tea at Heaven Peak |
Setup for the team picture |
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With Jimmy, GM of Lizhou Group |
Karaoke |
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| Day 29 – Official closing ceremony, meeting the press, and YES we can! | ||
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Closing Ceremony CSC China 22 |
The press |
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Team video introduction |
KidSmart donation by IBM |
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Our team - winning team |
Press conference |
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David, GM IBM Greater China, questioned by th press |
Jimmy, GM Lizhou Group, talking about u |
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| Day 30 – Bye-Bye Xiamen, Beijing here we come! |
Our team - clockwise : Bart - Amit - Megan - Christy - Cecily |
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| Day 31 – First day after the CSC program – visting Beijing |
Forbidden City |
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Forbidden City |
Megan in action at the Forbidden City |
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Treasury in the Forbidden City |
One the many thrones in the Forbidden City |
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The team |
The team |
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Tiananmen Square |
Walking down Qianmen Street |
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Qianmen Street |
On Qianmen Street |
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| Day 32 – Happy Birthday to my daughter Evelyn from the Great Wall of China! |
Happy Birthday Evelyn! |
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Happy Birthday Evelyn! |
Great Wall at Badaling |
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Great Wall |
Great Wall |
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Great Wall |
Ming Tombs at Ding Ling |
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Inside the Ming Tombs at Ding Ling |
Entrance to the Ming Tombs at Ding Ling |
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| Day 33 – Travel day to Xi'an and encouraged to keep writing |
With my survival luggage for the next 11 days at the airport gate: down jacket, small trolley (sleeping bag, clothes, etc.) and heavy backpack (electronics) |
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Xi'an Bell Tower |
Xi'an Bell Tower |
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Xi'an Drum Tower |
Just on time for a small live performance |
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Bazar |
Muslim Street |
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Small Mosque |
Small Mosque |
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Large Mosque |
Large Mosque |
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Large Mosque |
Large Mosque |
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Drum Tower by night |
Bell Tower by night |
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| Day 34 - Visiting Xi'an area, shouting in Chinese, and going to the Xi'an Belgian bar! |
Big Goose Pagoda |
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Morning Execerise near Big Goose Pagoda |
Terracotta Warriors (pit 2) |
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Terracotta Warriors (pit 1) |
Terracotta Warriors (pit 1) |
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Terracotta Warriors (pit 1) |
Terracotta Warriors (pit 1) |
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Terracotta Warriors (pit 1) |
Terracotta Warriors (pit 1) |
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Emperor Qinshihuang mausoleum |
Han Yang Ling museum |
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Han Yang Ling museum |
Han Yang Ling museum |
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Han Yang Ling museum |
Seal in the museum |
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| Day 35 – From now on being all by my self … making a dream come truth! |
Departure to Lhasa |
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Endless mountains |
Endless mountains |
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Endless mountains |
Landed in Lhasa |
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| Day 36 – Walking on the roof of the world, Lhasa! |
Impressive Potala Palace |
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Potala Palace walk to the entrance |
Entrance court of the palace |
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Me at the entrance |
The holy part of the palace |
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Jokhang temple |
Jokhang temple entrance |
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Jokhang temple |
Me on the roof of Jokhang temple |
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Butter shop |
Pilgrims |
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Prayer rolls at temple |
Pilgrim at prayer rolls |
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Pilgrim |
Pilgrims |
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Pilgrims |
Endless prayer rolls |
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Pilgrim |
Pilgrim |
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| Day 37 – Going up to 4.800m (15.750 ft) high to visit Drak Yerpa |
Crossing the Ngachen-la pass |
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Drak Yerpa entrance way |
First temple shrine of Drak Yerpa |
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Yak butter candles |
Pilgrim |
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Sky Burial |
Drak Yerpa Temple Shrine |
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My guide Jim taking me around |
Me at the Ngachen-la pass on the way back |
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Tsamkhung Nunnery entrance |
Singing Prayers at the Tsamkhung Nunnery |
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Singing Prayers at the Tsamkhung Nunnery |
Tsamkhung Nunnery |
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Lunch at the Tsamkhung Nunnery |
