Charklik

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Hi All,

What a blue sky to wake up to? We really passed through the desert today. Blazing sunshine with a lovely breeze but nothing to see but sand.

This is our last oasis town here in XinJiang. I must say that we've had a great time travelling up the southern silk road. The Uyghur people have been extremely friendly.

Unfortunately Charklik has all but no Uyghurs left. A large population of Han and Hui Chinese. In fact the town feels as if it's being built around you. There are building works and new buildings everywhere.

We stayed in a lovely hotel. You come out of the bus station turn right and the hotel is in the next block of buildings in the left hand corner. Really friendly and helpful staff and a nice room for only 150rmb.

We went out for a walk in the evening but if you blink you walk straight through the town centre. We did find a mosque but it was locked and also appeared to have been abandoned.

We head off tomorrow into the Altun Mountains.

Enjoy the photos

Jah Bless

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