After our breakfast at the hotel, the bus took us for a scenic drive outside the city. We drove along the Flaming Mountain Range, called that for its red color. The bus stopped on the road since there was no shoulder, and the driver waited while we walked to a scenic lookout. We could see a river and vineyards below. There were buildings for drying grapes for raisins. It was interesting to see the greenery in the canyon below when there was nothing but rocks and dirt where we were.
Soon we arrived at the Uygur Buddhist Caves. We walked down steps to get to the caves that were open to the public. Long ago the caves had first been dug out, then covered with mud to provide a smooth surface to apply paint. The walls of the caves were covered with deteriorating religious paintings. Unfortunately, many treasures that had been there were stolen by European explorers.
After viewing the last cave, I stopped to listen to a man playing a stringed Chinese instrument. He handed the instrument to me, and motioned for me to play it. Even though I had no idea how to play it, I managed to play something while he played a drum. Then we switched instruments. I found it amusing that some Asian tourists took lots of pictures and movies of us. On the way out, one Asian man even indicated to me that I had done a good job.
Next we drove to a raisin farm. We were given the opportunity to pay to watch a cock fight, but we refused. We enjoying walking under the grape arbors, past vendors, and into examples of a poor family’s house and a rich family’s house. We ended up at the home of a family who dried grapes into raisins. We got to taste watermelon and grapes. Then we got to taste several different kinds of raisins. The woman, I think, was expecting us to buy some of her raisins, but none of us seemed so inclined. She had two little boys there, so as a gesture of good will, I brought Cha-Cha-Cha out to talk and sing.
Visiting a vineyard where the grapes will be dried into raisins
We next went to a local outdoor restaurant that specializes in shish kabob, rice pilaf, and noodles. All of us chose to have shish kabob and the homemade noodles with tomatoes and beans plus tea. It was delicious. The portions were so big that most of us couldn’t finish our meal.
We returned to the hotel to rest, as is the custom, for a couple of hours during the hottest part of the day. Then at 5:30 we went to Karez Underground Irrigation Tunnels. They were dug in 1720. We went underground and saw water flowing through them. They are still in use today, but they don’t produce as much water as they used to. Dinner was at the hotel.
Paul won!
9469 steps, 4.03 miles