Silk Road 2003

2.30am - I woke up with a blinding headache all over my forehead. It turned into a migraine and I felt like throwing up. Fortunately bought some "spaceship buns" in Beijing airport - these were not real spaceships but they were round sponge cakes with cream fillings, and each cake came individually vacuum-packed in a silver foil wrapping, hence looking like food astronauts would eat! Scoffed down two spaceship buns and then took an extra-strength paracetamol. Tried everything from squeezing my head tight (the brain juice nearly came out) to using sheer mental power to think about more pleasant things to divert the pain, but to no success. Somehow I managed to fall back to sleep again at about 4am - I guess I was still knackered after all the travelling in the last few days.

Shaanxi Provincial Museum, Xi'an I woke up again at 7.30am just before the morning call. Had a big buffet breakfast and then I headed down to the lobby to join the rest of the gang. We left the hotel at 9am for our first stop at the Shaanxi Historical Museum. This museum first opened its door in 1992, and it's supposed to be one of the best museums in China. The exhibition started with the earliest Chinese history from 7 million years ago, and then in chronological order through all the dynasties up to Qing Dynasty. However the collection was far more extensive up to Tang Dynasty, as the capital was moved from Xi'an to Beijing after the Tang Dynasty. There were some very interesting and impressive exhibits on display.

Exhibit from Shaanxi Historical Museum, Xi'an

We then went to a tea-ceremony just across the road. We tried 5 different teas: Bitter-Sweet (one type of oolong tea), One-Leaf Tea (another oolong, and as the name suggested, one long enough was enough to brew 10 cups of tea), Jasmine ball tea which was similar to what I had got at home, Ginseng Oolong and then Lychee black tea which was supposed to be Empress Yang Gui-fei's favourite tea. Then it's the usual obligatory shopping time - I didn't buy any tea nor over-priced tea-set from there.

Lunch was at a local restaurant. Food was OK - at least it's more edible than some food at CITS-designated restaurants. Big Goose Pagoda, Xi'an

After lunch we went to visit the Big Goose Pagoda. Due to people digging wells for water and draining water for building work, the pagoda has been tilting to the north-west! The leaning tower of Xi'an!!! However, the tilt was barely noticeable to me.

Then another shopping stop at the jade factory. I bought nothing but the others bought a few items. I supposed I could have bought some jade items, but then what would I do with them? Also I was no expert on jade and so had no idea on what's good and what's not.

Xi'an street scene As soon as we got back to the hotel, I dropped off a few things and then headed straight to the Shaanxi Provincial Musum to have a look at the Stone Tablets Forest. I was expecting something more spectacular than the Confuscius Temple in Beijing, but I came away disappointed. I walked through a local street with loads of street vendors selling various things - no price tags and there was nothing that took my fancy either.

A quick shower back at the hotel and then we met up at the hotel lobby again at 6.30pm to go to the Tang Dynasty show. The dinner was also included also at the theatre and once again it was pretty good food. Judy kept eating chilli, resulting in her jumping around a bit and drinking gallons of water to cool the chilli heat off. The show started at 8.15pm and lasted for approximately 70 minutes. I didn't think I'd enjoy that but I actually did immensely, and ended up taking lots of digital photos as well as a few video clips.

Tang Dynasty Show, Xi'an

Click Here for a video clip of the Tang Dynasty Show

When the show had finished, we returned to the hotel. I then headed off to the internet cafe to let everyone at home know that I was still in one piece. 2.50 yuan for one hour's access to the internet - real bargain! No one has sent me any e-mail though - what a disappointment.

Finally worked out how to switch on the television and so I put on Channel V..... but I was so tired that I fell asleep before I even heard the second song being played out.

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