Tang Dynasty

The people of China are justifiably proud of the Tang Dynasty. We say this show in the fall, honoring the achievements of the period.

Lovely performers, costumes, etc.

Dumplings

At a dumpling supper we sampled all kind of stuffed dumplings, brought to us in bamboo steamers. The dumplings were followed by soup, brought to boiling at the table.

Rockstars

People we don't know will sometimes ask to take a photo with us because we're foreigners. It happened even more with Paula and her blonde hair. Someone would sidle up to her and try to take her picture, and when she realized she would pose.

Terra Cotta Warriors

The Terra Cotta Warriors did not disappoint. It's AMAZING to me. Evidently the whole huge display was originally in color but the colors fade the minute they hit the light and air.

The have many more soldiers to unearth in the area. In addition, there's an entire mausoleum area for the emperor with additional carriages and chariots.



As an added bonus, it's been fun to hang out with the Strattons, Barry and Beth. She's Ben Blair's aunt, Julia's sister.

Thanksgiving

Our Xi'an Branch had a Thanksgiving feast after church the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Of course, we needed a flower arrangement, a few pumpkins and some fall votive candles for a centerpiece. It made our tupperware and foil covered dishes seem nicer. : )
There were excellent versions of home baked bread, sweet potatoes, cranberries, pumpkin pie, etc. No turkeys in China, but the chicken was great. Great people!

"Pasta"

All kinds of noodles are stretched and cooked fresh while you watch. Lots of noodle, bread versions eaten here in the north of China where it's easier to grow wheat than rice. It's always called "noodles," never pasta.

Of course, everyone in the north eats rice as well. We eat at lot at the local university student canteens.

(picture is from a restaurant)

Tom and Paula

Tom and Paula Heath (SLC) have been great campus buddies here at NPU. Fellow BYU Kennedy Center teachers, we loved having companions. They would scout out places on their bikes, we went to eat together, etc.

The red flag tree is at a Temple we visited on top of a mountain. We think the ribbons are well-wishes for ancestors.
FYI, Tom took most of these photos posted this fall. We were so sorry they had to go home early for her hip surgery.

Drum Tower

In Flight

Cute little face on our plane trip home from Urumchi and Dunhuang. People from the north and west are considered "minorities" in China, as opposed to "Han" or pure Chinese.

Mid-flight, a video came on telling passengers how to exercise in their chairs to minimize discomfort. We didn't realize until we looked up and saw our travel companions with their arms in the air.

Dunhuang

This cute couple worked hard but happily making shish-ka-bobs on the streets on Dunhuang. Lots of chili, cumin and salt. Boiled peanuts are good, not at all like the flavor of peanut butter. We shelled and ate them while we waited for our skewers. The cities seem to cater to tourists out here in the desert.

Uyegar Family near Dunhuang

The Silk Road

We loved our trip to Xianjiang Province in western China in October.

Sort of an extension of the Gobi, it was enormous, endless desert and countless camels. We saw remains of towns that served as stopping places for caravans during the hundreds of years of trading between East and West.

The camels took us up to the base of dunes where we climbed a wooden stairway and then slid down on small sleds.

It was China's Mid-Autumn Festival so we had a school holiday. There were almost no other foreigners. Most of the tourists were Chinese, taking advantage of their vacation.