IMG_1249-2, originally uploaded by Akira2506.

Made another trip to Xi’an. (bought my lens half way through this trip) Here are some random photos from said trip.

Went up on Xi’an’s City wall, which is AWESOME. hired some bikes to go around it. My friend Kathy was acting as tour guide, I’d never been on a tandem bike and fancied a go, so we hired one. It’s harder than it looks at first, but you soon catch on. 🙂

I love these tall buildings with the traditional roofs plonked on top.

Up on the wall was deserted.

Some great buildings up on the wall

Near some of the gates there are some random things that are supposed to look like old things. <-- Wow, that's a great description.
The east gate

Wheels

Battering rams!

One fun “feature” was the random hidden (and unsigned) dips in the ‘road.’ You’d be cycling along then at the last second notice a drop. ( pictured here from the other side) for an added bonus, some were half ramp, half steps. Not fun when you’re on a tandem!

Looking down on the busy city below

while the top of the wall remained peaceful and deserted.

Dan chilling with some of the locals

New lens = time to start taking photos of random things again!

A better coloured version of the photo at the top of this post. 🙂 I love my new lens.

A big Buddah

Then we headed to see the water show at the Big Goose Pagoda. Depending who you’re talking to, its the biggest water show in Asia…and it is pretty damn big. About 7 or 8 big square “pools” each housing maybe 150 fountain jets… its a lot of water. It all dances to the music and it’s pretty funky stuff. Everyone plays in the water, and the high-pressure water jets spray water everywhere when its bouncing off kids. I’d only had my lens for an hour or so, and didn’t fancy ruining it, so I wasn’t as adventurous as usual with my camera.

Dance water, dance!

A smirk started to spread across Dan’s face… he was planning something…

Fountains as far as the eye can see

Friends try to push each other in

..Dan’s plan becomes clear as he marches out to the centre of the fountain-pool. Always loves a crowd. 🙂

Doing it for the UK, baby!

Yup, standing in the middle of a fountain will make you wet, Dan.

A triumphant Dan returns from his wonder. The fountains all “dance” to music, and as the song finished, right on cue, Dan took a bow. (The 300-or-so Chinamen around our fountain had been staring at him in disbelief throughout his wondering) there was an audible laugh and applause. 🙂

So many fountains!

A wall of water

I like this shot of two girls trying to shelter as they cross the fountain.

The big goose pagoda itself

Myself and Kathy next to a stone that reads “Friendship Forever” or something similar…

… it was a good trip! 🙂

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