China 2007

We were granted a late morning, but our flight was at 3 so it wasn't too late. I decided to try having breakfast this morning, and got out to the lobby with my carryon just in time.

We didn't have much of a day planned, but it never feels like that. Whether or not there's something interesting to talk about, the guide always talks on the bus. Today we would bid farewell to Helen, our guide throughout all of our excursions through the capital of the Shanxi province, Xian. We took the bus to one of the best museums in the country (we're always going to the biggest or the best; they have awards for everything, like baseball statistics: our next stop, Chengdu, is one of the top three Chinese tourist city destinations). It was a historical museum - two buildings spread out over a rather large, artistic grounds. We followed the signs through galleries arranged by dynasty. First, primitive villages and caveman-like tools of stone and bone. Most of the displays were pottery, progressing to weapons and eventually imperial relics or those with religious significance. For instance, one bowl was meant to instruct one on the moral significance of avoiding greediness. If the bowl was filled to a certain point, the level would remain; if the bowl was filled above that point, the entire contents would drain.

When the group I was with - Willie, Nishta, and Peter - got tired of the galleries, we sat outside in an open corridor. Peter played his egg-shaped flute-like instrument, quite poorly, while begging for "money for college". Nishta and Willie attempted to help him, by "donating" their own money, but nobody bought it.

We were looking forward to lunch, but Mrs. James requested that we stop at a local library, just to see what it looked like. It was nothing exciting, besides huge, and we spent much of our time sifting through the "foreign literature" to comment on the classics they had that nobody had ever touched. The archives ascended tens of stories into the air - this place had only been built a few years ago, and was the primary library of Xian.

We were hungry beyond reckoning by now. We took the bus back to the dinner theater, and ate lunch there - this time in the second row of tables - but there was no show to be seen. The skies opened up briefly, and a few of us wandered the streets aimlessly in the aftermath. There wasn't much to see along this high-class strip of travel agencies and fancy tourist hotels and theaters.

We boarded a strange airline that none of us had ever heard of, and sunk into deep blue seats. Our food for the hour flight was a package of dried apple chunks. I sat next to Christina; she slept most of the flight. I stole her Cosmo Girl and laughed at the stupid parts... but I mostly videotaped the scenery outside the window. We came into land low and fast, on our tiny A319, the brilliant green streets and streets and cars well-defined under blue sky close enough to touch. The plane seemed devoid of air as we passed the threshold, then - BANG! We touched down so hard, no, smashed down. People in the back screamed. Then, as the pilot engaged reverse thrust, with the sound of thousands of horses in pain, the whole plane shook like I've never seen before. Thank you, folks, for flying on this decrepid Airbus.

We drove through the quiet expressways of Chengdu, one of the spiciest cities in China, our first stop the hotel. The first thing we saw: a giant Starbucks. There has been a Starbucks everywhere we've gone. There was even one hidden in The Forbidden City. The only other consistency has been watermelon, served in solid and liquid forms at every meal.

Our hotel was the fanciest place on the block. While we waited to check in, a world-class violinist entertained the lobby audience, and when she took a break, two amazing dancers spun around to every corner of the room. The rooms themselves featured modern furniture, high definition television (on which I looked forward to reviewing my tape thus far), and many useless amenities. After a spicy dinner, we took to the pool and massage/sauna while another group hiked to a Mao monument and a burger bar ("Dave's Oasis"). At the massage place, we needed Peter to translate what we were getting for our money. Winn was with us, and he asked about the advertised 80 dollar "full VIP in-room service". We didn't need Peter's translation when they told us that one - a prostitute. Definitely a high-class hotel.

I got a massage after swimming. It was kind of a scary experience at first (I thought Peter was going to pull a prank on me, and get the 680¥ service, leaving me helplessly lost in translation), but it was relaxing and I got back to my room just in time for check-in. Some of the other boys got massages in their room, to the dismay of their roommates who wanted to sleep. Still, the young Asian girls in short-cut skirts were an interesting spectacle for everyone, even the girls, to sit around and laugh about. I was dead, though; I fell asleep before I even had a chance to plug my appliances in to charge, while Will was downstairs getting his massage.