Today I left Xi'an, and I have many stories to tell about that place! First, I arived from my home in Turfan, only to hear the wonderful sounds of Grand Orchestra from the palaces. It was a welcoming sound and a very brilliant city. Turfan was a completely different sight! After I bought a lovely woven basket set from a rather pricey merchant, I bought silk for a new dress my seamstress was proudly working on, grapes and berries for the long journey to other cities, and my greatest find was a flute made of hard glass imported from Baghdad. The colorful glass was light green and blue with a floral pattern. Tomorrow I will return to my home in Turfan, meet with my mother, grandmother, and sisters to recive goods from other parts of the road. My mother said to me before I left, "Young aristocrat, you will reach a new journey today, bring back silk and spices for this old house, and for the people inside, and I will make for you a fine dress for your next adventure." I plan on reaching Samarkand by nightfall tomorrow, for I will not stay at Turfan long before my camel, Mika, and I set off.
~ Naymei Belford
April 13, 2010
I swept through Turfan as fast as I could, but brought upon someone with me. A lost boy around the age of 12 had been abandoned by his mother whom had been a wealthy merchant. He was from Baghdad, and perfect for hard labor that I myself couldn't lift. I took him to my home on the highest point of Turfan. My mother gasped at the rags he wore, and demanded me to help her with his new clothes. I stiched and pinned the leftover silk from Xi'an, and made a modern Turfan suit, with soft leather shoes. He spoke my language, ate my food, and knew my fables by heart. He was truly an amazing boy. I learned his traditioins and combined his with mine. Together we ate baghdad and Turfan's best recipes. My Grandmother called it Zimalphion Hargemtori. It was rice, corn, milk, bread, and chicken. As dessert we had a traditional cerimony that welcomed a child into a family. The process was call Camoilison. In Camoilison, A child must accept the offering as a new child, eat a slice of corn bread with a raw fish on top, and perform a speech giving tea to the elders of the family. After the process is performed, we learned his name was Alphomon. I finally asked my mother about the dress she made me. I turned to the corner of the living area, and saw a beautiful pink and blue gown. It was made of a soft fabric and it was far better than any dresses my seamstress made for me. I tried it on then looked in the mirror. Just then my mother swept in and beamed toward my reflection."Oh! It is just as I expected! These colors go perfect with your dark hair!" She exclaimed. "Why thank you mother, I love the dress." I replied. After I finished gathering my things, I went toward the stables and strapped my supplies to Mika. Alphomon helped steady the bundels of grain, water, and other important things, such as about 2,000 Yen. I had earlier asked my sister, Maliness, if I could borrow her son's camal, Elpo, and let Alphomon ride him. I helped set the saddles on our camals and we were off to Samarkand.
~ Naymei Belford
April 14, 2010
We arived late at Samarkand, for Mika had stepped in a hole and had a 6 hour lameness. I found a near-by oasis that some travelers reffer to as the "Wenipola oma Packruno" or savior of the dessert, because of the long streak of endless dry sand. I diped a rag from a case on the biggest rock near the water. I wrapped it around Mika's leg to slow the swelling, and set up a tent in the large shadows of the rocks.We quickly fell asleep to the song of the small waterfall, while Aphomon stayed up until 2 A.M. watching Mika, changing her wrap every hour, and Elpo, feeding him a handful of rice for behaving so well. As morning arived, I woke to the sound of the merchant's voices, and I knew Samarkand was close. When Aphomon exited the tent I gathered our things and loaded the camals with our supplies. We headed in the direction of Samarkand when something disasterous hit us. In the distance I could see a very large sandstorm heading our way. I imediately turned Mika and instructed Aphomon to do the same with Elpo. We ran away from the storm as fast as we could, but I knew it wasn't fast enough. I threw everything on Mika's back to the sandy ground and watched Alphomon as he loosened his goods from Elpo's back. He threw them the same way I did, and we covered our heads and the camals the best we could to eliminate the chance of damage to the eyes or lungs. I could feel the strong wind blowing the morning-warmed sand around the dessert. I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes the bags of supplies were no longer over my head. I stood up and saw Alphomon staring at me. "Okay. Time to go to Samarkand!" I said clapping my hands together. We loaded up the camals and we were off to our destination. By about 11 P.M. we arrived, and I rented out an ancient guesthouse for the night. We quickly fell asleep after our day of exaustion.
