Itineray for Grasslands and Desert Trip

I am currently somewhere within that yellow area in the map above.

I thought some of the translations in the itinerary for my trip tomorrow were quite funny, so I thought I would share.

Xilamuren Grassland, desert two-days trip

8:30am Climb lofty and solem Daginshan Mountain. Dfuring the travel you can enjoy the Yinshan Mountain, the pine Greeting Guesta and homeotwn of the emperor.

10:00am After arriving the beautiful grasslands, you will get warm welcome reception from Mongolian people (for short down-horse liquor).

10:10am Feel the Mongolian food culture.

Lunch/12:00pm Lunch Four could dishes, four main couse, tate handed-meat. The Mongolian girl will offer the Hada and liquior to show their warm courtesy.

14:00pm Ride horse (not include)

A: visiting Mongolian family, acquaint the living style of Mongolian family, comprehend heaven-human combination philosophy.

B: visiting swamp, comprehend the harmoney of man and nature. You can take pictures ina beautiful scernery with flocks;

C: Visiting the Aobao hill of the holy altar of Mongolian people, listening to the Mongolian love story and the hero sisters stirring deed, take pictures with flocks. Then a time for free activities.

18:00pm Enjoying grasslands Nadamu competition, such as racing, wresling, then go back to yurt. Then a time for free activities.

19:00pm Havind supper following the solemn ceremony of Mongolia people--- offer Hada, liguor. After supper, enjoy the national sing and dance program. Join the evening party. Living in the traditional Mongolian yurt.

The next day:

7:00am: (Mongolian style breakfast)

8:30am: Set out to Kubuqi desert, on the way you can go sight-seeing the Tumote plain.

Lunch: You canm enjoy the Erdos wedding cermeony (at one's own expense) on the desert.

Afternoon: Go sight seeing the Kubuqi desert, creep th desert, play volleyball on teh desert, riding camels (at one's own expense)

18:00pm Go back to Huhhot, finish the wonderful two day trip.

Anyways sounds like it will be interesting to say the least. I will take lots of photos. I will probably be out of contact through the 12th so don't worry if you don't hear from me.

Love, A

Hohhot is Hot! And you guys Rock!

And by hot, I don't mean sexy. I mean downright dreadful. It is currently (at 7:00 at night) 90* F outside, but as luck would have it is completely cloudly and humidity is at 68%, let alone the nice layer of smog. I want to go out and take some pictures but I think I am going to take some night shots and grab some ice cream.

That said, I am going to dedicate this post to say a huge THANKS! First to all of you who have stopped by and taken a look. I appreciate you allowing me to share my experiences with you. But especially to family friend Anne McTavish, my Aunt Lisa, my Aunt Bev and my Mom. Who have all posted comments! And not just a word or two, but paragraphs. It put a big smile on my face! Thank you all.

In response to your comment, yes Lisa, I do think that sending one's words out into the blogosphere does leave something to be desired on the instant feedback spectrum. And as luck would have it I did post in the comments section of myfamily.com yesterday the blog link. Though if anyone is reading this here, they don't really need the link. Now do they? But I do commend you Lisa on putting that site together, and know that I empathize greatly.

Anne, it was so nice to here from you. I feel like I haven't seen you in forever, and since I didn't make it up skiing this year, it probably has been forever. I hope this post finds you and your family well. I can't remember did Tara just graduate or is it next year. If she did, wish her congratulations for me. Thanks for stoping by and taking a look.

Mom, congratulations yourself on getting accepted to your program. It was great getting to talk with you for the five minutes that I did the other day. To answer your question the exchange rate from the US Dollar to the Chinese Yuan is 1 to 6.86. That means for ever 100 USD I exchange I get roughly 700 Yuan. The other way to think of it is for every 1 Yuan I spend, it only costs me $0.15 or fifteen cents.

Thanks for the two posts and an email, Aunt Bev! I hope that the hurricane comes nowhere close to you. My thoughts will be with you over the next several days even though it sounds like you won't be having any trouble. To answer your question China stays on one time zone (go figure with its size) and it is 15 hours ahead of the West Coast and 12 hours ahead for the East Coast. For you Aunt Bev, look at the clock if it is 10:02 am on Thursday than where I am it is 10:02 pm the next day (Friday). For everyone else on the west coast I recommend first calculating the difference to east coast time (aka add 3 hours) then add the half day ahead.

Finally, a big thanks to my dad! Whom I have woken up at ungodly hours twice in the last week to help me. Just an FYI, I have booked my hotel in Xi'an and my plane ticket there so I am set for the next several days.

I have a couple posts typed up on my blackberry that I attempted unsuccessfully to post to the blog. My blackberry does not have internet service out here in Inner Mongolia, so you should see several posts on what would be the 12th in the US when I arrive in Xi'an (home of the terracotta warriors). Hope all is well!

-A