National Children's Day

It seems we have a knack for being in the right place at the right time!  Today is a national holiday honoring children and all over town families were outside in the parks, squares, amusement parks, and on the streets. Thousands of children dressed in their best party clothes were enjoying cupcakes, ice cream, and every other thing with sugar imaginable. 

John and I spent our free day walking all over town. We estimated easily covering eight to ten kilometers over the course of close to five hours. Our day included entering and browsing stores, markets, print and computer stores, and phone stores. I got a haircut.  Don't worry, I still look like a sheared Hulk Hogan.

We rode a giant Ferris wheel and discovered the ancient mud brick Uyghur Village our guide couldn't find yesterday. There we stumbled on to an artist in his studio making pottery. He offered us lunch and we purchased two of his beautiful bowls (of course). Someone is getting a nice present in a couple of months!  

Next we wandered street after street meeting craftsmen-blacksmiths, wood carvers, brick layers, and many shop keepers. All were happy to chat and practice their four or five English words. The entire day with everything listed here cost the two of us 100 Yuan (roughly $17). Gotta just love China.  Sorry, got so engrossed in taking a few hundred pics with my other camera that I forgot to click a few with the iPhone. Google "Kashgar china" and enjoy!

We got together at the Red Bull Happy Bar for a beer.

 

Tonight we met our new and final family member, Vitor Luu, from Australia. He will travel with us to Xian-a tired fellow in his 50's, grateful to finally be here. He joined us for dinner and quickly became comfortable with our crazy group.  We are now complete for this leg and head off to the Karakum desert tomorrow. 

He likes tone called "Ton" and he bought a round of beers. He's now our new best friend!

For dinner we went to a local restaurant that was a Uyghur palace. A real treat.