I chose the above proverb for this page because it occurred to me that snakes, frogs and centipedes are all items likely to be found on the menu of an average restaurant in China. In Chengdu my 'hotpot' included ducks tongues and goose intestines among other delicious treats.
Two men deep in discussion at Lake Karukal. I have absolutely no idea why the man on the left is masked as it was a clear and pleasant day in an unpolluted region.
The photographs below are from Kashgar and its famous market. Sorry if the cows heads offend anyone but they are necessary to give an accurate picture of just what the market is like.
The egg salesman is in Kashgar although not actually at the market.
I always love the quaint spelling of English that you see in the Far East. I'm not mocking, honestly, I love it. Once in China a man on the entrance to a temple asked me to turn his sign into better English. His read 'Everywhere to be looking around tickets.". My best effort was 'Tickets for access to all areas' but I wish he hadn't persuaded me to help as his was so much more expressive.
This one was spotted in Kashgar.
The Great Wall in it's restored (read rebuilt) glory at Jiayuguan (left) and its lesser but infinitely more authentic glory a few miles further along.
Jiayuguan's other modern reconstruction of an ancient monument is the fort but this has been so well done and is such a great place to visit that we'll forgive them.
Monks at Xia He. The town resembles a wild west frontier town with wooden buildings and muddy streets but is worth seeing for the monasteries which are there.
This supercillious fellow was spotted at Turfan.
This picture was also taken at Turfan at the ruins of Gaochang to be precise.
Two more temples. The one on the left is the Seven Storey temple which is filled to overflowing with paintings and statues of the Buddha while the one on the right is another of those at Xia He. Although both look suitably ancient and authentic the seven storey temple only dates to the nineteen fifties.
A truly beautiful spot to make camp somewhere in the Karlik Mountains.
Believe it or not this a is part of the Mosque in Xi-An.
I've included this because I like the picture. But I'll be honest and admit I didn't take it and can't remember where it was mainly because on the day that everyone went out to the dunes I was feeling worn out and spent the whole day asleep, rising only briefly at meal times. So I sent my camera with someone else and got pictures of a place I never actually went to.