Lunch at the Tsamkhung Nunnery |
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National Museum of Tibet |
Walking back to the hotel |
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| Day 38 – Breathtaking and silent Tibet |
Landscape |
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Kamba-la summit |
Kamba-la summit |
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The car, the guide, and the driver at Kamba-la summit |
View from Kamba-la summit to the Yamdrok-tso lake |
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The holy Yamdrok-tso lake |
Me at the holy Yamdrok-tso lake |
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The holy Yamdrok-tso lake |
The holy Yamdrok-tso lake |
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First glacier |
Another summit at 5039 m |
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The driver |
Pelkor Chöde monastery |
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Pelkor Chöde monastery |
Pelkor Chöde monastery |
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Roasted barley |
Lanscape |
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| Day 39 – Going 5.289 m (17.350 ft) and till the end of the road! |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
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Tashilhunpo Monastery |
Tashilhunpo Monastery |
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Endless changing landscape |
Endless changing landscape |
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First view of Mount Everest, about 150 km to go |
Endless changing landscape |
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Endless changing landscape |
Endless changing landscape |
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Another summit |
In front of Mount Everest |
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| Day 40 – Driving down the Friendship Highway (at less than 40 km/h) |
China customs at the border |
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Border police station |
Friendship Highway |
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Driving through the Himalaya landscape |
Driving through the Himalaya landscape |
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Driving through the Himalaya landscape |
Hi there, taking a break at the summit (5.289m) |
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Landscape |
Landscape |
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Local traffic |
Wild Tibetan Donkeys (protected spieces) |
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Landscape |
Landscape |
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| Day 41 – Driving second part on the Friendship Highway |
Yarlung Tsangpo River |
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Yarlung Tsangpo River |
Typical houses along the street |
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Driving through the landscape |
Chinese drivers, line up and ... |
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Driving through the landscape |
Driving through the landscape |
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Landscape |
Palubuk nunnery |
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Prayer stones at the Palubuk nunnery |
A 'green' train, carrying tracks to extend the line from Lhasa to the west |
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| Day 42 – Bye Bye Tibet, back to Beijing! |
'Zang' is the Chinese character for Tibet |
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Last views towards the airport |
Bye Bye from the air |
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Lake Houhai |
Houhai |
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Lake Houhai |
Houhai |
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Houhai |
Live music in the bars |
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| Day 43 – Suffering from smog in Beijing! |
Entrance to the Summer Palace |
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Garden of Virtue and Harmony (kind of theatre) |
Tea tables with view on the stage |
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Covered pathway between the different areas |
Painted ceiling of the pathway |
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Stairs to the Tower of Buddhist Incense |
Tower of Budhist Incense |
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Boats on the lake in the Summer Palace |
Marble boat on the lake in the Summer Palace |
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People playing cardgames |
Suzhou Street in the Summer Palace |
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Suzhou Street in the Summer Palace |
Suzhou Street in the Summer Palace |
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Central lake in the Summer Palace |
Beihai Park |
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Circular pathway |
Beihai Park |
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View from the Beihai Park on the nearby Forbidden City under smog |
Street food in Beijing |
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| Day 44 – My last day in Beijing, me vs. Chinese : 1 - 0 ! |
Entrance to Temple of Heaven park |
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Temple of Heaven |
Temple of Heaven |
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Man exercising on music |
Parkway |
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Temple of Heaven park |
Temple of Heaven park |
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Temple of Heaven park |
Temple of Heaven park |
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Temple of Heaven park |
Temple of Heaven park |
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| Day 45 – Day traveling home ... about making photos | ||
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The boy .... |
and his toys |
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| Last day – My final messages! Back home! |
Welcome home |
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