China Day 7 - Xi'an City

Assalamualaikum. Ni Hao!

Previous post here.

18 Jan 2016 
Xi'an, China 

Arrived Xi'an early in the morning. We've booked the hotel where our friend; Syieda stayed at during her trip to Xi'an a month before. When she told us the hotel is just a stone away from Xi'an Train Station, we're immediately sold. Yes to perfect hotel location. We got the details direction from her (of course). 

And walkertapaki we did that morning. Following every steps of the direction she gave me prior the trip. Ndak payah pening kepala mau cari hotel & godek map kan. 

#1 Xi'an City Wall in front of the bus & train station (the most famous landmark in Xi'an)

#2 Leaving the city wall & train station behind

#3 So happy upon seeing lots of halal eateries in Xi'an (terus lapar)

Vienna Hotel Xian Train Station Branch

Finding this hotel was easy peasy. Thanks Merengmate for your help. After 4 years baru mampu convey terima kasih kan. Perangai!

Room Type: Standard Room (NO WINDOW)

Date: 18 January - 19 January 2016 (1 night)

Price: RM 181.10 (2 pax)

Booked via: agoda.com

Nearest subway station: Xi'an Train Station / Xi'an Bus Terminal

#4 Belum mampu sampai Vienna, so kita ambil feel stay hotel the with the same name dulu 

#5 Trying our luck if we could check in early. Jea handled itinerary in Xi'an

Alhamdulillah, we're allowed to check in early. 

#6 Our standard (no window) room consists of 2 super comfortable single beds, a lovely drawing as a background mimicking a window and

#7 a super clear you-can-see-everything inside kinda of bathroom 'glass wall'. Yes, there is curtain to cover the glass but we're just not confident enough with its shielding 'ability'. So yeah, we didn't turn on the light whenever we're in there

#8 Because our room located at a much higher level, we could 'enjoyed' this view from the glass elevator. Can you see that roundabout pedestrian freeway? Super cool, huh

Took a quick rest before going out again to explore Xi'an. We only have 2 full days here hence time is gold obviously. And yeah, we finally got to shower after 2 days.

Decided to only walkertapaki around the city today. Without referring to any map, we went out. Kondifen level paling tinggi kan, senang jak mau sampai Muslim Street. 

#9 Some mall we encountered on our way to Muslim Street

#10 The pedestrian roundabout freeway

#11 Picture is a must; sebab both pun wow non stop. Kagum gitu

#12 Crossing the road is among the most challenging part in China (for us) so I guess this roundabout is of great idea *clapclap for the inventors*

#13 Sebab ada bunyi Jea; katanye

And so we walked, and walked. Until we both realized we've been walking for nearly an hour. According to our reliable sources, it won't take long to walk from the train station to the Muslim Street. That's when we know, we're lost. Tulah bayaran untuk orang kondifen tinggi. Pfftt!

Tapi sesat di tempat orang is a blessing in disguise (for every traveller, I reckon). Instead of being dramatic about it, we continued walking. Enjoying everything surrounding us. And of course, at the same time finding the right way to our main destination. 

#14 End of the city wall

This was when we knew we're lost. This wall indicated the end of the city. And because we came from inside the city wall (where our hotel is), bumping into another part of this wall means we've walked far. City Wall encircles most of the attractions in Xi'an, and I know the Muslim Street is within it. Not outside the ring. 

#15 Just embrace the moment. Sesat pun sesatlah, still dalam Xi'an. Bukan sesat & suddenly di Mongolia kan.

#16 Buat-buatlah dapat baca 

#17 Dalam sesat, we encountered this. Wah Chinese feel sangat kan upon seeing them playing mahjong. Even the locals enjoyed watching them played

#18 Wah gitu pili bomba kau hentam untuk basuh kereta kan. Aku pun sibuk lah juga snap gambar. Motif!?

#19 Menahan lapar. Sedap nian tengok pau Ahjussi ni jual. The banchans look tempting as well. Sabar, sabar. Ndak lama sampai Muslim Street (sesi pujuk diri)

#20 Cart selling prayer beads

#21 Found out this is an evening/night market. Banyak lagi belum buka masa kami sampai ni

#22 We also passed by this area of shops selling stationery. Mostly selling Chinese painting rice papers & traditional painting brushes 

#23 Varieties of painting brushes. 

#24 Coffee shop

So very grateful indeed for getting lost for we got to see various things / events. The locals are so friendly (we're the only Aliens at that time), they tried making conversations with us but ended up with only hi, xie xie, bye bye. But we really appreciate their effort to communicate with us. Those warmth actions made us feel welcome. 

#25 One for the album; standing upon an alley in Xi'an (ketika sesat)

Alhamdulillah we found the right path while strolling around the neighborhood. Thank you alertness to sign boards & street signs. Kembali ke jalan benar.

Yang tu nanti continue next entry, as usual lah kan berjela-jela entry walhal baru Day 1. 

Till then, wassalam.

eryantierdabdulkarim