Day 44

October 3, 2010 - Xi'an, Shaanxi Provence, China

I slept in today. It was much needed as yesterday wore me out. I had plans with Ianuar and Shelly to go to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda to see the night version of the fountain show. We set out around 6:30 to try and find some dinner along the way. Our choices were limited until we stumbled upon a giant, Chinese mall. Outdoor mall, I guess. It reminded me of a Chinese St. Johns Town Center. We ended up eating at Papa John's, of all places. I didn't take any pictures, but let's just say the place looks like the Ritz. The food? EXACTLY the same as in America. But, you know, I like Papa John's.

The mall, as it turns out, backs right up to the pagoda. I found this sort of funny since the other side of the pagoda is that giant water feature. The plaza around the pagoda was PACKED with people:



Everyone is Out. I guess Sundays are big Giant Wild Goose Pagoda days.

We made our way around to the opposite end of the complex and staked out standin' spots right in the center. Forgive my blurry photos, but it was night time and I was trying to take pictures of moving water.


Giant Wild Goose Pagoda. a view of the pagoda at night.




Waterworks. The fountains at night.

I have a nice little video, but unfortunately uploading it doesn't seem to be working. Oh well, you get the idea.

Apart from the light show on the ground, there was quite another light show happening in the sky. About half way through the performance, I noticed what I thought was a helicopter hovering around the top of the pagoda. The "helicopter" floated silently around as the show went on, then moved over the top of the fountain field. Ianuar and I had a discussion about what it could be: There were just too many lights on it to be a helicopter, and it seemed really, really big. The lights were strobing from end to end on its edge. I figured it was maybe a part of the show, or something of that nature. I leaned over to a guy in the crowd, figuring the Chinese might have a better idea about this than the foreigners, and asked "那是什么？" ("What is that?"). He turned around and said, in English, "I don't know. But its WAY too big to be a helicopter." His girlfriend jumped up and down going "UFO! UFO! UFO!"

As the show ended, we decided to walk toward it, hoping to get a better angle. As we approached it, we realized it was shaped like a giant triangle. Ianuar said something about hoping it was a kite, and I said it was a kite the size a building. Then, as if it had never been there at all, it vanished. Not a trace of it, not a flash of light, not a jet stream. Nothing. Just gone.

Hayden

Day 43 (2)

October 2, 2010 - Xi'an, Shaanxi Provence, China

Where were we?



Oh, yeah. So, we (Ianuar, Shelly, and myself), rounded the far western corner of the City Wall of Xi'an, passed the North Gate, and ran right into...lanterns?

The second half of our journey around the City Wall of Xi'an was filled with giant lanterns. I'm not sure what they were for exactly: Either they light them up every night, or they had something to do with the National Day festival the day before. In any case, the northern expanse of the wall was acting as a staging area for the lanterns.

Here's an overview of some (by no means all) of the types of lanterns we saw:


Tigers. The first section of lanterns we encountered on the Xi'an City Wall.

It's the Year of the Tiger, so the first round of lanterns were all cartoon tigers in-keeping with this year's theme.


A Row of Tigers. Is a group of tigers a pack? A pride? What is a group of Tiger Lanterns? A brightness?

Although there were a great deal of tiger's, they were by no means all the wall had to offer:


Flowering Trees. Large tree lanterns with pink flowers.


Creepy People. Most of the lanterns were in less than new condition, this was especially true of the humans represented.


Faberge Eggs on Lotus Blossoms? I'm not sure, but this missing egg is indicative of the state of repair of most of the lanterns we saw.


The Insect Kingdom. This section reminded me of A Bug's Life.


Cloisonné Elephant. One of several cloisonné animals.



Star Road. Shooting stars over the Xi'an City Wall.


The Sea Lion. This guy was all on his own, not sure about his "theme."


Egypt. Tucked away all by itself in one of the wall's alcoves.


In Need of Repairs. Most of the lanterns could use some kind of work.


Totem Poles. North America was not over looked in the lantern processional.


Moon Goddess? Could be...

We finished our ride around the wall and head off. We had discussed visiting the Drum Tower and the Bell Tower, but took a detour down a street market:


Xi'an City Center Street Market. Off the road, and along the city wall to the south.

