Blogs from Kashgar, Xinjiang, China, Asia

After most of Saturday being devoted to packing (minus one phone) ATM, Checking out, arriving at the Airport nice and early, long lunch, 1 ½ hour flight, arrived in Kashgar 4pm Beijing time. Here's confusion, some like to use the international/local time and others Beijing time the difference being 2 hours. The 2pm flight, 12pm, was $180.00 the next flight, 4pm, 2pm was $300.00 check with the locals or on line as a cheap flight was about $118.00 . The same trip by bus, 20 hrs and although there are fairly regular stops some would need a catheter, or 25hrs by train and listening to a random Aussie a fairly painful trip. However in the interests of a bit of gruelling travel my bus and train time is nigh as is severely down grading the accommodation ... read more

Alright! I will preface by saying I have officially safely arrived in China! Very exciting! Now the story: I arrived in Sary Tash two nights ago at approximately 11pm local time. My driver was able to find me a guesthouse with little problem for 200KGS for the night (another very good deal!) So far my 4200KGS 36 hour bus ride has cost 3800KGS and taken less than 5 hours. The guesthouse was VERY comfortable and the lady running the show was very friendly. It was not so much a guesthouse as just somebody's house with a spare bedroom. After a quick inspection of the room I saw a box that looked very familiar: a shoe box wrapped in Christmas paper in such a way that one could easily open the box without tearing the wrapping paper. ... read more

SILK ROAD TRIP 2010 URUMQI, KASHGAR AND WESTERN BORDER AREA URUMQI Arrived at Urumqi in middle of night in terminal that was like enclosed bus shelter without seats, so sleeping there not option. only paid about 20% more than expected in hotel with clean sterile white walls ,so next morning with help of the same taxi driver, moved to a youth hostel style hotel with writing all over walls. There were no other westerners here, very westernised young Chinese traveller-backpackers from all over China. This is the first time I had seen so many Chinese travellers outside the tour group setup. It was very encouraging to see. URUMQI This is the most inland city in the world, (It’s a long way to the beach) URUMQI, the capital of Xinjiang, is a typical ethnic Han Chines city, ... read more

When I arrived in Kashgar first, before I went up the Old Silk Road, I had a good look aorund the fabulous Youth Hostel. I saw on the notice board a request from a Uyghur young woman saying something like, “I would like to take you on a free tour of my home town of Kashgar. I will improve my English while I tell you about Uyghur culture and customs.” I had noted her number and called her that evening. When there was no answer I sent her a text message. As luck would have it, when I had 2 ½ more days in Kashgar Sofia rang and arranged to meet me! Sofia is Uyghur, 30 years of age and does not look Chinese. Her features reflect the deep central Asian roots of the Uyghur people. ... read more

After a last shower for four days, we set off towards our first stop through the Taklamaken desert. Bush camping for me, is what the overlanding experience is all about, it's a very communal, basic and sociable way to travel. Once we find a good spot to set up camp, everyone attends to their previously assigned tasks to unpack everything you need to cook, wash up and camp comfortably. You're also assigned a partner for cookgroup duty, which rotates daily, when you need to buy food, and cook lunch, dinner and breakfast for everybody. After things are vaguely set up, most people drag a tent off to a spot they like and set up for the night, we'd sit in t-shirts until food is ready, then eat and pile on sweaters after another beautiful sunset, playing ... read more