Border to China
4th day to the border
We are heading to China. Like yesterday we take photo’s while driving. We say goodbye to the cows camels and horses that walk on the street.
I sense that the guide is nervous about what could happen at the border. The border passing rules changes all the time and now also because a government official enters and all is even stricter. He wants us safe at the end of his tour.
There is a large ‘truck’ traffic jam with empty trucks going back to China. Thousands of new cars, clothes, all trade for Central Asia is going via the Silk Road to Kirgistan. Because all the snow this morning an accident happened with two trucks. We think the trucks need to wait for a few days, they will surely not manage to pass the check points today. We are the only car with tourists and we pass all the trucks on the other side of the road. No truck is driving towards Kirgistan. The border pass covers 15 km. After the first military check in Kirgistan, we drive further until the 2nd check point. Adyl says he normally cannot pass this check point, and we may have to walk to pass the boarder. Luckily an official drives in our car to the next stop, so we don’t have to walk with our luggage. We don’t see how we would have walked here, with our luggage.
No Road in China
Welcome in China, no road here, except a dirt road. It is really unbelievable that all trucks need to drive here. They are building a highway for this silk road part, so we se some road parts that are finished but we drive on the other part with sand and stones. They started two years ago and in October it should be finished.
Our new guide and driver is waiting for us at the other side of the border. Here in China strict rules, the guide cannot drive at the same time, and after every three hours the driver needs to rest for 20 minutes.
Big Brother
We found out ‘they’ are watching us in the car. There are two camera’s and we hear a Chinese that alerts the driver to let my father know that he needs to buckle up. The 2nd time the driver alerts us again. Luik, our new guide tells us it is the system. I thought it was the car that gives alerts, but it is a governor employer. Two people are watching us in the car, one of the traffic department and another one from the business car company. All is being checked, for example the driver drives cannot change lanes dangerously. Hard to believe for us.
The next day….
It rains and snows with a strong wind but we go out to enjoy the views. We even find tamed jaks. Really, sitting on the back for fun? We just do the ‘Jaks men’ a favour and we have three yaks for a little tour of 8 meters, to the water. Then we need to get off, they don’t even bring us back.
Marloes is the first to buy a souvenir here, we bargain, but we need to practice more, still to expensive. We have to get used to it because we are in China. When we can bargain we need more time and patience to do it well.
