Torch Hotel Urumqi

Yesterday, we visited the Xinjiang Museum where we saw the amazing and intriguing mummies - some more than 4000 years old - which have been found in the area. I found an article in the Independent from 2006 about it, which you can read if you are interested!<br><br>http://www.independe nt.co.uk/news/world/asia/a-meeting-of-c ivilisations-the-mystery-of-chinas-celt ic-mummies-413638.html<br><br>We took a stroll through the Red Hill Park ...

After breakfast, we left for Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang Autonomous Region. It was a most exciting drive; through the Gobi Desert, in very windy, stormy conditions; on a fantastic highway [312] which stretches all the way from Shanghai to the border with Russia in the ...

... heading into Huashan) by a shoe repair/key cutter guy. A whole 2 RMB and my bag was as good as new. Then it was time for video games. Except for a period of time in Taiwan when I took to playing on the drum machines after work to cool down after a particularly stressful class, I have never been that into video arcades. Having said that, this didn't stop me from playing a shoot and kill zombie thing, then getting blisters from an over-excited bout on the ...

... the curiosity was even more noticeable when walking around with LX (Han) and Ma Jun (Hui) than usual. After being very nice, but glancing at me surreptitiously when she thought I wasn't looking, the waitress finally couldn't contain herself and the question "Which race is she?" burst out from her lips. I can see if I come back to Xinjiang I am going to have to have a t-shirt made with this information printed on it in order to stop people from dying of curiosity regarding my heritage.

... to go via Urumqi again and then catch a local bus back. I was busy chatting to LX about plans to go to Kanas lake the next day, so I didn't notice the police officer who got on the bus to check ID until he was right next to me, at which point I gave him a perplexed glance for interrupting me. I must look intimidating when I am annoyed because he ran off the bus without asking for my passport, while I looked at his retreating figure feeling slightly sheepish. Mum told me last time she saw ...

... the minority Uighur group. And indeed, the Uighur people do not regard their part of the world as China but as their native East Turkestan. To us the Uighur people look more Central Asian in appearance and culture. The people are of medium to large build with dark complexions and broad friendly faces. Veiled Uighur women, elegantly dressed in beautiful and bright long flowing gowns and men in traditional pointed pill box style hats walk the streets next to young ...

... for the summer break she was quite eager to take time out of her day to help us out in booking tickets, and hotels in other cities. She really was a blessing. It's definitely possible to get around a city without a translator. However, having someone who knows the city significantly lessens the amount of money spent, mistakes made and headaches. Qu was no exception. After 4 nights in Urumqi, we took a 24 hr train ride to Kashgar...

... 2000 Profesional, which we thought might be good enough to accept the card reader, but no luck. Back at the desk, asked the girl if they had Windows XP on any of the machines, and was met with a blank look. She called one of the computer whizzes, but he didn't know either - so much for brand recognition. However, MP spots the Logo on the machine he was using, points it out, and he gave up the machine so DP could bring her card across ...

... I had and walking around the beautiful lake and up to the hills to view the lake from 500 metres above and the snow capped mountains in the backdrop. I particularly liked not being on a bus or a train. I met some great travellers here: Israeli Tomer, English International School teacher Jules, Matt & Marie from Dunhuang showed up again & Brit Ed. We had baking hot weather, even ...

Urumqi, China. Several days on the train from Kazakhstan. It took almost 4 hours before they released the train at the border. This town was part of the silk trade route, so all the signs in the town are either in Chinese characters, or arabic. I sure need a travel book. Best noodle bowls I've ever had.