~ Naymei Belford
April 15, 2010
We woke up to the sound of the birds chirping. I got dressed in a floral dress and Silk-topped walking shoes with leather soles. Alphomon ran out into the warm sunlight. I chased Alphomon around the city and accidentally bumped into someone while in the process. "Oh, pardon me!" I got a better look at her and realized that she had the same dark brown hair as my childhood friend, Cloraine Smith. "Cloraine? Is that you?" I asked confused. We haven't seen each other since we were children. "Yes, yes it is indeed." "Oh Cloraine! I've missed you so!" I said wrapping her in a hug. Just then Alphomon came over to me and said "Oh, mother! That child over there just thumped me in the head!" I looked over at him and saw a young boy around 6 years old standing by Cloraine. "This is Tommy. He is my little cousin." Cloraine told me. "Oh. This is Alphomon. I found him at Turfan. I couldn't leave him, so I decided to take him to meet his parents at Baghdad." Alphomon smiled at me. We talked for a very long time before I realized Tommy and Alphomon were playing at the nearby park. "Oh, Cloraine. Doesn't that look like us when we were their age?" I asked her. We talked a little while long before Cloraine asked what had brought me here to Samarkand. "Well I figured I'd might as well take advantage of this lovely weather and look for some new adventures." I explained "What about you?" Cloraine smiled. "My father asked me if I would go sell some of his corn for money, and my mother asked me to barter some of her squash so she can try new food." She explained. "Well, it's getting pretty late, we had better get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow!" I announced standing up.
~ Naymei Belford
April 16, 2010
As morning aproached rapidly, I woke up with the sun in my eyes. It would have been a much more peaceful morning had Alphomon not thrown a pillow at my face. I hurriedly got dressed and packed many different types of food for my picnic with Cloraine and Tommy. We rushed out the door and packed the food and other supplies we needed for our trip to Baghdad on Mika and Elpo. We rode to a bench on the outskirts of Samarkand and sat down. After we ate an awesome meal I told her I must be on my way. I took my basket and set it on Elpo's back. I waved at Cloraine and turned to look ahead. Baghdad was about a day away on camal, so I had to go now. I was excited for the trip because I heard many amazing stories about how many great merchants and farmers selling, buying, and storytelling goods and stories. There was a camal circus going on every hour during the day, huge library with millions of books and fables, and a grocery store.....I've never been to one of those before. I was very happy! I imagined I cound stay there forever and see something new everyday. I was about halfway there before night fell, and we set up camp. I couldn't fall asleep because the howling wind outside.
~ Naymei Belford
April 17, 2010
I stayed up until the sun had shone through the thin fabric, but i only got 5 minutes of sleep after that. I ran outside and hurried packing up camp. I through it onto Mika's back and Alphomon jumped on Elpo. We rode as fast as we could until we got to Baghdad. I jumped of Mika and expected Alphomon to do the same. He kept running Elpo straight down the road, then took a sharp left. I jumped back on Mika and ran after him. It turned out Alphomon rode to his parent's house, and Elpo was waiting outside the door. I knocked on the big door and waited until an short, mid-age woman opened it. Inside I saw classical furniture, and people hugging. I knew it was because of Alphomon's return. I smiled and told the woman to tell Alphomon I said goodbye. After she agreed I turned to Mika. "Oh, and one more thing, tell Alphomon he can keep Elpo." I told her. I ran back to Mika smiling. I climbed on and rode off into downtown Baghdad. I took Mika to the camal-sitter, bought some kind of camal shampoo, and explored Baghdad. I bought and bartered silk, corn, and copper. I watched the circus as camals jumped and performed many other tricks. It was called Pfizer Fantasia. It was the funnest thing I've ever seen, and Baghdad was the funnest place I've been to on the Silk road. I picked up Mika and together we rode out of the city of wonders, back to my home in Turfan.
~ Naymei Belford
This was the experience of a lifetime! I've had so much fun exploring new things! I caught up with my childhood best friend, bought and bartered many things, and got
exotic items for my collection, Turfan's museum, my mother and siblings, and my amazing prize for being the very first Turfan woman to complete the whole Silk Road
Route. I had a very great time, and I will be returning home soon. I faced many difficult things in my journey, but I got over it and completed the Silk Road. I highly
recomend the trip to anyone. I very much want to take the trip again.
Anchient China Questions
An Era of Inventions New inventions during the Han Dynasty helped Chinese workers produce more than ever. Millers used newly invented waterwheels to grind more grain. (Miners used new iron drill bits to mine more what?) Ironworkers invented steel. (Paper was used by whom?) (For what?) Doctors discovered that certain foods prevented disease. They used herbs to cure illnesses and eased pain by sticking thin needles into patient's skin. (What is this treatment called?) The Chinese also invented the rudder which was a new way to move the sails of ships. (Why was this important?)
1. Q- Miners used new iron drill bits to mine more what? A- they used them to mine more salt
2. Q- Paper was used by whom? A- it was used by government officials
3. Q- Paper was used for what? A- it was used to record a growing amount of information
4. Q- What is this treatment called? A- it was called acupuncture
5. Q- Why was this important? A- it was important because it would allow shios to sail into the wind for the first time, and merchants could travel to islands of southeast Asia and into the Indian Ocean.
