Day 25 May 04 - Yinchuan to QingtongXia

Fishing pond for 6 rmb whole day
Chinese carps caught
Relaxing in the Qingsiawyuan people park in QingtongXia

Local family invited us to join them for dinner

Steamboat in a muslim restaurant in Yinchuan
I wonder how many of their meat went into our stomach!
Transportation of dried hay a common sight in rural road
Curious locals always stopped their cars and requested for pictures taken
Petrol station in China is hugh and unique in design. This one more like spaceship!

Today's Distance: 65 km
Average Speed: 14.2 max:24.5
Time on Bike: 4 hr 31 min
Ave climb: 1% max: 4 %
Trip altitude: 90 m max: 1141 m
Today's spending: 82.20 rmb
Total Distance to date: 1471 km
Total spending to date:1535.70 rmb

Today is definately not a good day for me. After having breakfast of dumplings and porridge,my stomach was not feeling ok nevertheless we ride on and hoping that time will cure it automatically. After abt 15 km , i had to rush for toilets and let go and that indication of food poisoning and i can sense that my body is getting weak. I took 2 tablets of diarrhae and panadols , i struggled on with slow pace abt 13-15 km/hr . Heather must have noticed my abnormal self after lunch and asked "Meng r u alright?" "Yes,but i am slow today" Luckily there is only another 14 km to reach QingtongXia which we thought earlier abt 100km. After checked into a guesthouse for 15 rmb each ,i have a good nap and later we went for a walk in the park which we saw very beautiful when we passed by. In the park ,all are locals with children relexing. Flowers/trees/lake/rivers/fishing, a very quality life unlike in other towns that we seen. After having bbq beef and beer , one local family next table invited us to join them for dinner.Sometimes , you never knows when the surprise comes!

Day 24 May 03 - Another day of rest in Yinchuan

A mosque for the local muslims to perform prayer and also for the tourist for 12 rmb to enter
Another city view from the Nammen square
Nammen Square with a poster of Mou sze Dong
Muslim women with their tudong
This clay pot of mix vege, small egg , tou foo and sausages with rice and tea cost only 5 rmb

This signboard will normally be our lookout when riding to town - real cheap 10 -15 rmb/person
Coal as fuel is more popular and cheap than gas
A young lady earn her living by repairing bicycles on the street
A unique sawing machine which I aslo saw in Hanoi
A very lively down full of shopping peoples in Yinchuan

Heather and I decided to have another day of rest in Yinchuan cos' past 4 days had been hectic cycling average of 100km daily. Time to allow our legs and muscles to rest,it's still a long long journey to go. Wandering around the town,a very big & modern city full of xtvt, shopping complexes crowded with colorfully dressed locals. I managed to cash out 200usd traveller cheque to rmb for 1526 rmb. I hope this shud be enough to cover until Urumqi. Hard time to buy a dvd plain disc here as the shops only sell cdr. Tomorrow ride will be going south and plan to stay in QingtongXia. See you all on my next update,bye!

Day 23 May 02 - Shizuishan to Yinchuan

Goats slaugtered by the locals on the roaside
"big onions " overloaded on a van
Toll gates are a common sight in most China roads
Billaid games outside the street
Roadmap we had cycled from Beijing to Yinchuan 1409 km so far

Made in China - city bikes some with electric power
getting the bike shop owner to help lube my bike while I lift up the heavy back wheel
Crop fields everywhere
Very popular vegetable " big onion "
Our lunch at Pingluo on the way to Yinchuan

Today's Distance: 108 km
Average Speed: 16.6 max: 25.5
Time on Bike: 6 hr 31 min
Ave climb: 1% max: 2%
Trip altitude: 144 m max: 1117 m
Today's spending: 30 rmb
Total Distance to date: 1406 km

Total spending to date: 1392.50 rmb

Today's ride is very much different from the early days, missing are all the killer hills! We are now on the lowland, still following route G109 , road is pretty flat and in good condition, very few trucks but many express buses pilling from Yinchuan to Shizuishan. More greenery with trees on both sides . There are many women working on the field with water stream running by the side. The weather is getting warmer here ranging from 18 - 24 c . Arrived at Yinchuan at 5.00pm and found plenty of cheap " chu sou" means accomodation for 20 rmb double bed room.

Yinchuan is a big modern city but was dusty with strong wind blowing. Also I noticed most of the world well known automobile makers have outlets here, BMW,Toyota,Wolswagen,Nissan,Ford...

More pictures on Day 20

Baby pigs thought food is coming when I took a picture
Desert sand on the whole journey
One of the tourist spot in Erdors
Muslim restaurant owner with his son near Hanging Qi
Beautiful sunset and goats house at backyard of Village head camp

Day 22 May 01 - Sambayang Zhan to Shizuishan

Acorss the Yellow River for the 2nd times in Shizuishan
Free advertisment on anyway they see opportunities,not only in Malaysia
Shopping in short after a warn shower
Cutural shows in Peoples Square in Shizuishan
Fruits and drinks important to keep going

Signboard say : Route G109 and 1086 km from Beijing .My oddometer say 1300km Mongolian dome restaurant Picture with Chinese workers constructing a railway flyover
First road accident we saw in Qipangzin some 25 km to Shizuishan
Many of these giant creatures polluting the sky

Today's Distance: 71 km
Average Speed: 14.7 max: 38
Time on Bike: 4 hr 54 min
Ave climb: 1% max: 5%
Trip altitude: 256 m max:1338 m
Today's spending: 84.50 rmb
Total Distance to date: 1298 km
Total spending to date: 1362.50 rmb

Today is Labour day as most people celebrate a day of rest , but not for us! We did a 71 km to this modern nice town called Shizuishan in NingXia Province after crossing for the 2nd time Yellow River. Ning Xia province according to Lonely Planet is one of the poorest province in China and mostly the people are muslim in religion. They can easily be recognised by the white hat on their head. Shizuishan is a lovely town full of xtvt and there is a concert in the square full of peoples. Have a good warm shower for 5 rmb and a room for 30 rmb. Most eatery here serves lamb as it is plentiful ,unlike chicken is very expensive cost 5 rmb for a single chicken wing. We had 10 sticks of lamb satey for 5 rmb .

Day 21 April 30 - Village Head Camp to Guesthouse in Sambayang Zhan

Malaysia Flag flying high from East to West of China
House of the Village Headman allow us to camp in the compound
Inside the compound we pitched our tents
Camels spotted and pictures taken specially for our friends from wildcamel bicycle club in Datong
Another angle of sunset in Village Headman's house

Today's Distance: 124 km
Average Speed: 15.5 max: 51.5
Time on Bike: 7 hr 59 min
Ave climb: 2% max: 17%
Trip altitude: 766 m max: 1452 m
Today's spending: 33 rmb
Total Distance to date: 1227 km
Total spending to date: 1278 rmb

Another great day with 3 records in longest distance,time on bike and fastest speed. Despite a very strong wind started as early as 5.00am when we still sleeping in our tents. I was woke up by the shaking of the tent & the beating of my bags and cooking pots.The wind brought together with sand started to get into my tent thru the sides netting. Nothing can be done except to cover my whole body inside my sleeping bag. The nasty wing blowing from north to south and we are heading west, often you can see sandstorm in front of you. For the 1st time I spotted a few camels eating grass in a fencing,managed to take a picture.