Monday, June 24, 2013

Hotan

Out of the desert and into the 'oasis' respite of Hotan.  I suspect that we are in the best hotel available.  It has all the amenities provided in 'western' hotels.  What we needed was the hot shower to wash off the sand that penetrated everything.

Once we were watered and fed Lun organised a local 'taxi' to take us to the bazaar and to the 'Jade' market.  The taxi ride was a hoot but not entirely safe.  Road rules just don't apply.


Good choice guys sitting at the back.  Yeah right hand turn from the left lane - why not - it is across three lanes of traffic - of course they will give way.





Jade market on the banks of the river from which most of the Jade is mined.  I thought Jade was green but it comes all sorts of colours.  The traders gather, inspect, sell and purchase these 'rocks'.  Don't have a clue what a good stone looks like.





Amazing what these rock are turned into.


The guys who crave the rock are artists.  The prices asked are huge and I suspect by the time the finished product hits markets such as Hong Kong the prices have increased many times over.


These traders appeared to doing the small time selling and buying.



Don't know one rock from another - but we enjoyed looking.


The police are present keeping good order.



Back to the bazaar - after the spectacular bazaars we have seen this one was bit of a disappointment.



The Linseed oil press caught my eye.  Looks like it works similar to a morter? and pestle. 




Scooters and small motorcycles are everywhere and they are the main means of travel.






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