Coming To America

Initially, we were supposed to go to Japan after China.  We had our tickets booked and were psyched but we quickly found out that it would be hard for me (Mu) to get a visa without coming back to the States.  Boo! We cancelled the flights and decided to come back to the States and tour the west coast.  It felt so strange when we arrived in LA.  All of a sudden everyone was speaking English, we understood the signs and didn't have to worry about how we would get to our hotel and everything was so expensive. We had booked to stay at the Travelodge by the airport.  When we got to our hotel, we slept and tried to get rid of the jet-lag.  

On the next day we caught the train to Hollywood.  I guess my expectations were high.  It wasn't that exciting though we got to see most of the sights.  After we saw the main sights, we took a public bus running on Sunset Boulevard to UCLA.  We hung out in the UCLA area then found our way back to our hotel.

At the Egyptian Theater

Hollywood Boulevard

V and Bumble Bee at the Ripley's Believe It or Not

No red carpet today at the Chinese Theater!

RIP

4th of July at Manhattan Beach

So happy. CPK!

We spent 3 days in LA and after that rented a car and drove to Las Vegas.  On our way to Vegas, we stopped in Barstow/Calico and went to visit the Calico Ghost Town.  It was such a clear day and at least 100 degF.

Old Santa Fe Railroad caboose at the KOA campsite

Anyone for tether ball?

Our Sleeping Quarters

Our campsite

At Calico Ghost Town

Scenic views

My hay ride

Calico was a mining town which at its peak had about 1,200 people living in it.

These are pretty funny

Old dresses from the town

You can take a train ride through the old mine shafts

Old school house

Calico is in the desert and has these rock mountains in the background.

After 2 nights in Barstow, we made our way to Las Vegas, Nevada.  Casinos, casinos and more casinos plus 120 degF weather.  We only stayed for 1 night.

Welcome to Vegas

Ceasar's Palace

New York, New York

Excalibur

Luxor

Sphinx in front of Luxor - pretty cool

Oui, oui Paris!

Lake Mead - man made lake created by Hoover Dam

We stopped at Hoover Dam on our way to Flagstaff, Arizona.

After visiting these places we headed to our GRAND FINALE.  Stay Tuned.

Noodlelicious

For one weekend while in china we went to a city called Xi'an to see the original Terra Cotta Warriors.  Initially we wanted to go to Yellow Mountain (Mt. Huangshan) for a couple days of hiking but we found out that it was pretty far from Beijing by train. The train ride from Beijing to Xi'an took about 12 hours. Good thing we had a sleeper cabin.

Leaving Beijing for Xi'an. At the train station. There were so so many people, you would think it was a holiday weekend but it wasn't.

Check out these bunks... and instant drink mix, delicious.  We had the upper bunks and shared the room with an older couple.

When we arrived in Xi'an we were picked up by the hostel staff. It had to be the nicest hostel we'd ever slept in. The bunks were brand new, high end beds with 5-star quality bedding. There was a cafe downstairs with such a great ambiance (sans the cigarette smoke). They even played live music... really a great place.  Anyhow, after arriving we met some of the other guest and took off to find something to eat. They recommended that we go to the Muslim quarter so we went.

Bell tower in the center of the city.

Walking around the Muslim Quarter.  Lots of shops, restaurants, grocery shops, souvenir shops etc.  A very lively place.

We met these guys at our hostel and they walked us to the Muslim Quarter, they're from Chinese Mongolia. 

This guy is making candy animals - blowing  technique

Dates anyone?

Pear and date juice... So Refreshing

Checking out a souvenir shop

Xi'an is famous in China for its noodles. We can attest that these are the best noodles that we've ever eaten.... and so inexpensive.  $3 for each of us. DELICIOUS

This is the restaurant we ate at everyday in the Muslim Quarter. They make their noodles fresh right there at the front door.

On another evening at our hostel, we had a dumpling party.  The guests at the hostel got together around a long table and we were taught how to make dumplings. They turned out delicious.  At least 7 countries were represented at the table.

The next day we caught a city bus for an hour and a half to see the Terra Cotta Warriors. Another rainy day in China, but thank goodness all the warriors are indoors.

Pit #1 is the largest collection of Warriors.

Pit #1. The Chinese built the museum on the site where the warriors were found.

Restoration and preservation of the warriors is still happening today.

There were also terra cotta horses.

Can you imagine thousands of these statues with this kind of detail? Wow. And all just for the burial of one emperor.

More Warriors in Pit #3

On our last day before catching the train back to Beijing we walked to another part of town. Xi'an is an ancient walled city.  The wall was built during the Sui-Tang Dynasty and is about 1,400 years old.  The walls were cool to check out though expensive to go to the top and walk/bike around. We came to realize that Xi'an is also a major shopping destination. There are designer shops from all over the world, multiple shopping centers at various intersections... they even had a Walmart?!  Of course these shops compete with the street vendors and their fake Guccis.  I bought a nice purse for $3!

South Entrance to the Xi'an wall

The wall has been renovated over time.

Hanging at another market street

The Drum Tower

Streets of Xi'an with great, inexpensive transportation

After Xi'an we caught the train back to Beijing to enjoy our last day in China.  Next up, USA. 

California or Bust.