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

Cool huh – we’ve being served Red Wine (Sang Sheng Gong Jiu Red Wine) tonight!!

While waiting for Dinner to be served, our Tour guide Xiao Chen brought us a Large Xinjiang Sesame Nang for starter – hmmmm yummy especially when I was craving for Nang after buyinig my Replica Sesame Nang Can Opener at International Grand Bazaar earlier on

Actually, we’ve had our lunch here at Dong Fang Long (Eastern Dragon) Hotel upon our very 1st day arrival here in Urumqi, & we really enjoyed its Chinese Cuisines. Now again we get to enjoy them for Dinner :

WOW look at the beautifully laid out in Flower pattern Xinjiang Mooncakes!! Still remember the many different types of Mooncakes I saw at Burqin Local Market which I wondered then how they taste!! Now I’ve got these Moonckes here – how wonderful

The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival or Mooncake Festival (or “Zhongquixie” in Chinese) is a very popular Harvest Festival celebration for the Chinese. Dating back over 3000 years to Moon Worship in China’s Shang Dynasty, the Mid-Autumn Festival is held on the 15th Day of the 8th Month of the Chinese Calendar when the Moon is supposedly at its fullest & roundest, & we especially eat Mooncakes on this Day

Hehee thought I show you my Mooncake Souvenir Fridge Magnets (with Chinese words “Zhong Qiu Yue Bing” meaning “Mid-autumn Mooncake” - my rare finds from Singapore Chinatown – hahahaa so cute so cute huh

Besides Water Melons, we’ve got sweet juicy Pessimmons – treats from Tour mate Aunties

Cheers & Toasts to Tour mate Uncle who’s 60 years old today, & he’s extremely overjoyed at the Surprise Birthday Celebration held for him tonight

Uncle soon sings us his favourite Hokkien Song – “Ai Bai Kah Ai Yah” (meaning “Must Strive Hard so to Win!!”) – in fact Uncle says 3 Hokkien Songs in a row for all of us, much to our delights!!!! He loves to sing & drinks lots too!!!! Let us hear him now :

So happy to be back here at the same Nangs Stall where I got my very 1st Doughnut Nang (which is my favourite!!) back on our 1st day here in Urumqi  Heheheheee see the Doughnut Nangs below   

But NO!!! These above Doughnut Nangs are all already hard & cold & not edible, & the Nang Maker’s not baking any more of them for the night - how sad

Nevertheless, I enjoy watching the Nangs Baking :

Arhhahahhahaaa Me above’s so chubby & round like a China Doll hahahaaa!! Weather tonight’s very cold you know!!

Mirage Hotel Pamphlet :

More Treats Supper (from Tour mate Auntie) in our Hotel Room – Yummy Xinjiang Cakes, Grapes & more Persimmons :

But as usual, brother-in-law Ah Hia & I can’t eat much of these above (also is best to avoid too much fruits when travelling in Xinjiang, especially when drinking Chinese Tea – cos they’ll upset your tummy!!), so we normally leave them in our Room for the chambermaids the next morning

Anyway, Ah Hia & I decided to go out for a walk in Urumqi since it’s our last night here in the Silk Road of China – now inside Mirage Hotel Elevator we see the following Hairy Crabs Advertisement which Ah Hia says I must try when I go to for my Shanghai Trip

And YESSS of course I did try the Hairy Crabs when I was in Shanghai a week later after my Silk Road of China Trip – & hey they’re very delicious – & SOSOSOOOOO HAIRY hahahaaaa!!! Just LOOK at the amount of hair underneath the Crab below :)

Here’s Me standing infornt of Mirage Hotel in cold chilly Urumqi City after shopping at the nearby Shoes Shops - but nothing nice & good to buy cos the qualities are not good :

I’m now standing on the Overhead Bridge a short distance from Mirage Hotel :

Urumqi is a very modern City with Streets lined with Shopping Centres, Shops & Boutiques, though most of them are already closed by pretty late night now past 10pm…………………

Hey there’s a local Pasar Malam (or Night Market/Bazaar) going on right now

I’m now inside Dicos Fast Food Restaurant for more supper ahahhahaaa cant be helped cos colder nights make you hungry for more!!!!!!

Time to walk back to our Hotel now taking a quick snapshot of Me standing outside Discos Fast Food Restaurant infront of a local Newspapers Stand :

Hahaaaa too tired to walk anymore cos we’ve actually walked a long way from Mirage Hotel, Ah Hia & I have just taken a Taxi back to the Hotel :

Well, what an enjoyable nice last night out there here in Urumqi - anyone’s who’s travelling here should stay long enough to shop & eat!! YES bring lots of right currencies for your Shopping too don ever forget that

Now, enjoy my following Slideshow of more pics taken of our Room here in Mirage Hotel, as well as of our cool walk out there in Urumqi this night

Some time after leaving Kelamayi (or Karamay) now travelling back to Urumqi, we stop for Toilet Break at a Petrol Station – heading straight to the below Public Toilet (or “Gong Ce” in Chinese) & got a shock of our lives!!!!!

