The morning started with laundry. Jordan went out and discovered the laundry room last night, and had begun to wash his week's worth of dirty clothes, only to discover that Chinese washers are MUCH smaller. He got about half an American load done. So, today, we both finished up our clothes. Unfortunately, there isn't a dryer. There is, however, a bar to hang wet clothes on over the back stairwell.
Drying Clothes. There's a (small) washer, but no dryer.
After laundry, we met Xiao Liu to walk to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. The national landmark is only about two kilometers from our campus. The Pagoda was originally build in 652 during the Tang Dynasty and was later used to house Buddhist holy books brought from India.
The Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. A landmark here in Xi'an.
Today, the Pagoda is a tourist attraction known for its dancing fountains. About three times a day, they play classical music and the fountains, which are maybe two or three football fields long, spray water in concert with the music. It's really quite a sight.
Children Play in the Fountain. Before the performance, children play (naked!) in the fountain.
Waterfall. The fountains at the Pagoda are capped by a beautiful waterfall, that cascades over a stone mural depicting Chinese history.
After the Pagoda, we took a circuit up a street we'd not been on, and then back to Chang An Nan Lu.
Alleyway Market. A food market in between two other buildings.
A quick stop at the store to buy some hangers (laundry, remember?) and we were headed home. Well, not before I bought a drink...at a smoothie shop.
Mango Smoothie. You can't tell, but that's ICE people!
Yep, ice! Almost made up for the 6 hours of walking I did today.
Hayden
PS Here are a few helpful signs I saw today:
Park Sign. I agree 100%.
Store Sign. ALWAYS good advice.
I can't get over how old things are there! Those sculptures in the hospital were all "yeah, we're as old as your entire culture. whatever. we're just cluttering up the place. that baby over there? ming vase in his crib to hold his toys."
ReplyDeleteThe pagoda is beautiful.