Wild Wolf Adventure

HuYang Adventure 2009

Malaysia-Thailand-Laos-Yunnan-Tibet-XinJiang-Inner Mongolia-Malaysia, a total of 22,000 Km and 55 days.

About HuYang Tree

Huyang tree living in Southern XinJiang province, in Tarim Basin. the tree originated from the ancient 36 states of Western China, which is called “Hu”. HuYang also popularly known as Hu Tong or Wu Tong.

This kind of tree i said to exist in the world for 3,000 years: alive for 1000 years, dead and will not decay for another 1000 years

From

http://www.proz.com/kudoz/chinese_to_english/geography/2332900-%E8%83%BD%E5%A4%A9%E7%84%B6%E6%88%90%E6%9E%97%E7%9A%84%E6%A0%91%E7%A7%8D.html

Jason Ma

里的胡杨林曾经十分茂盛，绵延数十里。但在六七十年代被大量砍伐后，已经 变得稀稀拉拉，后来生长的小树尚未成材。那些新生的胡杨并不是人工种植，而是在沿河以及低洼水分较为充足的地方，被烧毁和砍伐的胡杨老根重新萌发形成，由 此可见胡杨生命之顽强旺盛。在这沙漠已经淹没的地方，它们成为一道绿色屏障，有力地阻挡了沙漠的扩大和往北部盐碱滩地区的发展。胡杨林带是保护沙区农牧业 的天然屏障，是野生物物的重要栖息地，是维护这一地区生态平衡的主体。这1700亩胡杨林，已于2000年被认定为省级自然保护区。

在荒漠和沙地上,胡杨是唯一能天然成林的树种。胡杨已经有300万到600万年的历史。胡杨根系可长至长达15米，向四周蔓延，为了在极端干旱的环境里吸收到水分，它可深入到地下13米左右。

About Yaks

http://kekexili.typepad.com/life_on_the_tibetan_plate/2006/10/yaks.html

Yaks. When people think of the animals of Tibet, a yak has to be among the first they think of. Eighty-five percent (or about 10 million) of the world’s yaks live on the Tibetan Plateau. A yak is built to survive tough environments. Yaks have three times more red blood cells than normal cows so they are able to live without any problems on the high elevation grasslands of Tibet. Their long, thick hair insulates their bodies from winter temperatures that can get to -30C (-22F) or colder. Most yaks are black, but it is not uncommon to see white or gray ones especially on the grasslands of northern Amdo (modern day Qinghai province)…………

14th August 2009

Kuala Lumpur - Ipoh - Sungai Pentani

10 of us will leave with 5 Toyota Land Cruiser heading north for Ipoh, the state capital of Perak (Silver State). One of our member - Karikok - who is the operator of the Manjeong Restaurant will host a dinner for us.

15th August 2009

Sungai Petani - Bukit kayu Hitam - Chumphon

The group flagged off at around 8.30am from the Cinta Sayang Club in Sungai Pentani in Kedah and proceeds to Bukit Kayu Hitam, filled up the Toyota Land Cruiser with diesel.  After clearing Malaysia Immigration, bought some whisky and biscuits in the duty free shop and proceed to clear Thai immigration. Having lunch in Tung Lung, one of the popular shops for chicken rice for Malaysia visiting Hat Yai. The Asia Highway No 4 from Sadoa on the Thailand to Bangkok was much better compare to our North South Highway, first being toll free and double lanes, some places are even with triple lanes, and the services areas, are many too.

Reached Chumphon at around 6.30pm and check into the Nanaburi Hotel, the rate was, at 500 Baht per night, was cheap too by Malaysian standard. Wi-Fi in the room was free but the speed was less than satisfactory. Have dinner in one of the food stalls, for 12 of us, it was only 970 Baht.

Chumphon , 500 Km south of Bangkok, was the major transport hub to famous beaches in Southern Thailand, population is about 100,000.

16th August 2009 - Chumphon - Bangkok - Ayuthaya

After checking the Land Cruiser in the early morning, the group left Chumphon for Ayuthaya at around 8.00am. Arrived at Acyuthaya at around 5.00pm, checked into Kungsri River Hotel. Have dinner one of the restaurant - Udong, hosted by business associate off our convoy leader, Mr . Beh Kuie Cheong. Visited the Wat Rathburana - a Khmer style temple ruins just few Km from the Ayuthaya.

17th August 2009 - Ayuthaya - Chiang Mai - Chiang Khong

Since we have to cover 1000Km from Ayuthaya to Chiang Khong via Chiang Mai, we left at around 7.00am and travel to Chiang Mai via Asian Highway 1 and 2. Stopping at service centers for coffee, fuels and also to release our bladders, which have been put to stressful test since we left Malaysia on 15^th August 2009. The three lanes Asian One highway was also super, once again it is toll free, we clocked a constant speed of 110km or more, and anyway, traffic speed trap, nowhere to be seen.

Reached Chiang Mai at around 2.00pm and have foods in Air Port Plaza before proceed to Chiang Khong, the border town with population of about 10,000. Reached Chiang Khong, a small river-bank city state bordering Mekong river with sources from Tibet. We checked into Ban Khrua Thip Guest house, A-frame wooden bungalows near the river side.  Chiang Khong is the legal point entry for Laos, is also an important fishing ground for the Plaa, beuk (Giant Mekong Cat fish)

18th August 2009 - Luang Nam Tha

The convoy gathered at the peer at 10.00am, after clearing the immigration, the Land Cruisers were loaded on the barge, the transportation cost across the Mekong river was 1,000 Bath per vehicle, 200 Bath more expansive than two years ago.

Our  Laotian tour guide wait for us at the Huay Xai’s jetty,  arranged for all the necessary custom and immigration clearance. Have lunch in the river side restaurant, the food was good and the big bottle of Singha beer as only at RM4.00, much cheaper by Malaysian standard. The convoy left for Luang Nam Tha, since the newly completed road, compliments from Republic of China, the journey from Huay Xai to Luang Nam Than only take about 3 hours, much less than the 7 hours in the previous year.

On the route, the beautiful rice fields and the undulating terrains bring much refreshing sight to us. Rather surprise to see young rubber trees on the hill terraces, planted by investors from China, rather alarming sight as rubber trees are known to suck up much water from the ground, this hilly areas lacking in water is only able to sustain maize as t main crop for the hill tribes.

Checked into the hotel at around 4.30pm and have dinner at 7.00pm, electricity supply was erratic, and air conditioner was not functioning.

24th August 2009 - Lhasa Tibet

From 19th August - 23rd August 2009

Not able to do any posting in the blog due to the long duration of traveling, often reaching hotel at 9.00pm China Time(Same as Malaysia), after dinner and washing up, time to bed and have to wake up at 6.00am and preparing to move again.

Taken photos and movies, but lack of time and Internet access, photos and movies will be posted later.

In Lhasa -  we meet up with another 3 team members - Paul, Bong and Ah Thiam who flew earlier from Kunming, Yunnan. Ah Thaim needs to visit doctor due to Acute High Altitude Sickness and have to make a decision to proceed with the rest of the members to the Everest Base camp or otherwise.

We have dinner in the hotel and after a short meeting, the next phase of the journey was mapped up and the convoy will leave for Everest Base Camp on 25th August as planned.

Access to internet will be very limited for the 7 days until we leave Tibet and arrived at Xinjiang

Our chairman Mr. Teng, his Land Cruiser Air Conditioner malfunction and will have to send to workshop in Lhasa, hopefully it can be fixed by tomorrow and proceed with the rest of the members. otherwise he will leave a day later.