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Asia 2005 Journey
Day Eleven
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Beijing, China to Xi'an, China
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May 14, 2005: Warm and hazy in Beijing. Before the afternoon
flight to Xi'an, a couple of quick visits
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were scheduled - Pearl market and Tempe of Heaven.
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The Pearl Market was reflective of most markets - aggressive selling and
price negotiation. One trinket
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purchased started at $6700 RMB ($800 USD) and ended up for $400 ($48 USD).
Seems every seller is
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your "friend" since the English word was used frequently.
Our master trader Loretta had the skills to
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ensure a proper agreement.
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The Temple of Heaven is classic China and Beijing history. Located in
the center of an extensive city
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park, the cylinder shaped building is seen from all directional gates.
As with many of China's historic
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relics, it is suffering from neglect and is pending a complete restoration.
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The scheduled flight was missed when the hotel car driver became confused
directionally as to driving
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to the airport. One cultural trait is the ability of drivers to stop
their car in the middle of traffic and
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talk with our drivers. Our driver did it 3 times and was challenged
that the Airport Expressway would
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end at the airport. The airline accommodated changing the tickets to
the next flight and we enjoyed
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hot soup noodles in the lounge during the interim.
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Our flight into Xi'an had clear skies. It allowed for viewing of the
multiple tomb mounds outside the
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city. Xi'an was the base of Chinese power very centuries ago and it's
rulers were buried in earthen
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mounds. Since the city was designated as a poor city by the Beijing
government during the last
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century, many of the city artifacts have remained and were not replaced with
modernized highways
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or buildings. Thus, a fully walled Xi'an with Drum and Bell Tower
reflects it's past. Now, it has
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a turn to receive all new buildings, including a new downtown the size of
Phoenix. China's growth
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seems to be in every key city.
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Travel specs: Air China Boeing 737-300, Audi A8, Xi'an Airport Shuttle
Bus
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Return to Asia 2005
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