Giant panda tour today. Chinese man (whom I shall now call Mr.Panda), picks us up with the rest of the group, at 7am. He's in a bit of a hurry. Little concerned that this panda "sanctuary" could be more of a zoo than a sanctuary, but the reviews online are good and it's approved by the WWF so fingers crossed.
Did actually see several lovely pandas up really close, doing their panda thing. Nice big enclosures, lots of bamboo chewing and lolloping around yawning. They get through 25kg of bamboo everyday. Two of the ones they have here were born in captivity, and last year one of them had twins which both survived (seriously big panda achievement). There are several British gap yahs here, having a lovely 'alternative' time saving the pandas and clearing up monkey poo. Tottally out there .Also saw red pandas (my favourite actually...looks like a cross between a raccoon, a panda and fox, very cute). There were some bears and a "snow leopard" pretty sure it was a mountain leopard as there is no way his bright yellow fur would be very good at disguising him in snow! Apparently he was caught because he got too close to human villages and they keep him here so he won't get shot for killing a human.
Head back to xian after a couple of 30 minute roadside stop on account of Mr.Pandas minivan "having problem". Xian looks a lot prettier today now the sun is out and the smog has lifted.
Head for lunch (sweet and sour pork and dumplings + "snow beans" (aka mange tout)). Yummy. We're in a little booth looking out the window and feel someone looking at us- it's the grandma at the next table leaning over the partition. She continues to stare, and periodically sits down to slurp her soup then stands to have another stare.
Not sure what to do with our afternoon so we head to "Paris" (the posh shopping centre in xian), via Starbucks (it's been a week, we're getting withdrawal symptoms), and do some shopping. More lessons in Chinese purchasing- 1) if you want to try something on then let the assistant take it off the hanger and drape it over your arm 2)if you snooze you lose in terms of changing cubicles - i was ushered into a cubicle with clothes on the floor, only for the previous occupant to come charging back in cofused, whilst i was mid changing 3)you leave the shop to pay for your purchase (cash only), then return with your stamped receipt to get your stuff. Confusing. It also seems perfectly acceptable to wash your feet as well as your hands in the basin after you've been to the loo...with your shoes on!
We had a look round the shops - kind of self ridges uk prices so didn't buy anything. Spotted a nail bar and decided to take the plunge. After much showing of magazines, acrylic nails and colour charts we agreed on a price and designs. Nic had a bolshy 6 fingered nail artist who finished in record time and stuck on some delightfully tacky diamantes. Nics diamante beauties are in fact attached with a large amount of superglue- whether or not they will come off by the first of August remains to be seen! Gem had a lovely girl who painted her flowers on with a thin brush and acrylic paint!. When trying to pay, the 6 fingered con artist decided to ignore the 30yuan crystal 20yian paint deal we had agreed and she tried to charge 100 each. She was missing a few manners as well as a few digits! We argued, got other customers in the shop involved (you have to ask around, someone will speak english!), and consequently got a refund. Definitely gaining chinese skills.
After the nails and after a tour round some fake handbag stalls we spotted a Walmart and dived in. Sooo big and utterly hilarious items on offer. Bought food for the night train tomorrow and had a lot of fun cruising the aisles of "Chinese herbal jelly", dried plums, freezers of loose frozen fish, unidentifiable meats and Oreo cookies.
Eventually left, laden with loads of food "just to try" and realised we were near our favourite 3.8m noodle place so popped in for some dinner. Delicious as last time, then went to try and find tinting to get us back to the hostel- successful in finding a relative of ting tong, who was slightly more docile, but still pretty fierce in her determination to safely return us to our hostel.
Looking forward to the long men caves tomorrow (hope they're not too long), and the shaolin temple- for either a king fu lesson, or a Disneyland experience, depending which guide book you read....
G and N xx