London to Mumbai by Road 2016 – Revisited
Day 45 – 11 October 2016
Halfway to Mumbai – A Day with the Pandas
Today marks a significant milestone on our epic adventure.
Day 45 of 90.
We are officially halfway through our journey from London to Mumbai.
Looking back over the past six weeks, we have travelled across Europe, crossed Russia, driven through the vast steppes of Kazakhstan, and explored the incredible landscapes and history of China. There have been challenges, breakdown scares, language barriers, border crossings, and countless memorable moments.
Most importantly, all three members of Team Kontiki are fit, healthy, and in excellent spirits.
Our faithful old 22-year-old Kontiki motorhome continues to perform admirably, providing not only transportation but also our kitchen, dining room, bedroom, and home away from home. We know the road ahead will not necessarily be easy, but we remain confident, optimistic, and determined.
At this halfway point, we would also like to thank everyone who has followed our journey, sent messages of support, and kept us in their thoughts and prayers. Your encouragement means a great deal to us and helps keep Team Kontiki motivated every day.
With the sentimental moment over, it was time to enjoy another day in Chengdu.
Today’s main attraction was the world-famous Giant Panda Research Centre, one of the city’s most popular sights.
Abby’s husband kindly offered to take us there and arrived at around 10:00 am to collect us. Before long, we found ourselves surrounded by one of China’s most beloved national treasures.
The giant panda is native to China and is one of the rarest bears in the world. Seeing them in photographs is one thing; seeing them in person is something else entirely.
For the next three hours, we wandered around the beautifully maintained centre, watching pandas of all ages eating bamboo, climbing trees, playing with one another, and occasionally doing absolutely nothing at all—which seemed to be one of their favourite activities!
The younger pandas were particularly entertaining, tumbling around and amusing visitors with their playful antics.
It was easy to understand why millions of people visit Chengdu every year to see them.
After our panda adventure, we decided to experience another side of the city.
Using Chengdu’s excellent metro system, we travelled to visit a reconstructed area designed to resemble the city’s historic old quarter. Traditional-style buildings, charming streets, and lively public spaces provided a glimpse into what Chengdu might have looked like in centuries gone by.
Along the way, we stopped at a beautiful modern shopping mall and enjoyed a light snack at Subway.
The contrast between ancient-style streets and ultra-modern shopping centres perfectly reflected today’s China—a country where history and modernity seem to coexist side by side.
As evening approached, we received another generous invitation.
Our tour operator, Mr Bing Liang, treated Team Kontiki, Team USA, and Abby to dinner at an Indian restaurant.
Naturally, we were curious to discover what Indian food would taste like in China.
The result was fascinating.
The cuisine was not exactly Indian and not entirely Chinese either. Instead, it was a delicious fusion of the two—a unique Indo-Chinese style of cooking that combined familiar Indian flavours with Chinese influences.
It was different from anything we had tasted before, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
By now, Chengdu had shown us many sides of itself: giant pandas, ancient streets, modern shopping centres, and international cuisine.
There was just one final experience left before the day ended.
Rather than take a taxi back to the hostel, we decided to treat ourselves to a ride in a traditional rickshaw.
It was a fun and memorable way to end our stay in Chengdu. As we travelled through the illuminated evening streets, we reflected on the incredible journey so far.
Halfway to Mumbai.
Thousands of miles behind us.
Thousands more ahead.
And somehow, every day seemed to bring another unforgettable memory.
Location: Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China
Weather: Pleasant and comfortable for sightseeing
Highlights: Visiting the Giant Panda Research Centre and exploring Chengdu’s historic district
Most memorable moment: Watching the giant pandas at play and realising we had reached the halfway point of our journey
Dinner: Indo-Chinese cuisine courtesy of tour operator Mr Bing Liang
Special milestone: Day 45 of 90 – halfway from London to Mumbai
Evening transport: Traditional rickshaw ride back to the hostel
Mood of the day: Grateful, optimistic, and proud of how far Team Kontiki had come
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki leaves Chengdu behind and continues the second half of our incredible London-to-Mumbai road trip, carrying with us wonderful memories of pandas, new friendships, and the adventures that still lie ahead.
