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Terracotta army, flirtatious college girls and amazing massages- who knew how much there was to do in china?
Today started out with a 7 am wake up call, this was welcomed after our 4 am wake up call yesterday. We started off at a local medicine market, where we got a chance to experience some traditional Chinese medicine. Bags of dried plants, roots, and even animals emanated exotic smells, tantalizing both our eyes and noses. A few of us purchased bags of tea leaves or bottles of green ointment, which are supposed to banish all kinds of aches of the body. But, we had a long trip ahead of us, so we headed back onto the bus and got back onto the road.
The bus ride to the terracotta army took us about an hour away from Xi an. Terracotta simply means earth or clay, but the terracotta army anything but simple. First discovered in 1974 by peasants well drilling, the terracotta army is arranged in three pits. All of the pits are still being excavated, but the first pit had been cleared the most. Lines of terracotta infantry, cavalry, and charioteers stood imposingly across a massive chamber. The 8th wonder of the world and a world cultural heritage, the terracotta army stands in defense of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. Individually crafted, each soldier is a different, but unfortunately, we were told that only important figures like Bill Clinton were allowed down into the pit and that “Cary Academy exchange trip” wasn’t important enough. But that wasn’t to say we didn’t receive the star treatment in other venues. A few members of the group were getting special attention from a few of the local girls conducting a “survey” for the museum. The trip to see the ancient warriors was overall a good experience but the sight that got everyone jumping for joy was the sighting of a familiar food: the French fry. This simple fried food was enough to set the entire group into a frenzy as everyone ran to be able to get a plateful of it.
After an enjoyable lunch we had some free time to go around shop. But walking around we felt as if we were being sold the same thing just in different shops. They all sold the same terracotta warrior box set, the same small kite, and the same post cards just one store apart. After shopping we gathered once again on the bus and made our way to our hotel.
After the two and a half hour bus ride we finally arrived at our hotel. Walking into the Hua Shang Hotel, we weren’t all that impressed by it from the outside. Looking at the hotel from the outside isn't much in the way of looks but what it lacks in exterior is made up by the inside -completely different story. I have never been so wrong in judging a book by its cover as in the moment I walked into the hotel. Other than the rather warm rooms, the only downfall I could amass was the lack of hotel internet connections. So, sorry mom and dad, but you'll have to wait a day or two until we can get all caught up with a working connection... photos to follow.
However, that did not stop us from getting around in the city a bit to shop for snacks after checking in. The night concluded with reflective conversation and with many of our travelers getting awesome massages in preparation for the "Big Climb" on the Hua mountain range that overshadowed the villege-like town we were in.
Miguel and Nathaniel
Today started out with a 7 am wake up call, this was welcomed after our 4 am wake up call yesterday. We started off at a local medicine market, where we got a chance to experience some traditional Chinese medicine. Bags of dried plants, roots, and even animals emanated exotic smells, tantalizing both our eyes and noses. A few of us purchased bags of tea leaves or bottles of green ointment, which are supposed to banish all kinds of aches of the body. But, we had a long trip ahead of us, so we headed back onto the bus and got back onto the road.
The bus ride to the terracotta army took us about an hour away from Xi an. Terracotta simply means earth or clay, but the terracotta army anything but simple. First discovered in 1974 by peasants well drilling, the terracotta army is arranged in three pits. All of the pits are still being excavated, but the first pit had been cleared the most. Lines of terracotta infantry, cavalry, and charioteers stood imposingly across a massive chamber. The 8th wonder of the world and a world cultural heritage, the terracotta army stands in defense of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb. Individually crafted, each soldier is a different, but unfortunately, we were told that only important figures like Bill Clinton were allowed down into the pit and that “Cary Academy exchange trip” wasn’t important enough. But that wasn’t to say we didn’t receive the star treatment in other venues. A few members of the group were getting special attention from a few of the local girls conducting a “survey” for the museum. The trip to see the ancient warriors was overall a good experience but the sight that got everyone jumping for joy was the sighting of a familiar food: the French fry. This simple fried food was enough to set the entire group into a frenzy as everyone ran to be able to get a plateful of it.
After an enjoyable lunch we had some free time to go around shop. But walking around we felt as if we were being sold the same thing just in different shops. They all sold the same terracotta warrior box set, the same small kite, and the same post cards just one store apart. After shopping we gathered once again on the bus and made our way to our hotel.
After the two and a half hour bus ride we finally arrived at our hotel. Walking into the Hua Shang Hotel, we weren’t all that impressed by it from the outside. Looking at the hotel from the outside isn't much in the way of looks but what it lacks in exterior is made up by the inside -completely different story. I have never been so wrong in judging a book by its cover as in the moment I walked into the hotel. Other than the rather warm rooms, the only downfall I could amass was the lack of hotel internet connections. So, sorry mom and dad, but you'll have to wait a day or two until we can get all caught up with a working connection... photos to follow.
However, that did not stop us from getting around in the city a bit to shop for snacks after checking in. The night concluded with reflective conversation and with many of our travelers getting awesome massages in preparation for the "Big Climb" on the Hua mountain range that overshadowed the villege-like town we were in.
Miguel and Nathaniel
