Xi'an, China Day 2 (Part 2 - Xi'an to Luoyang)

Assalamualaikum w.b.t!

Allahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa Ali Muhammad.

The journey in Xi'an continues and to catch up on my previous post just read this Xi'an, China Day 2 (Part 1 - Terracotta Army)

So after a long walk in the museum, we finally went for lunch somewhere near that area which is reachable in walking distance. The authentic Shaanxi Chinese cuisines were delicious but do mind on the herbs, once you got a bite it'll definitely changed the taste of the rest of the foods.

Beautiful art on the pathway

Souvenir shops and food stalls along the way to the foods area.

So here is where the foods area situated.
Many restaurants and foods to choose from. Please ignore the hungry us posing ridiculously.

Our non-Muslim had their lunch at this restaurant

For Muslims, worry not as Halal food is also available there. Just look for restaurants like below. Can you see the Jawi/Arabic writing on top of the billboard? Well that writing indicates that this is a Halal Restaurant, InshaAllah.

This restaurant is situated at the end of the shop lots and a bit at the back so walk through til the end of the pathway.

Enjoying the delicious foods, semua tunduk focus on foods haha

Some of the Shaanxi Cuisine we ate in that restaurant while many more to come after that!

But there is one thing, Muslims here are minority and according to the local in order to be successful in their restaurants business, they had to sell alcohol to the non-Muslims. Well.. emm.. so don't be shocked if you see people drinking in the Halal restaurants or bottles of alcohol in the beverages fridge. And may Allah have mercy upon us, the sinful slaves. Forgive us oh Allah, and present us Hidayah!

Again, pomegranates! This is near the restaurant we had lunch.
And those in the baskets are small juicy persimmon that looks like tomatoes.

While walking through those shops and restaurants, we were approached by old ladies insisting us to buy their pomegranates and persimmons but unfortunately majority of them can't converse in English so it is very hard to do business with them. But one thing you can do is, take out that gadget you have and find the calculator apps to press on. You can also bargain!

After a yummy luncheon we then hurried to the Xi'an Railway Station to catch up our bullet train to Luoyang This was my first experience on a bullet train and all these while I really thought that only Japan has it, kurang membaca punya pasal huu ignorance me. Well anyway, this ride took about an hour 40 minutes in the 310km/hour bullet train.

The railway station is somewhat like our KL Central.

A lot of facilities except for prayer room so we just prayed at the corner in this station and yes it is open space.
Wudhu' taken at public toilet.

Can't read Mandarin but I bet you can purchase ticket using this machine kot.

Passengers waiting for departure.

The ticket price from XiAn Bei to Luo Yang Long Men is 174.50 Yuan\RMB.
The ticket has name and the seat is fixed.

And ohh at the main entrance we were supposed to queue up for security check and yes it is the same like at the Terracotta Army, put all the belongings in a tray and passed through a thorough security check. After that, wait until your departure time and once it is time to depart, go to the correct gate and ours was Gate A13.

Ensure the correct gate and off you go to the train.

The train was so fast that I didn't get a chance to snap a picture of the front of the bullet train.

So off we go to depart on the train. I had the chance to see the breathtaking scenery outside the window but it was just a while because we departed about 5.30 pm and by 6 pm it is already dark like 7 pm in Malaysia. There is no change in time frame between China and Malaysia but the sunrise and sunset in China is faster about an hour compared to Malaysia.

So for Muslim, please bare in mind that this would also means that time for Solat there is an hour faster for each prayer time for example Zuhr is at 12 noon and Asr at 4 pm. But of course, since China is a 4 seasons country so the time will keep on changing. So do install useful Solat apps to ease you there!

It would be so much easier if you travel with a Muslim agency, not to be racist or anything but for us it was really troublesome to find a clean spot to pray. Alhamdulillah that this station is  clean enough for us to pray at the corner of an open space area. 

When you had to pray anywhere clean then it is also means that my dear Muslimah, a proper, decent and suitable attire is required. Because there is no way that you gonna put on your telekung in the public and meleret-leret atas lantai. After all, a Solat ready attire is actually what we Muslimah supposed to be wearing every single day. Hashtag Notetoself. 

At about 7 pm we arrived at Luoyang Station and it was super cold! Here the weather is colder than in Xi'an and definitely foggier. 

Freezing cold! At least for us Malaysian with this hot and humid weather we have.

Once arrived, we met up with a handsome (Astaghfirullah Puan Ain!) local guide, Mr Leo. We then stop by for dinner and from that railway station to the restaurant took about 30 minutes by coach. Unfortunately for us, dinner was not as great as lunch perhaps Luoyang province foods just not suitable with our taste, my taste at least.

After dinner about 9.15 pm we headed straight to Bohemia Hotel for check in and then went for quick walk near that hotel. We wanted to go to the shopping mall nearby but sadly at 9.30 pm, it is already closed.. sob sob.

Cold and foggy Luoyang town.

Failed attempt of group jump in front of the closed shopping mall.

Feeling disappointed and so we went back to hotel and you know what happened next right. Yup okay. So Luoyang, China Day 3 continues in my next post.

Till then, Assalamualaikum!