GUESS you know why huh?!? Cos it’s another day’s nightmare here along the Silk Road of China arrrrrhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

Well well………………..

Arhrhrhaahahaaa that’s exactly what all my other lady tour mates did!!! Ohhh my goodness!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I’m sure that’s a used Condom right there on the filthy Toilet grounds - I actully just noticed it now upon looking at these pics errrhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Here’s the Petrol Station – ohhh Shifu Shifu (“Master Driver” in Chinese) should have known better than to stop here for our Toilet Break haaaaaaa I almost puke right after I used it!! In fact some of my lady Tour mates actually did puke even just upon peeping inside!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hours later from our departure from Kelamayi………………

I’m now at the building Lobby of City Restaurant – how nice is this below Chinese characterd Wishing Well - guess what’s in there?!?!!

Hmmmmm 4 little cutie Tortoises swimming in a clean pool of Water with lots many Coins inside the Wishing Well :

NOW MAKE A WISH – hmmmm I so wish that all the fifthy stinky disgusting Toilets along the Silk Road of China disappear!!!!!!!!!! AMEN!!!!

The Chinese Silk Weaving Loom :

We spent some time here inisde this Chinese Silk, Jade & Souvenirs Boutique here……………..

It’s got many beautiful Yengisar Daggers of Xinjiang’s Uygur People :

WOW what a great building here as we arrive at Urumqi City all set eager & ready for our very much long-awaited shopping free – well, at least for me cos I simply love shopping heheheeheeeee PLUS I didnt get to buy anything/souvenir yesterday

A City of 5 million people – Urumqi is the Regional Capital (& the region’s wealthiest City) lying in Northwest Xinjiang where its North lies Russia, Tibet & the Himalayas in its South, & Kazakhstan in its West, & mixing borders with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India & Mongolia as shown in the below Map of Xinjiang :

Now, I cant help featuring close-up views of this beautiful Adili Commerce Hall (where the Xinjiang Silk Road Museum is located on top of luxurious Boutique Shops :)

And yes, many Uygur Muslism women here in Urumqi wear Headscarves too! NOW it’s time to shop :

Midway shopping at Er Dao Qiao Internationl Grand Bazaar (or “Dabazha” or “Dabaza” in Chinese), my brother-in-law Ah Hia & I decided to go somewhere else :

From Tian Bai Min Dian :

Not much time shopping at Tian Bai Min Dian cos we’ve to rush back to the International Grand Bazaar to meet our Tour Coach.

I only managed to purchase the aboves – Well actually, not much use too even if we’ve more time here cos you know why?!?!? We ran out of Yuan (RMB) & the Shopping Mall doesn’t accept Singapore dollars (except US currency I think!!), or any of my Credit Cards except their own Chinese Bank Card which I’ve not got, & there isn’t a Money Changer or Bank around!!

How sad cos if not I’d have bought at least another very sweet Pink Pyjamas for myself, a lovely Bag, another Long Coat perhaps & a few others

Smiling Me standing at International Grand Bazaar :

The Sightseeing Tower here at International Grand Bazaar :

Below are more pics of the bustling Gourmet Square here at International Grand Bazaar :

Some shops here do accept US currencies (which I’ve not got too!) but there’s a nearby Bank where I might be able to change my Singapore dollars into Yuans (RMB), but then it’s time to leave for Dinner

Ahhahaa now back with our Tour guide & mates :

Beautiful Coat huh?!? Some of the lady Tour mates even wana go buy too (but there’s no more time!!) - saying they should have followed me shopping heheee!!! And it cost me only about S$80 (at 70% off original price!!)- I was stunned when I saw its Price Tag cos it’s 100% Wool & with Fox Fur too!! What a fine bargain!! 

In fact I even saw the same Coat recently (at home in Singapore Chinatown) selling at S$380!! But unfortunately, this Coat of mine’s now 2 sizes too big for me – so I’ve actually never had the chance to wear it except this once right here above – now it belongs to my Mummy dearest who looks really gorgeous in it

Hmmm I love this above Huge NANG Can Opener – was looking for Souvenir Fridge Magnets (a usual habit for me wherever I travel!!) in the Bazaar but couldnt find any at all

Nang is my  favourite Xinjiang Cuisine so I’m very happy that I found this Nang Replica, besides it’s got the Emin Minaret (or “Su Gong Ta” in Chinese) design on its back – a real cool Xinjiang Turpan Souvenir for me

Now looking at this Sesame Nang makes me really really hungry – cant wait to have dinner soon!!!

Stopping at a Petrol Station :

And while seated inside our Tour Coach waiting for Shifu (Chinese Driver) to fill Petrol……………….

Back at Mystic Lake Grand Hotel enjoying its above lovely Garden before Lunch…………..

Leaving Mystic Grand Lake Hotel now after our very yummy Chinese Lunch as we continue on our journey to Kelamayi (or Keramay) along the Silk Road of China :

Toilet Break again enroute from Burqin : 

Haaaaaaaaaaa this Public Toilet (or “Ce Sou” in 2 BIG Chinese words written on above bricked Wall) is sosooooooo horribly stinky dirty!!!!!!!

