We have come across many a traveller busing, cycling and hiking their way through the 'Stans' and one thing that they all have in common is that when they mention Bishkek it is with dreamy eyes and with a whisper of having left their glory days behind them within this capital city. So what makes the Kygystan gem so charming I was asking myself as I arrive in a flagged down bus. after being stranded on the border. At the time, nothing, my transport had dropped me ...

We somehow avoid the dangers concerning our ousted hotel and ignore the yells of drivers for 'GANZI' while ordering onion bread and a boiled eggs. The onion bread is loaded with meat so there is no breakfast for the hitchers this morning. I'm so fricking grumpy about it and throw clumps of the bread in disgust. Trying to draw strength from Prue who has been suffering stomach problems, harsh cramps and the runs yet is ever determined to continue we march on. Prue ...

Still perplexed and slightly harassed by the mornings images we linger upon the internet until we must leave. Both slightly hoping to spend another night in luxury we haul our packs and racks up the hillside towards the nationally famous 318 highway. The route is a Chinese dream, and hundreds do it, on cycles. The gateway into Litang symbolises a huge acvhievement and there are whooping squeals of delight and photographs galore. I am aksed to be in a picture, oh ...

Around a hundred photos later we begin hitching from what seems to be a foreigner desert, the beauty of the town and its surroundings are mindblowing. The weather can be seen sweeping towards the town, choosing who to drench within the basin -us included- before continuing its onward journey to far off lands. While hitching we laugh at some boys who want kisses -and possibly more- for free travel, ignore mini van drivers and their ridiculously high prices and e...

The day begins on a roadside, no bus tickets are sold to foreigners wanting to reach Litang and therefore we jump back on our hitching high horse. This is all good and well providing that the direction you are intending to hitch is not the one to the city of Lhasa in forbidden Tibet. Not noticing the T junction off Xiangchengs one road town we attempt this feat for well over an hour, passing off the more than usual quizzical looks as Tibetans not understanding C...