Super Angie..China 2009 PEACE

Since falling in love with Japanese culture a few years ago, I have picked up the tradition of giving a peace sign when I have my picture taken. Of course, this trip to China was no different.

But one thing that was different was something I realized...giving a peace sign is a universal friendly sign that is understood by most (or all).

While riding in the tour bus, being stuck in awful traffic, I would often wave to the other drives. A smile and a peace sign...thats all. And to my surprise, they would instantly smile and return the wave and the peace sign.


While on Tiananmen Square, in the freezing rain, I noticed two young ladies watching our tour group, so I smiles, raised those two fingers and immediatly, the girls raised theirs too and then they walked away.

I have really grown to love the Chinese people. Sure we have some cultural differences, but deep down inside, we are all the same...

Peace...

Super Angie...China 2009, Day 2 TERRA COTTA WARRIORS!!

Walking into the Terra Cotta Warrior museum was amazing. Both my dad and I really were over whelmed with what we saw. We've seen the travel shows. We've seen the pictures, but nothing can prepare you for actually seeing it in real life.

It was so amazing to see these warriors that are from 200 BC! Each warrior is different and unique. We "met" the farmer who discovered them, saw a neat film about their history, but the most exciting part was simply walking around the dig pits and seeing them. It was fasinating to see the areas that are currently being worked on right now. It was neat to see the broken ones being made whole again. I was really drawn to the figures that were still partially buried. Seeing just an arm, or just the horse's behind sticking out of the dirt was neat.

I'm so thrilled I visited one of the wonders of the world, and a NESCO world Heritage site.

My advice...go to Xian and see them!!!!

Super Angie...China 2009 Xian Day 2--Terra Cotta factory

Day 2, we went to see the Terra Cotta Wariors, but before we arrived there, we went to a factory that made recreations of the warriors.
Me on the bus with Susan behind me (shes so cool!).

Where am I?
Ah yes...there I am! lol
It was interesting watching the workers make the warriors.


The factory also sold lots of gorgeous tables and furniture. We all had a nice time visiting the factory.

Super Angie...China 2009 Xian Day 2--Scenes out the window

I like to look out the window (instead of sleep) while we drive in the tour bus. Lots of deep thinking as I see how people live. Just like any country, there are the very rich, and the very poor, and those in between. Traveling to China is great. Sure, the shopping is wonderful, and visiting such old historical places is amazing, but its the people and the culture that I adore.






I sure am thankful to live in the United States....

Super Angie...China 2009 Xian Day 1--city wall

After the museum, we went to the old city wall of Xian. It was a very neat structure, but it was starting to get cold. Weather.com had TOTALLY LIED and most of us were not well prepared. Too bad we didn't go to Silk Alley right when we landed in China. lol

We had to climb a bunch of steps to get to the top of the city wall. My dad and practicly ran up the steps. It felt so good to get some exercise.
And then we rented bikes and road around the wall for 30 minutes. We had such a good time. There were quite a few people who chose to rent the bikes and we all had fun riding on the very uneven cobblestones.
When it got dark, we all were in aw...the lanterns, the lights...it was so pretty!
And then the strangest, yet VERY COOL thing happened...a laser light show with techno rave music started going on the wall. It was quite the show.
The gatehouse--amazing at night!

Super Angie...China 2009 Xian Day 1

After freshening up at the hotel, we took right off to visit our first site. Sadly, I have no clue what the museum was called, but a regional museum for things local to that providence. Since Xian used to be the capital of China, there were many special treasures from various Dynasties.


I fell in love with these triple glazed horses from the Tang Dynasty. Luckily, I found a reasonably priced replica later, so now I have my very own.
I found it so interesting that the Tang Dynasty had so many camel statues.
The grounds of the museum were very nice.

Super Angie...China 2009 *welcome to Xian!

My dad and I left SLC at around 9pm and then flew to LA.
The ONLY good thing about LAX Tom Bradly terminal is the ice cream...and the fact that they are still open at midnight when our flight leaves! Mmmmm...
My Dad and I...ready for our 13 hour flight to Korea. Yes folks, we really were that chipper in the middle of the night! Lets get this flight going people!
After Korea, we caught our connecting flight to Xian, China, where we were greeted by Henry the 9th and Henry the 10th. This is Henry the 9th, who would be our tour guide in Beijing. Henry the 10th was only in Xian.
The room was nice, but typical hard Chinese beds. But after flying for that long, they still felt good! BUT we were only given an hour to freshen up, so no naps--we had major site seeing to do, since we would only be in town for 2 days!!!
Xian as viewed from our room.

WELCOME TO CHINA!

Super Angie...leaving for China

I'm leaving in a few hours to head back to China. This will be my third trip to China. This time, I'm going with my dad, instead of alone or with Dallin like last year. And this year, in addition to Beijing, we will also go to Xian to see the Terra Cotta Warriors AND do service in an orphanage. I'm so excited, but also my normal nervous. I'm also sad to be leaving my kids. I'm sure I'll cry---I always do. And it will be sad to go to familiar places without my sweet little Dallin.

So, I'm trying to think only happy thoughts---visiting my friends in the market, going to Starbucks, going to the really awesome New World Mall area (I think thats what its called). I love how HUGE Beijing is, so I'm looking forward to that too.

CHINA, HERE I COME!!

--Super Angie