Jul 19.
The train ride takes longer than we expected. In the morning, we watch as the scenery changes from desert to farmland and finally to an urban landscape. Along the way, evidence of yesterday’s rain and flooding are observed; wash outs, stranded cars, heavy equipment stuck in the mud.
Our disembarkation from the train is uneventful; we are all present and accounted for, along with our lugggage. We climb back into a bus, are on our way, and greeted by our local guide, Dolqun, with a, “I’m tickled pink to be able to be your guide.” Not what any of us expected as a greeting. We share sideways glances with each other and wonder, “What is this all about?” It turns out that Dolqun is practicing his English on us by using one of a couple of hundred English colloquialisms he has compiled. He is sincerely interested in improving his English and in sharing his Uyghur and Muslem culture with us. His second exchange is sharing Nan, a flat bread, with us- delicious.
We check in to the hotel and freshen up and have lunch. Then off to Jiaohe Ruins and Emin Minaret.
Jul 20.
Our second day includes Gaochang Ruins, Astana Tombs, the Flamming Mountains, Beziklik Caves, make a visit with a family in a local Uyghur village, and see the Karez irrigation system in the Grape Valley. We end up sampling some of the locally produced vine and then have dinner at a local family’s vineyard, dining outside next to thier home.
Interestingly, the niece of the family that is hosting the dinner, is visiting from her home in Austrailia. Everyone does a head snap when she introduces herself and a distinctly Austrailian accent bounds out of her mouth. Her family has left Xinjiang Province to try and establish a better life abroad.
Jul 21.
We depart Turpan the following morning heading to Urumqi by bus and then on to Kashgar that evening via airplane. But first, we visit the Xinjiang Provincial Museum and then Red Hill, where we get a panoramic view of Urumqi. The museum has displays that depict all the different ethinic groups in the Xinjiang Territory. You might have seen the special television presentation on Nova of the “Mysterious Mummies of China.” The mummies that are the subject of this program are on display here. The mummies at first were thought to be of Asiatic or Middle Eastern ethnic origin but DNA samples proved that the mummies were of caucasian origin. The history of the mummies really bring home what a center of trade this region was, how long ago these trade routes had been established, and how much more closely related we all are.
Please click on the link below to launch photographs from Turpan and surrounding area.