Because I had to move at short notice and I had to take a train to Kashgar on Sunday afternoon, I had no plans to play.
Saturday morning, I woke up and packed up my hotel stuff. I saw that I didn't have a lot of stuff. I stayed for 20 days and added a lot of stuff. Initially, the three of us each had a suitcase and a bag. I ended up packing a couple of bags. When the unit brother came to pick us up, he couldn't give up the place. After all, if he moved there, he wouldn't be able to see such a beautiful night view from the 14th floor. Living here is not a long-term solution. If he moved there and cleaned it up, he would feel right at home.
It was 12 o'clock when I got home from picking up the delivery. I'm starving after moving the furniture around a little, and the room won't be cleaned up for a while. I'll probably put the comforter out in the sun so I can go to bed first and set the rest aside.
It's just that the utilities aren't paid for, and after a while they stop, and the internet bill isn't paid. Putting the big TV there was a showstopper too.
I made a random mattress and rested. I was so tired and sleepy that I fell asleep without realizing it. When I woke up, I retrieved my sun-dried things and made up the bed. It was warm, made of cotton, and very cozy.
Making up the bed, the three of us were discussing what was still missing and glanced at our cell phones. Dong Li's boyhood friend, an old friend from the same university in the Corps, had come to U.S.A.. Did he step on it? We had just moved back home when he arrived. The newly changed sheets and bedding can go straight to bed.
A date with a friend in Urumqi to eat a big meal, had the shrimp I wanted, found a good restaurant. After dinner, we walked together to send Peiyong back. He used to always send us, but today we sent him.
Me and Ward Little Buddy
It seemed like we had too much to drink and then we were on the street looking for a restroom. We thought we could go to the People's Theater, and the doorman said it was closing and he couldn't let anyone in. When we couldn't, we walked back and came to a civilian police office. Thinking there must be one inside, I knocked on the door and went in. When I registered to use the restroom, I noticed that a lot of people had registered to use the restroom in the book before. Looks like we weren't the first ones, hahaha. There was a super handsome armed police brother in the police room. We chatted around the armed police brother. He is from Hunan. He's going back this September when his tour of duty is over and he doesn't want to leave. Outside the police station, Dong Li couldn't stay any longer. He came in and asked if we wanted to leave. That's too bad. I think we can add the armed police brother on WeChat and go to the bathroom some other time. The armed police brothers here are pretty cool, though.
Wu Bui Huan Yong usually takes me home. This time, we sent them home before going back. It was already past 12 o'clock. Dong Li showed us the photos his parents took in Xinjiang, including the scenery of Hongshan Park. So we planned to go to Red Mountain Park after we woke up from our nap. He wanted to follow in his parents' footsteps, and we were just going to check out the scenery because on the first day, Brother Zhu drove us by and he said that Red Mountain Park was beautiful and worth a visit.
Because it was a 4:30pm train, we woke up, packed our stuff, and grabbed a few minutes to go to Red Mountain Park. What a coincidence that we ran into a cell phone checker on the way there, not far from our house. It wasn't much different from the parks I've been to before, but it was still beautiful, especially in that tower. It was nice to sit on the rocks with the wind blowing. And because it was so high, the whole thing opened up.
I was tired of walking around the park, and it was about time. I came out of the park looking for a restaurant to eat, and went into a noodle shop, thinking the noodles were better. I ended up finding them hard to eat, the spinach al dente had too much sauce and the shredded potatoes had too much sauce to be good. The side dishes with the noodles were not good, expensive, hard to eat, and small in quantity. I will never eat at this restaurant again.
Taking the train to Urumqi South Station. Dong Li took the bus **** bus nearby. The first time in a long time to ride BRT is still very good, at least more stable than the bus. Every day on the 17 road, 907 road buses to and from work the driver will really drive, stand can not stand, want to fly but can not fly.
