Contents - Greenmount Press

TOP: Visiting the pandas at Chengdu in south west China.
BOTTOM: The cascading rice paddies at Sa Pa, Vietnam.
(Photos: Annette Coward)
But after a ticketing process which defies imagination, we
boarded the Lhasa Express for one of the most exhilarating
journeys available on this earth. By then though, we had already
had some great adventures.
Our intrepid group of 25 travellers had assembled from
around Australia in July to take in the sights (and agriculture)
from Cambodia, through Vietnam and into China. Not just the
tourist route in China though. After walking across the border
in southern China, we travelled through the remote southwest,
then to Tibet and the huge agricultural hub of Xinjiang in the
north west of the country.
As far as western visitors goes, we had most of these areas
to ourselves – because of their remoteness, and it was also
low season for European travelers. Unfortunately, it was school
holidays in China, and the Chinese are now very good tourists
indeed.
The farming ranged from families making a living from a
couple of hundred square metres of vegetables in Vietnam, to
some high yielding cotton farms around Turpan, to an excellent
integrated feedlot and associated restaurant in Beijing itself.
There is a stark contrast between the remote farming areas
of China and the up-market modern cities such as Beijing, Xian
and Shanghai. But even in the remote areas there are six lane
highways being built and a high speed rail network, although
sometimes it is hard to see the demand for such infrastructure.
And masses of cranes are a feature of the skyline of even the
small towns (population one million or so). Worrying though,
for Australia’s exports, many of the cranes did not seem to be
moving.
Overall, it was an intriguing “Odyssey” with a sensational
group of people. The farming was interesting, the sights superb
and the food was great. Although there are a few people who
may consider they have passed their lifetime quota of rice
consumption.
A morning’s hard work on tour (top) is often rewarded by some
pretty special lunch spots such as Assos in Turkey (bottom).
Mediterranean Europe
Mediterranean Europe was the destination for an intrepid
group in August-September. Istanbul and Gallipoli were highlights
of western Turkey while the tenacity of Greek cotton and grain
farmers, in very uncertain times, also tugged at the heart-strings.
Italy showed off it’s scenic and cultural side beautifully while the
vitality and hospitality of some very switched on farmers left a
lasting impression on us all.
The clinical efficiency of Austrian and German farming
operations drove home the point that Europe is a very complex
melting pot of cultures, economies and farming businesses. Our
group members were very pleased to be looking in – rather than
out – at the unfolding political and economic dramas faced by
Europe.
Plans for 2013
Plans are already well underway for some great tours in 2013.
We will start with an African Safari in February, then to the UK
and Ireland in July, South America in August and Turkey, Ukraine
and Poland in late August–early September. Keep an eye on the
website www.greenmounttravel.com.au for all the details.
34 — The Australian Cottongrower October–November 2012