The Opposite End of China (Xinjiang, China)
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Faced with what could be my last vacation in Xinjiang, I headed north to the Altai Mountains. These photos are from Kanas Lake (Kanas Hu) and my two-day journey by horse to Hemu Village.

Sunrise, heading north on a sleeper bus somewhere between Urumqi (Wulumuqi) and Burqin (Buerjin). Those feet in the foreground belong to David Shallcross.
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Sunrise, heading north on a sleeper bus somewhere between Urumqi (Wulumuqi) and Burqin (Buerjin). Those feet in the foreground belong to David Shallcross.
Last comment 02/18/08.
Viewed: 3187 times.

Our sleeper bus pauses for a morning bathroom break (not that there was a bathroom) in the middle of nowhere AKA the Junggar Basin. Lincoln, Xiao David, and Carrie stretch their legs.
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Our sleeper bus pauses for a morning bathroom break (not that there was a bathroom) in the middle of nowhere AKA the Junggar Basin. Lincoln, Xiao David, and Carrie stretch their legs.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1731 times.

The third and final bus drove us the last 3 hours from Burqin (Buerjin) to Kanas Lake.
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The third and final bus drove us the last 3 hours from Burqin (Buerjin) to Kanas Lake.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1470 times.

Without much sun during our first two days at Kanas, the temperatures were downright cold. William and Zoe pose - in jackets - for a "couple shot" next to the lake.
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Without much sun during our first two days at Kanas, the temperatures were downright cold. William and Zoe pose - in jackets - for a "couple shot" next to the lake.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1464 times.

Is that sun I see? Hooray. If you look closely at the top of the mountain you can see the little viewing pagoda we would reach (with extreme effort) the following day.
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Is that sun I see? Hooray. If you look closely at the top of the mountain you can see the little viewing pagoda we would reach (with extreme effort) the following day.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1528 times.

Finally, the sun breaks free and gives light to alpine splendor.
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Finally, the sun breaks free and gives light to alpine splendor.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1419 times.

We started our supposedly one-and-a-half hour hike to the Kanas Lake viewing pavilion in the rain. Four hours or so later, we made it to the top. Along the way, I met this strange man dressed in plastic bags.
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We started our supposedly one-and-a-half hour hike to the Kanas Lake viewing pavilion in the rain. Four hours or so later, we made it to the top. Along the way, I met this strange man dressed in plastic bags.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1360 times.

Hooray for "panorama mode" on my new digital camera. This is a three-photo shot of Dragon Bay on ther Kanas River. Look at that island of trees and use your imagination... the dragon's tale goes off to the right.
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Hooray for "panorama mode" on my new digital camera. This is a three-photo shot of Dragon Bay on ther Kanas River. Look at that island of trees and use your imagination... the dragon's tale goes off to the right.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1754 times.

Three-quarters of the way up the mountain, I snapped this shot of Kanas Lake. Good thing, too, because the clouds soon came back to block the splendid view.
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Three-quarters of the way up the mountain, I snapped this shot of Kanas Lake. Good thing, too, because the clouds soon came back to block the splendid view.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1650 times.

A view of Kanas Lake from the viewing pavilion. Damn you, clouds! Still pretty, though.
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A view of Kanas Lake from the viewing pavilion. Damn you, clouds! Still pretty, though.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1487 times.

If you didn't know me better, you'd think from this shot that I'd climbed Mt. Everest or something like that. No suck luck. This snowy mountaintop was visible from the Kanas Lake scenic spot.
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If you didn't know me better, you'd think from this shot that I'd climbed Mt. Everest or something like that. No suck luck. This snowy mountaintop was visible from the Kanas Lake scenic spot.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1324 times.

Me, with Kanas Lake behind.
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Me, with Kanas Lake behind.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1335 times.

A look back down towards the Kanas tourist village area. I was staying in that cluster of houses and yurts in the bottom right of this photo.
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A look back down towards the Kanas tourist village area. I was staying in that cluster of houses and yurts in the bottom right of this photo.
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1985 times.

The alternating rain and sun created perfect conditions for rainbow viewing on our trip.
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The alternating rain and sun created perfect conditions for rainbow viewing on our trip.
Last comment 06/05/07.
Viewed: 1653 times.

No sooner had we made our way back down the mountain than we were approached by this Kazakh guy and his friends. They wanted to take us on a two-day horse trip to Hemu. We said, "Sure. What the heck."
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No sooner had we made our way back down the mountain than we were approached by this Kazakh guy and his friends. They wanted to take us on a two-day horse trip to Hemu. We said, "Sure. What the heck."
Last comment 02/17/08.
Viewed: 1732 times.

   
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