Sex and the Desert

Over 80% of the businesses in Tazhong are related to the flesh trade, be it the hair salons without a single scissor or hairdryer in them, the massage parlors that offer reflexology and more, the karaoke joints, the “recreation” centers, or the only hotel in town.

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Midnight Call from the Cops

In a small town named Kucha, a group of policemen came to my hotel at midnight and requested for a “chit-chat” session, according to them, the purpose of the talk was to better protect foreigners in town, but I felt more intimidated than protected.

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Beneath Watchful Eyes

Apparently, quite some tourists who owned a SLR camera have been mistaken as journalists. A few days ago, I met a Thai tourist, who claimed to have been detained by the police for some two hours, as he was being suspected an undercover journalist.

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A Year On, Scars Remained

As the anniversary of the ethnic riots approaching, the mood in Urumqi is a little tense but calm. Armed personnel travel in trucks – which very often bearing red banners with huge white letters delivering strong messages like “Stay away from the manipulation of separatist movement”, or “Racial unity for a harmonious society” – patrol the streets all day long.

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