from china to afghanistan...

...duchess loved to travel. She also loved to shop, in fact, if the truth be known, she was a bit of a shopaholic. So, combining the two was as natural as breathing. The further away, the better and more exotic the wares. Her heart beat fast as she crossed the red bridge and entered the red gates of china. She pressed her hands together in the shape of dove-wings and raised them to the temple of the gold buddha. She bought fat red buddha candles and soaps - a wide variety of chinese bowls, dishes and plates, adorned with ornate colours, designs and patterns - ginko plants, ginseng incense, pills, tablets and tea - bamboo shoots, leaves and furnishings. She walked through the exit window and followed the chinese wall into japan. The sight of mount fuji quite took her breath away, lying there as it did, basking in glory, regally reflected in the lake, it's snowcapped peak glowing pink in the rising and setting sun. Here, she bought delicate red flowers, with petals as fine as calligraphic brushstrokes against the air - branches of pink orange blossom - miniature bonsai trees for small gardens and windows. Then, through burma, cambodia and vietnam, where she purchased fine cloth and jewels, semi-precious stones and precious, she made her way via india, where she bought multi-coloured pots, to afghanistan. She was immediately struck by the stark beauty of the place and it's inhabitants, reflected in the bold green gaze of it's women. In contrast, the finely intricate patterns of gold and blue mosaics, covering the ceilings and walls of the mosques, reflected the millions of faithful, who bowed prostrate on the ground and prayed in quiet reflection before their holy shrine. She bought mosaics, in every shade, shape and size, for the bathrooms of the wealthy west...