Aerial photographs

When I left for China, I was half-way through a roll of film. I was lucky enough to get a window seat (I guess I have Gill to thank for making us check in so early!), and about eight hours into the flight I woke up from a short doze and looked out of the window. The last time I'd looked out it had been dark, but now morning had broken and I feasted my eyes upon the most incredible landscape I'd ever seen - and which I now believe to have been Mongolia, or possibly the tail end of Sibera, quickly becoming Mongolia.

We were at about 30,000 feet (I believe - someone correct me if I'm wrong), and it was perfectly clear: I could just see miles and miles and miles of this incredible, desolate, frozen landscape. It was an absolutely breathtaking experience, and I stared open mouthed for a full fifteen minutes before I remembered my camera. I then proceeded to finish the film... :-)

I've also included five shots I took before the trek, 'cos I think they're groovy: my friend Malc, and some graffiti near where I live.

The frightened rabbit look		[large]
a1/12_malc.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	20357 bytes (19.88 kb)

Here we see the classic "frightened rabbit" look, ably demonstrated by its most famous proponent, Mr Malcolm Walker.

Graffiti 1		[large]
a1/14_graffiti1.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	33127 bytes (32.35 kb)

Some graffiti on a wall near where I live. This is my favourite of the four graffiti shots on this film.

Graffiti 2		[large]
a1/15_graffiti2.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	38764 bytes (37.86 kb)

More graffiti - Hubble Space Telescope, anyway?

Graffiti 3		[large]
a1/16_graffiti3.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	22621 bytes (22.09 kb)

More graffiti. I wasn't sure which way round this should be - that looks like a telephone on the left, doesn it? But having tried rotating it, I'm pretty sure this is the right way round... None of the other orientations quite look "right".

Graffiti 4		[large]
a1/17_graffiti4.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	32577 bytes (31.81 kb)

Final graffiti image.

Frozen wasteland		[large]
a1/20_frozen_waste.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	12758 bytes (12.46 kb)

A frozen wasteland: either Siberia or Mongolia.

Humanity leaving its mark		[large]
a1/21_human_marks.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	11634 bytes (11.36 kb)

As I stared down at this incredible desolate landscape, I wondered if anyone lived out here, and if so, who, and what did they do? Occasionally I saw tiny shapes which might have been regular enough to be buildings or maybe even settlements, but it was hard to be sure. Then I saw this. I still have no idea what they do, but they're definitely doing something.

Brrrrrr...		[large]
a1/23_real_fuckin_cold.jpg	426 x 640
Photo by Andy Gimblett	13269 bytes (12.96 kb)

Not much else to say really, is there?

Empty wasteland		[large]
a1/24_forever.jpg	640 x 346
Photo by Andy Gimblett	10290 bytes (10.05 kb)

It just looks like it could go on forever, doesn't it?

Mongolian river		[large]
a1/25_river.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	20580 bytes (20.10 kb)

The ground's starting to get brown now, I think this is just before we started crossing the Gobi desert. Cool river, huh?

River and mountains in Mongolia		[large]
a1/26_river.jpg	426 x 640
Photo by Andy Gimblett	25828 bytes (25.22 kb)

I mean, come on, this is just nuts, isn't it?

Mongolian mountains		[large]
a1/31_mountains.jpg	800 x 533
Photo by Andy Gimblett	60635 bytes (59.21 kb)

This is my favourite of the aerial shots. I think we're approaching the border with China here, in fact I think these mountains effectively constitute the border. I must investigate this further...

Mongolian/Chinese mountains		[large]
a1/33_mountains.jpg	426 x 640
Photo by Andy Gimblett	30280 bytes (29.57 kb)

More mountains crossing from Mongolia to China.

The wall from thirty thousand feet		[large]
a1/34_aerial_wall.jpg	640 x 408
Photo by Andy Gimblett	13036 bytes (12.73 kb)

My first sight of the Great Wall. I was looking out for it, unsure if we'd see it or not but reasonably hopeful on the principle that we'd have to cross it at some point. This isn't a terribly good quality picture but I think the fact that that's clearly the Wall makes up for it.

Beijing County from above		[large]
a1/35_beijing_county.jpg	640 x 426
Photo by Andy Gimblett	20360 bytes (19.88 kb)

OK, I'm not completely positive that that is Beijing County, but it probably is, as we were very close to landing, and Beijing County's pretty big. Anyway, heres a bit of China from the air. :-)

Don't forget: you can click on the thumbnail images for bigger versions!

Aerial photographs

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