Solo Backpacking Trip

[dilphinus]

23 Aug
Inagural flight, Singapore to Tianjin on Scoot! It's the Chinese Valentine's day and there's a lolly for every passenger!

Upon arrival in Tianjin, boarded the bus to the railway statio (RMB15). Bought the ticket for the high speed train to Beijing for RMB55. Before noon, arrived in Beijing. Headed straight to the main railway station to buy onward ticket to Datong and also to deposit my backpack.

Beijing Railway Station.

Qianmen

Smelly beancurd! My must have everytime I come to Qianmen.

Headed to APM Wangfujing to wash up (clean toilet) and free wifi! had my favourite milk tea and left for dinner at Shunyi. Took me more than an hour to get there!

Had 烧烤 at 很久以前, Shunyi, Beijing.
Candlelight dinner!

There's fireworks too!

After dinner, my friend sent me to the railway station as I was taking the overnight train to Datong.

 

[EatSnakeDrinkAlcohol]

support!!! bookmarked

 

[dilphinus]

24 Aug - Datong

Booked myself a hotel room in the city center, not knowing that a month ago, the buildings in the Red Flag Square are being demolished. There is only one road leading to the area and traffic is very bad. No taxi is willing ti take me. Fortunately a motorcycle taxi is willing to do so for RMB15. He was cursing and swearing at the drivers and traffic. I gave him RMB20 when I alighted.

Yungang Grottoes 云冈石窟 (UNESCO World Heritage Center)

I wanted to visit the Hanging Monastery but unfortunately I do not have sufficient time for it. And again, I'm not willing to change my schedule!

Getting around in Datong by public transport is relatively easy. I took the public buses to the Yungang Grottoes and managed to find my way back to tge hotel without losing my way!

 

[dilphinus]

25 Aug - Datong to Hohhot

Was afraid that there'll be a traffic jam, and so I got to the train station earlier.

The train station was pretty empty. In fact, this is the first time I've seen such a quiet station!

Only in China....! Man was sleeping under the seats! Initially I thought it was a sack of fruits or potatoes or such!

Seats were completely sold out and I had no choice but to get a standing ticket. Stood on the train for 5 hours, and did some reading on the tablet.

 

[dilphinus]

26 Aug - Hohhot/Grassland

Bought a day tour to the nearest grassland 希拉穆仁草原! RMB100.

Paid RMB300 for a 2 hours horse riding tour of the grassland. First time on a horse and it's fun!

We stopped for some free refreshments

 

[dilphinus]

27 Aug - Hohhot and overnight train to Erlian

Street across the train station - Night

Taken from across the railway station

Xinhua Square

View from the Inner Mongolian Museum

Meal before I depart Hohhot for Erlian

With my favourite pudding milk tea!

 

[dilphinus]

28 Aug - Erlian and Erlian to Zamiin-Uud (Mongolia)

Arrived in Erlian at 6.08am!

Since the ticket office and shops aren't opened and there's nothing to do, decided to update my expenses and journal, and have my breakfast!

Street across the train station

The ticket office opens at 9am, and by 7.30am, the queue is

 

[dilphinus]

29 Aug - Zamiin-Uude to Ulaan Baatar (Mongolia)

 

[KinkyNinja]

gotta bookmark. this is interesting. sarpork!

 

[kivine]

Let me haolian a bit also, hahahahaa. this is my solo 3 months trip (May - Aug'12)

 

[xtemujin]

Support your backpack trip.

 

[xingan87]

wow seh!!


wish you have a smooth trip.. enjoy

 

[dilphinus]

Let me haolian a bit also, hahahahaa. this is my solo 3 months trip (May - Aug'12)

What's the stop you will be going, between Beijing and Tianjin?

I've been to Guangzhou, Kunming, Dali, Lijiang, Beijing, Tianjin, Harbin, and Shanghai. If you need info on these places, I can help a bit.

I've been to HCM, Dalat, Hanoi and Halong Bay. I don't have much info on these places though.

How are you traveling? My brother cycled (yes, on a bicycle) from Singapore to China to Tibet to Kathmandu in 6-7 months last year.

 

[Din0saurus]

bookmarked.

 

[dilphinus]

Current internet connection in the hostel is very unstable

 

[jownsftw]

give some advice on guangzhou please. going school trip, got a few nights is F&E. no idea what to do

 

[dilphinus]

seems so fun.

It's a pretty tough and rough trip. Am feeling a little under the weather.

Couldn't get a sleeper on the overnight train from Beijing to Datong and I had to sit between 2 men and in a cabin full of men.

No seats from Datong to Hohhot and I didn't want to change my schedule so I had to stand in the train for 5 hours. The cabin was very packed as students were heading to Hohhot to attend university.

 

[Bak_Chor_Mee]

solid thread. bookmarked for references

 

[dilphinus]

give some advice on guangzhou please. going school trip, got a few nights is F&E. no idea what to do

I went to the wholesale malls. They don't sell in pieces. You'll have to buy in bulk. And even if you are willing to buy in bulk, they want to see your namecard (biz). Apparently they sell only to distributors/resellers.

I also went to the Shangxiajiu-dishipu pedestrain shopping street.

The other places I went to, includes the People's Park, which I don't think will be of interest to you.

If you have time, you should go to the outskirts. I don't have any info on this though.

 

[slackjam]

wow! i really admire ur guts! wishing i could do it too like u....very interesting life...