Well done! Thanks for keeping us entertained and informed for the last five weeks. Looking forward to hearing more personal impressions once you return to Colonsay. Here we have been having beautifully sunny but distinctly chilly weather in the run-up to Easter, although it is now a little warmer. Easter blessings to you, and love to all the family in HK. Alastair and Sheila.
Well done! Congratulations to the three intrepid travellers, sounds like a wonderful adventure, looking forward to hearing about the bits that didn’t make the blog. Enjoy family and relaxation in HK, and safe travels home xxx
Travels across China Well done. We have enjoyed every day of your journey sometimes with a degree of apprehension when you were in the most remote areas but overall it seems like a great adventure and a very good recommendation for more more people to visit China where you have been made so welcome. Love Martin and Ann
Hi from Colonsay Dear Christa and Kevin, we’ve just been catching up with your blog the last few days.. have loved it! Good bedtime reading, we’ve laughed a lot too...All looks fascinating and vibrant. Your lovely Lola is well and happy, love from us all, Roz, Chris and canines
Toghraklek Manor visit From what I've been reading on this subject, the Manor is closed normally (visits are rare), and you need to enter first the museum at Cherchen. Someone with the key will go with you (by taxi) to the Manor and make the visit possible.
So grateful Many thanks Roz and Chris - without you, this amazing trip could never have been so much fun, thank you. We miss everyone, especially Lola, but hope to enjoy our final 10 days. Are in luxurious hotel just now, off to see terracotta warriors tomorrow - all love xx
Cherchen Yes, we had read something like that; in fact the key is supposed to be available at the manor for the second place. The main point is that the police are hyper-sensitive, it is very much less tourist friendly than can be usefully described here. If you can get a non-Uighir taxi it might be best; or possibly hire a CITS guide. Any normal behaviour is really not acceptable (or was not when we were there a fortnight ago.... maybe the national congress meeting was a factor?
St Patricks Day The Six nations, The Triple Crown, The Grand Slam, what a great celebration on St Patrick's Day. Hope you have persuaded your friends in China to take up Irish dancing and drink lots of Guinness.
Love Martin and Ann.
You wrote "It turned out that the places we wanted to visit were closed". Do you know if the Toghraklek Manor is definitively closed or is it a refection period, or is it the weekly closure day (I would have imagine a Monday, not a Thursday)?
Thank you in advance for your answer, which may be useful for my trip preparation.
Fabrice
Was the Manor closed? I personally suspect that it may simply have been that the police wanted to discourage us. They had made it very difficult and eventually one of them walked with us, but after a couple of km he was very hot and could not easily keep up. My advice is: do not walk out to the manor, take a taxi; that might work, but be prepared for a great deal of difficulty. The authorities were extremely strict, but it was early in the season and they might relax a bit later on.
Greetings from Islay Have been too busy playing ministers to keep up with your blog in the last week. You do seem to be having a spot of bother with the satraps, one way and another. I think the watchword has to be: non illegitime carborundum.
Ended up discussing theology with your receptionist in Inveraray last week - very impressive.
Inveraray I think I know the person you refer to, relatively new to us and I agree, very good to know. I am sure Islay was a huge success; all well here, we are now free to do as we wish (even things as inexplicable as going for a walk in the countryside!).
Delight Delighted to see Christa's still smiling! An anxious weekend in this house while you were on the great trek to Dunhuang but Sophie let us know when you arrived safely. Bless the dear girl. Love to you 3 xxx
Delayed blog due to WiFi All A1 thank you, sorry about opera. Still no email here of course; blog was briefly delayed due to poor wifi, trying to get back on track today. xx
Better than I learned in school! I'm a latecomer to your Blog,- but already fascinated. I'll have to catch up so
I guess I'll read your Daily reports, plus a couple of the previous messages until
I'm au courant! Good Luck and Good Health for all of you! Love, Rodger
Halfway point Many thanks, all good fun so far. Now at the mid point and from here it should be fairly easy going - we have yet to see any westerners at all!
minfeng to Qiemo Well done i am following your trip very closely and have fixed a speed dial on my computer so that I can read your blog along with breakfast without getting involved with other e-mails.
I am somewhat intrigued at your enthusiasm for Poplar trees Napoleon was also keen on them and I have seen them lined up all over the French countryside perhaps we will soon see the same effect in Colonsay.
You all appear to be well fed on your journey and the latest culinary delicacy seems to conform with my style of cooking perhaps you can obtain the recipe for me . Love martin and Ann
Many thanks Glad you find it interesting, it really is a magnificent trip amid magnificent people; we seem to be clearing most (of many) hurdles, have just passed the midway point, 1,850 miles so far excluding 500 miles detours.
Greetings Enjoying your blog, Kevin. Delighted to hear from Christa. No idea if my email reply will have reached her. Hope your guardian angels are keeping a very close eye on all three of you. All love xx
Alastair Scouller
non-member comment
Well done!
Thanks for keeping us entertained and informed for the last five weeks. Looking forward to hearing more personal impressions once you return to Colonsay. Here we have been having beautifully sunny but distinctly chilly weather in the run-up to Easter, although it is now a little warmer. Easter blessings to you, and love to all the family in HK. Alastair and Sheila.