Last two weeks was a really significant period for my entire journey. Not that I visited any fascinated sight nor met some interesting people. From the time I admitted into hospital I started wondering if I should just pack my luggage and go home to "call it a trip". I was quite beaten up from the sickness and many little things, from cracked skin on heel to not feeling enough nutrition. Or perhaps I just felt really upset about the evacuation from Laos which ended my South East Asia trip abruptly?

The time spent with my grand father was really good. Not only I heard all the intriguing stories that have happened in the family and relatives, but it gives some quiet time to think about what have happened to me in last few months and what I want to do next... Actually I just wanted to get more sleep! It is unbelievable that my 87 years old grand father able to drag me out from the bed at seven o'clock in the morning, and walk 20mins to a restaurant for dim sum! I am so glad that he is that healthy, even though he kept saying that he won't make it to my next visit -- I am so sure that he will break the family record (which is 95 the eldest) and lives well to at least 100 years old.

Walking with him on the street in a sunny winter morning, I started to feel energetic once again and wanted to do something different. He asked if where I am heading next. "Maybe Tibet?"

It is not a "maybe" anymore. I called up with Daniel, my amazing friend from Toronto and now reside in Hong Kong, who once mentioned that he would join me to Tibet if I decided to go:

"Hey Daniel I am going to Tibet in next few days and need to secure train ticket to Gansu NOW. Do you want to go with me?"

"Silly you. Just buy the tickets NOW! And get three altogether, Mae she is going with us!"

Before he hang up the phone and asked, "How many hours is the train ride to Tibet?"

There is not even one meter of rail in Tibet, we are just going to Golmud, where we can find buses or trucks to get into Tibet. And it is over 80 hours just to get to Golmud from Hong Kong. It is probably an wise idea to break down the transit into couple days...

I feel a little bit encouraged of having two travel companion. I told Daniel that mentally I am not that ready to enter the holy Tibet but feeling glad that the money is already spent for the train tickets, it is a commitment.

"I am sure we'll be mentally ready after the super long 42 hours train ride to Gansu."


Photos of Shanwei, my origin town:



Long live Communist Party! Long live Chairman Mao!


This innocent beach, in Shanwei, was once a popular boarding spot to smuggle to Hong Kong during and after Cultural Revolution. My father was among them, which changed his life and of course, my life.