In a chinese pharmacy - with the help of hotel staff


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1. Beijing 02.04.08

2. Beijing 03.04.08

3. Beijing 04.04.08

4. Beijing 05.04.08

MAP 1 Beijing-Yingxian

5. Beijing-LouCun 06.04.08

6. Lou Cun-YudouCun 07.04.08

7. YudouCun-Laiyuan 08.04.08

8. Laiyuan-Wangzhuang 09.04.08

9. Wangzhuang-Hunyuan 10.04.08

MAP 2 Yingxian-Taiyuan

10. Hunyuan-Dai Xian 11.04.08

11. Dai Xian-Xinzhou 12.04.08

12. Xinzhou-Taiyuan 13.04.08

MAP 3 Taiyuan-Linfen

13. Taiyuan-Pingyao 14.04.08

14. Pingyao 15.04.08

15. PingyaoHuozhou 16.04.08

16. Houzhou-Xiangfen 17.04.08

17. Xiangfen-Hejin 18.04.08

MAP 4 Linfen-Weinan

18. Hejin-Heyang 19.04.08

19. Heyang-Dali 20.04.08 Heyang-Dali

20. Dali-Xi'an 21.04.08

21. Xi'an 22.04.08

22. Xi'an 23.04.08

23. Xi'an 24.04.08

24. Xi'an 25.04.08

MAP 5 Weinan-Hanzhong

25. Xi'an-Mazhao 26.04.08

26. Mazhao-Yangxian 27.04.08

27. Yangxian-Mian Xian 28.04.08

28. Mian Xian-Ningqiang 29.04.08

29. Ningqiang-Guangyuan 30.04.08

MAP 6 Hanzhong-Mianyang

30. Guangyuan-Jianmen Pass 01.05.08

31. Jianmen Pass-Zitong 02.05.08

32. Zitong-Loujiang 03.05.08

33. Luojiang-Chengdu 04.05.08

34. Chengdu 05.05.08

35. Chengdu 06.05.08

36. Chengdu 07.05.08

37. Chengdu 08.05.08

38. Chengdu 09.05.08

MAP 7 Mianyang-Maoxian

39. Chengdu-Dujiangyan 10.05.08

40. Dujiangyan-Miansi 11.05.08

41. Miansi-Maoxian 12.05.08

42. Maoxian 13.05.08

43. Maoxian 14.05.08

44. Maoxian 15.05.08

45. Maoxian 16.05.08

46. Maoxian 17.05.08

47. Maoxian 18.05.08

48. Maoxian-Chengdu 19.05.08

49. Chengdu-Chongqing 20.05.08

50. Chongqing-Wanzhou 21.05.08

51. Yangtze River 22.05.08

52. Yangtze River-Wuhan 23.05.08

53. Wuhan 24.05.08

54. Beijing 25.05.08

55. Beijing 26.05.08

56. Beijing 27.05.08

57. Beijing 28.05.08

58. Beijing 29.05.08

59. Beijing 30.05.08

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English Version 14


Tuesday 15.04.08
Taiyuan

There was a big fuzz in the hotel when I’d asked how I got out of the city in the direction of Pingyao, which is the target og today.
Two maps in different scales was decorated the wall in the reception. The girl at the counter wasn’t sure and made some calls. More came by, but in the meantime I had studied both maps + my own closely and had come to a result, but never feel too secure here. Better ask once more. After a lot of discussion, where one more has arrived, whom I believe is a guest, but shows up to be a manager, they reach the same conclusion as I. I remember to ask the name of the road I have to follow to the right and the name of the road I have to take to the left, and that’s fine, because the distances are longer than expected and there are no signs where I expect them to be.
The entire crew helps me out with my luggage and when I wipe dust off the saddle a wet piece of cloth emerge and the manager starts cleaning my bike.
Then it comes to my mind that I ought to buy some sun creme and a little help might be needed. It turns out to be wise – or maybe not – but fun. I think, I’ve made them understand, what it’s all about, and they think they’ve understood, what I mean, so a fuwuyuan, as the staff is called, is accompanying me to the pharmacy which I’ve already noticed up the street.
An exciting scene takes place.
First some pills, hydrokinon, I think, which are painkillers. Then some against itching. Then painkilling crème and at last – I think – the right stuff. The tube is rather small. This crème should be factor 12. That’s it!
I’m touched by all this willingness to help. They’ll do anything for me I just have to say the words – and that’s the hard part.
The city is bigger than expected, a metropol almost. I was in the outskirts up north. But having found the road I just have to follow. In the end its name changes to Nan Lu, which means south road so I just have to keep on the track.
After 15 km I get nearer to the outskirts. They are building a lot here. Blocks of apartments some of them with 20-30 stories, I don’t count.
Then comes more suburbs and at last I roll on something that’s more like a highway for a cyclist as I. 2 lanes in each direction and a shoulder that is wide enough for 2 smaller cars. And there is not SO much broken glass and not so much gravel and dust.
So I turn on the automatic pilot and fight forward. It’s not an exiting road.
The only dramatic situation comes when a small car from a side road turns left into the outer lane in my direction – and stays there, while a truck with high speed is coming from behind. The truck disappears into black smoke from the breaking. When I reach the spot I see a set of black double dotted lines on the surface, is that ABS or what is the reason?
Sometime later the road in my direction is apparently completely closed, so traffic is let over in the opposite lane. I have to go in the wrong direction in the shoulder, but that’s not unusual to do. A little later the blocking is revealed. It’s one of the big trucks which have participated in an accident, and now workers are unloading to another truck, so it can be towed away. By the looks of the damage on the truck it wouln’t have been nice being in the other car.
 


The city wall of Pingyao Inside of Pingyao

 

When I get to Pingyao I have problems finding out how to access the city. There is an old part surrounded by a city wall and that’s where I’ve decided to stay. There’s a youth hostel called Yamen Youth Hostel. I have a small folder with a description I took at Far East in Beijing.
But getting through the gate is not easy. Cars are band but bicycles should be able to enter. But not with luggage. I have to remove it all and put it back when I’m inside. I find it, a single room with shower is 120, dormitory 50 RMB. With a discount caused by my Danhostel card, I get it for 100. I want to relax in this ancient city for an extra day. It has probably turned into a tourist trap but the buildings are genuine.
Now I have to stay cheap in the future if my money shall last until Xi’an which is next city where I can withdraw money.
When the bike with the help of Lu has been carried into the courtyard (it’s a traditional Chinese buildings like Far East) he wants to carry the panniers into the room, but I stop him asking if there is something I can clean them with first. No, I shall not. And he calls for one of the girls and she comes and clean them.
I talk a little with two Americans who have cycled from Chengdu to Xi’an (the opposite of what I want to do). Get some information but have to ask them more before hey leave tomorrow night.
I go to have a look of the town while it gets dark.
 


School children at a bridge Yamen Hostel at night

 

Great God for a city! Filled with original buildings that are 3-400 hundred years old. It’s a warm evening and what an atmosphere walking along hundreds of Chinese lights.
Even though it’s all preserved for tourism (as for UNESCO) it can’t take away the charm. I just walk around enjoying it.
I end up eating some place where she promised me I could have Gong Bao Ji Ding for 16 RMB. I had looked at the serving at my own restaurant and the prizes – Pizza and pasta and a few Chinese dishes.
The chicken appear to be more spicy than before. I’m sitting with sweat on my forehead. It must be the original recipe from Sichuan, there famous for having the most spicy food in China.
Going to an early bed and maybe watch a little CCTV9.

106.05 km
18.53 km/t
5:43:14 tim
28.3 km/t

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