After its momentous journey across the mighty Khunjerab
Pass that separates the snowy mountains of the Karakorum from the sandy
wastes of Chinese Turkestan The Oriental Caravan
has come to rest at the desert oasis of Kashgar. |

Taking tea at a Kashgar wayside inn |

Hiking near Gulmit |
Valiantly overcoming all obstacles in their way, be they the
treacherous, inching glaciers of the Himalaya or the labyrinthine vagaries
of Chinese bureaucracy, all aboard the Caravan are today enjoying a
welcome break before we resume are march across the Tartarian tundra. |
For here in Kashgar the nightime sky is filled not just with
stars but with the songs and laughter of travellers from all across
Central Asia and beyond and, so too it seems sometimes, with the ghosts of
caravans long since vanished into the sands of time. |

Temporarily stuck on the KKH |

Looking toward Mt. Rakaposhi from the
Mir's throne in Baltit
Fort |
Many of those in town today are traders from all over
greater Turkestan and China, here for the Sunday Bazaar, the largest open
air market in the world. |
From here the Caravan continues across the forbidding
Taklamakan Desert to the wondrous Buddhist grottoes of Dunhuang and thence
to push deeper and deeper into the heart of the awakening dragon of China
herself. |

Much further? Day 1 en route to Besham. |

Abdul Qayum (above) - Gilgit's famous Spanish
speaking carpet dealer. |
Many thanks in particular must go to all the
friends along the way, both old and new, who have helped to guide us. For
all those at home and abroad please enjoy here some of the photos we've
taken along the way. |

Hameed - sporting the latest offering
from The Oriental Caravan's summer collection - a T shirt set to become de
rigeur among the highways and byways of Northern Pakistan. |
We'll write again soon and if at anytime you want to send an
email to any of us don't forget The Oriental Caravan
is online and rolling! |

By jeep en route to the Hopar Glacier |

Welcome big nose friends! |
Wish you were here! |
With very best wishes,
from all aboard
The Oriental Caravan |
Roll up for the magical Caravan tour! It's waiting to
take you away!
|

Watchman, Baltit Fort |

Pakistani truck (J. Ludlow) |