EXPLORING THE SOUTH GATE OF XI'AN CITY WALL IN THE EVENING

buying the entry tickets

   3RD SEPTEMBER 2026    ~ There was no activity for the group in the evening so people could have a lot of rest. For one thing, the group comprised mostly of senior citizens and people who were above 50 years of age. Approximately 21/28 were the veterans and experienced ones, if I counted correctly.

A few of us decided to go somewhere as we reached the hotel quite early in the afternoon. Four of my friends and I decided to visit the City Wall and the tourist guide helped us book the e-hailing cars to and fro. They didn't have Grab or Uber in China. People had to use a similar service called Didi to get from one place to another.

We made our entry via the South Gate. We had to buy tickets to enter the City Wall. When we arrived, a theatre show [which we did not know about] had already started in the middle of the tower building.

Going up [and down] the stairs to get to the higher level of the structure was literally an uphill task for me who had knee problems. However, as the saying goes, determination is the key to success.

The first thing we could observe was the bright Xi'an city from a higher level.

The second thing was to admire the beautiful Chinese traditional buildings lit up with colourful lights.

The lights around the area were dimmed because of the cultural/historical show which was still in progress in the centre court. The photos taken at this time might not turn out beautiful because of the lack of lighting.

Because of the show, the pedestrian walkways were also closed so moving around the place was limited. Nevertheless, once the show was over, the area got brighter and they opened up the roads that linked people to the other gate.

TO BE CONTINUED IN PART 2

MY BANDAR PENAWAR GASTRONOMIC ADVENTURE - PART 4

  17TH SEPTEMBER 2026   ~ The short staycation in Pengerang had come to an end and we decided to get lunch before leaving. This time it was another restaurant in Bandar Penawar that was featured on TikTok.

We were already outside Kaffelbait a few minutes before 1:00 p.m. We officiated the opening of the restaurant on that day and were the earliest diners checking in for lunch.

We had Fried Rice and Char Kuew Tiau that afternoon and some fancy drinks. I just realized I did not have a photo of myself or a selfie because the friendly chef came out of the kitchen and chatted with us.

THE REVIEW: The food was good and the portion was big. You could also opt for western food for your meal. Now I know of a good eating place if I am to get to Bandar Penawar after this.

THE KIWI PICKING TRIP IN XI'AN

 

   3rd SEPTEMBER 2026    ~ People always associate kiwi [the fruit] with New Zealand. Someone told me Kiwi actually originated from China. After picking grapes, the tour group was then taken to the kiwi orchard.

Upon arrival, we first had our prepacked lunch in the warehouse as that was the only place available. We were all happy to at least have a place to sit down and enjoy our meal. And there was also a sink and pipe water nearby.

We made our way into the orchard/farm and it was not an easy task for a tall person like me. The plants were shorter and therefore I had to bend down all the time to avoid my head being tangled by the branches and leaves.

We had to pick and choose our own kiwi that we wanted to buy and bring home.

One could either weigh the fruit or get a special box with a compartment for better storage of the kiwi that had been picked earlier. if you wish to take home, the latter method would be advisable as the kiwi could be safe from being crushed in your luggage.

Another tip was to choose the not-so-ripe fruits to guarantee they would last longer.

The bus was now filled with bags and boxes of grapes and kiwis. Another trip in the itinerary that had made everyone happy.