You know, people always say a Tour agency normally puts tourists up in the best Hotel & let them eat the best yummiest food on their last night & day in a Tour package – which is very true indeed just like we’ve just had a very good cosy overnight stay, & now the BEST Intercontinental Breakfast (the best Hotel & Breakfast of our entire Silk Road Trip!!) here at Mirage Hotel – making all of us so satisfied & happy, especially when we’re also going back home Singapore today  REALLY MISS HOME!!

And yes, it’s Mid-Autumn Festival (or Mooncake Festival) today – us having celebrated it just last night at Dong Fang Long (Eastern Dragon) with much laughters & cheers upon fun-loving Birthday Uncle’s Hokkien Songs entertainment hahaaa!!

HAPPY Mooncake Festival to all as I strike a pose for the camera by the side of Urumqi street outside Mirage Hotel :

Back inside the very lovely Hotel Lobby with a Sculptured Wall filled with World’s famous Landmarks such as The Pisa in Italty, Rialto Bridge in Venice, Pyramids & Sphinx in Eygpt, Colosseum in Rome, Great Wall of China etc - I like it so much!!!

My lady Tour mates all love what I’m wearing today – especially my Red hooded Bubble Dress which I bought at Kuitun, & my Orange leather suade Shoes from Dunhuang - they all agree I’m a good shopaholic buyer hahahaaaa

Pics with fellow Tour mates at Mirage Hotel Lobby while waiting to leave for Urumqi Airport :

Ha so many already prepacked Boxes of Fruits available here in Urumqi Airport – still remember Mom & Dad always tell me that there’re plentiful Fruits ready for Sales in most China Airports – which they always buy & bring back home whenever they travel to China since I was at a very age……………hmmmm such as the huge Chinese Pears & Peaches etc – all so fresh sweet juicy & I’m always the 1st one to pry open their Boxes hahaahha!!!

Huge beautiful looking Artillery Shell Melons :

And well…………………….

Heehehehe this Box of yummy fresh Xinjiang Grapes cost only 40 Yuans (RMB) – specials from our Tour Guide’s recommendation (at another Airport Fruits Shop!!) - bought specially for Mom & Dad – though I wish I’ve more strength to hand carry more other Fruits home

Some shopping time here at Urumqi Airport before our Departure to Chengdu :

Hey there’re even Xinjiang Nangs available here

Inflight Lunch time now aboard our domestic Flight from Urumqi to Chengdu - ho ho I really like this below huge pretty PINK Desserts Box - & there’s even a piece of Mooncake cos it’s Mid-Autumn Festival today

As usual besides enjoying the yummy Inflight meals (in this case the thick Black Pepper Roast Beef’s so delicious!!!), I often love looking out of my flight window (always ask for a Window seat ) at the lovely clouds & so beautiful sky……………………..

We’ve now arrived in Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport resting in an Airport Chinese Restaurant waiting for our Flight back home Singapore………….

YES YES so funny cos we’re all (especially the ladies!!) so panicky cos we don wana end up paying huge Taxes upon our Overweight Luggages - I myself even start giving away my body lotions, hand cream etc to the Chinese Restaurant’s waitresses!! So much to their delights ahahahaaa cos they’re all nice imported goods!!!!

Worst of all, our Tour guide Siao Chen’s not here with us here in Chengdu as she’s remained in Urumqi (which happens to be her hometown too!!) - which means we’re totally left on our own DITCH right now!!!

Ohhhhhh what more should we do to save ourselves NOW but to prepare well to pay for the high overweight charges – at least for myself I know very well cos my Luggages are so heavy trust me errhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Just look at the huge amount of food left on our Dinner plates in the Restaurant cos………………..

But you know what?!?!? All our WORRIES of our Overweight Luggages issues are UNFOUNDED & UNNECESSARY cos we did a Whole Tour Group Check-in, & though almost all our individual Luggages were overweight, none of us was Taxed!!!! We’re so Lucky so Happy we’ve already very safely passed through all the Chinese Customs now just waiting to board our Flight home Singapore WHEW Whew!!!!!!! THANK God!!!

SILLY ME to be worrying much earlier but hey I couldn’t help it cos it’s after all my very 1st time travelling in China, & I”ve never really known & been through a Chinese Customs Checkpoint before!! Anyway………………….

