Blogs from Xinjiang, China, Asia - page 4

Well, brilliant weather, people, digs, food. Unbelievably excellent. Did lengthy blog last night, it did not appear so will say nothing until I see what happens this time.... read more

Our plan is to fly to Urumqi, then to travel anti-clockwise around the Taklamakan desert, onwards via Dunhuang and so to Xi 'an, travelling by public transport. It seems to amount to 3,780 miles. From Xi 'an we go to Hong Kong via Schenzhen by bullet train, for R & R with our children and grandchildren. We do not speak Chinese, we live in the remote Hebridean island of Colonsay, 37 miles from the mainland, population 125 persons, 20 square miles. This adventure is to mark my 70th birthday, and is not the sort of thing that we have ever done before. The idea of public transport is to ensure that we actually do make contact with local people; we hope to see the obvious sights, and will also be keeping an eye out for natural ... read more

Ein typischer Tag, der mit Einreiseformalitäten verbracht wird. Das Frühstück war ganz chinesisch, aber immerhin gab s außer Reisbrei und Hefeteilchen auch noch andere Köstlichkeiten. aber einige von uns waren schon überrascht. Das Hotel, in dem wir wohnen ist ganz vornehm, voller Marmor und Gold, riesige Halle... Aber für die Tassen gab's beim Frühstück keine Untertassen, für den Saft keine Gläser usw. In meiner Dusche ist eine Anti-Rutsch Matte, die ich nicht mal anschauen will, geschweige denn benützen will. Sie ist schwarz von Schimmel. Ich weiß von vielen Hotels, dass sie in weit entfernten Gegenden europäische Manager einstellen. Das ist hier offensichtlich nicht der Fall und man merkt es. Aber natürlich ist das Hotel prima, wir kommen aus Kirgisien und Tajikistan - da hatten wir ganz andere Unterkünfte. Ja, und dann trafen wir uns um 11.00 ... read more

This time, I want to describe two of the most stunning places I have visited along the long forgotten silk road in Xinjiang. I start with Jiaohe ruins (also known it as Yar city by the Uyghur people). I got up pretty early, in the morning, to visit this archaeological site from Turpan which was the city where I stayed during that period. I decided to cycle until there under the scorching sun. Along the way, I had to face the common problems that someone may have in bustling Asian towns especially with careless driver that I had to dodge for a good long stretch of the way and the huge amount of dust that generated with the cars and trucks running along the street. I always feel enchanted when I pass through these streets full ... read more

Kala Kule lake is a far away place to reach nearby Tagikistan border. I was travelling along the legendary silk road until I got to Kashgar and stayed there a few days when I heard about this remote and beautiful lake a few hours away from "Kashi". I decided then to organize a trip to go there and to see it. There is only one bus from Kashgar getting there, per day, in the morning. Beside the hassle of waking up early and taking a local bus to arrive at the train station, (do not take a taxi) it is absolutely worthwhile a visit. Getting there by bus it is already a trip itself and my suggestion if it happens that someone wants to visit it, you better bring a dust mask because the amount of ... read more