Below are prepacked Chicken Feets on sales :

Upon arrival in Kelamayi, we have Chinese Dinner at Hope Restuarant :

Soon, we check into Hope Hotel (located just next to Hope Restaurant) where we’ll be staying for a night :

Good nite all as I bring you yet another Slideshow featuring more pics taken of my day’s Road Trip from Burqin to Kelamayi. It’s been a pretty tiring cold wet day having travelled far from Kanas since early morning – so I’ll sleep early tonight Sweet Dreams…………………

I’m having Chinese Buffet Breakfast at Kanas Best Hotel Restaurant now :

Back to our Hotel Room after Breakfast – drinking more Wahaha Mineral Water cos remember I’ve got slight sorethroat last night?? Well, it’s much better today cos I drank some cool chilled Wushu Beer last night before sleeping – but just to be safe, am drinking more water right now……….hmmm I really like the Red Chinese Girl can-opener – so cute

We’re now checking out of Kanas Best Hotel - btw, I’ve never really known the English name of this Hotel – tried asking at the reception for Hotel pamphlets (a habit of mine whenever I travel!!) last night after dinner, but there isn’t any, & the people whom I spoke to have no idea at all, worse still, I don even remember its chinese name!!

But it doesnt matter, cos to me it should be, & it is, the best Hotel here in Kanas cos of its so beautiful settings & surroundings & most comfortable good heated Rooms & beds - so named “Kanas Best Hotel” by myself heheheeee

Well, below’s a pic of our Tour Coach Driver (whom we call “Shifu” meaning “Master Driver” in Chinese) with my brother-in-law Ah Hia.

YESSSSSSSSS Shifu is NOT afraid of the extreme cold at all, especially out here in Kanas since yesterday, & during our trips to Tianshi Tianshan (or Heavenly Lake & Heavenly Mountain) - 2 places which are extremely chilling!!

No matter how cold the weather is, Shifu’s always just wearing a normal thin short sleeved shirt & pants – compared to Ah Hia who’s wearing layers of clothes – thermal wear, shirt, jacket & scarf!!!

And Shifu has always been the only one (with no assistant driver!!) who’s been driving us along the long wide stretched Silk Road of China  – except when we were travelling in the Deluxe Oriental Express Train, & Kanas Public Bus. 

Ahahahaaa what a STRONG Shifu – KUDOS to you Shifu!!!

Anyway, we soon left Kanas & along the LONG ride through the Mountains, nature called making me sosooo “urgent” – YES I had to pee which I’d waited almost 2 hrs into the journey from Kanas Best Hotel (errhhhhhhhhhh due to too much Mineral Water earlier of course!!!)!!!

There wasn’t a single Toilet on sight so I got Shifu to stop by a Mountainous roadside to let me “Shi Shi” – ahhahhahah it was raining quite heavily when our lady Tour guide Siao Chen & I got off our Coach……………walked to the very nearby WET MUDDY Hillside & quickly found a spot -placed 2 umbrellas on the grounds (behind & covering me) while I released myself………………under the rain ahhahaahaaa so funny!!

What a true Natural Toilet Break indeed!!! Well, it sounds really embarrassing now that I’m mentioning it here – but then I didnt feel any embarrassment out there at all cos it’s very common that people (locals as well as Tourists) do that in China – & especially here along the Silk Road of China where Toilets are so scarce!! In fact sometimes even if there’s a Toilet available – tourists (like a few of my lady Tour mates!!) would rather pee outside in the open area cos the Toilets are simply too horrible!!! YES it’s true!!!

Haaaaaaa I’ve always reminded myself not to drink too much especially just before travelling on the roads – but guess I forgot cos I just wana get rid of my slightest sorethroat -which I did ahahahaa thanks to Ah Hia’s cool Beer & the Mineral Water

And well, 1st thing I did upon our arrival at Rainbow Beach (located at Burqin), I went straight to the Toilet again – this time a very clean huge proper sheltered Toilet Must be the much Mineral Water again which I drank this morning - Ohhh not forgetting that bowl of plain porridge Soup which I ate at Breakast too!!

Hey there’re Horses out here too Heheheh NOPE they’re actually just Horse Dummies – so real looking huh?!?!

It’s very very cold out here by the very lovely though drizzling wet Rainbow Beach so we’re all making a quick move back towards our Tour Coach :

Ladies Toilet visiting one more time again before we journey on from here - I don’t wana have another Natural Toilet Scene you know hahahahaaaa!!!

YES that’s what many Tourists bring along in their possessions during travelling in the extreme Coldness out here – a small bottle of Liquor to keep them real warm & feeling cosy – but I can’t drink (taking only a tiny little sip so persuaded by Auntie Ah Kheng!!!), unless I wana not sightsee but knock myself out sleeping in the Coach here along the Silk Road of China - hahahah you guess it right I’d be drunk if I sip just little bit more heeheheheee!!!!!

Enjoy my following Slideshow of more pics taken at Rainbow Beach :