Surprise from B!

B told me months ago that while playing cards at one of his friends houses, he saw a really neat vase that was handmade and came from Beijing.  My interest was peaked!  Any type of 'art' that B has interest it, I'm all in!  He said he was contacting the lady that sold them to get one.  I did not want to see pictures or know anything else about it in case stars did not align and we were unable to get one.

The lady he acquired it from had to have so many orders before she could get them from Beijing...

Fast forward three months and look what was on our coffee table when I got home!

 

Such a neat piece!  I love the edge detailing of the Great Wall turrets!

Good job, B!  :)

Potato Chips in China

There are definitely some odd chip flavors here in China:

Italian Red Meat flavor, Mexican Tomato Chicken flavor, and Texas Grilled BBQ flavor

Other flavors such as wasabi & dried shrimp (which I tried and tasted like spicy wasabi...not bad!), meat flavor (yes, seen and what 'meat' flavor do you supposed it is??), and even Pepsi!

I saw this advertisement in the metro on the way to work.....sour plum and melon flavor!

Who would eat this?  The Chinese I guess!  

Oh, China....

Xi'An Weekend - Part 3

After returning from the Terracotta Warriors, we visited the Great Mosque of Xi'An and the city's Drum and Bell Towers.

The mosque was beautiful - an old piece of history within a evolved city.  China does have some great juxtapositions!

We saw the Bell Tower and Drum Tower both in the afternoon and evening.  In ancient times, the bell was struck at dawn and the drum at dusk so the people knew the time of day.

And no trip would be complete without some good ole' China humor!  Check out these great signs:

 

:) !

Xi'An Weekend - Part 2

Xi'An Day 2 began with a hour and a half drive to the Terracotta Warriors!

We arrived, purchased tickets, and headed into the main exhibition hall.

 

 

 

The warriors are from 2200 years ago!  They were discovered on March 29, 1974 by three farmers looking for water while digging a well.  Emperor Qin Shi Huang of the Qin Dynasty had the tomb built (biggest and most elaborate of the time) to ensure protection in the afterlife.  The actual tomb of the emperor in encased with mercury and has remained untouched.  Inside, there is believed to be 3000 concubines and many farmers who were buried alive so their souls would remained owned by the emperor and so the tomb's location remained a secret.

I was fascinated by how the warriors were restored.  Prior to the 1974 discovery, the tomb had been raided several times.  This left to the destruction of the warriors.  Every evening after the closing of the exhibit, the warriors are painstakingly put back together.

Some areas have yet to become unearthed.

Pit No.2 is famous for the 'kneeing archers'.  It too is still being excavated and contains an exhibit  fully restored warriors and weaponry.

Cindy our guide!

Pit No.3 is known as the 'command center' for the people in the other pits - generals, commanders, etc. were found in this pit.  It also contained two miniature chariots found and restored thought to carry the emperor's soul into the afterlife.

Part 3:  Xi'An Bell and Drum Tower, funny city signage!