Big D,

Try reading a bit more carefully before responding. I was comparing the foods and cultures between the two regions of China, not between Xinjiang and your home town. I know a few female travelers who didn't have the best of times going overland in Xinjiang. Granted, they were taking trains and buses, but nevertheless. I myself have had some negative experiences there as did my girlfriend at the time. Same was generally true of the women I met who traveld overland in the Middle East. Perhaps because you live (or lived) in Xinjiang your perspective is different, but there's no comparing the general "friendlyness" of the Tibetans to the folks of Xinjiang. The Tibetans have to be some of the nicest, most fun loving people to be around... at least as a traveler and regardless of sex. Also, I'm not trying to discourage anyone from traveling to Xinjiang, it's an amazing place with outrageous history but I'm not going to tell someone it's all hunky-dorey either when I don't believe it is. This kind of travel exists in cultural contrasts and that, I believe, it the topic of the day.

Regarding the food, kabobs, beef rice, rotisserie chicken, tomato based sauces, nan, bagels and wheat based noodles are all generally more familiar with western stomachs. Yak milk tea, with yak butter in crushed barley in hot water for breakfast, lunch and dinner is generally not. If you're lucky, you may get some sugar. Futhermore, to use the term "Muslim food" is a gross generality. There are all types of "Muslim foods" aorund the world, ranging From Lamb Kabobs to Nasi Lemak....mostly the ingredients need to be Halal.

CC