Fairly early start after breakfast to get to the Urumqi airport for our 9.00am flight. Big airport, lots of security but boarded the China Southern flight on time. Had an amazing flight over a huge area of snow-capped mountains some of which appeared to be almost as high as we were flying! Even got a beef and Noodle hot meal - better than Qantas or Virgin on an hour and a half domestic flight!
Met at the Kashgar airport by guide Louig plus driver. As we are heading west tomorrow to the border mountains we had to call in to a huge transport police building to register to make the drive on the birder highway - passports, get photographed, have approval etc.
Off to a mausoleum in the old town for a lady from Kashgar who became one of a Ching Dynasty Emperor's favourite wives but it was surrounded by a Uighur cemetery which was quite fascinating, another top lunch at a Uighur restaurant and then a tour through the old town area where mud houses up to 4 or 5 stories high have been preserved.
Booked in to quite a nice hotel (but with VERY hard bed) and caught a cab back into town for dinner. Did a bit of shopping (bought some souvenirs plus an Afghanistan cushion cover) and headed off to get dinner. Kashgar goes ballistic at night. Huge crowds with noise, street performances, every type of food stall - the place is just crazy. Found a restaurant and had a fabulous meal including barbecue lamb, fried rice etc - just beautiful.
By the time that was over and we wound our way back through the human chaos and caught a cab, it was a late but unforgettable night out in one of the most extraordinary places on earth. Unforgettable!
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