Exploring

Yesterday was one of those great days, that happens when you motivate yourself to leave the appartment and go exploring to see new areas. I checked out the Mosque (that does not look at all like a Mosque it is so Chinese, but was full of Muslim Chinese praying) and a Pagoda (so calm and relaxing sitting in the surrounding park/temple) and the city walls (old, big, impressive).

Then I ventured out into the Muslim quarter to have lunch (some noodle thing and some cross between jelly, potato and tofu); I spent almost an hour chatting to the family that own the food stall -even talking about Blair, the Queen and Iraq (not that the conversation was very advanced, but they were very good at dumbing down their Chinese and speaking slowly). I felt so bad that the food was only 15p that I paid double to thank them for the Chinese lesson. I'm going to go back next time I am in the area.

In the Mosque there were some girls handing out surveys for foreigners about their tourism experience in Xi'an, which gave me another hour chinese speaking practise and then there were a bunch of Muslim kids running around the Mosque and playing hide-and-seek from me and my camera (its ok, i had already spoken to the Mosque elders before!). Yes, there is a trend of me travelling around alone talking to absolutely everyone who are all so kind and enthralled to hear a foreigner speaking Chinese. People in Beijing are not quite the same. In fact even in the markets, no-one is dragging the tourists into their stall -it is so much more pleasent -maybe its because most of them are religious?

Religion in China used to be banned during the Communists; now it is tolerated, as long you join the official Church (for example). Most Christians in China go to Churches not affiliated to the government (and thus quasi-illegal) although the number of young people becoming Christian seems to be rising (from a VERY small % of the population) -and the Vatican still recognises Taiwan as the real China, since it prefers Churches to pledge their allegiance to God rather than to the Communist Party. Most Muslims pray in their homes -although it seems as though beiing Muslim in China is very different to elsewhere. Especially for the young people I met. Something to explore a bit more I think in the future. Still not many jews, that's for sure!

Next up was the required walk down the touristy areas selling all kinds of crafts and artefacts -totally reminded me of being in Turkey, since most of the women selling things were wearing head coverings of a sort, and one of the bazaars was indoors (see Istanbul's Grand Bazaar). Then through the commerical area (urgh, so many mobile phone shops and girl's fashion shops!) on a detour out East of the City to a park. I've learned a long time ago that Parks are some of the best hidden secrets in China. Sometimes you find a 'Water World', other times its just beautiful flowers, and others are carefully designed ornate chinese rock and water sculptures.

This one included a big lake, pagodas, small temples, thousands of benches with couples sitting on with(out) their kid, pedalos, and international Ice festival, playgrounds and so on. There is also a theme park with more than 15 rides! Shoved into 1 corner are things like a Pirate Ship, Dodgems, Monorail, Water Fluem, Roller Coaster and more. Will have to tell you some other time whether they are worth the pound or so to ride each one.

Other interesting snippets:
-I've found the all important good and cheap place to buy DVDs and an outdoor Pool table complex
-I've found a place to get 20(!) passport photos done to change my visa
-I climbed up a tree to rescue a father-son's shuttlecock that went wayward
-I started listening to a new weekly podcast that is hilarious (the now show, on BBC 4)
-I ventured into some of the slum areas to get lots of stares, and contemplated investigating a 'room for rent' sign but then bottled out!
-Xi'an's hot, but less polluted than Beijing and has less traffic. It's nice and small and is full of street food everywhere that is totally different to Beijng. There are some tourists, but few other foreigners and thus not many bars or Western restaurants.