This morning was watching an interesting music show on local tv in my hotel room. I didnt realize breakfast was 8am-10am Beijing time meaning two hours back local time. When I went they were already closed so I had to go out on the street and buy a bread roll for 1Y (.15 cents) which was very salty as bits of the tandoor oven get stuck to the dough as it cooks and peels off.First we drove to the tomb of Apak Hoja which is a famous landmark, and mixed stories of w...

This morning was watching an interesting music show on local tv in my hotel room. I didnt realize breakfast was 8am-10am Beijing time meaning two hours back local time. When I went they were already closed so I had to go out on the street and buy a bread roll for 1Y (.15 cents) which was very salty as bits of the tandoor oven get stuck to the dough as it cooks and peels off. First we drove to the tomb of Apak Hoja which is a famous landmark, and mixed stories of...

Friday morning was supposed to be up 5am to start my 3 hour drive back to the airport in Urumqi. I was actually already up most of the night with the mouse drama and mosquitos all inside my room. When I got up to go use the public bathrooms and put my lenses on I noticed it was already daylight, and many villagers were sleeping and waking up in the open terrace overlooking the village.Had I know many others were sleeping here I might have done it as I thought I w...

Friday morning was supposed to be up 5am to start my 3 hour drive back to the airport in Urumqi. I was actually already up most of the night with the mouse drama and mosquitos all inside my room. When I got up to go use the public bathrooms and put my lenses on I noticed it was already daylight, and many villagers were sleeping and waking up in the open terrace overlooking the village. Had I know many others were sleeping here I might have done it as I thought I...

This morning we left at 8am to beat the heat and drove towards Flaming Mountain. This is one of the hottest places in China and there is a story about how a spirit is captured there who was attacking local villages. Its not actually one mountain peak but a whole range of mountains and valleys stretching for many kms.Video : Driving thru Flaming Mountainhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4XVS1AQ l7YAlong the way some fake tourist villages have been built which were f...