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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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Mar 31, 2015 - 07:52am PT
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Good to finally see a map! But I'm cornfused, it looks like you started pedaling in the
Spratly Islands! WTF? Keep on keepin' on! Oh, and we want camping with creepy crawly
stories, too.
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thebravecowboy
climber
Greyrock, CO
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Mar 31, 2015 - 11:32am PT
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gave me a large jar of honey
enduristas just know that honey is it. too cool!
Cheers!
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gumbyclimber
climber
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Mar 31, 2015 - 12:18pm PT
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Glad you're still plodding along. The road from Kasi to Luang Prabang is gruesome yet stunning. I've ridden it several times on a motorbike and probably two dozen times in a mini van or bus; have seen some bad crashes.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 8, 2015 - 08:17am PT
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That's me... climbing limestone outside of Kunming.... capital of Yunnan. Looks like my biking days are over for a while. Arrived in Kunming and immediately fell in love with the place. So I'm staying for awhile. Found an apartment, registered for Chinese language course, and hooked up with a group of mostly expat climbers. Kunming is 3 million strong with clean air and blue skies. Sits at 6000 ft elevation so the temps are comfortable. And there are half a dozen climbing areas within an hour of town. Central Asia will half to wait. :)
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Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
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So if you rent some digs they'll extend yer visa?
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Reply - Apr 8, 2015 - 03:28pm PT
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Visas are complicated and getting more so. Even some people who have been here 10 years are getting booted. Right now I have a ten year tourist visa but only get 60 days per an entry. I may be making frequent trips to Vietnam to re-stamp my entry date... only a six hour bus ride away. Or fly to Hongkong for $200 RT... but that gets expensive.
I don't know about wife but a long hair dictionary would sure help my Chinese practice. :)
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N_Farrgo
Trad climber
Portland, OR
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I just returned from a 6-month cycling trip from Mongolia to Bangkok. We had the same conundrum with the China visa. We actually had just a 30-day multiple entry visa. Because, we're not purists we opted for taking a couple trains in China rather than multiple entries and exits to make our way through the country. We met a couple cyclists who had traveled from central Europe via Iran to Mongolia. It can be done... but it doesn't sound like a walk in the park. For what it's worth, cycling in Mongolia should not be missed... but you should probably wait until June.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Reply - May 24, 2015 - 10:33am PT
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Brief video of climbing near Kunming.
http://www.gokunming.com/en/blog/item/3468/video_and_guide_rock_climbing_around_kunming
So as mentioned upthread I stopped in Kunming for three month crash course in Chinese. I've now got a flashcard deck of 500 words I mostly know when sitting at my desk.... but out on the street I have yet to successfully use one sentence. ha therory and practice.
Meanwhile I've been trying to keep myself busy cycling to school every day and doing longer rides and rockclimbing trips on weekends.... but somewhere along the way I have developed a hernia. I don't know much about the medicine or risks involved... other than what wiki tells me.... but I've stopped climbing and have slowed down my cycling a bit. I haven't completely figured out my strategy yet but at this point it looks like I will be getting on a plane back to the states once my class is over to get myself properly stitched close. Hopefully it will only be a temporary setback.
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Darwin
Trad climber
Seattle, WA
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May 24, 2015 - 08:50pm PT
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I'm wishing you a quick complete recovery!
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 12, 2015 - 07:51am PT
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Reply - Jul 31, 2015 - 07:40pm PT
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Back on the road again .. (to the tune of Willie Nelson)
Don't know where this journey is taking me but for now I'm riding across Qinghai province... (northern Tibetan plateau). Maybe someday I'll write some narrative but for now just photos
12, 500 pass in distance with giant stupa
Qinghai Lake in distance...largest lake in China. 'For rent' yurts. $35 a night. Lots of well heeled Chinese tourists in these parts.
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Rhodo-Router
Gym climber
sawatch choss
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Jul 31, 2015 - 07:48pm PT
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On the choad again!
Enjoy the ride mike, and keep us posted up.
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab or In What Time Zone Am I?
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Jul 31, 2015 - 10:12pm PT
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Really really....and some more reallys....awesome.
Susan
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 1, 2015 - 06:43am PT
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Delhi Dog
climber
Good Question...
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Cool!
Look forward to hearing and seeing your furthering adventures. Keep us posted!
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab or In What Time Zone Am I?
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Looks like we could be in the same place...but alas this is from a Buddhist retreat in the Santa Cruz mtns
Susan
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Joron
Trad climber
Hoodland, Oregon
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Great photos, Mike! Good luck with the hernia. Stay safe and please keep posting photos and more stories.
Joe
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Lollie
Social climber
I'm Lolli.
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Very interesting to follow your journeys. I hope the hernia doesn't set you back. If it's in the back, good physiotherapy can help a lot and heal it. But it takes time.
I'd love to go to those places where you are.
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rockermike
Trad climber
Berkeley
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Topic Author's Reply - Aug 4, 2015 - 07:21am PT
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For the time being I am ignoring the hernia and it seems to be ignoring me.
I'm currently heading west across the northern part of the Tibetan plateau...heading toward Golmud...in the center of Qinghai province. I just recently heard foreigners aren't allowed to go that way...but I'm not turning back so we'll see what happens.
Here's a couple of photos from the last few days..
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