Day 135: Country #15.2

My friend asked if I wanted to see her university. I’m a big fan of universities because, unlike museums which tell about a country’s past, and walking around the cities for experiencing the present, the universities represent the future of a country.

So, we made our way to Shaanxi Normal University, one of the best institutions for higher education in the region. I could tell it brought back old memories for her as she shared stories about classmates and classes. Then we went to the cafeteria and I was blown away by the food selection. An entire gym sized complex was dedicated to eating with an entire side filled with food windows selling everything imaginable. I couldn’t believe the prices.

Heavily subsidized amazing meal at Shaanxi Normal University, China

After eating fish and sampling a variety of other meats, we continued our stroll through campus and found a baby bird lost and wandering on the ground. We were so full that my friend played with it and tried to put it back in a safe place.

Next we made our way the the nearby Natural History Museum which was more like a children’s science center, but it also had a sky tower with a unique all glass top where you could walk over the edge. Even though you know it’s fully enclosed and safe, it’s still quite a scary experience.

Practice overcoming your fear of heights at Xi’an sky tower in the Natural History Museum

My friend needed to leave to visit her grandparents, so we said our goodbyes to one another and to Optimus Prime, a random sculpture on the other side of the park, then I continued on to the Giant Wild Goose Pagoda.

A life size Transformer statue in Xi’an, China.

This time, I was able to climb the stairs to the top to capture another great view of the city from up high. I also passed by the Small Wild Goose Pagoda as I made my way back to the hostel early.

Temple complex around Giant Wild Goose Pagoda, Xi’an, China.

I wanted to plan out the next few steps, but ended up getting distracted by a super cute freshly shaved lion-dog, which reminded me of the shaved dogs in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Is it a lion or is it a dog?

Tip:
It’s never really possible to get over a fear of heights regardless how often you expose yourself to these scary situations when traveling, but you can still build tolerance so that you don’t freeze up in case you ever find yourself in a real situation where you need to act decisively.

Published by BE

I write about my travel and money experiences. View all posts by BE