Kashgar’s Sunday Livestock Market experience is equivalent to going back in time. Horses waiting for a test drive and Bactrian Camels seemingly striking a pose for the cameras are a couple of highlights for curious visitors. This place is all business, so in the very least try to stay clear of the path of gallopingContinue reading “Watch Your Step”
Tag Archives: China
Details just don’t matter
Take a close look at this picture. Observe the hindu symbols and how the Arabic script and short phases do not flow from tile to tile. They must not make any sense for those who can read them. The how ironic is this wall of tiles? The site is a beautiful and mysterious place toContinue reading “Details just don’t matter”
Princess of Two Worlds
The Apak Khoja mausoleum is where five generations of the Apak Khoja family lay to rest. One of them is the subject of two very different folktales. The Han cast her as a romantic Uyghur princess and she is known as the “Fragrant Concubine” who is a loving companion of a Han Emperor who unitedContinue reading “Princess of Two Worlds”
Pomegranate Tree of Life
A large pomegranate fruit sits in the middle of Kashgar’s Old City just behind the refurbished Id Kah Mosque. The Chinese have long believed that this fruit symbolizes fertility and those consuming it will have a long life and possibly chance at immortality. In ancient Egypt, the fruit represented ambition and prosperity. The consumption ofContinue reading “Pomegranate Tree of Life”
Time to head home
Animals usually travel to and from Kashgar’s Livestock Market on the backs of trucks, inside the trunks and back seats of cars, or packed inside trailers pulled either by a motor bike, horse or donkey. Sheep and lamb are usually tossed in and out like bails of hay, while agitated cows, camels, horses and donkeysContinue reading “Time to head home”
The Buzzing Silk Road Sands of Dunhuang
Dunhuang is different things to the various travelers who either arrive by private car, bus, train or plane into this “City of Sand”. Some come here seeking to concur the Gobi Desert by camel and others are simply looking to view what’s left of the ancient Silk Road. There is enough here to please bothContinue reading “The Buzzing Silk Road Sands of Dunhuang”
A Little Time in Japan and Little Time in China
Japan will always be on the top of my travel list. June was spent traveling around the southern parts of Japan. Previous visits were short, but we now had the ability to spend as much time as we liked or could afford on the weak USD. We started in Osaka since a couple of friendsContinue reading “A Little Time in Japan and Little Time in China”
Acquiring Central Asian Visas in Tokyo
It’s been a long time (a few years actually) since I’ve written anything substantial in a blog post, so please forgive me as I get my ‘blog legs’ back in order. Oddly enough, this will start off with a case of deja vu from early 2008. Back then we were traveling around Laos and VietnamContinue reading “Acquiring Central Asian Visas in Tokyo”
Turkmenistan Visa in Beijing
Beijing is the only place in East Asia with a Turkmenistan consulate. The next closest one is in New Delhi or in the other ‘stans. For a tourist visa, a LOI from an approved Turkmenistan travel agency is needed. We used Ayan Travel who were able to arrange a LOI in 9 business days (they appliedContinue reading “Turkmenistan Visa in Beijing”
Sticker Shock in Japan
The island nation of Japan takes its food very seriously or at least tries to justify the large price tag for a very polished melon and other things most people find for much less back home or on the other side of the South China Sea. The same melon here in Japan would only setContinue reading “Sticker Shock in Japan”
Must-See Museum just an hour away from Shanghai
Last month I had the great fortune to have the opportunity to have an extended visit to Shanghai. Suzhou is one of the most popular day trip attractions for those visiting Shanghai. It’s even possible to visit when transiting through Shanghai because the high-speed trains go almost directly to Suzhou depending on the time. ThereContinue reading “Must-See Museum just an hour away from Shanghai”
Return to the Land of the Rising Sun
We said good-bye to Shanghai on Friday as we boarded our taxi in the surprisingly sleepy Jing’an District. The ride to Pudong seemed like more a demonstration on how our taxi driver could get us to the airport faster than his nemesis the speedy Maglev. Of course, there are no working seat belts in thisContinue reading “Return to the Land of the Rising Sun”
farflungistan 