Destination: Xi'An (China)
Duration: 8 days 9 to 16 Nov 2019
Mode of travel: Celebrity tour with CTC Travels
Damage: $1419/pax + RMB200 (fee for guides) + RMB600 (cable car and performance)
Flight: Scoot, we had 20kg baggage and 7kg hand carry, 1 dinner
Accommodation: We have 4 accommodations, details will be in the post
Weather: -2 to 18 degrees
Currency: approx. SGD1 = RMB5
Time difference: same as Singapore
Itinerary:
zero (traveled on coach the whole day)
The buffet breakfast was too chinese, or rather looked like buffet lunch/dinner.
It was difficult for me to find anything to eat. Even the porridge looked so starchy with very little rice grains, omg....
That Valley of Waves is so far away from Xi'an city that the whole day we were on the road, so as stated above, zero itinerary.
During one of the toilet break, my old gangster bought a stick of deep fried chicken coated with MSG and chilli powder.
No, not grilled, it was deep fried, I know the difference.
This day we had the whole day in bus, the tour guide doubled as a salesman with local tibits.
We bought some stuffs and this was Xi'An special: Mega Giant Red Date (狗头枣). It's shaped with a bigger bottom and gradually became slightly smaller at the tip.
The locals thought it looked like the shape of a typical dog's head, thus derived it's chinese name.
Digestive tea, good for lowering blood pressure.
This is freaking nice! Should had bought more!
This was all gone within a week.
Had lunch at a typical chinese restaurant.
Nap a bit, listened to Spotify a bit....
Put on make up before the Gala Dinner.
Back to Titian Times Hotel, we were given another suite. I think we had tried all their different room types le.
This had a enormous see through washroom, I was wowed.
Gala dinner was held here.
The interior design was dazzling from ceiling to floor with complicating paintings and carvings, replicating ancient grand palace.
A row of "royal" arm chairs to satisfy more than one king, heehee...
Cold jelly pork is a intricate dish, too many steps and very lengthy to get it done.
Some veg spring roll, 10 bite size piece exactly for our table of ten.
1.5 inch ribs were also 10pcs, which landed in a unknown (and un-notice) corner of my stomach.
Hohoho.... this is 甑糕! I saw this in 孙俪 (Sun Li) chinese drama 那年花開月正圓 (Nothing Gold Can Stay)
It's sweet glutinous rice, sticky texture with red dates and red beans.
Some soup with fish maw.
Braised belly.
Some pancake.
Rayson sang a few songs, got lucky draw, played games and a birthday celebration for Nov babies.
Xi'An's beautiful night as we head back to the hotel.
We sneaked out again around 8pm.
We walked passed a train station. I had been to China a few times but restricted by package tours, had never experience their MRT. Maybe one day, but don't know when this day will come with world wide pandemic now.
We found XinJi Ancient Town 兴集古镇。
After the ancient gate was a short lane with 2 rows of shop houses by both sides.
The ancient beauty was all blocked by commercial shops and eateries under traditional brick tiled roofs.
It's not crowded, in fact some shops were preparing to close.
Surprised to find Hong Kong style roast meat eatery here and they were almost sold out.
I was trying hard to take nice pic of the real ancient town but it was just too difficult.
Traditional wooden doors were the best I could get hold of.
We left shortly.
Despite of the mobile police station nearby, we didn't feel that secure.
Basically I talk about my daily life, especially what we eat and cook, also sharing personal lobangs.
I am taking forever to post cos' have been binge watching drama, heehee.... Thanks for reading and hope we all can fly and travel again one day.
