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Published: June 23rd 2007
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Xian, China Our first intra-China airline flight
Lisa and Mr. Dong picked us up at the hotel in Beijing this morning for the ride out to the Beijing Airport. We just missed a major road closing as some important Chinese delegate was arriving from the Airport and all the military transports were positioned to shutdown the highway at any moment to allow them to pass. We got lucky and made it through.
We got to the airport and instead of dropping us off for goodbyes, Lisa escorted us all the way through check-in. We had given both Lisa and Mr. Dong envelopes that contained our gratuity for their efforts. We discussed this for quite some time and decided to tip on the rates we were most experienced with - that is, how their service landed on us versus what might be appropriate locally.
They were both great and we would not have seen, understood or enjoyed 1/4 of what they presented to us if we were on our own. Mr. Dong was awesome - not a word of English, but knew the roads (and the back roads) as good as any one could. He was always on time with a
smile. Took great care of his car. It was always shined up and ready to go. I noticed the gas tank was always full when he picked us up and he checked his tires several times throughout each day.
Lisa was without peer in that her English was first rate, her knowledge was comprehensive and she endeavored to be sure we really understood what we saw...she would test us with questions! We were always attentive because we never knew when she would test us. In the end, we learned a lot more because we paid close attention. Her goal is to become a tour guide that travels between cities with clients - we know she will achieve her goal.
Travel day to Xian and the Terra Cotta Warriors was a good experience. Boarding was on time. It was an Airbus 319 but the onboard sound system was not turned on. The screens lowered and it was a loop showing how safe air travel is and was, in essence, an advertisement to fly. So many Chineses have yet to drive a car or to fly...but remember, there are 1.3 billion of them so be careful what you wish for!
It was about a two hour flight to Xian on China Eastern Airlines. Lunch was beef and rice or noodles and chicken - based on Ginny's reaction the noodles and chicken was not very good. John's rice and beef was okay. We put on our Bose headphones and iPoded our way through it. Was great to listen to our music.
Got to Xian to blue skys (much less pollution) and even though the city is as large as LA - 7 million people - it is considered a medium sized city in China. Great roads again and the Sheraton in Xian is as good as it can be - even comes with a separate sitting room with a view of the city. We were met at the airport by our tour guide for the next three days, Sally (where do they get these English names!?!), and met our new driver, Mr. Quan. Sally must be in her twenties and speaks good enough english. Mr. Quan looks to be another very good driver and got us to the hotel without incident or delay.
Tomorrow we head out to the local history museum and, of course, the Terra Cotta
Warrior exhibition. Good story on how it was found - this is the Emperor who around 200 BC had unified China, established roads for carts and chariots, standardized money and weights & measures - just about what was going on in Rome around the same time in history.
The farmer who found the Emperors 2,200 warriors, made with slave labor over 37 years to accompany the Emperor into the afterlife when he passed on, really did not want this to happen to him.
This farmer was drilling a well when the first fragments came up. He took them home and buried them in his backyard as he wanted to keep going finding water to irrigate his farm. Nonetheless, word got out and more and more researchers came to Xian to examine what he had found. This was 1974, just before the end of the Cultural Revolution. Needless to say, his life changed big time but he was compensated by the Peoples Republic of China for the land, is 80 years old today and spends much of his time at the exhibition signing autographs. They took good care of him.
Looking forward to a momentus event touring the
hillside discovery tomorrow.
All is well with us. We took a walk late this afternoon around Xian. Pretty much major culture shock but we went into shops and engaged the people and made it across the streets without harm. Fewer cars here as income is lower in Xian then Beijing; however, don't be complacent or you could become a "bug on a windshield".
Hope all is well with you and yours, talk to you tomorrow.
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Kerry
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Amazing video!
Following your adventures every step of the way. A wonderful opportunity to see all that our son Kevin experienced while living in Beijing for 6 months. Loving the video! Love, Kerry