Where a Tibetan confessed his love for me! (Rach)
Trip Start
Apr 18, 2010
1
29
37
Trip End
Jul 25, 2010
Dege, Sichuan, China
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Dege
Had such a wonderful 24 hours in this cute Tibetan township home to the Dege Gonchan monastery which stored the bulk of all Tibetan engraved wooden scripture blocks and a printing house. The town itself was actually quite modern and was absolutley packed to the brim with people and monks - all due to a special Lama being in town; so very cool. Met up with Dutchie motorcyclist Dorus and a couple of Czech guys (one of while spoke Chinese fluently) which as always was heaps of fun
As per usual ate some great food - Dad saw and got some photos for you a very cute fire engine! Have a little nose.
Next day:
After dragging self out of bed, head out to find a mini van to take us back to Manigango to head north as soon as possible. After many discussions and negotiations (and of course breakfast) we convince a driver to leave at midday (not 2pm as he wanted to). As per usual rule he managed to completely fill his van with other passengers. 3 monks and a local man with young boy. We are then off, back along the road we came on, through the valley and up over the Chola Pass! That was until we broke down, at the first sight of the steep climb the mini van literally shuddered and died of fright! he he..
So a new experience and new predicament - dumped on the side of the road in the blazing sun in the middle of nowhere. After a stroke of good luck, a 4WD driven by a full on Indian Tibetan (cowboy hat, braid in hair, knife) stops and picks us and two of the other passengers up. All squished in nice and snug with our gear we head off again... he he... lots of fun, but so so very bumpy... I'm not sure if suspension is a good thing or bad when navigating extremely treacherous road. The drive was stunning again and we arrived safely in Manigango not long after three.
After attempting and failing to hitch a ride further north to spend the evening at a local monastery we checked ourselves into the local 'hotel' AKA big building of disgustingness.
Upon checking in we are pretty much accosted by the only semi English speaking young Tibetan in the small town of Manigango - trying everything he could to get us to go with him on a tour to the very close Xinlu Lake - (Glacier Lake). Markus (German) is not a well bunny at all so after some negotiation I decide hey what the hell... seems silly not to go see the lake that I know is so very beautiful!
So in hindsight - maybe should not have been so trusting and naive... all was fine, felt safe as could be on the back of 'Cleve's' motorbike for the 15km journey to lake. (actually heaps of fun on the back of a bike). Make it to the lake which is absolutely stunning! - as was the sunset. - Definitely worth the trip... But then things got a little strange and Mr Tibetan started to confess his undying love for me and that he wanted to accompany me travelling and/or that he would wait forever for me... and so on! aaaaaahhh got very scary for a while! but thankfully I managed to work my charm and weasel myself back to Manigango in one piece, Phew...! (I'm pretty sure this is actually one of the only times I've felt unsafe in China!)
Back to hotel for some din dins and a bit of internet time before sleeps...
- Realization that I managed to leave my USB sticks within an Internet cafe in Dege was very disappointing :( oh no... there goes my photos..!! ggrrr