Heheheeee my above Box of Huge Juicy Sweet Honey Peaches (or Shuimitaos) was bought just some 15 mins before boarding our International Flight back home Singapore – cos you’d be surprised there’re Fruits Stalls located just by the sides of Departure Gate A1 here at Urumqi Airport – which makes me in a real excited happy mood since I need not pay for any Overweight charges, & can now freely carry another Box of fresh Fruits home for beloved Mom & Dad

Hmmmm another lovely packed Mooncake for each & everyone of us aboard Flight CA403 - how sweet

Past midnigt now as I land on Singaopore Changi Airport to the very Warm welcome of my family…………………….

Glad that I made it to the Silk Road of China & back home Singapore very safely & healthily

Most of my Tour mates were fallen ill with diarrhea, flu, fever, sprained ankles & legs etc – one Uncle was hospitalised, one Auntie even had her throat stuck so badly with Fish bone (from the deadly full of Bones chinese freshwater Fish!), & had to be taken to Hospital to have it removed

Another lady even missed half her Silk Road of China Trip with us cos she was down with fatique & sickness, & had to stay back alone at Mirage Hotel in Urumqi (since Day 8), while we travelled up to Tianchi Tianshan, Kuitun, Kelamayi, Kanas, then back down to Kelamayi to Urumqi to meet her………………..

To better see how far we’ve travelled up & down along the Mysterious Silk Road of China – here’s a Map :

Well, for myself, I’m very thankful that I’ve been very blessed as I only suffered from slight Sore throat (in Kanas for like only 2 days!!)

This Mysterious Silk Road of China with Orient Deluxe Express Train Trip of mine is a most Cultural & Environmental experience of my life thus far. It was a Tough Trip as I’d to endure the extreme always-changing hot & cold weather, & especially the many Nasty Toilets

And the Train Ride wasn’t really easy, plus the local food wasn’t entirely to our Taste & Appetite (though some were really good & yummy!!), except for the very fresh crunchy vegetables which I ate & enjoyed the most daily Evidently, I lost 2kg (hahaha only 2kg wish I’ve lost more huh!! like my brother-in-law Ah Hia’s 5kg)!!

Personally I feel very lucky, especially compared to the people in the Rural places along the Silk Road of China. I’m indeed very blessed & I’ve gained & learned so much from this Trip to be more contented & apprecaitive towards Life, & to love & treasure people around me more……………….I enjoyed myself tremendously, & had a great wonderful most amazing Silk Road of China Trip!!

Most importantly, Dad has recovered very well from his Hemorrhoid (or Piles - the reason why Ah Hia & I had to replace Dad & Mom to go on this Trip!!) - making this Trip to the Silk Road possible for me. And for allowing me such a great opportunity to see Life in a different perspective.

This Silk Road of China Trip is probably my most invaluable Travelling Experience - THANK YOU Dad & Mom – I love you both so much

And THANK U all my readers for travelling through this fantastic Silk Road of China Trip with me – you guys have been a great Bless!! I hope you enjoy my above last Slideshow of the Trip – & never forgetting to come visit me again when I bring you more beautiful Travelling Stories asap okie

I shall now begin sharing with you my Travelling Stories on Tour to Mysterious Silk Road with the Deluxe Express Train with China Express Holidays (from 23rd Sept to 6th Oct 2006). Ahahh Silk Road – that’s somwhere I’d never imagine to be travelling so soon, & unexpectedly too!!

I’m flying to the Silk Road, China for 14 days with my brother-in-law (whom I call “Ah Hia” in Hokkien) – My parents are supposed to go on this Trip (together with Relatives & friends!) but Dad’s Piles (or Hemorrhoid) erupted just a few days before the Trip & Doc advised that Dad BETTER NOT go, or else he might end up in Hospital in China! Mom has to take care of Dad, therefore Ah Hia & I will be going instead!

I’ve got all my Travelling documents in place despite the very last minute decision for Me to travel on this Trip – here’s my Singapore Passport in CHINA EXPRESS Passport Holder :

We’re told not to bring too much money cos there’s nothing much to buy throughout this entire Trip!! Ahah!! It’s so untrue as I soon find out in this Trip!! Except that well, we don buy too much cos it’s a long hectic (but SUPERB!!) journey with lots of travelling up & down in Flights, Coaches & Trains, with tons of walking too!!

