Wandering To: Turpan

Like all serious travellers and photographers, I too have a hard disk chock full of images packed into folders that are delightfully building up. I love wandering into these digital suitcases of memories and browsing through the photos. Every time I do that, I remember a long forgotten moment and very soon am back in that place all over again.

Here, I am wandering to Turpan, the hottest place in China, which I visited at the peak of summer when temperatures soar to a blazing 45 degrees Celsius. It was close to mid morning and the heat was intense, the roads were a shimmering haze. Torpidly, I walked along a treeless road looking for a shop where I could buy something cold to drink. And suddenly, as if entering another world, I reached this green oasis to my right. Boulevards and wide sidewalks lined with lush, green trellises with plump, juicy bunches of grapes hanging from everywhere in a scene straight out of the Arabian Nights. I then remembered reading somewhere that Turpan is known for its vineyards that are lined all over the city. I clicked this photo just before I sat down at one of the quaint open air restaurants/cafes that had pretty courtyards with tables and chairs sitting in dappled sunlight. Beautiful moment, beautiful memory.