When I arrived at the train station, I realized that the train was 50 minutes late. After a long wait, I finally got on the train to Kashgar. As soon as I got on the train, I climbed to the top bunk to sleep. I was really sleepy. When I got up, I was supposed to have dinner. I bought instant noodles on the train and didn't have any food. When I ate instant noodles, my brother at work gave eggs and my sister gave naan and grape yogurt. There was no shortage of food at all. Eating delicious food and revisiting the Wolf Warrior again, I was y moved. "Those who commit crimes against China, though far away, will be punished." After eating and washing up, I got off at the Korla train station and turned around for a while. After all, when I always listen to children's songs talking about Korla, I somehow have a good feeling about it. Then I sent a friend post, enjoyed the night view, and went back to the train to climb into bed and watch two episodes of _Ne_ in the Sleep of Fire.
Didn't get to Kashgar until after 11 on Monday. The train was 2 hours late and didn't come back after a night. When I got off the train I went straight to the town of Nezirbagh, where our unit is an ethnic unity family. I saw old grandpas playing ethnic instruments and dancing girls. The most important thing was that there was a basketball court in the courtyard of the town hall. It's a little sketchy, but it's just so exciting. The courtyard was beautiful and there was a big cage with a few peacocks.
Peacocks in the village council compound
For lunch, I went to a restaurant with an ethnic flavor. The decoration was beautiful, the main entrance looked grand, the restaurant had a nice layout and the walls were ancient. There are pictures of ethnic style, especially the two queen-size beds with golden mattresses, very comfortable. Everything was fine except that the scrumptious rice was too oily and the noodles were not good, the noodles were not bad. I don't think I can enjoy this blessing, people's meat should be authentic lamb.
After the meal we would go to meet our relatives and follow the only male minister in our unit. The minister was super nice. Following Minister Gao to the village where he has been stationed for two years, he walked and stopped along the way, telling us interesting stories about him, showing us beautiful courtyards, taking us to eat delicious food, and taking lots of pictures of us. At the village committee of the second village, Minister Gao gave us a whole "open car", or tricycle, and took us to the home of a Uyghur sister. She led the women of the village to open a tailor store and made their own clothes, so they went to her store. There were so many beautiful clothes, clothes, food, shelter and transportation, the simplest but most exquisite things we Chinese seek, clothes of all colors and styles hanging there, it felt good. Then I followed my sister to her courtyard. As soon as we entered, there was a big hallway with a carpeted porch where we could sit directly. There were grape arbors in the yard, but they were too high. In addition, her grapes were not for eating, but for cooling, which was very cool.
Daisy Wei invited us to her house. When we took off our shoes, the floor of the house was covered with carpet, which was soft to step on. There was a huge landscape painting hanging on the wall. The living room was high and cool. There was a big table with blankets and mattresses around it so we could sit cross-legged. My big sister brought us lots of food, cutting watermelon for our tea and frying us eggs. She wanted to give us all the delicious food. Minister Gao told us that on New Year's holidays, they would sit one next to the other. There was all kinds of food on the table, and then there was a big plate of meat on the table. The food was brought up on small plates and passed down to each person who would eat some of it and then drink and eat the meat in a very convivial way. The Chinese are known to live in groups, it families for four generations. The hustle and bustle is always welcome.
Children of the old village clerk's family
From the eldest sister's house, we went to the old village clerk's house in this previous village. When we went in, there was a long grape arbor with grapes within reach. There were a dozen or so children who were especially cute. They had very beautiful eyes, big eyes, black eyes, clear eyes, long eyelashes (here, the children's eyelashes were as long as Huo's, which made them envious), and dark, bushy eyebrows, all of which were on the ground. One particular child, holding a basketball, chatted with him and asked if he could play. He said yes, and a couple of little boys came over and we talked about basketballs. Then I was witty and showed them pictures of Curry and told them how great Curry was, promoting Curry in the process. The boys asked me what my name was, and I said my name was Geng Miao. Then Minister Gao said you wanted to ask them what their names were. I turned around and asked. When they finished speaking, I looked stupid because I didn't understand them at all. I said goodbye to the old branch secretary and went to his son's house. His family keeps sheep. It turned out that the lambs were all lying in the corner while the children mowed the grass. The lambs were standing in a row, very cute. The old branch secretary's son just came back from outside and brought us earth peaches. Although they look ugly, they really taste like peaches. I don't really like peaches, but I ate two of them.
