Want to see some? Head to Xi'An (China of course). Ages ago I saw Catriona Rowntree reporting on the Terracotta Warriors and decided I wanted to see them. Hence, Xi'An.
Things had run pretty smoothly in China to date and Dean and I were feeling pretty lucky. In all of my travels I have previously had only 1 or 2 flights delayed and only for 30 minutes or so... you see where this is going. Shanghai, with all it's smog, had bad weather. Our airport was closed, so we were ushered to the other airport (no english spoken so we were a little curious...), where we waited whilst other planes were cancelled and 3 hours after our scheduled time we boarded. Then we sat in the plane, for another 2 1/2 hours. After landing in Xi'An, tired, we boarded the airport suttle bus. Some guy flipped out. Turns out he believed that somone had pinched his wallet. We believe he dropped it but of course this could not be the case. The police were called. After checking everyone's paper's and passports (but not mine - celebritism strikes in a good way), we were informed by the police (via a Kiwi's Chinese wife) that the bus had video cameras, they were going to check them and in the meantime we were to be shifted to another bus. On the way to the new bus, the wallet was found, but the investigation continues.... Oh, and we were all suspects. More waiting. the Policeman comes back on board and very officially states "we know who did it but we don't have the proof', then saluted us and left. Now, despite my Forensic experience, I am pretty sure that without the police witnessing it, and there being nothing in the footage, and personally being an eyewitness to the guy getting on the bus, sitting, and flipping out, that the police would not have had a clue who, if anyone had stolen the wallet. Dean, the Kiwi in front and myself all conlcluded that the guy dropped his wallet. We arrived at Shanghai airport (#1) at 10am. We arrived in Xi'An at 9pm. Only 2 hours was flying... Grrrrr
Sorry, criminal detour over. Xi'An itself is great. Flashing neon everyewhere (obsession with lights continues), restored Chinese architecture and a vibrancy met us on our eventual arrival into town. Our hostel, was fantastic. On arrival we needed to book an overnight train from Xi'An to Beijing in a couple of days. They informed us that flights were cheaper, so they booked them for us. Ahhhh. Good help makes all the difference. They also had a gorgeous tabby cat (Mini Moe for G & L) whom's name frightfully sounded like Hotpot!!! (He was looking very alive and loved when i left:). The hostel also had a golden retriever, also alive and loved when we left:). I think they were actually safely pets:)
Now back to the warriors. The first emperor of China had 721,000 people carve out thousands of warriors to have in his tomb when he died. Made of Terracotta, carved and painted, they were placed in his tomb for his eventual death. Shortly after he died there was a bit of chaos. Some guys (an army or so) came and crashed through the tomb, damaging the warriors and setting it alight. (Doh for the 721,000 who had to make them). In the 70s, some farmers found some pieces of warrior in a well and they have been excatvating ever since. The Warriors themselves were life-size (if you are Chinese) and fantastic. There were chariots to see and the different excavations. highly recommend them.
The remainder of our time in Xi'An was spent checking out Goose Pagodas and a temple that had many signs pointing to the sayings off Tripitaka , and we got to see them. No Monkey or Pigsy though.
By this stage, Dean was salivating for some Peking duck so Beijing, look out!
ally
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