china (part 3)

day 4

after an excititng train ride with two chinese men who spoke little english (we learned enough chinese to hold some real simple, baby conversations with these dudes but a lot of times we had to end our discussion with 'ting bu dong' [simply: i hear you, but i dont understand]). after getting off the train at xian we were once again picked up by our new tour guide, chris. she was much better than peter and didnt waste our time with you buy it, you buy it. we went to our new digs and cleaned up a little before heading out to see the ancient city of xian. our first stop was at a museum where we learned a ridiculous amount of history regarding the city of xian. it was interesting but it was a lot of information and i can honestly say it went in one ear and out the other. after the museum we went into the city and rode a tandem bike on the surrounding wall that protects the city. we visited the heart of the ancient city, that being the bell tower, where i paid 20 yuen to ring the bell 7 times to let the people of the city know that i was there. after spending the rest of the night walking around the city seeing car accident fights, eating at a famous dumpling restaurant and struttin down a market street. we went back to our room and crashed out.