Xining Photo's

Xining at dusk viewed from the West Mt's. The lights are beginning to transform the landscape whilst the moon is to light our way.

A pagoda outlined as the sun sets behind the West Mountains.

The largest square in Xining. Transformed from a block of traditional courtyard houses and shops into a peaceful recluse in just 18 months.

The old men practice caligraphy in the square, along with flying kites and playing majiang.

In the central square the main attraction was live Chinese music and dancing.

Qinghai Red Cross Hospital hosted me for 4 weeks of my elective. I spent my time in the Emmergency, Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments.

Dr Ma and I preparing for an operation.

Ma Cui Ying (my translator) and I in the doctor's office.

A snack from the markets during one of many lunchtime shopping episodes.

The local supermarket signage - care of Nestle I think.

At the People's Park Market you can buy fish, lures, birds, soevenirs and lots of paintings. Each artist has their own little upstairs shop.

One of many large appartment stores. Here I traded in my blue jacket for a new one!

The University's Christmas Party. We were served turkey and a whole sheep. Don't they look pretty?

Qinghai lake is the largest salt water lake in China and in the middle of winter very cold.

Photo's from Tongren

This is taken from my seat at the front of the bus on my way south from Xining to Tongren. It turned out to be a five hour trip (200km). However it will only take about 2 hours when the new motorway is fully completed.

This a small village south of Tongren where the temple is said to have been there for over 1000 years. Jian Hua Foundation is conducting some projects here including health education and a greenhouse for growing plants in the winter.

In this same village we were invited to a house warming. We were fed fried bread, hot tea, fatty mutton chops and pumpkin seeds. Amazing hospitality Tibetan style.

A couple of days after I arrived it began to snow. This is me in a traditional Tibetan courtyard - which is hard for you see. Houses are built around the periphery of a high mud walled courtyard with a large wooden door.

One of the families I visited were from NZ! We went for a walk/climb down to a secluded stream surrounded by snow and ice - beautiful.

A nurse and a Doctor who I was working with at Tongren Prefecture hospital.

The hospital staff celebrated the arrival of a new ambulance. Fire crackers were lit and sweets handed around in true Chinese celebratory style.

Early morning in Tongren - looking south from the hill above the hospital over the old town.

A classic tractor and trailer sort of vehicle (put-put) cruising past the Bhuddist temple in Tongren.

The local butcher is normally a Muslim as Buddhists donnot believe it is good to kill animals. Carcusses of sheep, goats, cows and yaks lay frozen on the footpath.

The Yellow River pictured on our trip back to Xining. It is wide and deep here as a result of a dam downstream.

At the top of the mountain pass there was a Tibetan alter and display of prayer flags. High places are sacred in the Tibetan culture. One of the bus passengers got out here to scatter little colourful squares to the wind.