Goat’s Head Soup

“Some regions depicted in this story will be unfamiliar to the reader. I have included a map which will, hopefully, clarify the locales and route described in this story. A cursory glance at Wikipedia will be very helpful in filling in the blanks in terms of historical and geographical context when they arise.“ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk_Road

The route described in Goat’s Head Soup. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Polo

“Situated in the Tarim Basin, it lies just north of the Kunlun Mountains on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarim_Basin

Alien’s Travel Permit from 1985. Mandatory for travel in East Turkistan and Tibet for foreigners.

Chinese visa stamp from 1985

“Looking at all the smiling faces, I thought to take a photo, but cringed with regret. Remembering this morning when Ping Ling had hastened me out to buy a bus ticket, I had neglected to bring my camera with me.” Chapter 4

(Unfortunately I didn’t take any pictures during my brief stay in Khotan. The photos in the gallery below were taken in Kashgar during my several stays there during the fall of 1985.)

Sunday market in Kashgar

Craftspeople making dutars and other instruments. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutar

“Looking around for direction, I realized I was being followed by a handful of children who had happened upon me.” Chapter 1

Party night in Kashgar.

Dancing to the dutar. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutar

“Occasionally, I would see a preteen puffing away in these locales, but I refused him nonetheless. One of the smaller boys, eager to move up in the ranks, tried reaching for the pack at which I swatted his hand away and pushed him off the stoop.” Chapter 1

Textile market

Id Kah Mosque, Kashgar https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Id_Kah_Mosque

Id Kah Mosque

Neighborhood girl’s school in Kashgar

“I remembered seeing a gigantic Chairman Mao statue in Kashgar. The edifice had its right arm lifted over the city like a conqueror’s claim of domination over the inhabitants.” Chapter 4

Blacksmith

“It was a typical guesthouse in these regions. Sparse yet tidy. Just a mattress on a spring frame. The sheets were washed but still bore stains and cigarette burns from previous tenants. The comforter was folded back, topped with a pillow.” … Chapter 1 “Despite the paucity of furnishings in local accommodations, every room had a heavy-duty ceramic thermos filled with boiled water.” Chapter 3

My Uyghur initiation.

In the midst of another unusual story. (To be told later)

The Taklamaken Desert https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taklamakan_Desert

“I couldn’t help stopping for a moment at the booths of the cassette sellers. At every market, they could be found tucked away among the stalls and shops.” Chapter 4

“I ordered an enormous bowl of noodles and vegetables, paying just one yuan for it. Considering the amount of renminbi that I would get for FEC on the black market, a yuan would be about twenty cents U.S. money.” Chapter 2

One Yuan circa 1985

Cigarette packages from some of the local brands we used to smoke.

“On top of it was a ceramic flower vase in the shape of an elephant, with a few faded plastic flowers sprouting out of it. It was the only object resembling any decoration in the entire room.” Chapter 1