Day 20: This is getting more interesting!! Going to Kashgar was not in our plan at all (we only dreamt of it during planning).
The famous Sunday Bazaar

We woke up as early as we could, caught a bus to Urumqi, bought bus tickets to Kashgar, and waited for time to pass at the bus station. Urumqi's long distance bus station has a large waiting room, with a few stalls selling last minute foodstuffs for travellers. There wasn't much things to do in its surroundings, and so, after a full lunch, we headed back to the station and 'stone' (did nothing, think nothing) in the airy place.
We were fully prepared for the 35 hour journey: bought bread, bananas, water, sausages, melon.
We were fooled by the driver again! It's stated on the ticket that the bus starts at 5pm, but after we boarded the bus on 5pm sharp, we were taken to another place, where many people loaded big bags onto the roof of the bus.
After waiting for 5 hours (10pm), we've finally started off to Kashgar!!
But this is not the end of our agony--we were woken up at 1am for supper!!!
 

Day 21: This is the most unbearable bus journey I've had so far!!! Chinese long distance buses have double storey beds, with a blanket thrown in. Therefore, throughout the whole journey, I was either lying on the bed (sleep), or spending a few precious minutes stretching myself whenever the bus stopped for 'toilet breaks'.
Travelling in the Taklamakan Desert was unbearably hot and sandy. Do not expect any scenery at all--there isn't. Everything is brown and dull and dead.
Whenever we woke up from our little 'naps', we would be covered with a layer of sand (but we only opened the window 3 cm wide!), and we'd eaten tons and tons of sand without we knowing!! Our hair became  sandy too, and by afternoon, we gave up brushing our hair (there's just no way to make our hair fall down nicely! they insisted to rest in all directions).
The bus had tyre puncture 3 times! And this stretched our journey by another 4 hours. Vehicles breaking down along this route is not unusual, cos it's really too hot here!
Our bus went through the towns of Korla, Luntai, Kuqa, Aksu, using the 'Northern Silk Route'.
 

Day 22: At last! Kashgar came to our view in the early morning! The past 36 hours was unbearable, as we tried to find a spot to relieve ourselves whenever the bus stopped on the side of the road. There were times that we had to hide behind some dried up bushes!! Talk about creativity!
The first and foremost thing we did, just as what most people who haven't had a  bath in 2 days would do---a thorough clean up, and I'm sure that both of us shampooed our hair twice!!
 

After the happy shower, we headed for a good lunch, and decided to explore Kashgar by cycling. Bicycle rental can be done at most hotels, and we got it from Qiniwake Hotel, at a very good rate.
It wasn't really easy to cycle in Kashgar, especially when there's a lot of traffic, and it's main road, Renmin Dong Lu, was under reconstruction.

Day 23: Sunday Bazaar Day!! This is the major draw for our visit to Kashgar. All our 36 hours bus ride is getting its worth once we stepped into the open air market place.
This is the most interesting bazaar I've ever been to. Everyone is in the bazaar: some pulling their goats for sale, others laid down their vegetables on the floor, while hawkers made  cold drinks for customers.
The bazaar is actually very well organized, with stalls selling clothing indoors, farmers selling their produce at one corner of the street, and those selling carpets in another building

Apart from the sunday bazaar, Kashgar has many places that need to enjoy slowly. Cycling is a good option to explore the outskirts, and get to see the daily life of the people.

Day 24: It's an 'outing' with our new friend (Yu Lin)--she's a waitress at Qiniwake's restaurant. Got ourselves 2 big loaves of freshly baked bread from Yu Lin's friend (for our trip back to Urumqi, another painful 36 hours!).
And we're not looking forward to the return trip (I remember Yanling telling me to 'encourage' her if she 'couldn't make it').
We've also found a good place to watch time pass--Id Kah Mosque. Go there and you'll see why!!