Living in the Zhuhai: Part: Inner Mongolia

After more than a few days thinking I had the h1n1 flu, i went to the doctor, upon getting back, to find i have a bacterial throat infection. Not as bad as west nile, my body's immune system feels like shut down while i went on vacation. Already i feel much better.

Part One: 2000 kms to Hohhut, Inner Mongolia, 37 hours

Hard Sleeper, three people per wall. after 8 hours, not comfortable.

Halfway through a perpetual twilight was created by the haze of fires or pollution, lasted the whole day's travel.

Could only get a quick snapshot of this sphinx-like structure of two chinese dudes layin.

Arrived in Hohhut 7am to a beautiful mountainous (and cold) sunrise, but compared to the past month of +30 degrees, it was welcome relief. Got a hotel until i could meet up with the group from Changchun I'd met a month ago, (a friendly bunch), and slept in. Saw some temples, ate some food, finally found the nefarious chinese lanterns. I'd heard so much about them in canada, and yet here, they are not so popular.
First attempt was close to a hotel, and nearly crash landed into it. The following one caught fire and nearly burned Fitz alive.

Took an angry taxi one minute out of the city to be dropped in the middle of nowhere, but that turned out alright. Travelling with my American counter-part Fitz, we stumbled upon a non-descript Chinese burial ground, probably recent, and an old morraine which led up gradually to the tallest mountain hill around.

The views were amazing, and we set off some noisemakers at the top, and even then, with the wind and open space, they still hurt my ears.

We celebrated Chinese National Holiday Oct 1 in Hohhut, and everywhere for three days straight, we could see fireworks.

Day before we left to Beijing had supper with the group at a Muslim spot, a kind of stew with some beer. By now, anything that resembles homemade Canadian food is a definite want on my list.