The only glow in the room was the blue light from my Kindle. As I read, a tingle went up my spine. As I traveled up the Tekes Valley, I had watched the signs from the front seat of the small van. Now, I read the same names in the Read more…
Miran is a first millennium CE city, now in ruins. It is situated in the far southeastern corner of the Tarim Basin. The first European intrepid explorer to mention this city was Nicolai Prejevalsky after he saw it in 1876. In March 1988, I saw the wall paintings, the Read more…
It is the highest natural arch in the world. Or is it? Even now, the remote arch, tucked away in the mountains northwest of Kashgar, is debated. As the widest arch, the longest and the most number of arches are claimed by the US in Arches National Park, could we Read more…
One of my first camel rides was in Egypt, around New Year’s 1984. We had gone to the Pyramids on a blustery cold day accompanied by my mother. She was in her late fifties at the time, but only hesitated momentarily. There is a photo of her, mouth open in Read more…
Even before I ever made it to Turkestan, traveling in Tibet made me recognize the position of minorities in China. Although the founding principles of the People’s Republic was that it was made up of many equal nationalities, the reality is far, far different. Being of the Han nationality Read more…
The Chinese phrase ‘mei you’ is literally translated into English as ‘there isn’t any.’ But it is used in Chinese to mean ‘no.’ In 1987 traveling to Tibet and Xinjiang, I was among the first modern travelers to these places in many, many years. Finding a hotel room, food, Read more…
Journal Entry for Sunday 23 August 1987 “About 4 we can see a dust storm brewing from the north, off the desert, there is a stiff breeze, but no dust. It comes closer and closer. My throat springs up sore. Mr. Chen arrives with 2 letters… The dust storm hits. Read more…