Xian
*** three out of five stars
mildly moving

With Samantha in Xian, i'm impressed here
more with the volumes of people.
Am I correct in hearing her say that 220,000
people pass through the train system each day
there?
Samantha seemed to be truly apprehensive
as she said, "I love you Mom!" before navigating
the crosswalk. Maybe i'd have to watch it a second time
to catch any nuances of a pre-fabricated camera shot- but
it seemed to me as if they were winging it for realism.
"God!"

Again, there is a sense of order under the
heavily polluted sky. The beautiful old things
still stand resplendent and seeming for the most
part unassaulted by time, or people.
History is living, and tells a story
everyday.

In this episode I was impressed with her guides.
They seemed to be at their best on the days she had them, and I
enjoyed watching her ride bikes with a pleasant guide.
On that note- I realize again that it's a really special show where
we get to see a pleasant, regular, curious girl all alone in
a city introducing herself to people and places.

I'm getting used to Samantha in china by this second episode, speaking
chinese words like cute little codes, saying the word for dumpling
repeatedly in chinese.

Watching this show I wonder, "Can I be really wacky there, and dance to
unheard music with a purple wig on and be comfortable?"
This idea for a test of a fun traveling city
came to me watching this new series.

I'm impressed that the calligrapher knows 10,000 plus chinese characters, and
I still only know one language and 26 characters.
Thought-provoking for the lay-person that I am.
I wonder how many languages Samantha speaks fluently?

About massages.
Personally, I really would not want a man massaging me with his hair.
I don't understand females. (or maybe I do, and don't want to know the awful truths?!)

I'm utilitarian about things though. I'd rather
have a massage at home, or just massage my own
feet. Or swim, I guess.

I have never thought of, or seen a chinese muslim before. I wonder if they are put
together or just choose to live together in the "muslim district".

The tomb comlexes are very interesting. I read about those
a few years ago. I secretly wonder if we sometimes are too
presumptuous, thinking that, "Oh, this and that were to
accompany this great leader in death.", like wondering a few
thousand years from now, "boy this society sure did rever the
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Wall God!" It just seems so weird to
put all that work underground and all of the faces being different.

Too bad we didn't get to see Samantha's soldier
with head! That's a great idea to have it in
the yard! Really! You'll know my place when you see it...

Anyway, I like Samantha in remote, undiscovered
places, wandering alone and talking to herself.

I myself might disagree with Samantha even though it could be a mood-saver- but I wouldn't
want to go to a western brand hotel. It doesn't seem right. But hey, I haven't been to China.

I would agree with Samantha about a fried-egg
hamburger being enjoyable. I'll put anything on anything.

The man with the pan-pipe thing- hmmm, why does he wear so much lipstick?
What character is he playing? Hey as long as he is happy! I didn't really get much
of that, but they are talented, whatever it was. That man is irreplaceable
nonetheless.


Favorite moment:
Buys something, doesn't know what it is- loves it. (The end)
I guess i respond to the carefully planned
cues, because my favorite moments were
the closing moments on both China shows i've
seen so far.
Bye!

"I'm impressed that the calligrapher knows 10,000 plus chinese characters, and
I still only know one language and 26 characters."

Having been learning Chinese, it's not that bad. Think of how many people were in your high school. How many faces did you recognize and could call by name, especially after interacting with them regularly? Now think how many more faces that you'd recognize if you'd been at that school not for just four years, but twenty years. Characters are simpler than faces.

"I have never thought of, or seen a chinese muslim before. I wonder if they are put
together or just choose to live together in the "muslim district"."

After the Chinese Muslims involved themselves in rebellions and uprisings that caused the deaths of maybe 12 million people from the 1600's through the 1800's, the Chinese governments have been watching them very carefully ever since. Look it up as "Dungan Revolt" or "Hui Minorities' War" or "Muslim Rebllion" or "Panthay Rebellion." American public schools refuse to cover these topics for some reason but would rather say that Islam is a religion of peace.

quote:

"I have never thought of, or seen a chinese muslim before

There's a few at Gitmo right now.