How to sneak a fire engine into China.
From September 2010. The FTFE expedition sneak a fire engine into China. After 6 months of paperwork and two fixers, did it really come down to hiding the word fire from the front of the truck ?
Day 77: The Sun always shines on Sun Ji
Location : Yuanjiang to Mengla
Ever had a bad day, week or even month at work? Who hasn’t right? Quite possibly you’re in the midst of one now and reading this in an attempt to escape for a few minutes. Wow, I feel for you, things must have got really bad. However let’s put this into context.
Imagine your month was a follows:
You are a good person, hard working and go the extra mile (I’ve probably lost half of you already). You are hired by four 30-somethings from China to hand hold them around the UK for the best part of 4 weeks.
Day 76 : Challenger 4
Location : Lake Fu Xian to Yuangyang
Low Point : On the day that China launched a lunar probe into space (Chang’e 2), the stage 3 crew had bigger fish to fry : to fully circumnavigate the island in the middle of Lake Xian in a rubber dingy (Challenger 4). This would test our team ethic, physical endurance and mental strength. With confidence high the first hurdle was just to hire the boat. As per normal in China, it takes at least 9 people far too long to perform a task that would warrant just 1 person in normal money. The usual, “no no no no maybe maybe no no no maybe yes” fun and games kicked off until we finally got the sign off for launch. Dominate !!! Let’s take this island doooown
Day 75: The Incident, Kunming to Lake Fu Xian.
High Point: Being alive is a fantastic feeling.
Low Point: Starring death in the face isn’t a great feeling.
Setting the scene: After a bit of a torrid time navigating out of the hotel car park in Kunming, four very excited lads were looking forward to heading to one of China’s major lakes for some swimming, boating and any other water based sports we could find. Unfortunately our desire to see water came a bit prematurely as the heavens opened a down pour of what could only be described as torrential rain followed. Driving Martha in good conditions is an absolute pleasure, driving her on smashed up roads in Russia is scary, driving her in any form of bad weather is dicey to say the least. Martha does not drive like my fiat punto, with Martha weighing in at just under 7.5 tonnes she has a tendency to get a bit excited on the descents, the trick to managing this has been through a mixture of engine and foot braking.
Day 74 : “Ross, they won’t give me a towel”
After 73 days on the road, Ross and I were in need of a bit of a steam, rub down and a couple of hours relaxing. Our guide Sun Ji found a place near where we were staying. Quite a grand looking building, professional looking staff and cheap as chips. Ideal we thought.
Day 73: We can see the sky!: Zhao Ton to Kunming
After an impromptu and intense game of arcade basketball (Jim – you were lucky!), the day ended sitting in a backpackers bar in Kunming, which is the main hub to South China and the Himalaya. This was entirely accidental as we were following our guide Sun Ji who randomly picked it, what are the chances! Perhaps he was sick and tired of the attention we were getting everywhere we went and was keen to see if this was reciprocated in his favour. Either way despite these “westerners” not being the slightest bit interested in our arrival (philistines!) or indeed Sun Ji (definitely philistines!) we found a table in the corner and listened to Jim Stevens give a debrief of his 2.5 weeks on the expedition. He leaves tomorrow, and will be missed. Read more →
Day 72: Somewhere to nowhere: Yibin to Zhao Ton
High point: Ross reversing the wrong way round a roundabout
Low point: Ross reversing the wrong way round a roundabout
China has been absorbing, intriguing, tiring and a hell of a lot of fun. Architecturally stimulating however, it hasn’t been. The Chinese advance to economic powerhouse and the legacy of the cultural revolution have left the majority of its towns and cities bereft of the historic buildings, statutes and monuments that you’d expect in a country such as er……China. The country therefore faces a mad scramble to save what it can from its past as it awakes not only to the opportunities of the future but an appreciation of its own long and distinguished past. Unfortunately many towns in China have realised the value of history too late.
Day 71: Much sweaty, but so happy
From our guide SunGi. A man who goes running in his pants and flip flops.
Today, we visited the biggest sitting Buddha in the world, which is about 71m high and was engraved more than 1000 years ago. This Buddha locates in Leshan city, where three big rivers(Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi) merged together and then flow towards the Yangtze. in ancient times, this area was often suffered flood, a monk sponsored to build this giant Buddha so as to bless local resident avoid any disaster. Today, when facing this world heritage—Leshan giant Buddha, a kind of complex feeling suddenly fulling our mind, several years ago, Taliban destroied two highest standing Buddha sculpture in Afghanistan, the whole world was so shocked by this news. Read more →
Day 70: A Panda feast. Chengdu to Leshan.
High Point: Today was really an incredible day and we got the real taste of modern China in a couple of ways. The Panda research centre and breeding base at Chengdu was totally brilliant and this was followed up by a wonderful lunch at Sun Ji’s parents house in Qing Shen.
Low Point: Our waist lines!
Day 69 : Chilling Chengdu
So we finally got a rest day. Our first one since Ullan Bator in Mongolia. I planned to sleep for England. No distractions, bosh out a cheeky 16 hours of sleep and maybe watch some tele. I have however lost my ability to sleep on demand. Very frustrating as it feels like I have been hit by a freight train at the moment. The sleep deprivation and road has upped the general feeling of shabbiness amongst the crew. Weary heads make it hard to appreciate the whole experience so today was key on recharging out batteries.
So far we have raised GBP £120,000
