Korgaz -- Tue, Aug 23, 2005
Today is my brother's birthday and I was biking for him. I miss him as well as all of my family and friends. It's been a wonderful, but long month and a half, but we have finally made it 5000km across China.
It was a very fitting day -- a mix of bitter cold and awe inspiring views and a little sweet honey to top things off. I set off early in the morning and the winds were still blistering through the mountains of Salima Hu. It was the coldest weather I have ever biked in and I was in absolute pain for the first hour. But around me as I glided down the mountain were incredible moss covered peaks, unspoilt beauty that is hard to find in the world today.
To take a card out of the Passover book -- the cold and beauty were symbols. The cold symbolized the difficulties that others face (the salt water and parsley per say). The things that you and I often take forgranted, being able to communicate, to understand, to live the lifes we live. And the incredible landscape represented the purity of helping others -- of choosing your values, your morals and living by them. Ok yes I'm getting too deep, but go with me here for one more line. And together they represented "sweet pain" -- you have to give to get, etc., etc.
And well the sweet honey fresh from the combs at the bottom of the mountain -- well it was just damn good, I'll let you hypothize about that one. It was another 50km to Korgaz across a snow-capped mountain landscape. Not a bad place to spend a few days.
I celebrated that night in YiNing with great bottle of crappy Chinese red wine (yes it exists, but it shouldn't...) and some Chinese-Canadian friends I met at their restaurant. We headed to the discotheque for some dancing and celebration until 4am. The mix of Uyghar, Kazak, and 15 other ethnicities was a fun sight -- along with the Madonna esque "show" at 2am...
Thank you for your support. I miss you, love you and hope to see you soon!
|
|
|
