Public Zone 公開區 > Travelogues 遊記相薄
Silk Road, China 絲綢之路 (18 Apr - 3 May 2003)
chin:
These kids hung out in an ancient tombs we visited near Turpan. They were curious about our group but initially shied away from the camera.
But a pack of Oreo cookies broke the ice, and brought the bright smiles.
They were keen to see how they looked in the camera. So the best gift to them would have been an instant photo.
chin:
As we entered Xin Jiang, probably the biggest province of China, we witness the vast desert land that was quite busy.
There were construction almost everywhere along the road - from laying fiber optics to gas pipelines.
Contrast to our expectation before the trip, the road actually gets wider and better in Xin Jiang.
The second picture is taken near a gas station where many restaurants catering for truck drivers from all over the country. The signs advertising difference cuisine from southwestern China (e.g. Sichuang) to northeastern China (e.g. Liaoning.)
chin:
As we were getting close to Urumqi, the highways got wider and better.
Of course, there is no free lunch, such as the road sign reminds travelers. The sign near the toll gate says "Highway Built With Loans, Toll Repays Debts."
The second picture is a rather strange scene in another toll gate. The toll gate staff were lining up near the toll booth, wearing banner that says "serving the people."
Not even our guide knew what's going on. He speculated that perhaps the toll station got a new management, who was eager to show his service pledge (in a wrong way, in my opinion.)
chin:
We visited the Nan Shan Pastureland near Urumqi. It was the beginning of the high tourism season, yet we were the only visitors that morning.
As we arrived the forest, about 20 horse back riding vendors surrounded our van fighting for the chance to be hired. They throw the horse whips into the van hoping that we will pick up theirs.
chin:
My horse waiting for me while I am taking photos.
My guide was a young man of the Kazak ethnic group. At the time of our visit, he was still a university student.
He started as a quiet man, and only at the end of the trip he started to talk more about himself and his world view. His dream was to live in Kazakhstand, where he decribe a rosy picture about jobs and economic growth.
In a later encountered with another group of Kazaks in Xinjiang, we came to realized that the Kazaks don't feel at home partly bacause they are the minority among the minorities in Xinjiang - where the Uygur is the population majority and the Han is the political and economic majority.
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