On to the bus at 7:45am (Urumqi time) and off to Turpan.  But first a stop at the Zinjiang Museum in Urumqi.  The Friendship St. we drove along was once called the “Anti Soviet Union” Street.  I wonder if that was a message?  Anyway, the museum was described as not too good yet as it is an in an old building so it was a pleasant surprise to find a wonderful, interesting, and well presented museum.

The 3 hour bus ride revealed a changing topography…..snow-covered mountains, newly planted trees, some greenery, then rocky and rugged hillsides, barren desert (Gobi), and many windmills.  Abdullah shared that they were developed by a Norwegian tourist who was subsequently killed on the same highway.  200 Km, 3hours, later, we arrived in Turpan which is 154 meters below sea level and very hot.  He announced that it was 42 degrees C there today (that translates to 107.6 F but still HOT). 

Turpan is Uygur and was in evidence in some of the physical features, hats, homes, beds on houses, and Arabic writing above Chinese writing.  The land around the town is very fertile with fields and more fields of grapes as well as corn….. very beautiful, especially knowing grapes become wine if we’re lucky. The first stop was our hotel……the Oasis Hotel…..aptly named and so charming and so much more back-doorish.  Love the beds on platforms and the colorful carpet look.  Then off to the Ancient Ruins of Jiaohe.  I thought this and the other sites would be covered by my trusty Lonely Planet Central Asia book.  So didn’t take any notes.  Alas!  It didn’t cover this part of Xinjiang!!!  You’re on your own, my fellow travelers.  What I can share with full knowledge is that it was rather searing and shade was as gold.

The next stop was the Karez Irrigation System that is described as the “underground Great Wall of China”.  It was an amazing feat of engineering and labor that resulted in changing desert into fertile land.  However, it appears that once again mankind is doing all it can to diminish this also…..just a little editorializing, folks.  The stroll along lthe water’s edge was cool in temperature and essence.

Then on to the Imin Minaret and the mosque that was build as an afterthought as, “How can you have a minaret without a mosque?”  ‘Twas good to set foot in a mosque again and long to hear the “call to prayer”.

Dinner was at the Atach Restaurant and was described by Abdullah as for locals and not tourists.  It was another good meal but with the added element of “Ilite”, which is a local alcohol made from grain.  It packed a bit of a punch along with an unfamiliar, and powerful aroma and taste.  There was dancing and singing by professionals and then many in our group danced. 

‘Twas another full, action packed and eventful day and tomorrow off to our next adventure.

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