A Peek at Xi’an and Pingyao
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Posting photos from China when we happen to be in India probably seems odd. But we discovered an open wifi connection somewhere in the building here in Kolkata (Calcutta) and are taking the opportunity to catch up with photos and family calls on Skype before someone finds out that we’re taking advantage of their internet connection. Shhh, don’t tell.
For a change of scenery (and seasons), we offer some images from wintry Central China, including Xi’an, home of the Terra Cotta Warriors, and Pingyao, a quintessential Chinese walled town. At the time we took these photos, we were cursing the cold in China. Now, we gaze at these images in the hopes that they might impart some chill to cool us off in our tandoori oven-cum-hotel room here in Kolkata.
As we continue to enjoy India, we are planning a trek in Nepal and assembling an itinerary of sites in Southern Chinese provinces (Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou , etc.) for our return there in May.
Whether or not we’ll be allowed to see what we’d like to see is another matter. Our itinerary includes some ethnically Tibetan towns outside of Tibet. We just learned that one of the most memorable places from our visit last year – Xiahe – is now off limits to visitors and foreigners. As the Olympic torch relay meets protests, travelers across Western and Southern China report being turned around at military checkpoints in and around towns with high concentrations of ethnic Tibetans.
It will be interesting to see what and where we are allowed to explore in China – under a watchful eye – this time around.
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