Super 8 (Xi'An Junjing)

... were all in English and very difficult for them. Most students pulled a speech off the internet, which led to students having the same exact speeches! Adam and i found out we would be judges along with a couple of the english teachers. It was difficult to judge my students since i helped most of them edit and memorize their speeches. 30 students read their speeches to hundreds of students and many teachers.. and they are SO nervous to get up ...

... are three pits, as you walk into the first pit you are greeted by six thousand warriors in full battle dress with chariots and terracotta horse in various states of repair. Without doubt its one of the most impressive sights we have seen on our trip .The other two smaller pits are still being excavating and you can see the work in process. it reminded us a lot of Pompeii. To travel around we have ...

... with our fast Norwegian (46years old) on a steep downhill is maybe a bit silly but am sure he feels t same. We got to t hotel and were welcomed by all t staff. At dinner the hotelstaff wanted photos with us, the photo session probably went on for ten minutes. Is going to be different when I head back to Sydney where people wont be coming up to me to ask to get their photo taken with me...my famous days are almost over, better enjoy the last 12 days. DAY 147 "Add ...

... confusing world of their China they are being raised in. So if you find yourself in Xian City, I guess this is one of the highlights. Maybe try to see it in both the day light hours and the darkened hours after. For both cast their own spell on the viewer and both shall be remembered long after. Beers N Noodles toya.....shane PS: The several 'building' photos you will see are of the new Xian Subway ...

... there when we returned. We told them thank you and asked if they wanted a beer. They waved off a no (dumb question; Islamic district) and we asked if we could get the two shopkeepers anything else. They just smiled and said you're welcome, no thanks. We bought them some pops anyway as a nice gesture, and headed out with a bit of a regained respect for people. The shopkeepers might try and see how much you will pay for something, but they won't completely rip you off.

... mistake #2: i choose to do so alone, without the support of jason. she goes and gets the manager, the assistant manager and another helper to stand her ground and argue with me. after i am completely angry now they say they will meet the difference by eating the fee. too late, i am already mad and making a fool of myself. why give in now? clearly fatigue, poor diet, road weariness and general distrust are at work here. the whole thing blows up and in the end i think jason paid the ...

... It turned out that he was the train police. His first words when he say me was " oooooo he is bery butiful" thankfully he directed these to sheila as i was more than a little flabber gasted at how i was supposed to respond to this. He plonked himself down on the bed beside us and began to practice hius english. Niceman and i think he had a soft spot for sheila. In Xi'an we ...

... head. It is the only memento of Communism we have seen. The city center has an ancient tall wall that once defended what is now a continuation of the now seamless metropolis. Interesting old buildings and sights are scattered through the otherwise 1980's vintage city. We work our way to the hotel and sort out all the logistics of tomorrow's tour of the terracotta museum, walk the neighborhood, and after a talk over a a gin and tonic in the room, Monte is napping again.

... so he could not recognize road signs. He was optimistic and it was great conversation. We finally reached Wubao and stayed in a local inn. It's a very dirty town at one end of a bridge crossing the river, with non-stop trucks shipping coal through it. The ...

... and Gyantse Dzong were on the menu. Although we got in late, we had just enough time to hike to the top of the hill and see the fort. It has to go down as one of the best forts I have ever seen, not that I have seen too many forts you understand. It' just I felt it was a 'real' fort, like the ones you had to draw in school, but never got to see anywhere. A real protective thick wall thing that blokes like and chicks fail to understand. The ...