Terra Cotta Warriors Museum

Yesterday we went to the Terra Cotta Warriors Museum. Great story if you don't know it. A farmer in a small village was digging a well with his villiage people when he dug up a warriors head. That was in 1974. It was an amazing sight to see. We went to three pits and saw them in different stages of excavation. Great movie to put it into place in my mind about the first emperor of China. I can't keep the Chings and the Changs separate so I'm not sure of his name. You will enjoy pictures as you as I can post them. I had a great time bargaining with the local people for statues. I could have bought one made of clay from the tomb, but instead I paid a dollar for a hollow one. Don't think anyone will know the difference. We then went to a jade factory, we have also been to a pearl shop where they cracked open a clam to show us how they find them, We also went to a silk factory where we saw step by step how the worm goes through stages and how they get the silk from the worm. We learned about different areas that Jade comes from and how to tell real jade from fake. Sorry, but I'll probably have fake jade when I return. We then went back to town, of course every bus ride is full of stories from our guide. I said we don't have as many stories in US, Cathrine said, we have 200 years they have 2,000 years of history. I just hope that when I leave here my good luck and my bad luck are balanced out. We have learned so much about the one child law. They have SO many laws to follow. Back in town we went to a Mosque, there are 70,000 Chinese Muslims. It was so cool to see. Of 5 major religions I've been to three in the last days, Christian, Islam and Buddism. There was a baazar going on outside the mosque. Many of our group got lost in it. It was just like in the movies, wares everywhere and people trying to get your business. I had fun bartering with them. We went on to a dumpling banquet. Banquet means many dishes. Most meals have 12 dishes of food on lazy susan. They brought in dumplings in bamboo steamers baskets stacked at least 12 high. So many different dumplings. And other dishes. I have to say this was My Worst meal. I didn't realize how picky I am. We had warm rice wine and a hot pot in the middle of the table at the end of the meal. The hot pot was a soup. that they lit a fire under it to warm it at table and threw in dumplings for 6 kinds of luck. Soup at EVERY meal even breakfast. A professor from UALR construction manager is here for the summer teaching English and he and his wife came and ate with us for some good ole Arkansas conversation. He had also worked in Russia, we sat next to each other and enjoyed talking. Russia. Ok, I had it explained to me like this. Russia changed politically and then was hoping to change economically. China changed economically first and then is hoping to change politically. China is soooooooo far ahead of Russia. These are busy people. I enjoyed going to the park this morning at 6:30, I was the only American there. Everyone was busy exercising in some way badmiton. ti chi, dancing. something with silver balls. music was playing and everyone was moving. it was great. I just finished breakfast and we are going to a museum in town and then fly ot chendung. Home of Panda Research center, we are also going on school visits tomorrow. She says food will be much more spicy here. Xien is not a rice town, but noodle town. We had a great visit to Wal Mart and took lots of pictures. I'm sorry I can't read what I've already written about so this is much more random than ever. You all know I'm a random person. Love you to all. I reccommend Chinese travel to all.