tashkorgan

on monday, the border reopened after the weekend and we got up early to catch a bus to china. first, we were driven from the hostel to sost (which would've originally been the third day of cycling), where we got some food for the way and went through customs. then, we found a bus and were soon on the way to the highest border crossing in the world.

before you can go there, though, pakistan doesn't miss the chance to give you a last slap in the face. because the road to china goes through a national park, tourists are obliged to pay a fat 40$ fee, without even having the chance to actually see the park. the price doubled out of the blue last year and it all goes straight into the pockets of some corrupt official. everyone leaving pakistan this way leaves absolutely pissed.

the next big attraction was the world's highest atm, but i didn't get the chance to use it. finally, we crossed the border monument and entered chinese customs. there's a general preconception that the chinese officials are very unfriendly and overly strict, but they were actually all super nice. i had heard that they will go through all your pictures and not let you in if they found anything they didn't like, or even install spyware on your phone, but they didn't even check. got a nice red passport stamp and set foot into the land of the not so free.

after more than a month in pakistan, arriving in tashkorgan was like entering a different world. everything squeaky clean, everyone non-intrusive and respectful, and the whole city is quiet and has noticeably fresh air because all the cars are electric. also, the huge crowds of people you'd expect in china were nowhere to be found. it was almost eerily empty and as you can see on the first picture, it looks more like a small swedish town than anything else. and of course the best thing: chinese food. i could finally eat good food without knowing that i'll pay for it with two hours on the toilet. and there was a huge meadow next to the city (we had to jump a fence, but better than nothing), where you can just chill with all sorts of animals, including yaks, for hours. but as always, it's impossible to put all of this into the 10 pictures i'm limited to on here.

there were a couple of difficulties of course, mainly the heavily restricted internet access and cash-free society, but we got around to it.

in short, i loved it so much more than i expected and can't wait to go back. but after just two nights in the hostel there, we were already on the way to the next country again.Read more