Midnight at the Oasis

Asia » China
October 16th 2009

Published: October 24th 2009

Some say everyday is a gift. If so, these 11 days in Xinjiang were gifts wrapped in quality colorful Hallmark paper with the extra curly bows on top. Yes, the weather was good. The tourism was low and sights were free from megaphone toting tour guides and multitudes of photo popping tourists. We experienced history, culture, scenic beauty, and pure and simple fun. In fact, we racked up 14 di... Read Full Entry

Photos are below

Photos: 133, Displayed: 21

Comment Follow (2) Message

Schroeder family

Shanghai Sheri

In 2006, our family began what we thought was a 3 year adventure of living and traveling in China. But like Gilligan, our 3 year tour turned into something much longer and deeper than we expected. This was just the beginning of our cultural travels and blogs. 3 years turned into 6 years and included a time of residence in South Korea as well. The kids have all transitioned into and out of college leaving us as empty nesters, but not empty of ambitions to continue to explore the world. Come along with us as we seek to expand our understanding of this marvelous world in which we live! ... full info

Blog Options

Top Photos Blog Map

Print Version

[blog=445360]

[blogger=27282]

Fresh squeezed pomegranite juice

At 30rmb ($4.50)/550ml, we think this is a real health bargain. But could it be responsible for our digestive distress inconveniently encountered the next night at the Kyrg mountain yurt?

Kiterunner fame

This is the mosque where the recent movie "Kiterunner" was filmed.

Uygur cemetary

Muslims, the Uygur people only use burial for their dead. Graves are unmarked since they believe that all will go to the same world. When they come to pray for their loved one, "Allah knows" who that is.

The air was crisp and sunny. The soft Uygur talk between our guide and driver was soothing. I'm just happy to be along for the ride.

Muztaga Ata

At 7000+m, this is the tallest glacial mountain in China. And a stunning backdrop to the Kyrgyz family home we are stopping to visit.

Camel herd

Almost as common as cows and sheep. Still, made me speechless the first time I noticed these roadside grazers.

Source of life

Snowmelt off the Tian Shan mountain supplies precious water to the city below.

"Over the river"

Walking across this rickety bridge was scarier than this pix implies.

Nomadic family

Hurrying across the bridge is a mother and her two babes. Anxious to sell us their handcarved yak bone sheep. Of course, I bought 3 of them.

Kyrgyzs in China

This pix and their background home says it all.

Homestead

Our guide says, "They're crazy about their sheep and eating horsemeat". Wide open land for their animals to graze is the reason they're here.

Just visiting

Our "relatively" clean, colorful, warm clothing and bodies look quite out of place in this backdrop.

Mountain scenery

Is this the China you imagined?

Kyrgyz mountain market stands

I LOVED this stop. There was local made jewlry, cool rocks taken from the mountains, and hand made rugs crafted from sheep and camel wool and dyed using natural substances and stitched. Here I found some rare souvenirs of the trip.

Karakul Lake

Close to Afghanistan and within 100km of the pass into Pakistan, this beautiful vista enlightens us to the natural beauty not often seen in American TV reports about this region.

Another for the collection

And this is the better of the two relief stations! We decided tall landforms did just fine in times of need.

A sleepless night

Ok, so sleeping in a lakeside Kyrgyz yurt sounds really romantic from the warmth of our Shanghai home. But 0C temps, rock hard bedding, night time prowling animals and, here's the biggie, food poisoning digestion discomfort made a night here, lets just say, unforgettable.

Corn harvest in the mountains

Tot: 0.546s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 14; qc: 59; dbt: 0.0718s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.2mb

Do not copy images or text from this page without requesting and receiving permission. All rights are reserved by the author and photographer.

Contact Schroeder family (Shanghai Sheri) - a lack of a response does not mean that you have permission to use material from this page.

Midnight at the Oasis

Copyright Notice: All Rights Reserved