My CHINA EXPRESS Holidays Luggage Tags :

Right in the middle – I’m seen here with relative & my 3rd Sister & her family in Changi Airport Terminal 1:

Hahah my Dear Dear won’t be travelling with me this time round, & it’s our very first time being apart from each other for so long since we’re married………..hahah we’ll miss each other so much for sure!! Here’re us having Breakfast at Delifrance inside Changi Airport T1 :

It’s now time for Boarding Air China Flight CA 404 at Gate D48 departing for Chengdu, China at 6.40am :

It’s my very 1st time travelling on Air China – infact it’s my very 1st time travelling to China too & I’m extremely excited!!

China has grown extremely much in me since I was a very young girl as I often watch Mom & Dad travel frequently to the amazing Chinese Kingdom, as well as seen pics & heard tons of their wonderful stories on the many beautiful places too!!

Hahah the Aircraft’s so small & BELIEVE Me we could smell Petrol from its engines as Ah Hia & I are seated pretty towards the rear of the Aircraft!! I got pretty scared as I start imagining things & stuffs !*()*!)(&@#!&@* @ but Ah Hia assures me it’s pretty common to smell Petrol in small Aircrafts hahah REALLY!?!?!!!

After almost 5 hours later, we arrived safely at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport located at Chengdu – the Capital of Sichuan – we’re here in Transit for our next connecting Domestic Flight to Xi’an in Xianyang, China……….

Located in Southwest People’s Republic of China, Chengdu is one of the most important Economic Centers, Transportation & Communication Hubs in Southwestern China!

Once inside Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, we see fresh Fruits stalls with tons of fruits on sales!! No wonder Mom & Dad used to tell me that fruits can be seen almost everywhere in China, & even inside their Airports too - & Mom & Dad used to often bring home Boxes & Cartons of them (Chinese Pears, Peaches, Grapes etc etc!!) :

Here’s a Stall with Sichuan Specialities (or “Si Chuan Te Chang” in Chinese words as written below on the Stall!) with many varities of fresh Fruits inside Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport – these beautiful Fruits all look very attractive & samples are displayed for guest tasting too!!

I continue strolling inside, & exploring Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport trying to kill time during this almost 4 hours Transit before my next Flight to Xi’an………..

I’ve now come outside Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to have a feel of its September Autumn weather……..

Back inside the Airport :

I next see the following Old Chengdu Specialities Stall with what might turn your tummy upset Cuisines!!! Be prepared!!

Ahahahah here they are!!

Oh poor poor Rabbits……..of course I dared not eat them at all thinking of how lovely & always running around they normally are!

But here they sure look pretty well prepared & well roasted appearing really crispy & pretty tasty huh!!?! Or is your stomach already feeling sick now?!! But with my year 2008 Beijing Travelling I knew Rabbits to taste like Chicken, though a little more tougher & chewy – & my Dear Dear actually likes it alot!!

More Chengdu Delicacies consisting of WHAT-I-don-know at all!!

I next meet up with the Chinese Giant Pandas – hahah wish I’m meeting the REAL them!! cos here they’re but only their cutie cutie Plush Toys!!

Well, native to China & serving as an emblem for the Country, more than 30% of these World’s highly endangered Giant Pandas live in the Mountain ranges of Sichuan today………..wish I’ve got the chance to meet them face to face here in China someday!!

Here’re more pics of Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport :

Hey guess what I just saw!?!?

Beijing 2008 Olympics Souvenirs here inside the Airport!! WHOA Olympics’s 2 years away & China has already got its many Souvenirs for sales!! Amazing!!! I like this below Fuwa (Mascots) T-shirt – but too bad they’re kid sizes :

Hahah how I like these Beijing Olympics Fuwa then…………but NOPE I can’t buy or else I’ll be carrying them around Silk Road for my next 14 days & nights!! NO Joke!!

We’re now outside Gate 11 in Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport waiting to board our connecting Domestic Flight to Xi’an, Xianyang – China :

And well, either we were given the wrong Gate No or it was changed in the last minute but it was never announced to us at all – ahahh guess the Chinese assume we’re smart enough to know which correct Gate to board when the actual time comes!!

Our Flight’s supposed to leave at 2pm, but cos of some reasons (which again are never announced cos we hear nothing!!) our Aircraft only appears much later – we assume it’s the bad raining weather………..

Now at 2.30pm, we’re just getting ready to board…………..

I shall see you later in Xi’an, Xianyang - China!!