Xi'an
April 12, 2010
Today I left Xi'an, and I have many stories to tell about that place! First, I arived from my home in Turfan, only to hear the wonderful sounds of Grand Orchestra from the palaces. It was a welcoming sound and a very brilliant city. Turfan was a completely different sight! After I bought a lovely woven basket set from a rather pricey merchant, I bought silk for a new dress my seamstress was proudly working on, grapes and berries for the long journey to other cities, and my greatest find was a flute made of hard glass imported from Baghdad. The colorful glass was light green and blue with a floral pattern. Tomorrow I will return to my home in Turfan, meet with my mother, grandmother, and sisters to recive goods from other parts of the road. My mother said to me before I left, "Young aristocrat, you will reach a new journey today, bring back silk and spices for this old house, and for the people inside, and I will make for you a fine dress for your next adventure." I plan on reaching Samarkand by nightfall tomorrow, for I will not stay at Turfan long before my camel, Mika, and I set off.
~ Naymei Belford
April 13, 2010
I swept through Turfan as fast as I could, but brought upon someone with me. A lost boy around the age of 12 had been abandoned by his mother whom had been a wealthy merchant. He was from Baghdad, and perfect for hard labor that I myself couldn't lift. I took him to my home on the highest point of Turfan. My mother gasped at the rags he wore, and demanded me to help her with his new clothes. I stiched and pinned the leftover silk from Xi'an, and made a modern Turfan suit, with soft leather shoes. He spoke my language, ate my food, and knew my fables by heart. He was truly an amazing boy. I learned his traditioins and combined his with mine. Together we ate baghdad and Turfan's best recipes. My Grandmother called it Zimalphion Hargemtori. It was rice, corn, milk, bread, and chicken. As dessert we had a traditional cerimony that welcomed a child into a family. The process was call Camoilison. In Camoilison, A child must accept the offering as a new child, eat a slice of corn bread with a raw fish on top, and perform a speech giving tea to the elders of the family. After the process is performed, we learned his name was Alphomon. I finally asked my mother about the dress she made me. I turned to the corner of the living area, and saw a beautiful pink and blue gown. It was made of a soft fabric and it was far better than any dresses my seamstress made for me. I tried it on then looked in the mirror. Just then my mother swept in and beamed toward my reflection."Oh! It is just as I expected! These colors go perfect with your dark hair!" She exclaimed. "Why thank you mother, I love the dress." I replied. After I finished gathering my things, I went toward the stables and strapped my supplies to Mika. Alphomon helped steady the bundels of grain, water, and other important things, such as about 2,000 Yen. I had earlier asked my sister, Maliness, if I could borrow her son's camal, Elpo, and let Alphomon ride him. I helped set the saddles on our camals and we were off to Samarkand.
~ Naymei Belford
April 14, 2010
We arived late at Samarkand, for Mika had stepped in a hole and had a 6 hour lameness. I found a near-by oasis that some travelers reffer to as the "Wenipola oma Packruno" or savior of the dessert, because of the long streak of endless dry sand. I diped a rag from a case on the biggest rock near the water. I wrapped it around Mika's leg to slow the swelling, and set up a tent in the large shadows of the rocks.We quickly fell asleep to the song of the small waterfall, while Aphomon stayed up until 2 A.M. watching Mika, changing her wrap every hour, and Elpo, feeding him a handful of rice for behaving so well. As morning arived, I woke to the sound of the merchant's voices, and I knew Samarkand was close. When Aphomon exited the tent I gathered our things and loaded the camals with our supplies. We headed in the direction of Samarkand when something disasterous hit us. In the distance I could see a very large sandstorm heading our way. I imediately turned Mika and instructed Aphomon to do the same with Elpo. We ran away from the storm as fast as we could, but I knew it wasn't fast enough. I threw everything on Mika's back to the sandy ground and watched Alphomon as he loosened his goods from Elpo's back. He threw them the same way I did, and we covered our heads and the camals the best we could to eliminate the chance of damage to the eyes or lungs. I could feel the strong wind blowing the morning-warmed sand around the dessert. I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes the bags of supplies were no longer over my head. I stood up and saw Alphomon staring at me. "Okay. Time to go to Samarkand!" I said clapping my hands together. We loaded up the camals and we were off to our destination. By about 11 P.M. we arrived, and I rented out an ancient guesthouse for the night. We quickly fell asleep after our day of exaustion.