Taking pictures of the kids, they were especially self-conscious about smiling in front of the camera and the pictures were super nice. They were so excited to have their pictures taken and shown to them and they were smiling so much. One of them was a little boy with a basketball. He was really super camera sensitive and tugging and cool and cute. And then there was his little brother, sitting there naked ignoring us, silently immersed in his own world. There were two little girls who were especially shy and embarrassed to look at us. After the talk, they sweetly said, "When are you coming back, Sister?" Her sister's cries melted hearts. After a long walk, the children kept following us. I used to dislike children so much that I could say I hated them, but seeing how cute they were, I don't seem to hate children so much anymore. Would love to go back to Kashgar to see them again.
That was a particularly cold penis back there.
Then I followed Minister Gao to the house where he married a relative. He was an old man. Minister Gao told us that he had been in good health for the last year and was in exceptionally good spirits. When he went to Urumqi, he played, talked and fooled around. This time, I saw the whole man pale a lot. Last winter, a disease made this thin old man old. When I arrived at the yard of the old man's house, I could clearly see that it was particularly shabby. Minister Gao said that he was sick, his wife's health is not good, the family has no other income. There are two daughters, the eldest daughter is studying in Urumqi, the youngest daughter is still in middle school, the burden is very heavy. Some of the state's poverty alleviation policies could not be accomplished because of some formalities, and the illness and financial pressure were too great. This old man is about the same age as Minister Gao, but looks older than him. Looking at the old man's cloudy eyes, tears turned out of the courtyard.
Walking on the village path, the sun shines through the gaps in the leaves of the poplar trees, and the breeze blows gently. The whole person was especially comfortable, and had the feeling of walking in a village in October in his hometown. The sky is very blue, white clouds, the sun is very warm, very relaxing.
Walking along the village path back to the village hall, we and others gathered to go to the train station. Since it was the 12pm train, it was still early and dark, so we got off the train at Snack Street, which is similar to the International Grand Bazaar. There were a lot of tourists, buildings with unique ethnic features, and a big square with pigeons. There were many stores and lots of food. Unfortunately, there were too many people in front of the baozi stores to eat the baozi.
One girl especially liked naan, so I went with her to buy naan. She said the naan in the village was 1 yuan, the naan here was 2 yuan, and the naan in Urumqi was 3 yuan. I laughed and said, it's getting red hot, but things are getting more expensive.
Walking down the alley, there are very few people. Looking at these beautiful houses, I didn't want to leave. Across the street is the famous snack street, selling figs. I wanted to buy and try them, but I didn't because they were too ugly.
Minister Gao came back and asked us if we had eaten the figs, and we said we didn't like the ugliness so we didn't buy them. Minister Gao said with particular regret, how can you dislike them ugly? The uglier they are, the riper they are and the better they taste. But they were really ugly. It's not good to judge people by their appearance, but it's really ugly and it affects your appetite. Well, I'll have to try them next time I get a chance.
The signposts are good.
But the food court looks good. The key to eating lots of food is lots of people with lots of meat. It's also a treat to watch. Unfortunately it seems like it's all lamb and beef, and some of the food I can't tell what it is. I can't really enjoy just looking at them.
When it was almost dark, I took a public **** bus to the train station. Looking out the window, Kashgar had a nice night view, especially with a foreign taro hotel. At the moment when our bus just passed by, all the lights were on outside, it was so beautiful.
On the way there was the East Lake Park. The building above the lake was beautiful, like a flower. Kashgar is really Xinjiang. It is a combination of modernity and ethnicity. It feels like you are really in Xinjiang here.
It was just too short. There were some places, like Princess Rong's tomb, that I didn't go to. Also, I didn't see my friends who played Wolfsbane together on the train from Taiyuan Urumqi. They came and went in a hurry. If I have another chance, I must go to feel the beautiful place of Kashgar for a long time.
The Legend of the Fig
The train arrived at Urumqi South Station at 5:00 pm the next day. I basically didn't get out of bed during that time, I just lay down and slept. I felt tired after continuous riding, and I felt dirty because I couldn't take a shower.
