In Kashgar – continued
August 18th, 2010 at 22:16
Three days has already passed in the very west of China, where the sun rise almost three hours later than in eastern parts and the local time is two hours after Beijing time.
We were supposed to go for a three day trip on the karakoum highway today but after arranging it yesterday with a local guy that was friendly, we realised this morning that of what he had promised there was a lot missing so we cancelled and changed the plans.
Today we instead went on our own to a village market outside kashgar. Tour company suggested 120 for a car but we took a taxi for 40 rmb to there and 20 rmb back. Very convenient. Market was great and very local. Famous for its donkey market, the roads were full of small carriages coming in from other villages and in the market you could find sheeps, cows, bulls and donkeys. A lot of chaos and as only foreigner snapping photos of everything people were surprisingly friendly and smiled all the time. At one point I think someone tried to sell me a donkey and suddenly I was surrrounded by men gesturing and talking loudly to me, most likely making fun of me. Unfortunately is my vocabulary still weak with only phrase I remember being the greeting phrase “essalamu eleykum” – peace be upon you – and I think useful enough!
It is a completely different experience coming away from e.g. the touristy handicraft street in kashgar to a local village market where it is even more handmade, both in the way people threat you and price level. Lonely planet is a nice guide book but serves a better purpose to tell you what to avoid. Most fun comes from exploring on your own.
