The silk road wasn’t a road. It was a series of routes connecting India and China with the Middle East and Europe. And it carried a lot more than silk. In fact spices from India were at least, if not more, important.…

A Giant Tourist Sandbox and The Buddhist Louvre Asia – China – Day 12

Onward to the Gobi Desert on the old silk road: Asia – China – Day 11
Lonely Planet insists that the two important things to do in Xi’an are the Terracotta warriors and the Tomb of Emporer Jingdi, which is left off of many tour group itineraries because it’s somewhat inconvenient to get to. I don’t…

A Sick kid and a Vegas show in Xi’an: Asia – China – Day 10
Emma smiles as she lays in bed after waking up. She’s always a cheerful person, but for the third day she says she has a headache, and Emma is not one to feign or exaggerate symptoms. Somewhat impulsively, I decide…

Warriors, Worries and Water fountains: Asia – China – Day 9
Emma is softly crying at the window of our room. It’s early morning and we’re getting ready for the day at the Terracotta Warriors. It takes me a few minutes to even notice, and a few minutes more to climb…

Heavenly Layers of Harmonious Paradise like Oreo Cookie McFlurry: Day 8
After days of being in rural China, we wake up in a city with snarling traffic, shimmering heat, and waves of people. It’s a shock to our system, but one with potentially great rewards. Xi’an is the ancient capital of…