Xi'an, China: Famen Temple

This morning, we drove far outside Xian to the Famen Temple, which is renowned for having the finger bone of the Sakyamuni Buddha. I'm not drawn to religious relics, but the drive was worth it to visit this serene Temple where, for once, we were the only non-Asians in sight (a clear sign that we'd ventured off the beaten path!)

We had lunch at the Temple, and because it was served on premises of the Temple, the only choice was a non-alcoholic, completely vegetarian meal. It was a nice break from the huge meals we've been served everywhere.

Coming back to Xian, the highway turned into a parking lot because there was an accident ahead of us where a truck jack-knifed across the median. It was interesting to observe how Chinese drivers dealt with it - much like in the US - they drove on the shoulder until the police stopped them, got out of their cars and trucks to gawk and commiserate.