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Joy of self-driving
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Peng Zhaoxia
IN recent years, Shenzheners have cottoned to hopping in their cars and heading out of town for the weekend. Unfortunately, there are only so many places you can visit in a day or two, leading some locals to crave more distant, not to mention adventurous, destinations. Responding to this deman, a local travel agency has introduced driving excursions to unusual places like Tibet.
"Since late last year, we have sent nearly 300 locals on such trips," said Jiang Yu, manager of a section responsible for organizing driving trips in the China Comfort (SZ) Travel Service.
According to Jiang, these trips offer many route options, varied sights and more flexible timetables than regular package tours. "In order to keep in touch, each vehicle in the group is equipped with a walkie-talkie. Each group has a mechanic," Jiang said.
Mr Huang, who took the Odyssey to Tibet last August, told Shenzhen Daily: "I've been to many places in Guangdong Province by car, but I wanted to go farther. Since the travel service is more familiar with various routes, and more importantly, they can arrange our board and lodging on the way, we felt quite safe with them," he said.
"As a man who loves nature, I don't want to just work all the time," Huang said. "If you don't go to Tibet, you will never know how beautiful the high western land of our country is, and I'm glad I did it. Beautiful things are always difficult to reach."
Huang has reasons to be proud of himself. He is one of the five team members who rode horses to Mount Tangula at an altitude of 5,000 metres. "We stayed at the foot of Mount Tangula. I had difficulty breathing ... it is an unforgettable memory."
Of course, long-distance driving can be difficult. But doing it can create a sense of accomplishment, according to Huang.
To drive to Tibet, you'll need three things: time, money and driving skills. At least two years' driving experience should be considered a minimum.
The next odyssey to Tibet will depart in June. According to organizers, the trip attracts people from all walks of life, including people from Japan and the United States.
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