Finally, I arrived and had to walk back after riding the bus for almost an hour. Speaking of which, I have to mention one thing. Before coming to Xinjiang, I heard that cell phones would be checked on the street.
Saturday, we went out to the bus station, and when we passed that intersection, we were checked for cell phones. We ended up going back to that intersection and our cell phones were checked again. Honestly, this time I really couldn't be bothered to check my phone, so I just got fired up and tried to hurry back. It had just been checked the day before and both times it was in the same place. At that moment, I was really angry.
Came back and didn't go to work. Back home, I hurriedly took a shower and changed my clothes. As a result, the power went out before I could do my laundry and the only electricity ran out.
We didn't have an electricity card and couldn't pay the bill, so it was pitch black. I thought of going to my little friend's place to have a meal, so I went to his place, and I bought a lot of food along the way, especially the big bag of milk, 5 dollars a pound. Then think of all the milk we have at A&M, so cheap.
I still miss the milk from A&M University. I miss the big uncle or little brother who sells milk. Every night, the lights in the darkened campus of A&M somehow made you feel warm, especially in winter when classes were over. It was warm and sweet to buy a bag of milk.
Oh, I digress. Moving on to this milk. It's delicious cold and unsweetened, and my favorite, chicken thighs with cold shredded potatoes. Had I known I wouldn't go to his place, I would have just bought it and eaten it myself, but there was nothing in the house, pots and pans.
When I got home after dinner, I tried to journal. Went to bed early, probably too tired from the car ride. I couldn't wake up Wednesday morning. Actually, I woke up after 7:00am. I glanced out the window and went back to sleep. My room was so cold I woke up in the middle of the night. Curled up under the covers in the morning, not wanting to come out. My God, the heating here doesn't start until October and it's only the end of August. How am I supposed to live with the weather getting colder in another month?
A busy day passed with a meeting at the office today. At noon, the food in the cafeteria was as bad as ever. In the evening I came back from work in Zhu's car. Today Zhu wore a suit, very handsome. Hungry rice noodle, spicy is still good, but I didn't finish it. I don't know why I am allergic. I feel itchy. Took anti-allergy medicine and went to sleep. The effect was too strong. I couldn't wake up Thursday morning. I was cold and sleepy and very uncomfortable. I really don't want to go to work.
There was another meeting today. The food in the cafeteria seems to be better today because of the leaders who are out there inspecting, but it's still awful. I went to sleep after eating, and I couldn't wake up, and I kept having inexplicable dreams. Too uncomfortable. In the afternoon, I wasn't very busy. I handed out tickets for the fair. I was so happy, I could go and play, I could see many jewelry foods with national characteristics. After all, the name is so high, I went to the Asia-Europe Fair -.
Asia-Europe Expo
On the way home from work, I met a dog and laughed when I saw it. When I saw the dog, I thought of the Ultimate Challenge, and when I thought of the Ultimate Challenge, I thought of Sun Mei. My mom, don't look too much alike. Then I blurted out Sun Hong Lei, and my little friend laughed and said don't do that, but his expression was so honest that his smiling face was trembling.
I was reminded again of that episode of Extreme Challenge where one of them was holding a dog that felt a lot like Sun. Today, I finally saw a real dog. Really liked it, especially the eyes, which are not quite the same.
Oh my god, it's finally done. Typing hurt my hands. It's really tiring to code on a cell phone. When will we have wireless so we can use computers so we don't have to be so tired?
I still want to go to Kashgar again and walk to the edge of Xinjiang. It feels like the real Xinjiang. Urbanization has gradually assimilated or replaced and disappeared a lot of things with ethnic characteristics. In Urumqi, it's like changing from one city to another. It doesn't feel like you're in Xinjiang if you're not oriented. Without looking at a map, it doesn't seem that far off.
Do you still remember the dream you had when you were young, like a flower that never withers, accompanying me through the wind and rain, looking at the impermanence of the world and the vicissitudes of life? I came to the other side of the motherland and walked far, far away. Go go go. I always have to learn to grow on my own. It's not impossible to walk a distance alone, but it might be better with you. Go alone if you have nothing to say.