In the best company
Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
22:00 LT - I am finally seated. Now that I have had a break from walking, I realised how hectic my day, and the previous twelve, on this solo trip to China has been. I have travelled 1350km from Beijing to Shanghai on a bullet train, flying for a further three hours to conclude my trip into Xi’an.
I am content, I have seen pretty much everything, making slight adjustments to my itinerary, as I did not realise how massive Chinese cities were. I have walked an average of eighteen to twenty kilometres per day in each city. I felt like a man on a mission, sticking my head into the sand and following my tight schedule closely to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Tomorrow is the big day. I have a private guide booked to see the Terracotta Warriors, which I left for the very end of the trip. The cherry on the cake of this very unique and surely diverse trip of mine.
Everything went according to plan but now I can allow myself to take a break. I have time to think, to look around, to realise that I am in such a different reality than what I am used to. A Chinese man walks past, staring surprisingly at me. I stare back inquisitively until his voice breaks the silence “Ni shi yi ge ren ma?” (Are you here alone?). The little Mandarin I have been studying seems to work. I say “Yes, why?”, he exclaims, “Oh!” and barges past as if seeing someone travelling by themselves would have been an unusual sight. I spend a few minutes thinking about why he looked so surprised and then continue to observe my surrounding.
Being in such a different place suddenly makes my own presence comforting. I smile, realising that I really am in the best company. I hear music from the far end of the City Wall. I lean over the edge and see a restaurant. I’m hungry. I start walking again.
”Blessed are those who do not fear solitude, who are not afraid of their own company, who are not always desperately looking for something to do, something to amuse themselves with, something to judge”
-Paulo Coelho