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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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Xian

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. The problem was that I like the sweet ones but don't know how to say that in Chinese. Well, they were only 1 yuan so I figured I would buy one of each and that way was bound to get the one I wanted.
So I waited in line and when my turn came, I pointed toward the first ones and held up a finger. To my great surprise the waitress said, in perfect English, "That one is chicken." I quickly took advantage of this and asked, "Which ones are sweet?" When I walked away I had two piping hot buns to munch on.

Wednesday, April 15, 1998

When I arrived it was still light out - the one and only time this trip. I went outside and stood under a sign that said "Bus." I knew this would attract the attention of the taxi drivers and give me a bargaining advantage. Sure enough a couple of guys came over and started making various offers to drive me to my hotel. I feigned indifference. They started at 150 yuan and as time progressed got down to 100 - for a shared taxi. This seemed like a good deal, so I followed one of the guys out into the immense parking lot in front of the airport.

It wasn't clear where we were we were going. I asked several times and the guy just pointed to the other side. Before we got there his cell phone rang and, after a short conversation, we headed back toward the airport again. On the way a van pulled up that already had two people in it. That was my ride.

It's about an hour through dry, rolling hills to Xian. The van driver was one of those jerks who insisted on driving as fast as he could. As the traffic thickened near Xian he started weaving in and out attempting to be first in this endless line of traffic. At one point when we had to ...