China

We arrived in Kashgar in North West China after a long but mainly uneventful border crossing over the rarely used Tougart pass. Kashgar is a busy vibrant central asian city with lots of small back streets full of traders of all descriptions. It has an extremely busy bazaar where you can buy everything you could possibly want, that's if your particular want is chicken feet or pigs noses! I took a swerve at the pigs noses. The city is fairly short of tourist attractions other than the Mao statue but has a certain charm. Every man and his dog( especially the dog) rides on an electric scooter. Often whole families sit on one including the bambinos perched on the footrest. Crossing the road can be hazardous but we've perfected the act of latching on to a random local and using them as a shield. It's the only way. The weather as always is still extremely hot, maybe 35-40 degrees.




We left Kashgar and followed the silk road through the Taklamak desert towards Turpan. A couple of nights bush camping amongst the sand dunes saw us arrive at Turpan city. Again a modern city which boasts of being the second hottest place on earth at 154 metres below sea level. I did notice it was a tad warm! There are huge vineyards all around the city but unfortunately not used for wine. Myself and Roberta decided to risk it at the local hairdressers/barbers and try for a haircut. I bravely went first much to Robertas amusement as she watched me go through a range of emotions such as terror, fear , astonishment and complete bewilderment. I've never seen anyone cut hair with scissors so large. Every time I tried to protest the girl took it as encouragement and carried on cutting shorter and shorter. So I came out with a 12 year old boys haircut, which Roberta kindly commented me " It looks like you've had nits" I'm sure it'll grow in time!! Roberta faired much better, I think the girl had had enough amusement with me.



At present I'm sat in Johns cafe in Dunwang. Again another modern city pretty much like the previous. It has a vibrant night market full of eating booths and souvenir stalls, not dissimilar to Covent garden. Karaoke has reared it's ugly head for the first time as a lady in the market serenaded young Ben for his 19th birthday. Most amusing for all of us, not sure about Ben. We've been to visit the buddhist caves at Mogao this morning which were totally amazing. Set in the desert these caves were carved out by the Buddhist monks and truly have to be seen to be believed. For me it is the best sight of the trip so far. The painting and images of are incredible and impossible to describe with any justice. We've got three long days of driving and bush camping ahead of us now so I'm making the most of the luxury of an air conditioned hotel with beer nearby!