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I love steamed buns and was always on the lookout for vendors that looked hygienic. The place I found in Xian looked great and they had four different kinds, each with a different filling.

China 1998 - Part Three: Xian & Beijing

Dougburnett
2003-11-22 16:39:38

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is. The letter I was pointed to went something like, "By just looking at my ear the doctor was able to diagnose an head injury I had years before." Well, I have often been accused of having something wrong with head. I didn't need some doctor in China telling me that too. I smiled and walked off looking for the nearest Wall's freezer - an ice cream bar was what I really needed.

After a little more walking I took a taxi to the Small Goose Pagoda. Don't ask me what all this goose business is about - I simply don't know. In the large garden that surrounded the crumbling pagoda there were groups of school children. They were maybe 6 or 8 years old. As I arrived they were just packing up after lunch. Each child had a large plastic backpack decorated with cartoon characters. The teacher formed them up into little ranks 2 students wide about 10 -12 deep and they marched off holding hands. As they started they broke into a marching song. I noticed that it was the kids that started the song not the teacher. When one song ended, someone would start another. I followed along taking pictures and as they left the park they all waved and yelled, "Hello, hello," at me - I guess they hadn't learned good-bye yet.

I now went looking for a nearby Buddhist temple. I found it down a dirty little lane lined with incense vendors. At the ticket office I fell victim to one of the oldest scams. As I approached the ticket window a guy stepped in front of me. With a big smile he told me the ticket was 8 yuan. I smelled a rat but there was no sign telling the correct price. He had already reached into the window and gotten a ticket for me. As all the other admission had been between 5 and 10 yuan, I figured the damage was light, so I simply paid him. I shouldn't have but, you know, he caught me off guard. For a few yuan it just wasn't worth arguing.

After lunch I walked over to the Great Mosque. ...