We saw many different interpretations for the "slow season" including this one.. the "sluck season" a little different from the "slack season" but alright.
This is an ancient Muslim Temple area.
street vendor
mmmmmm... cat.. i mean .. Meat on a stick!
This is a sticky rice and red bean dessert. It was really good when we found it in Shanghai, but I wasn't too jazzed over the sauce they added.
Lost in Xi'an.... Where do we go? Are you sure the map doesn't go this way? Didn't I see that street back there 10 minutes ago.... No? ooooooh! same name, different tone... fun!
Inside the Muslim Temple grounds
Drum Tower, Xi'an, China. This one you could picturate in front of for free. There was another one that you had to pay 5 yuan to hit 3 times. We took the free, even though 5 yuan is roughly equivalent to .80 USD.
Drum Tower
Waiting for the free Drum show at Drum Tower. They were a little lacking in chairs.
Drum show
At the Drum Show everyone was pulling out tissues and then trying to fit their whole lower end on them. What they don't know, is that if people didn't spit and pee Everywhere, they might not have to be so worried about about where they sit.
This is Eric fullfilling his white-person-in-China duties by taking a photo with some guys. I figure that if they were taking a photo, I might as well take one too! :)
Can anyone tell me why there's a McDonald's umbrella in the middle of a busy round-a-bout?
Down the street from the Drum Tower is the Bell Tower. The Drum's were hit 3 times throughout the night: First at sunset. Next around Midnight to signal the closing of the city gates, and last before Sunrise to mark the end of night. In contrast, the Bell was rung during the daylight hours.
While we were waiting to watch the Amazing Water Show at the Big Goose Pagoda, Eric and Trey started talking to this group of girls who wanted to practice English. When we found out that they were part of a dance company, we insisted that they show us a dance. These kids were hard core man! They did Salsa type dancing and were quiet good at it.
Big Goose Pagoda
The beginning of our Terra-cotta Warrior Field Trip. Pictured are: (from R to L) Eric, Sarah, Joanne, Jude, Long (his name means dragon), and Longs friends.
They had a whole stone wall mural dedicated to this. We thought it was a pretty funny event to commemorate with a wall mural.
In front of the bathing pool at the HuaQing Pool. This is where the kings and queens of the Qing and Tang Dynasty came for vacation. It is also the place that Chiang Kaisheck used as him military base during the war between China, China, and Japan.
Ouch!
Ooop!
"Hello Mr. Terra-cotta soldier......Did you know this guy is like 2000 years old!.... what kind of skin care products do you use? You've maintained quite well"
He's so cute! I just want to hug him! Do you think he likes me? We make a cute couple don't we?
While Trey was trying to take my picture in front of the Monkey statue this Chinese guy walked right in front of him--literally less than 1.5ft from the camera lense-- and he just stopped. He acted completely clueless to Trey pointing his camera through him and at me. So Trey took a picture, bright flash, the guy doesn't even blink.
Trey moves closer. Now within 1ft of the guy's face. Picture. Bright Flash. Not even a blink.
Closer still. Trey looks like the paparazzi. Flash. No blink. Eventually the guy just sauntered off. Amazing!
Ahhh finally... my picture in front of the Monkey.
Terra-Cota Warriors!
Winston! we have a splitty pants! This one's for you Aunt Linda. :)
I'm a Terra-cotta Warrior
Bike riding on the Xi'an City Wall: Joanne & Eric
Ready...
JUMP! Joanne, Sarah, Janai, Eric, Trey
Old contrasted with New
Trey, Sarah, Joanne, Eric, & Esther
Moat that surrounds Xi'an City center.
Outside the Imperial Palace
South Gate of Xi'an City Wall
Street games outside the South Gate. You roll a bomboo hoop and see where it falls. If your hoop completely surrounds a cardboard piece, you win the amount of yuan that is written on the board. Cost: 1 yuan for 5 hoops.
The Chinese locals liked watching the Lai Wao play (foreigners)
The hike up Hua Shan Mountain. Some stairs were so steep it was like climbing a ladder!
A view of the North Trail coming to meet the West Trail.
The Gondola coming up to the top of the North Trail.
People bought red bands, or locks with their names engraved on them to lock to the chain link fencing that lines the trail. Couples would attach their lock, then throw the key over the cliff to symbolize them always being together.
Just keep climbing, just keep climbing.
2.5 hours of stairstepping later, we reached "base camp" at the North Peak. This is where the N trail and the W trail converg before continuing up Black Dragon Ridge.
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Black Dragon Ridge
All along the hike they have these little "rest stops." You can get food, drinks, snacks, meals, trinkets, souvenirs... whatever you're little heart could wish for.
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Ahh May Holiday. Bring throngs of people up the mountain. Some of which were dressed to the nines in dresses and heels..... eeeeek!
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This is how all the "rest stop" supplies get up the mountain. It hurts my back just looking at him!
The Top! West Peak :)
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Sarah, Janai, Joanne, Eric
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Joanne had had enough of Sarah!
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On the Edge! Sarah, Joanne, and I
Eric and his silly Llamas (watch out! they spit :p)
West Peak as seen from the trail to South Peak
Look ma no hands!
Whoooah!
Descending to the Poop Your Pants trail. It's a long way down if you don't stop at the walkway!
Janai
On the wooden walkway that is the Poop Your Pants trail. Just 2 2x4s some nails that were apparently too long, and a chest harnes between me and a very long drop.
Ready to dive in.
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Looking down
We did have quite the view. It was AMAZING
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Janai and Sarah
After 6 hours of hiking, we began the downward descent.
11 hours after we began the hike up, we crossed the finish line at the bottom.... HIP HIP HARRAAAH!
The Muslim Quarter in town.
A huge fruit and nuts market. We stocked up with provisions for our 24hr train ride home.
Countdown begins. Hr 1 of the train ride. These completely vertical, barely padded seats are what we had to look forward to for the next 19 hrs. From L: Sarah, Joanne, Eric, Janai, Esther, and Long
Joanne and Eric recount our journey with a chuckle.
Sarah takes the time to learn how to win friends and influence people.
Long's friends seriously played cards for at least 11 hours of the trip.
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and poor Jude was stuck off by himself. He had some book about Shanghai's Godfather (like the "take it to the mattresses" kind).
Picture time! We had a 2hr layover in Nanjing.
YEAH! almost home :)
