Hin's 2nd C.O.U.N.T. 1,000,000 steps (Sep 3rd – 26th, 2010)

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4 Ding Ding Dingbian BOT

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com>   Sun, Sep 12, 2010 at 11:21 PM

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BOT? - No, not Build, Operate and Transfer.

I have just learned that Dingbian is awash with oil - it's a Booming Oil Town, and every time the drill pulls out a barrel, you can almost hear the Ding, Ding of money. It's full of cars, from the BMW, Merc, Honda, Toyota, Hyundai etc. and the town is jammed.

The oil belongs to the state, the land to the peasants and there were stories of villagers overpowering the state employees and "stealing" the oil because they were not compensated well enough. There are also instances of villagers digging and erecting their own oil drill and selling the oil themselves for millions. When the state realises it, it has to pay another million or so to claim the remaining oil. That's how some peasants become millionaires.

Before I forget, let me exonerate and apologise to Najib, and also congratulate our Tourism Minister. Every other Chinese that I have met from the village chief, the towns folks and even the shepherds didn't blink an eye (not that you can detect it in those small slit Chinese eyes) when I mentioned Malaysia......only blank faces and uttering: Malaysia is in Singapore? Very near but no cigar! Big CORRECTION: Singapore was part of Malaysia.

Well, Dr. Ng YY (read why, why?), you can count the village chief Mr. Shen, his wife and daughter, (as I left them some Ringgit notes when they refused to take any money for putting me up for dinner and bed) as the potential millions of Chinese tourists to Malaysia. And while you are at it, count the thousand villagers too.

And in case, you are wondering about the 1Malaysia walking stick - it's our very own Tongkat Ali - enough for 1stick to withstand 1,000.

While on the end of the Yanchi track, I met a significant local - a small snake - we said "hello" and of course it has the right of way. Some twenty paces on - incredibly, I found myself in a large patch of white, yellow and purple daffodils? - almost like heaven on earth. Strange things play on your mind when you are alone or maybe someone sent an angel.
 

11/09/10.  07:00 – 18:10. Dongjingkeng – Caoquan. (28.8km).

Sep11: At about 10:00 and after 8km reached Dingbian. Had a break with CH and he took me 3.5km across town to re-join the wall’s continuation.

Had a bad encounter with the dreaded Loess Plateau mosquitoes last evening along the Dingbian track. As soon one stops whole swamp would cover the whole body. So on this morning’s resumption, I had my 1Malaysia insect repellent on, but instead of being repelled, the mossies relished it and had me as jam and toast for breakfast. I guess our 1Malaysia Chap Yamok does not work for the Chinese mossies. I had to put on my head net and gloves to continue the hike. It was a tough track especially trying to find the meandering wall in the city and surrounds - mostly "eaten" by new buildings, new rail tracks, new villages, and new fields. Difficult but still managed 53,006 steps (28.8km).

Actually, I met a very happy shepherd with smiling gold teeth - I was soon to learn that he has 200 goats and sheep, and each could fetch 500RMB in today's market price. No wonder he is going around with a golden smile, tendering to a 100,000RMB flock.
 

12/09/10. 06:00 – 17:15. Caoquan – Nanyuanzi. (31.6km).

Sep12: A fantastic day today, start early, bright sky, cool breeze throughout. Came across a lady watering her tomato patch and without hesitation offered me her best picked fruit. Accepted in kind - too early for tomato breakfast.

Saw many oil drills (single, clusters of 5, groups of a dozen) - just like red giraffes straining their necks as they gulp a mouthful from the pool. In the afternoon, met an old man pulling out and piling his grass onto his donkey cart. He was patched and asked for some water when he saw my 2 bottles - I handed over a bottle, he took 2 gulps and you could see the immense show of gratitude.

Further down the walk, I then chance upon a farmer in a red singlet, cutting his "noodle grass" plant (sounds like "chuan mei" - small plant, red stem, red/white flowers and red pods), putting them into neat piles in the field. I was told it is made into noodles and that it has some medicinal value too. As I was about to go, I heard a voice and an outstretched hand with 2 green apples. It turned out that the wife has been sitting quietly by the cart listening to our conversation, and offering up their last 2 apples - accepted in kind but they needed them more. What a magical day - random acts of kindness. And you wouldn’t believe, I did 53,004 steps, just 2 steps short of the day before.

I'm sending you this report from a 100RMB room in a small "ping guan" with free unlimited internet access, and what is even more surprising is the availability of IP phone - 1RMB for 4.5minutes call to KL! Let's see TM, Maxis, or Digi match this.

The next few days shall be difficult days as I hike the real rural, be lucky to even find peasant to share shelter with, let alone internet access. In fact there is a river to cross tomorrow - let you know in the next change.

Expect the next report when I reach Yulin in about 10 days’ time.

Wish you all the best and take care.

Regards,
Hin

PS. Found Chen (Chan, Tan), Kow (Khaw?) today - no worry, conveyed the usual respects and regrets to your past relatives.

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