Jingyuan Hotel Xi'an

... a DJ, and the other with a huge dance floor and disco techno music. We had a couple drinks in the lounge, danced on the stage for a while, and then made our way over to the DISCO!!! So much fun. We topped our night off with some noods and dumps at an outside vendor and went back to our hostel to sleep!

The next day we woke up and walked to the wall. We paid 40 kuai a piece to get onto the wall, and then ...

... dinners in the entire year I've been here.

The first was for Christmas and the second was two weeks ago.

Two weeks ago my boss Owen Buckland donated a brand new VW to my school and here in China this is an awesome occasion as it will then help lift the 'social status' of the school in the community. Prior to the new car, they putted around in something from yesteryear which here in China really did nothing for the status or image of the school ...

... complete with a picture of a person driving whilst swigging out of a large bottle. We arrived at the foot of the mountain, and took a bus to the foot of the cable car. The view from the cable car was amazing. I have been on cable cars many times before, but none were as scary as this one. It was in the middle of the steepest and highest peaks in China. All these mountains were jagged rock, hundreds and hundreds of metres high. I had nervous butterflies in my ...

... pretty impressive (won't go on about smog in every entry). We wanted to stay up there until night fall but time ran out and we had to leave to catch the musical fountain display. The musical fountain display starts at 8.30pm every night (except Tuesday's for some reason?). The music and the water dance in time with a light show to act as an impressive back drop, it makes for quite a spectacle even when you're freezing your nuts off. Trotted back to the hostel to meet a pal Jimmy who ...

... or "the flavors of the Islam", but my Arabic is not that good :) Other than that, the Islamic quarter is a known tourist attraction, and is thus filled with many merchants trying to sell you all kinds of things. It reminded me slightly of Nahlat Binyamin, and few of the alleys reminded few of the alleys in the ancient city of Jerusalem. There are also plenty of Chinese Islamic restaurants and food stands there. While I was walking in the Muslim quarter, a young Chinese stopped ...

... is able at least to communicate verbally and is able to appreciate and enjoy many aspects of Chinese life. My years of effort of teaching him Chinese paid off!!! Preciously, he developed a good sense of humor so as to laugh out frustrations he encountered on his trip. He and his dad joked out their frustrations in English, which sounds a secret code to all Chinese around them so they got to vent out yet offended no one.

... done, I think we got registered. After this we went to have photos taken for I don't quite know what, and then we went to the school we will be teaching at. It is a small, private school, 3 stories high, and with 15 classrooms on the second floor (where we will be teaching). It must have been 6-7 when we got home. I turned on the hot water maker for some coffee since I was downright drained. And now it was time to superclean. It felt good to crash onto our bed, dirty or clean or ...

... travel promises to get a little interesting, as events in Tibet and environs have resulted in restrictions for foreigners. This likely means that well established tourist trails will remain open but off the beaten path ones will be much trickier. This is putting a wrinkle in our potential summer travel plans. It is certainly an interesting time to be in China and experience from within the perspective on what is transpiring. We'll keep you up to date as always·.

... night!!! Its a really different pace to Beijing - much more a smaller city with loads of cool shops and markets and friendly people - the school kids stop to say hello to you. Cycled the city walls yesterday (23rd) - only a 15km little ride - god my muscles are going to be like steel by the time I get back!!! Got at least another bike ride and a load of walking ...

... the restaurant calculates the bill) we owed about $6 each. It was a super interesting meal and cuisine style that I don't believe we have in New York. I would love to try it again but not in the dead of summer. Some of the group were heading out to the bar area, but Phil and I decided to make it a quiet night. As we walked back to the hotel, though, we heard music coming out from behind some bushes. As we peaked through, we saw a spinning disco ...