We shopped around a bit, enjoyed the scenery. One man was making candy animals out of something like caramel:


Caramel Animals. Made by a man on the street in Xi'an.

We turned down a scenic street...



Beautiful Street. One turn off of the market.

...unfortunately, the only thing to look at was the scenery.

We left the market and went toward the Towers. Ianuar and Shelly didn't want to go inside today, which was fine since I was pretty tired.


The Bell Tower. The outside, anyway.

We walked around a little more, took in some so of the culture.



Window Dressing. A lot of the shops downtown hired women to wear strange outfits out front or in elaborate window scenes.

Exhausted, we made our way home...


Yeah? Right in the middle of the city, no less.

Hayden

Day 43 (1)

October 2, 2010 - Xi'an, Shaanxi Provence, China

Today, I made plans with Ianaur and Shelly (from my class) to go to City Center and explore the City Wall, etc.

I met them at the gates of our school around 11am. Before they showed up, another (Chinese) student from my school approached me and started talking to me. I explained that my Chinese skills were minimal and he laughed, explaining his English was lousy. But, he kept on talking. I'm not sure exactly what he was going on about, but he was very friendly.

So, to down (up? mid?) town...but first, lunch.


Lunch (午饭). We had Korean.


My Lunch (我的午饭）. The menu claims "meat," but I found none...


Kimchi. ...although it did come with kimchi.

So, we hopped on bus 600 and we were off.


Ianuar and Shelly. On Bus 600.

After 20 minutes or so, the bus made its way inside the city wall and deposited us at a stop near the gates. The wall was marked by a number of signs celebrating the National Holiday, and this...


Wall Advertisement. It reminded me of the warden from Superjail! I'm not really sure what it's for, actually.

We fought our way through traffic (you know, maybe we should have used the crosswalk), and up to the ticket counter.


City Wall South Gate. This is inside the city wall, so technically this entrance is an exit.


City Wall South Gate - Drawbridge. The entrance actually looks like this, but, ironically, it was how we left the wall at the end of the day. Also, may I present the first in a series of classic vacation photos. Look! I stand in front of Chinese things! Oh!

We purchased tickets (40RMB), and went inside.


Xi'an City Wall. Our adventure begins.

I watched a Travel Channel special on Xi'an before I left home. In the special, the host visited the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda (please see Day 8 and Day 44) and the City Wall, among other places. While visiting the wall, the host rented a bicycle and road it around. I decided that day that at some point in my trip I would do just that! As it turns out, today was that day.


Riding Bike's on the Xi'an City Wall. Not for those with motion sickness.

The weather, in my opinion was just right: Slightly cool, cloudless, a little breezy. Bike riding made it all the more cool, of course, despite the fact that it's, like 14km all the way around the wall!


Ianuar and Shelly. Tandem-biking it!

The ride gave us occasion to snap a bunch of photos of ourselves in front of things. I began the day by taking photos of the sights, leaving myself out, as I am want to do.


South Gate Pavilion. The roof's edge of the South Gate's Pavilion.


City Wall Expanse. Looking down the wall from one of the corners.


Buddhist Temple. A Buddhist temple spotted from the wall.


Rickshaws. And here we are doing the peddling for ourselves, like suckers!


Construction. 3000 years later, this job still ain't done. Typical!


Terracotta Soldier. Real? I doubt it. But I'll see real ones for sure in a few weeks...


The Neighborhood. Some of the buildings around the wall are just beautiful.

But, Shelly insisted on taking my picture, too, so here's some photographic proof that I AM in China. And, that I know how to stand in front of old things:


City Wall South Gate Take 2. There I am! Also, I'd like you to notice those parked cars. You can park ANYWHERE you want in China, apparently.


Inside the South Gate. I claim this South Gate in the name of China!


Inside the South Gate 2. Wait! Some one already did? Oh, well. Nevermind.


Look! I'm smaller and less-ornate than this building!


Look 2! I'm closer to the camera than this building!

Anyway. We were having a great time. The weather was good, the bikes were fun, the wall was...let's say bumpy. But, we were only HALF way 'round! What did the other half have in store for us? Well, let's just say it was more COLORFUL...


To be continued...

Hayden