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Bangkok to Brighton by tuk tuk: Dirty tukkers in China Sunday 18th June: Louzhou, Sichuan Province, ChinaAnts writes... "Another day, another 300 kms covered.Eight hours spent tailing Dong Feng's belching black smoke tends to make one a little grubby. War nearly broke out between the mothertruckers and the mothertukkers this afternoon. We've almost become accustomed to the driving here; the penchant for overtaking round the blindest corners, the neither a look to the left nor the right before pulling out, the constant near misses. But one Dong Fenger today really took the biscuit...  As he roared past us, nearly sending Ting Tong and contents off a rocky precipice, I made the error of giving him the finger. The sight of an angry white arm appearing out of a mobile pink wendy house obviously riled him for as soon as he passed us he, whilst driving, opened the door of his truck, leant out and shook his fists in fury. Unluckily for us, a toll gate appeared 2km later and as we pulled up, the still-seething trucker leapt out of his lorry and marched over to Ting Tong, gesticulating wildly and shouting what I can only assume wasn't 'Welcome to China, have a nice day'. I seriously thought he might punch me, and he probably would have if a burly security guard hadn't restrained him. He did however manage to unzip his trousers and reveal a pair of red 'Y fronts' and all therein before Jo finally paid the toll and we zoomed off. All the time Jo had been oblivious to my plight, dealing with paying the toll, and couldn't believe it when I filled her in. Sam said maybe I shouldn't give anyone the finger and I think I agree. I spent the next 70 km thinking about that film Duel, waiting for the offended trucker to appear on our tail and force us off the edge of the mountain. Quite scary. I guess it's all down to cultural relativism. Driving that is totally acceptable here would lose you your license in the UK in two minutes. So he probably thought my finger was unjustified, while I saw our lives flashing before my eyes. We're in Luzhou tonight; big, polluted and very hot. Sam has left us to our own devices so we're off to explore and hopefully not get lost or be fed dog by accident."  Jo writes... "Hello all, right now we are in a hotel and on the internet - a bloody revelation. China is brilliant and frustrating in equal measures. Things I like about China: The people. The food. The scenery. Things I dislike about China: Dong Feng trucks. The driving. The road conditions. The public lavatories. So overall China gets a big thumbs up and we seem to be settling into a routine of getting up and driving for long hours without too many grumbles. It would be nice to have a day off at some point in the next three weeks, but if we don't it won't destroy us. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger and if you don't laugh you cry. Oh how I love cliches...  Yesterday we visited Zijin caves, which were absolutely breathtaking. They must be one of the most impressive caves in the world. The length of the caves is 12.1km, although I think we covered about half that distance. There were no English guides and so we joined a group of Chinese. We didn't have a clue what the guide was saying, but she sounded like she knew what she was talking about. I have never seen such large stalctites and stalagmites in my life, some must have been about 60ft tall/long. I also learnt a new thing about limetsone rock formations created by dripping water, that when a stalactite and stalagmite join together it is called a stalacto-stalagmite. The rocks were amazing shapes, with many looking like large jellyfish e.g. Portuguese Man of War. We passed through different levels of the cave and eventually came upon the huge main cavern, which was at least the size of a football pitch. I worried about a stalactite falling from the roof and causing an ignominious death for us both. I informed Ants that I thought it would be a very painless death and that it would make for a good article in a newspaper. Unfortunately, we had driven in the morning and had a long drive ahead of us and therefore were too tired to enjoy the caves as we felt we should have done. In hindsight I am appreciating them alot more. I put on Ants' iPod and was listening to some music, which inspired me to start cave dancing in a rather peculiar manner. What I had failed to realise was that a security guard was walking right behind me as I shook my little booty. Ooops. I thought I smoked too much, but the Chinese really put me to shame. I am not sure how the roads ever get built as there always seems to be someone having a cigarette break. They also smoke while riding motorbikes, which I am sure is quite dangerous. You seem to able to smoke everywhere in China apart from the lifts. Today we were on the road for nine hours, which included an hour for lunch. We must be getting used to the long hours, because it was OK. Apart from Ants' incident with the rather cross Dong Feng driver, there were no problems. Two strange things we saw today included a dead foal strapped to the back of a motorbike and a dead dog being dragged along the road by a small child. Pet or lunch?  Tomorrow we are getting TT serviced. I will watch carefully so that I learn how to do the oil filter and air filter myself. I will change the front brake pad, but get a motorcycle mechanic to check my handiwork. Changing the oil is something we will let a mecahnic deal with, because they can dispose of the old oil safely and we cannot. Also, we think her accelerator is starting to stiffen again so I will get the mechanic to check that also.That's all folks, time for bed as another long day beckons and the tired tukkers need their beauty sleep." Love Ants and Jo x Click here >> to follow the journey from the beginning Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Vientiane, Laos Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Vang Vieng, Laos Click here >> to Ants' and Jo's update from Luang Prabang, Laos Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on arriving in China Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on troubles in China Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on the Stone Forest, China Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on China Under Construction Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on Western China Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on the Silk Road Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on the Great Wall of China Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on sand tobogganning in the desert Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Turpan, China Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's final update from China Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's first update from Kazakhstan Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Almaty, Kazakhstan Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's first update Lake Balkash, Kazakhstan Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update on their impressions of Kazakhstan Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's first update on Russia Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's thoughts on Russia Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's update from Europe Click here >> for more rainy rumblings from Russia Click here >> for sparkplugs and sunshine in Russia Click here >> for a historical tour of Volgograd, Russia Click here >> for beach life in Russia Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's arrival in the Ukraine Click here >> for Ukrainiacs and mechanics Click here >> for Ants' and Jo's adventures in The Crimea Click here >> for Ants and Jo at the end of the road  Why are Ants and Jo undertaking this crazy trip?The girls are completing the 12,000 mile journey from Bangkok to Brighton in an attempt to raise £50,000 for the mental health charity Mind. Here at gapyear.com, we fully support their efforts and wish them the best of luck in their challenge. We'd also ask that anyone who has a spare few pennies sponsors Ants and Jo, as it really is a fantastic cause. Click here >> for the full story More about Mind  Mental health problems can affect anyone, rich or poor, young or old, shattering the lives of those affected and the lives of the people close to them. One in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in our lives. Each year more than 250,000 people are admitted to psychiatric hospitals and over 4,000 people take their own lives. Mind is the leading mental health charity in England and Wales working to create a better life for everyone with experience of mental distress. Click here >> for an interview with Ants and Jo Click here >> to sponsor them now - every penny counts... Click here >> for Ants and Jo's website Click here >> to find out more about Mind Click here >> for more fundraising information |
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