~ Naymei Belford
April 15, 2010
We woke up to the sound of the birds chirping. I got dressed in a floral dress and Silk-topped walking shoes with leather soles. Alphomon ran out into the warm sunlight. I chased Alphomon around the city and accidentally bumped into someone while in the process. "Oh, pardon me!" I got a better look at her and realized that she had the same dark brown hair as my childhood friend, Cloraine Smith. "Cloraine? Is that you?" I asked confused. We haven't seen each other since we were children. "Yes, yes it is indeed." "Oh Cloraine! I've missed you so!" I said wrapping her in a hug. Just then Alphomon came over to me and said "Oh, mother! That child over there just thumped me in the head!" I looked over at him and saw a young boy around 6 years old standing by Cloraine. "This is Tommy. He is my little cousin." Cloraine told me. "Oh. This is Alphomon. I found him at Turfan. I couldn't leave him, so I decided to take him to meet his parents at Baghdad." Alphomon smiled at me. We talked for a very long time before I realized Tommy and Alphomon were playing at the nearby park. "Oh, Cloraine. Doesn't that look like us when we were their age?" I asked her. We talked a little while long before Cloraine asked what had brought me here to Samarkand. "Well I figured I'd might as well take advantage of this lovely weather and look for some new adventures." I explained "What about you?" Cloraine smiled. "My father asked me if I would go sell some of his corn for money, and my mother asked me to barter some of her squash so she can try new food." She explained. "Well, it's getting pretty late, we had better get some rest. I'll see you tomorrow!" I announced standing up.
~ Naymei Belford
April 16, 2010
As morning aproached rapidly, I woke up with the sun in my eyes. It would have been a much more peaceful morning had Alphomon not thrown a pillow at my face. I hurriedly got dressed and packed many different types of food for my picnic with Cloraine and Tommy. We rushed out the door and packed the food and other supplies we needed for our trip to Baghdad on Mika and Elpo. We rode to a bench on the outskirts of Samarkand and sat down. After we ate an awesome meal I told her I must be on my way. I took my basket and set it on Elpo's back. I waved at Cloraine and turned to look ahead. Baghdad was about a day away on camal, so I had to go now. I was excited for the trip because I heard many amazing stories about how many great merchants and farmers selling, buying, and storytelling goods and stories. There was a camal circus going on every hour during the day, huge library with millions of books and fables, and a grocery store.....I've never been to one of those before. I was very happy! I imagined I cound stay there forever and see something new everyday. I was about halfway there before night fell, and we set up camp. I couldn't fall asleep because the howling wind outside.
~ Naymei Belford
April 17, 2010
I stayed up until the sun had shone through the thin fabric, but i only got 5 minutes of sleep after that. I ran outside and hurried packing up camp. I through it onto Mika's back and Alphomon jumped on Elpo. We rode as fast as we could until we got to Baghdad. I jumped of Mika and expected Alphomon to do the same. He kept running Elpo straight down the road, then took a sharp left. I jumped back on Mika and ran after him. It turned out Alphomon rode to his parent's house, and Elpo was waiting outside the door. I knocked on the big door and waited until an short, mid-age woman opened it. Inside I saw classical furniture, and people hugging. I knew it was because of Alphomon's return. I smiled and told the woman to tell Alphomon I said goodbye. After she agreed I turned to Mika. "Oh, and one more thing, tell Alphomon he can keep Elpo." I told her. I ran back to Mika smiling. I climbed on and rode off into downtown Baghdad. I took Mika to the camal-sitter, bought some kind of camal shampoo, and explored Baghdad. I bought and bartered silk, corn, and copper. I watched the circus as camals jumped and performed many other tricks. It was called Pfizer Fantasia. It was the funnest thing I've ever seen, and Baghdad was the funnest place I've been to on the Silk road. I picked up Mika and together we rode out of the city of wonders, back to my home in Turfan.
~ Naymei Belford
This was the experience of a lifetime! I've had so much fun exploring new things! I caught up with my childhood best friend, bought and bartered many things, and got
exotic items for my collection, Turfan's museum, my mother and siblings, and my amazing prize for being the very first Turfan woman to complete the whole Silk Road
Route. I had a very great time, and I will be returning home soon. I faced many difficult things in my journey, but I got over it and completed the Silk Road. I highly
recomend the trip to anyone. I very much want to take the trip again.
Anchient China Questions
An Era of Inventions New inventions during the Han Dynasty helped Chinese workers produce more than ever. Millers used newly invented waterwheels to grind more grain. (Miners used new iron drill bits to mine more what?) Ironworkers invented steel. (Paper was used by whom?) (For what?) Doctors discovered that certain foods prevented disease. They used herbs to cure illnesses and eased pain by sticking thin needles into patient's skin. (What is this treatment called?) The Chinese also invented the rudder which was a new way to move the sails of ships. (Why was this important?)
1. Q- Miners used new iron drill bits to mine more what? A- they used them to mine more salt
2. Q- Paper was used by whom? A- it was used by government officials
3. Q- Paper was used for what? A- it was used to record a growing amount of information
4. Q- What is this treatment called? A- it was called acupuncture
5. Q- Why was this important? A- it was important because it would allow shios to sail into the wind for the first time, and merchants could travel to islands of southeast Asia and into the Indian Ocean.