Author Archives: d4vid

Peripatetic

Posted on January 29, 2017 by d4vid

Stacks of camel saddles in the marketplace around the Id Kah Mosque. My grandparents had a passion for travel.  They went all over the world, often with my father, aunts, uncle, and then, later, grandchildren in tow.  Their house was filled … Continue reading →

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Minarets II

Posted on January 29, 2017 by d4vid

At the heart of Kashgar is the Id Kah Mosque, the largest mosque in China (although I actually found it less impressive than the mosque in Xining.) Yet another caravan of camel statues.  That little kid standing on the far left … Continue reading →

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Façade

Posted on January 29, 2017 by d4vid

I visited Kashgar’s “Old Town” area, perched atop a small hill. Early on a Sunday morning, it had that empty feeling of a studio backlot. This ramp running up above the city wall led to a shrine of some sort, … Continue reading →

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Dusted

Posted on January 29, 2017 by d4vid

Looking south across the dead growth of Donghu Park at the old stone buildings of Kashgar, all dusted with snow.

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Wood II

Posted on January 28, 2017 by d4vid

I love Xinjiang cuisine and Altun Orda was supposed to have some of the best in town.  Like Kashgar, the restaurant’s architecture & decor showed Middle Eastern, Russian, and Victorian influences. There was metal detector just behind these beautiful wooden doors, so I … Continue reading →

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Oasis

Posted on January 28, 2017 by d4vid

I’ve finally made it to Kashgar, the oasis city at the far western end of the Silk Road near the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.  Over the crossroad city’s two thousand year history, it has been variously under the … Continue reading →

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Bourgeois II

Posted on January 28, 2017 by d4vid

Ürümqi airport’s first class lounge was chintzy and very, very Chinese.  Still, better than Tianjin airport’s lounge. I have opinions.

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Comfy III

Posted on January 28, 2017 by d4vid

This is a ream of paper being used as a booster seat on one of the chairs in the Ürümqi airport sales desk.  差不多, as the Chinese say.  “Close enough.” I was here to buy an upgrade for my return … Continue reading →

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Gunpowder IV

Posted on January 28, 2017 by d4vid

I may have spoken too soon about Amsterdam.  Shanghai has banned fireworks at Chinese New Year (since a huge number of the city’s firefighters go back to their hometowns to be with their families.)  Apparently, fires are no concern in … Continue reading →

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Snikt

Posted on January 27, 2017 by d4vid

I assume this is how Logan eats mutton.

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Suicide

Posted on January 27, 2017 by d4vid

Why would a snowman — a man made of snow — wear warm winter clothes?  Why?  WHY?

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Texas

Posted on January 26, 2017 by d4vid

I was watching too much CNN coverage of the Trump administration in my hotel room, so I reached out for comfort food.  I discovered Ürümqi has one Tex-Mex restaurant, so I made a pilgrimage. It was closed. I immediately thought … Continue reading →

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Viticulture

Posted on January 26, 2017 by d4vid

Xinjiang is known for a burgeoning wine industry, especially around a city called Turpan on the Northern Silk Road between Ürümqi, where I am now, and Jiayuguan, the “western edge of Chinese civilization” I visited a few months ago. I’ve had … Continue reading →

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Mummies

Posted on January 26, 2017 by d4vid

The “Mortals of Last Millennium” exhibit — aside from having been named by H.P. Lovecraft, apparently — was devoted to mummies. It was creepy. My first walk through the exhibit, I refrained from taking any pictures because I thought it … Continue reading →

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Ethnic

Posted on January 26, 2017 by d4vid

Braved the falling snow to visit the Xinjiang Museum. Started with the “Memory of the History of the Western Regions” exhibit.  But the guard — I’ve never seen so many guards at a museum! every room! — shooed me away from what … Continue reading →

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