So tomorrow we embark on our (epic) journey to the western regions of China, vaguely following the Silk Road of old. We get to visit Uyghur and Tibetan towns and places of worship, and get to travel via multiple modes of transportation: plane, train, bus, bike, foot, raft, horse, and camel!
As much of a problem that its been finding consistent Internet (and get my VPN to work to post on the blog) in Xian, it obviously is going to be all the more difficult as we travel hundreds of miles through mountains and deserts. So, I'm going to be taking a little hiatus during our travels, but promise to promptly fill in all the details once we return to Xian in two weeks.
Here is a rough itinerary:
Saturday, 09.17
Fly from Xian to Kashgar with a layover in Urumqi
Sunday, 09.18
Bus to Lake Karakul; spend the day hiking around the lake and then spend the night lakeside
Monday, 09.19
Return to Kashgar, visit the Grand Bazaar
Tuesday, 09.20
Visit mosque, Old Kashgar, and have lunch at a Uyghur inn; fly to Urumqi
Wednesday, 09.21
Visit Urumqi Museum (they have mummies!) and the Institute of Ethnic Minorities; train ride to Liuyuan
Thursday, 09.22
Visit the Mogao Caves (etched and painted Buddhist caves) in Dunhuang
Friday, 09.23
Ride camels to see the sunrise, play in the desert, visit the Crescent Lake Oasis
Saturday, 09.24
Visit Baima Temple; train ride to Lanzhou
Sunday, 09.25
Bus to Xiahe and tour Labrang Monastery
Monday, 09.26
Visit Zuohai Bon Monastery, talk with Bon monks and tour a nearby village
Tuesday, 09.27
Visit Tibetan sites, spend the day with Tibetans and ride horses
Wednesday, 09.28
Bus to Linxia and visit holy sites; raft on the Yellow River in Lanzhou; board train for Xian
Thursday, 09.29
Arrive back "home" in Xian
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