Extreme Makeover @ Pandan Gardens

[mae29 2]

It was a busy day at work today after a 15 days break!!

Now, managed to find some time to upload those pictures taken during my journey to the Silk Route!

We flew from Singapore to Beijing, and connect flight to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. The next morning, we visited the Tianshan Heavenly Lake. Temperature in Urumqi was around 28 degreesC, cool!

Blue clear sky with snow cap mountains in the backround, beautiful indeed!

Boat ride along the Heavenly Lake...fantastic feeling!

Edited July 25, 2011 by mae29

[mae29 2]

In Urumqi, we also visited the Redhill Park where the local people gather in the evening for leisure.

A local Uygar woman with her daugther...both are very pretty!

Visit to the Grand Bazzaire selling lots of handicraft knives, swords, herbs, local handicrafts, accessories, etc.

Our first meal in Urumqi, muslim food (with grilled mutton in the centre plate)

Edited July 25, 2011 by mae29

[mae29 2]

After spending a night in Urumqi, we flew to next destination - Kashgar or Kashi. This city is the most memorable as I had the chance to touch the snow for the first time, and I like the cold weather. We visited a local grand bazaar, a famous mosque. The next day, we drove to Tashkorgan on Pamire Plateau along Karakoram Highway with very beautiful mountain ranges along the way.

Kashgar has the World's 2nd most beautiful range of snow cap mountains!

[mae29 2]

The drive to border between China and Pakistan, passing by Aoyitage primitive forest. Two days prior to our arrival, it was snowing in the mountain!! By the time we arrived at the border, the snow was already melted but there is still traces of small patches of snow everywhere!!

Hmmmm....the smiles on my face say it all!

I squad down to collect some snow, but the tour guide didn't capture my hand with the snow ball!!

The border between China & Pakistan:

[csingeu 0]

woah! you have a gd camera and the scenery is breath-taking... the pictures look great and of coz, you look great too!

[LADY_R 0]

[quote name='mae29' timestamp='1311609427' post='656780'

Welcome back Sis Mae! Dont mind if I ask, how old are you bcos U look sooo gorgeous...

L O V E the beautiful scenery... & are there a lot of muslim people there?

I will be registering a company so that by 3 years time, I can claim accredition in the field of Chinese Metaphysics!

Malays & Christians do not believe in Feng Shui right?

Hmmm...somehow we have our own belief..some sort like fengshui.. example..when Im looking for flat..I'll try to find my main door or when I enter the house to be the direction of Qibla (direction to Mecca)..even the position of bed and also when we sleep (its best that we face the Qibla)..

[footprint 0]

It was a busy day at work today after a 15 days break!!

Now, managed to find some time to upload those pictures taken during my journey to the Silk Route!

We flew from Singapore to Beijing, and connect flight to Urumqi, the capital of Xinjiang. The next morning, we visited the Tianshan Heavenly Lake. Temperature in Urumqi was around 28 degreesC, cool!

Blue clear sky with snow cap mountains in the backround, beautiful indeed!

this is nice! lovely scenary!

and yes, u look young for your age lor.

seriously, who will believe you have 3 kids (adulthood somemore)

dun mind, i show my collg ur photos and he say you looks in your 30s ..

hee..

[angelbutterfly 0]

U really look great! I also admire u being a strong & capable woman!

[ugene512 0]

waa.. so fun!! i want to go too!!!

[mae29 2]

woah! you have a gd camera and the scenery is breath-taking... the pictures look great and of coz, you look great too!

Welcome back Sis Mae! Dont mind if I ask, how old are you bcos U look sooo gorgeous...

L O V E the beautiful scenery... & are there a lot of muslim people there

this is nice! lovely scenary!

and yes, u look young for your age lor.

seriously, who will believe you have 3 kids (adulthood somemore)

dun mind, i show my collg ur photos and he say you looks in your 30s ..

hee..

U really look great! I also admire u being a strong & capable woman!

waa.. so fun!! i want to go too!!!

Dear Brothers & sisters

Thank you for your compliments! I guess my age & photo are no longer a secret after my house was featured in ST's column 'My Space' in May 2011. I am 51 years old as at Feb...and still getting older as days past by...

The pictures were taken with my son's Sony Cybershot, and some shots were taken from my iphone!!

Urumqi has about 40% muslim, and Kashgar has over 60% muslim community. In a later post, I will upload the pictures of the beautiful local Uygar people.

[mae29 2]

Continue with the journey in Kashgar:

The Crown Inn Hotel in a small town called Tashkorgan surrounded by snow-crowned mountains, with full wireless internet available!!

The toilet facilities...

It is a 2-storey hotel operates by Singaporean

Surroundings....snow-capped mountains

Edited July 26, 2011 by mae29

[mae29 2]

....the beautiful town of Tashkorgan:

The quiet town of Tashkorgan, clean and NO traffic besides occassionally some tour buses, motor cycles & bicycles.

The Museam...not open yet when we visited

This is the type of mud-brick houses where the local minority people live.

the 'check-point' just outside the Crown Inn Hotel where travellers applied the permit to visit the border between China & Pakistan.

Besides the permit required to the border, all drivers are required to clock their time taken along the highway!! Penalty is imposed if drivers drive too fast and reached next checkpoint before target time!!

[footprint 0]

Besides the permit required to the border, all drivers are required to clock their time taken along the highway!! Penalty is imposed if drivers drive too fast and reached next checkpoint before target time!!

huh?

Serious? this is interesting.. if feel too fast, then got to slow down or stop, in order to ensure reach the next checkpoint according to the given time.

This place, the air must be really good.. coz not much pollution from the cars...

so nice!

[mae29 2]

huh?

Serious? this is interesting.. if feel too fast, then got to slow down or stop, in order to ensure reach the next checkpoint according to the given time.

Hi, sister

Yup, the speed is regulated as the 'highway' has dangerous sharp bends and single way traffic, and most of the time we can see mud/water flows from mountains.

Look at these pictures - the day when we were travelling to Tashkorgan, it was raining the night before and you can see mud flood and water pouring from nearby earthy mountains! We were stucked for nearly 6 hours in a small town and our driver decided to make a detour and brought us to the Glacier Park (not in our program, but the tour guide made alternate arrangement for us because we are a Private tour group and the Manager of local travel agency is a close friend of one of our group member!! So, we have VIP treatment all the way!!).

Landslide and rows of heavy vehicles lined up the side of road of the small town which was flooded!! From this picture, you can see the after math of the mud slide in the front end of road where clearing is in progress.

What happened to the village after the mud flood!!!

Villagers & workers clearing the muddy water in front of their homes/offices..

Range of red earth mountains everywhere...

Murky water overflowing onto the road...

This place, the air must be really good.. coz not much pollution from the cars...

so nice!

Tashkorgan is a very nice place with clean air, a drastic contrast when compared to Beijing!! I will post the pictures taken in Beijing and you can only see 'hazy' greyish sky, NO blue sky in Beijing!!

[Kobelala 8]

Nice to have you back Sis