Labrang Monastery....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Labrang Monastery....



































Labrang (Xiahe) has a resident goat that answers to the name 'Nigel'. He roams around the monastery complex and the main street in town. He is generally happy to have his photo taken, but be sure not to get too close as he may lash out with a headbutt.
If you are invading his personal space, the telltale sign is that he bears his teeth; which many tourists mistake for an obliging smile, do not be fooled....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

More pictures taken while riding and strolling around all over Labrang Monastery,the largest monastery in the traditional Tibetan region of Amdo in Gansu province.
I rather enjoy these moments as no reasons to be anywhere else at all, short durations of time with no real purpose just looking around the area with no plans to go further and nothing really to do....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

While hiking, cycling and cruising around the greater Labrang / Langmusi region, we definitely made some Monks happy, had a great time with very friendly people and all our bikes have been blessed...





















Time came around to get back to our home base in Shanghai as the extensive Summer Road Trip 2015 unfortunately was over, once again cruising around the Tibet (Amdo) region was awesome and brilliant, I'll be back ~ nuff said'...



2015 Summer Road Trip = Shanghai > Beijing > Ordos > Yinchuan > Lanzhou > Langmusi > Labrang > Xian > Nanjing > Shanghai

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Some days you wake up, settle in at your computer desk, drink some coffee, read some on the internet and type a bit... Some other day you get a phone call from a good riding mate to head out of town, riding gear and bikes (MTS-PP / GS12ADV) loaded and lets rock n' roll On Any Sunday style to the greater Simingshan area (Zhejiang) for a day of spirited fast mountain cruising... Lets just name todays post = On Any Day #1....

Simingshan National Forest Park, Yuyao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Simingshan National Forest Park, Yuyao, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

On Any Day #2.... quick weekend run over to Qiandaohu (Thousand Island Lake / Zhejiang) for some motorbiking and cycling

Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake), a man-made lake located in Chun'an County, Zhejiang Province, China, was formed after the completion of the Xin'an River hydroelectric station in 1959. 1,078 large islands dot the lake and a few thousand smaller ones are scattered across it. The lake covers an area of 573 km² and has a storage capacity of 17.8 km³. The islands in the lake cover about 86 km².
Qiandao Lake is used to produce the Nongfu Spring brand of mineral water. It is also home to forests (over 90%), and islands. Its most popular islands include Bird Island, Snake Island, Monkey Island, Lock Island (featuring supposedly the world's biggest lock), and the Island to Remind You of Your Childhood.
The lake has made Zhejiang a popular area for tourists. As a result, housing development has increased in the area since the late 1990s.
The dam creating the lake is located at 29°29′01″N 119°12′48″E and is 105m tall with a crest length of 466m. Xin'an Dam was the first dam constructed in China with a height greater than 100m and its power plant has an installed capacity of 845 megawatt.

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Visiting the annual BMW Motorrad Days on Saturday (19/09) held around the Qiandaohu area (Chun'An County) but we did not make it over to the China BMW GS-Trophy....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

The "Distinguished" Mooncake Day Ride ~ riding along the coastal Shanghai area over in Pudong / Nanhui with a quick breakfast at the Crowne Plaza Hotel next to Dishui Lake.



China’s Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on month 8 day 15 of China’s lunar calendar (Mid-Autumn Festival 2015 is on September 27).
The Mid-Autumn Festival is the second most important festival to Chinese people after the Spring Festival. Every year, when the festival comes, Chinese go home from every corner of the country and the world for family reunions.
Chinese people believe the full moon is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and family reunion. On Mid-Autumn night the harvest moon is supposed to be the brightest and fullest of the year, so the festival is also known as the "Day of Reunion" and the "Moon Festival".









































Happy Mid-Autum Festival.....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

On Any Day #3

October 2015 Run to the Simingshan area near Ningbo, always great to leave the big city called Shanghai in the rear view mirrors and head over to the Zhejiang province mountains once again.....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

More Simingshan October 2015 Run pictures....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

Road food besides the usual snacks like Beef / Kangaroo Jerky and muesli bars.



Chinese Farmers Style Meal for lunch....

















Carried some chilled Australian Wagyu beef and Grain-Fed Angus beef along and perfectly cooked on a Teppanyaki flat-top grill table ~ dinner food porn at its best....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

More Simingshan October 2015 Run pictures....

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

More Simingshan October 2015 Run pictures....





































Seeya soon in the Zhejiang mountains for another ride......

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR

URBAN ENDURO in Qingpu ~ including a Starbucks pit-stop next to the Zhujiajiao town bridge. Qingpu district is the westernmost district of Shanghai municipality; it is adjacent to Jiangsu and Zhejiang Provinces with the waterside town called Zhujiajiao (Zhūjiājiǎo; literally: "Zhu Family Corner"), an ancient town located in the Qingpu district of Shanghai.
The population of Zhujiajiao is around 60,000. Zhujiajiao is a water town on the outskirts of Shanghai in the Qingpu district, and was established about 1,700 years ago. Archaeological findings dating back 5,000 years have also been found. 36 stone bridges and numerous rivers line Zhujiajiao, and many ancient buildings still line the riverbanks today.
Zhujiajiao (chinese website): http://zhujj.shqp.gov.cn

__________________
Somewhere down the road in China since '89 ~ along the route I've learned the hard way that pleasing everyone is impossible, but pissing everybody off is a piece of cake....TBR