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March 13, 2006
Korla in the News
My beloved Xinjiang hometown of Korla has made it into the spotlight again, this time in a Xinjiang travel piece by Jeff Kingston for The Japan Times (supposedly "Japan's leading English-language daily newspaper"). As I found Kingston's article on the website of journalist Howard French, who visited Korla for the New York Times late last year, I figure the pair must have been travelling through Xinjiang together. (That's right, I am some sort of detective.) Both men, at least, have fond memories of Korla's Russian dancing girls.
Kingston's article managed to bring back some vivid memories of the magical world that is Korla. (Speaking of pictures, French's photo gallery has some great shots from all over Xinjiang.)
The fake palm trees with flashing neon fronds lining the main drag are the first sign that my guidebook is out of date. A skyline of shiny new office buildings, cranes and construction sites heralds an instant oil-opolis.
Could anyone possibly disagree that modern China's most charming urban phenomenon is the proliferation of neon palm trees? I don't think so.
But where do the oil-men squander their wealth at night? Most hotels provide a menu of services for lonely men, and bars and nightclubs with names such as Yes, Shooting Star, Bar 1,2,3 and Happy are equally obliging watering holes, where you can cringe at the unfortunate mix of too much alcohol and loud karaoke.
Congratulations to the 1-2-3 Bar ! You've made it into the international press. And thank you, Jeff Kingston and Howard French, for visiting the Chinese city with a special place in my heart.
posted March 13, 2006 at 11:25 AM unofficial Xinjiang time | HaoHao This!
Comments
the commenter on that picture says you're "famous" in the province. is that tongue-in-cheek, or have you actually gained some notoriety? if so, you should make posters with your face on them but no text and then paste them to lampposts all around xinjiang.
Posted by: ben at March 13, 2006 10:28 PM
I think it's tongue-in-cheek, although I was famous in Korla just for being me.
Posted by: michael at March 13, 2006 11:14 PM
Hello there,
I would like to ask if you know whether there is any newspaper in Xijiang or Kashgar that I can contact via email or you can give me their post address so that I can send them. For I want to ask them for publishing something.
The article that I would like them to release is related with Naive Muslim girl who was cheated by this guy living in Beijing. He used to make a girl jumbed over from the university building of CAU in Beijing, China. The girl who died by committed suicide is also from Xijiang. He made them both pregnant and lying and promise but he then escaping.
Posted by: Kebira Andson at March 24, 2006 05:55 PM
It is not a big deal, I don't believe you can find such a newspaper. I know the person you mentioned. He is a nice guy, and I also know that the girl who died by committed suicide was not pregnant. The police 100% confirmed it. I don't believe you...
Posted by: Arkin at May 23, 2006 10:29 AM