A different kind of tourist

One afternoon we rented bicycles and cruised around the old fort walls of Xi'an. On rickety old bikes, we clattered along the wide cobblestone surface of the walls with views of the sprawling city in every direction. The walls told the story of a time centuries earlier in the city's history...however the skyscrapers towering just beyond the walls speak of another time. We lost ourselves in the confines of the walls though enjoying the warm afternoon as the sun drifted lower in the hazy sky. I was making my usual frequent photo stops along our 8 mile circuit, and at the midway point we realized we only had 30 minutes left of our 100 minute rental period. So, we got serious about our biking and rattled our way back to the starting point, and I had to restrain myself and forego a few photo ops! During our curcuit I was struck by how carefree our travels feel here in China. We were out biking amidst Chinese and foreign tourists alike, all in great spirits enjoying the outing. After our time spent in more developing countries in the subcontinent where you are constantly surrounded by poverty and begging, it is harder for me to let go and enjoy the 'extracurricular' activities when it often feels quite indulgent. (I know, I know...we were only renting bikes!) It is just refreshing to be in a setting where the bulk of tourists are actually local and your activities are no different than the ones many other people are enjoying. Of course, we still flee from the giant Chinese tour groups, but people are generally less interested in what we are doing and busy with activities of their own.