A boozy decision found me landing into Xi'an's Xianyang International Airport during the early hours of some Saturday in May 2023! Making those plans ensured myself and a dear friend would be meeting for the first time, Xi'an wasn't playing with us! Air Chang'an wasn't the one! Swerving those tourists haunts, Xi'an served me with a return filled with much 'Saturday Love!'
Leaving work on that Friday afternoon saw me reach Ningbo's Lishe International Airport for the first time, Xi'an already knew that those Zhejiang borders needed to be switched up! I made a serious mistake by going through airport security before getting that KFC meal because that airport in-development didn't impress me airside! No shade NGB, I'll be packing my own tea until that 2027 master-plan is completed! That Friday evening had already started to try me, my Air Chang'an flight to Xi'an via Jingdezhen had been delayed one hour! I didn't fancy my chances, placing a safer bet saw me taking a one stop flight over to Shaanxi Province! Boarding that flight saw me taking my first domestic flight in China since 2019, it felt weird seeing the cabin crew wearing face masks. I'm hopeful those working individuals remove their face coverings soon. The taxi time from terminal to runway was rapid, thankful for that I was! Ascending into those darkened skies, Air Chang'an took me away from Ningbo and a busy week!
Air Chang'an wasn't the baddest of them all, aside from them not serving a single complimentary drink they would suffice. Landing into Jingdezhen Airport was rapid, we had only been in the air for 50 minutes before that Xi'an bound aircraft had touched down. That service stop was brief, only a few people disembarked and before we knew it, into the skies we were again! The pilot was definitely on a promise because the second leg from Jingdezhen to Xi'an was only 1 hour 50 minutes! No in-flight meals made me feel thankful for having those over-priced noodles at Ningbo Airport before departure, still a choice! Catching those runway lights at Xi'an Airport during that early hour moment on Saturday morning had me feeling thankful! It had not been my average Friday night into Saturday morning, I pledged to myself that another Friday night flight would be booked soon after that exciting landing into Xi'an! That taxi driver tried to make his fare alright, above all I was able to finally meet Kai! No clubbing for me, I wanted my bed!
No hotel was needed because I stayed with Kai in a family owned apartment. I slept instantly upon my head hitting that pillow, feeling refreshed the next morning I found myself on Xi'an's own metro with a certain temple in mind! I wasn't messing about, the temple wasn't meant to be because it was closed! I actually wasn't mad because I just had the most delicious reintroduction to Xi'an food! I remembered that 2015 into 2016 trip because it was epic and seriously busy, my 2023 China travel intuition steered me away from that 'Muslim Food Street' because the crowds weren't much to manage during that comeback moment! The line that snaked out front of that 'Halal' foodie hangout wasn't a mood for me, I dived inside to grab myself a table without having to wait for a single second! Ordering a '肉夹馍/Rou Jia Mo' with a bottle of '酸梅汤/Sour Plum Juice', I leveled up that Xi'an 'Chinese Hamburger' experience! Crossing off another Saturday away after Nanjing in April, Xi'an in May felt ace! With Kai busy, Xi'an kept me company! Yes!
Keeping things moving, I was convinced that temple was going to show me an available entry as I scoured after my brunch fixings! Not even a side entrance prevailed, I wasn't mad because that issue wasn't going to taint my late morning experience. Recalculating my route, I saw myself walking through some seriously real side streets, merging into some rustic alley ways! I was living for that 'mix up!' Xi'an knew that simple bump into the road wasn't going to stress me out, I loved that side of town because those alleys and streets served a completely different experience with much less chaos compared to my first visit to that Shaanxi situation. My Chinese maps and review applications ensured that final alley way would lead me to my next point of interest! Seeking for something different, Xi'an handled my initial comeback weekend with plenty of side options for me to choose from! I still wanted to eat some '羊肉泡馍/Lamb Soup with Pita Bread!' A foodie paradise Xi'an will always be! My XL Saturday had just kicked off! So?
'广仁寺/Guang Ren Temple' saw me brushing shoulders with Xi'an's famous 'City Wall!' I had walked along that famous elevated 'City Wall' before those 2016's New Year bells chimed, that 2023 reunion wasn't a mistake made! No! My map and apps didn't lie to me, that place of worship was very much open! Blessings! I didn't leave myself much time but I wanted to walk around that pint-size temple because I wanted to feel some kind of chill, work had been a lot! People were out in their droves during that temple moment but for the first time in a long time I didn't find myself in my feelings! Having grown up since my last temple visit, you already know that I respected my own peace with others considered completely. Keeping in my temple lane, I was able to see what I wanted within a respectable amount of time. Kai had messaged me, he had finished his business with his parents. On reflection, that Xi'an place of worship deserved a read up! Sure, I'll spill that Lama Temple tea in a moment, Xi'an deserves that from me! Prayer?
Baby, that temple visit had me feeling centred because little did I know of the debauchery that would be taking place later that day, I would be needing saving from the fiery depths of hell! Don't worry, heaven is for boring people and I prefer things to be hot and spicy and then some! Being Shaanxi's only Lama Temple, here I want to express how that special temple picked me over the one that sat closed shut! Dating back to the days of the 'Kangxi Emperor's' reign, Xi'an's own Lama Temple has been home to many Tibetan Buddhist leaders. Truly, this is why I don't listen to people who tell me that going back to a place will be a waste of my time! Those naysayers will never be me and also they could nor would be able to find such places like I did during that first chapter of my whirlwind Saturday in Shaanxi's Xi'an! The day was just getting started, taking my taxi to the next location, the heat of the day really saw those temperatures rise up! 100% without any doubt, Xi'an had allowed me to say 'I'm Back, Back, Back Again!' Let's go!
Back Again To Where?...
Desperately Seeking Adventure