Dear Readers,

I apologize for the long delay since my last post, but I have updates! In the past three years, many events have taken place. After spending about a year with my grandfather, my father came into the city of Kashgar to pick me and my sister up. We were out of the path of the enemies, and it was safe for us to continue with our journey to the Mediterranean. Over the past couple of years, we have traveled through multiple cities along the way including Bukhara, Merv, Rhagae, Ctesiphon, Palmyra, and finally ended in Tyre. We stopped in these cities because they were the major stops for caravan routes along the Silk Road.

Once we arrived in Tyre, we sold all of the products we had! My father was so happy that this extremely long, eventful, and exhausting journey paid off. We were able to purchase some of the goods other people had as well, and were very grateful for what we recieved.

I am so glad my father took me and my sister on this trip even though at times it was very scary, I learned so much and it was such a great experience learning how to barter with other people for products, sell goods of my own, and travel in caravans. I definitely hope I will be able to make this journey across Asia again later in my life with my own family even though it is a very tiring trip. In the next month or so, we start our expedition back home to Chang'an, which will take another 8 to 10 years. This trip definitely makes you grow old, but it is well work it.

Thank you all for taking the time to read my blog on my Silk Road travels.

Sincerely,
Mei <3

This was our final destination- Tyre!

Dear Readers,

Do not worry! This story ends well! Based on my last post, it sounded like I was in a very dangerous situation. Well, after traveling for so many days, I got to know the man who had kidnapped me, and he was actually very nice! I figured out the whole story of why this event took place, and this is what he told me:

The man who got me was a friend of my grandfather, whom I have never met. My father's father was a merchant along the Silk Road as well, and ended up staying in Kashgar as a permanent residence. He told me that there were men that were going to be along the route to Khotan, the city where I was supposed to be going with my father, that highly despised my father, and were going to try to take and kill my sister and I as revenge. Therefore, my grandfather was going to take us in to keep me and my sister safe, and these men were messengers who came to tell my father the situation and to pick us up. My sister and I had to separate so that the enemies wouldn't be able to find us. The story began to make sense in my head, and I was so relieved to finally know what was going on.

After we arrived in Kashgar, I finally was able to meet my grandfather. It was an amazing and special moment to meet, and he reminds me so much of my father. He told me that in order to keep us safe, we would have to have to temporarily go undercover under a new name. After we picked new names to go by while in Kashgar,my grandfather told me and my sister that the next day we could go explore the city and learn all about the culture of the city and all about the Silk Road too! I was so excited, and couldn't wait for the next day's activities.

We visited the heart of the city of Kashgar, where there are many buildings made out of mud. Most of the homes in the city have courtyards with a variety of vegetation. It was definitely a fun day touring this city!

Sincerely,
Mei <3

This is Kashgar's old city.

Dear Readers,

I am writing to try to calm myself down because I am so scared right now! About three weeks after my last post, an event took place that scared me to death. My family and I were stopping in a small town along the route for the night, and we decided to retire in a small hut-like structure. My father went out for a few moments, and a strange man jumped in, grabbed me and my sister, and dragged us out! Outside of the tent, there were two camels, one that was his, and one that was one of his friends. The strange man put my sister on the back of the friend's camel, and me on the back of his. They spoke in a language that I wasn't familiar with, and then, we were off. But, instead of both camel's following one another, we separated, and went in different directions.

This whole scenerio happened so fast, that it didn't even hit me what happened until I felt the cool, night breeze on my face, and I realized I wasn't in a safe place asleep, under the care of my father. I started to panick, but I didn't want the man to know that I was afraid, so I tried my best to stay calm. All I wished for at that moment was to make sure my sister was okay, and to be with my father, too. I realized that the man began to talk to be with a very strong accent, so it was hard to understand some of his words. I couldn't hear any of the words he was saying because I was too focused on looking back at the little town where my family was. And then, from a far, far distant, I saw the distant shape of a man- my father. It almost looked like he was waving goodbye, and suddenly I was extremely confused. Why would my father be okay with me being kidnapped by a random man? Did he plan this? Why isn't he trying to help me or my sister? So many questions began to rush through my head, and I was overcome with fear and anger.

"YOUNG GIRL!" the man yelled. I realized he noticed that I hadn't been listening, so I turned back around and replied, "Yes? I'm sorry." "Don't worry about anything. We are going to the city of Kashgar, a little bit of a different route than how you were going to go to Khotan. You will be okay," he answered. Somehow, this didn't comfort me, and I closed my eyes and fell asleep.

So, now that event was about 6 months back, and we are about to arrive in Kashgar. I will have to wait and see what will come of the arrival in this unfamilar town. I will write again when I have updated news.

Sincerely,
Mei <3

This is apparently where we are headed...

Dear Readers,

What a long and eventful journey we have had so far!! It's been a little over two years since my last post, and I do apologize for the long delay, but sales have been remarkable! We have made it all the way to the city of Dunhuang, but the trip was long, tiring, and scary in some situations! We actually just left yesterday to continue with our journey along the Silk Road!

We ran into some unusual situations along the way as well. Some of the people that we came across while passing through some towns tried to steal some of our goods! I couldn't believe it! We managed to get the things back and to run the people off, but the situation was definitely scary to me! My family and I are traveling in a large caravan, and even have some guards to protect us, which made the stealing scenario even scarier to me! We have already sold so many of our products, and we are hoping to sell even more once we get to the Mediterranean Sea!

Along the journey, my camel began to walk extremely slow, and even started walking with a bit of a limp. We stopped to see what was wrong, and it turned out that something sharp was poking in his leg. We are traveling through some rough conditions throughout China, in the desert most of the time, so he must have stepped in something along the way.

Well, that's all the time I have to write today. We are continuing our journey, and our next stop is Khotan. Below I have put another map of where we have been, too!

Sincerely,
Mei <3

We have been in Dunhuang!

Dear Readers,

Hello, everyone! My name is Mei and I am an eighteen-year-old female living in China. I live in a merchant family, so I know I will be a merchant when I am older as well. It is definitely a rarity to see a female trader, but my father had no sons, so he raised me and my younger sister learning all about becoming a merchant. Tomorrow we start our journey along the Silk Road to sell and buy all different products!

We are making a journey all the way across the China to the Mediterranean Sea. My family and I live in Chang'an, and the first stop we make along the Silk Road is in the city of Dunhuang. I am selling, or really helping my father sell, many different Chinese products including silk, teas, salt, sugar, and spices. Even though many of the other cities in China might already have some of these, we are traveling all the way to the Mediterranean Sea where people will not have these goods. This journey is going to take many, many years, probably around 10 years!

I will not be able to write everyday, every month, or even every year! I will try my best to add an entry every couple years to record my progress on this journey. I am excited and nervous at the same time, and I hope we have a safe and productive trip on the Silk Road for the first time!!

Sincerely,
Mei <3

{Also, below I have attached a map of China that shows where my hometown is. I will put a map on all my posts to show where I am. Also, I have a picture of some of the different kinds of silk we will be selling. Hope to post something again soon!}

Silk we trade on the Silk Road^^

This is my hometown!