So, it’s been a month since your return to the US. Now that you’ve had some time to reflect, how do you like being back?

It’s a shame you didn’t get to enjoy all the other sites around Turpan. I think that most tourist, like you, don’t get to really experience these places because the Turpan Tourism Board does a horrible job of educating travelers about why these places are so important and interesting.

I suggest you read a book called Foreign Devils on the Silk Road. Coincidentally, I just reviewed it on my website (check it out here) and I think it gives a historical depth to any trip to Xinjiang – whether you’ve already been or you plan to go again.

Glad you at least liked Jiaohe…but what about the Emin Minaret?

(keep up the writing!)

The general idea was that if you request to surf my couch, show respect to me and other surfers by making sure you actually show up when you say you will. If I agree to host you then I’m probably saying no to one or more other people. And in the event that you don’t show up then not only do you lose out but the other surfers I said no to lose out as well. And that’s not right.

Welcome to CouchSurfing Shawn! I hope you have only good experiences with it. Eventually you will learn what works for you and what doesn’t, and you can come up with your own rules of conduct. Good luck!

@Edna: Yes I am back in the US. Not sure if it’ll be for good, who knows where I’ll land next? I still have some places to write about, so you can look forward to those while reading through the archives. Thank you so much for your compliments. I don’t know if it really is easy to read, I mostly write stream-of-consciousness and fix it up a bit afterward. I’ll try to keep it up though!