We were forced from our slumber bright and early by the train stewardess, who handed back our paper tickets to allow us to leave the train. They Exchange your paper ticket for a plastic card during your journey. At the Xian train station exit we had never seen so many people. Today is the first day of the Chinese holidays which last a week. EVERYONE in China is on vacation - all 1 billion! We made our way to where we were staying which was quite a walk, past the bell and the drum tower to the West gate of the walled city.
Later that afternoon we headed to the Muslim quarter to grab a bite to eat. It was so packed. Next we caught the tube to the Big Goose Pagoda, a beautiful Buddhist temple. It is in a wonderful park all lit up at night. The tube was an interesting journey. No one seems to know where it goes as it is new. Darryl tried to get what he thought were tube tokens from a kiosk. He handed over a 10 yuan note and asked for 4 tickets. The lady gave him 10 tokens so he gave 6 back and told her again he wanted only 4. She looked at him as though he was completely mad but handed him back 6 yuan in notes. It turns out the lady was giving change for the ticket machine. So when Darryl handed over the 10 yuan note, she gave him 10 yuan coins. No wonder she thought he was mad asking for 6 notes back!
Later that afternoon we headed to the Muslim quarter to grab a bite to eat. It was so packed. Next we caught the tube to the Big Goose Pagoda, a beautiful Buddhist temple. It is in a wonderful park all lit up at night. The tube was an interesting journey. No one seems to know where it goes as it is new. Darryl tried to get what he thought were tube tokens from a kiosk. He handed over a 10 yuan note and asked for 4 tickets. The lady gave him 10 tokens so he gave 6 back and told her again he wanted only 4. She looked at him as though he was completely mad but handed him back 6 yuan in notes. It turns out the lady was giving change for the ticket machine. So when Darryl handed over the 10 yuan note, she gave him 10 yuan coins. No wonder she thought he was mad asking for 6 notes back!
