Kham Trek - Friends Along The Way!

Saturday, July 21 - Heading to Daofu/Dawu  or Zhaggo/Luhou  today!
Met a nice guy from Germany today, who currently lives in Beijing, and is traveling with his folks through Kham.  They are staying here at Gou Zhuang NamWu Hao Inn and we started talking about travel plans at the party last night.  We are heading the same way, so I lucked out, because Nu Wi had arranged a private car for them to Lhagong/Tagong, and then requested the driver take me on to Daofu/Dawu.  Jonas has studied Mandarin in Beijing for one year and is quite fluent; he translated for everyone at the party last night, as we went around in a circle offering introductions.  (I introduced myself by saying “Hello, my name is Gina”, in Tibetan! “Nga ming la Gina tser.”)  He will return to Germany with his folks at the end of their four-week exploration.

We will head out today around 2.  They will stay in Lhagong/Tagong and I will continue on to Daofu/Dawu.  That will put me 4-6 hours out of Dartsendo/Kangding, and another 5 or so from my next destination, Ganze.  I will get just under a 500m increase in elevation in Daofu, which is the recommended maximum increase per night.  Ganze, around 3500m, will add another 500m as well.  I want to spend at least two nights in Ganze, before heading further west and north toward Maniganggo (3900m) , Sershul/Serxu (4200m), and finally Yushu (3900m), which is about 11 hours driving from Ganze! 

Another great day to be had!  

Although it’s odd, I still am not quite in “vaca mode”, as it seems I need to return to school on Monday and I still have school on my mind! Heeheehee. Not for long!  In two more weeks, I will not want to return to Chengdu.  I am already considering an extension of my vacation to a full four weeks, instead of the originally planned three!  Why not!!!