Juan Carlos Sebastian's Page

I never did get back to write about the Anglo-Zulu battle sites.  Very interesting, awe inspiring and yet sad since so many died.  If you watch the movies Zulu Dawn (Isandlwana) with Burt Lancaster you will get an fairly accurate portrayal of that battle.  Watching Zulu with Michael Caine will give you an idea of what happened but it has been Hollywood-ized so it isn't as accurate other than the just over a 100 Brit holding off 5000 Zulus.  The latter is a better movie.

 

I have posted pics tonight from my weekend trip to Xi'an.  Xi'an was the ancient capital of China.  Emperor Qin Shi Huang unified China pre-200 b.c. and made Xi'an his resting place.  This is where you find the famed Terra Cotta Warriors.  I've posted many pictures of the Terra Cotta.  There are so many it is hard to believe that each has its own facial characteristics.  Most were crushed after being buried for over 2000 years.  Reconstruction has occurred since the site was found in 1973.  The warriors were built to guard Qin Shi Huang in the afterlife.  Here is a link for more detailed information. Qin Terra Cotta Warriors

 

There also some pictures of the Qin Shi Huang Mausoleum where it is large hill covering his tomb.  It is said that it flows with mercury and is unreachable at this time.  Sonar tests have proven that the stories of rivers full of mercury may be accurate.  The technology to excavate isn't ready for this site, thus it is still a large hill to climb and think about what is below you.

 

Finally, we stayed at the Bell Tower Hotel in the heart of Xi'an. There we could see the Bell Tower from our window. Those are the later pictures in the album.  A very beautiful place particularly at night.  The Drum Tower is nearby and is very nice as well.  Down the alley behind the Drum Tower you will find the Muslim part of town where you can get great Chinese muslim foods. Great but the resteraunts are not always super clean. I am a little more anxious about this at 43 then I was at 29.  The Yangrou Pao Moa (lamb soup with broken bread) was very good as was the Kao Yang Rou (grilled lamb).  You will also see a pic of Muslim Nan being made.  Great bread (think of a pita).

 

Good trip but short and hectic. Moving around the area very fast.  And boy has it changed since 1995.  Just like the rest of China!!

 

See ya.

Posted some pics from Zululand including the battlefields of Rourke's Drift and Isandlwana.  More about that later.