Having escaped from a desert island the previous week, last Friday, members of Tenby and District Arts Club embarked on a journey along the ancient Silk Road of Central Asia, with Margaret Acors as their intrepid leader (writes J. R.). As a preface to her talk, the speaker gave us a little of the history of this 4,000-year-old trade route from China to the mediterranean, traversed by merchants for centuries carrying from east to west such commodities as silk, horses and precious stones, as well as the ideas for iron working, weaving and printing. On their return journey, the travellers carried grapes and recipes for wine making to the Orient. Religious ideologies were also exchanged. Margaret's journey set-off from the capital of Kazakstan, Alma Ata, proceeding east through a canyon bounded by horizontal rock strata of vibrant colours, and crossing arid desert land to reach the valley of the River Illi and north-west China. On the way, the party encountered eagle hunters, an ancient custom of the Kazaks. In the fertile river valley, yurts dotted the landscape and the welcoming inhabitants were pleased to offer hospitality to the travellers. The cosy interiors of the yurts revealed brightly patterned wool carpets, painted furniture and intricately embroidered felt wall hangings. With the snow-capped Tein Chan mountains in the background, the party skirted the edge of the arid Taklamakan Desert with beacons on the hilltops and ancient monastic cave settlements cut into the mountain sides. Reaching the valley of the River Tarim and a large oasis on this south silk route, tamarisk trees and rice fields grew in stark contrast to the barren desert. A welcome meal of fresh yogurt and freshly baked bread was much appreciated by the travellers. Moving further through the desert to Khotan and the Jade Dragon River, the industries of the area were very much in evidence. Jade working, carpet weaving, silk factories, vine and melon growing, all pointed to a busy thriving community. Sheep, yak, Bactrian camels and horses proliferated in the livestock market. Leaving Khotan behind and continuing across the desert, the next stop was at Yarkand with its elaborately decorated mosque, ancient shrines and kings and queens, its knife-making craft and its beautiful calligraphy. The group travelled onto Kashgar, close to the foothills of the Panir Range, 20,000-feet high, known as the 'Roof of the World.' This was again a busy town, trading in brilliantly coloured carpets with many different designs, sheep, horses, fruit, vegetables, huge bundles of firewood and brooms. The car park was crowded with donkeys and their carts. The beautiful mosque at Kashgar is the largest in China. From here the travellers began their return to Kirgistahn through the foothills of the Pamuirs, with rocks of spectacular colours and sand dunes of strange formations on either side of this extraordinary terrain. With their journey coming almost full circle, they finally reached Bishkek, an ancient city on the Silk Road and the capital of Kurdistan, a country of 90 per cent mountains. The outstanding photography and excellent commentary made this an evening full of wonder and adventure for us all, portraying a very different way of life in a world of spectacular scenery interspersed with vast areas of inhospitable terrain. Clive Mathias thanked Margaret, on behalf of the club, for the hard work and time she had spent to produce such a unique programme, enjoyed by us all. Tonight (Friday), John Beynon will show us what adventures members of the Arts Club had in London last October. All are welcome at 8 pm in the Tenby Community Learning Centre. Anyone interested in the proposed two-day visit to the ballet at the Millennium Centre, Cardiff on April 29, please ring Joy Griffiths on 842741 for further details.
