Like A Prayer... China: Muslim Quarter, Xi'an!

God, I'm so messy! Xi'an needed to come and get me! 'Like A Prayer' is back, back and back again! I wanted to see a mosque, randomly interact with locals and eat some much needed Halal food! Was I looking at a perfect ten? Xi'an's Muslim Quarter didn't need a background check, such reports would clear without prejudice! Seriously, I wanted to avoid those '端午节' crowds! 

Landing back into Xi'an for the third time, I had received blessings from a high power because everything felt heaven sent. With my bags dropped at my Bell Tower facing room, I set off for Xi'an's '大清真寺/Great Mosque’ with the quickness! The universe had already proved that faith is possible without praying to any god, sometimes divine timing doesn't require devotion. It wasn't a glitch that I had seen that previously introduced gentlemen on my location based app, you can guess which one I am referring to! Those tourists crowds were doing the most as per usual, I clocked the Bell Tower but I made a swift right turn for the '回民大寺住宅区/Great Mosque Hui Housing District'. I wanted to snatch a less chaotic view within an area I had visited during my first trip to the city during New Year's in 2015! No prebooked tickets were needed, I was able to scan the QR code and pay up, wasting no time! Tourists come from far and wide, Xi'an's mosque ticket seller used English and I wasn't prepared, I spoke Chinese! That's 普通话!

This mosque had two names? Hidden depths, much? '化觉巷清真寺/Huajue Xiang Mosque' was an alternative name for this Islamic place of worship. Deep connections this mosque had with the Tang Dynasty, referencing existence during Xi'an's '长安/Chang'an Era! I took my time to walk through the walled mosque area, it was quiet and the surroundings looked as if people were genuinely giving up prayers to their intended higher power, that was their business. The huge mural by one the walls impressed me much, many intricate details had been added to that structure, it was impressive in an understated way. The photo that I captured above really encapsulated the peaceful nature of that Xi'an based mosque. The madness of the holiday crowds really felt like a long way away from that pocket of calm, that was also a slice of divine timing, I couldn't lie! I didn't want to leave that mosque complex because it was so peaceful, I knew that Xi'an had a greater plan for my Dragon Boat Festival break. I needed to move on, bye! 

Someplace where I wouldn't head down in England would be an alley because things can get pretty sketchy! After leaving the mosque, I was fronted with a rabbit warren-like area with alleys sprouting off into all four directions. I wasn't scared, I just wanted to find something to eat! I knew that I needed to eat some '羊肉泡馍/Lamb Broth with Bread', the previous summertime visit had not been so 'solo', I needed to make up for that third time in the game! I sensed a different energy, it was giving 'we have a secret culture that the masses don't understand nor appreciate', I wanted to be part of that! I saw a couple of 'Palestinian' flags flying from tricycles and inside shop windows, I wanted to know more about that form of expression! I lived to see an act of 'we stand with an outside cause' because I know that things aren't always full-frontal in these streets. As a muslim majority, people stood against Israel's opposition because China stands with Palestine. Let's keep it cute, I'm not about to catch a charge! Israel's doing the most! 

Those alleyways were giving me life, I wanted something to remind me what difference means because these streets can look very same same. There I said it! I got talking to a shop owner, he wore a kufi on his head. He asked me what my name was? He was speaking English! I am not going to assume that every Chinese person doesn't speak a foreign language but it is exceedingly rare these days, I rated this guy and wanted to have a little chat with him! I asked him where I could find my desired lamb broth dish? He pointed in the right direction but he had some questions for me first! He asked if I supported Palestine? I expressed that I do support Palestine, I couldn't lie because my government are basically funding Israel's dastardly ways. I told him my Arabic name is 'Yūsuf' and if truth be told, he respected that I made a connection with that. For me, it was a cultural exchange that I don't get a lot! I took my photos and with my destination solidified, I respectfully left that interaction in a good place. I needed some '羊肉泡馍' in my life!

My usual travelling app for domestic travel had showed up a restaurant that wasn't along '回民街/Hui Min Street'. After exiting the alleys in that housing district, I caught a glimpse of that insanely busy food street I had embraced during my first non Wuhan domestic trip within China, it was a blast from the past. I had cheated the crowds, being earlier than usual, I was able to get to my destination without any extra bodies present. I remembered that final night in Xi'an during my first trip to the city, I had enjoyed this amazing bowl of warming deliciousness! I remembered ripping up a warm piece of bread into a bowl of broth that had coriander and cooked pieces of lamb waiting for me. The bread soaked up the broth just enough, it was an invitation for food bliss! 2025's serving was delectable, I think that during those first parts of living in China, I was open to more foods. I have to get myself back into that trusting and adventurous state once again. Xi'an showed me that getting back to something familiar was OK. 

My bowl of Xi'an lamb broth with bread showed growth in my journey, I did not envisage a third trip to ‘陕西省/Shanxi Province' but I went along with it for the plot. I had had the best re-introduction to Xi'an with more culture and interaction available to me than ever before! Well, the second time did get a little bit spicy! My food was what I wanted to be, I felt content with that 'Like A Prayer' moment. I decided that third time lucky I absolutely was, sometimes you just need to travel solo to get things done the way you want them? Damn right, I wasn't going to play with my own time, that would be an unholy sin! From the mosque to those that truthful conversation, the meal was the cherry on top of that experience! I had a whole day tour to plan for the following day and drinks afterwards, I needed to sleep! The day had been long, Ningbo Airport had only offered Spring Airlines and I wasn't ready to beef for that! Going back to the same area doesn't necessarily mean you see the same things, always challenge the norm! Amen!

自由巴勒斯坦! 

Desperately Seeking Adventure