Language Barrier

We went to the Terra-cotta Warriors today (pics to follow) and it was pretty cool but the point of this post is about how quick your night can change all due to a little thing called communication. We had a very nice day at the warriors. We got back to the hostel and had our night all planned. We would go to the Muslim Quarter for Xi'an's version of Mongolian hot pot. We had a great meal (pics to follow) but it was the most expensive meal so far at $20 US. So after dinner with our belly's full of self-cooked lamb, chicken, and veggies we decided to walk the streets and get something sweet. We a got a peanut bar that tasted like a butterfinger minus the chocolate. it was very nice. so far the day and evening were stellar. great success! Then we were going to head to the big pagoda outside the city walls by public bus for a fountain and music show. According to our tour guide today "you take bus 610, cost 1 Yuan, only 20 minute. show start at 8:30." so at about 8:10 we get on bus 610 headed toward the pagoda. By the way, so far in China everything takes less time than you are told. 40 minutes really means 20 minutes. so we thought we would be there in 10. anyway...the bus is going along it's route and i get up to make sure that the bus driver will make the stop at the pagoda. He has no clue as to what i am saying so a Chinese woman offers help. she looks at the map and i point. she yells to the bus driver to tell him where we want to go and he yells back somewhat surprised but we have no idea what he is saying so everything seems to be okay. we're going along and now Dhara and I are the only passengers on the bus and by my watch we've been on the bus for 20 minutes. something is wrong. We drive along and now it's 35 minutes. he drops us off at Xiyan St. we get off and i look at the map but the pagoda is on Xiying St. we're officially lost and on some wierd highway. by now it's 9:00 pm and the show is over and we're stranded. so we hail a taxi after walking a bit in no man's land. it takes 10 minutes to get to our hostel. we're safe and home. the story is not that bad but it was very annoying. we missed the show, which sucks, but we got home, had a beer and now i am writing this and wishing we spoke some mandarin.