Mutton stew in the ancient capital (China)
My friends in China often admonish me for not visiting the famous tourist spots - the Great Wall and the Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an. I tell them I prefer the non-touristy parts where I can interact with people, learn about their lives, and sometimes their secrets.
I got a bargain air ticket to Xi’an (from Chengdu) and flew up there. I decided to give the Terracotta Warriors a miss. I ended up staying in the mostly Muslim old quarter. Most people there were the Hui, the Han Muslim people. I was happy chatting with the food sellers and occasional students from the nearby university who came for the cheap food and chance to practise English with tourists.
One Hui lady, when she learnt that I am single, offered to introduce a relative to me. She thought I was from the Middle Eastern countries.
My staple food in Xian was 羊肉泡馍 (yang rou pao mo - mutton soup with bread). Every day I went to a mutton soup restaurant. There was one young girl among the staff who was slightly more rounder than the others. The others used to taunt her. She took it all without any complaint, and always maintained a playful face. On my last day in Xian, I gave her a Korean fish - it is a decorative small accessory that one can attach to the phone. All the other girls were jealous.
I continued my travels northwards, heading to Ningxia.
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