Dallas, Texas TRIP

For Christmas 2024, I once again traveled with my church to Dallas, Texas, to attend a global conference. This marked my second visit to this city.

During my first trip, the schedule was so packed that I barely had time to explore. This time, I promised myself to carve out some moments to truly experience the pulse of Dallas.

The hotel was near the airport, and the roar of planes was a constant backdrop. One morning, I took a cab to the city center. As we drove, the cityscape gradually unfolded: orderly skyscrapers, slightly desolate street corners, and clusters of homeless individuals huddled on sidewalks, starkly contrasting with the hurried tourists nearby.

To my surprise, I encountered quite a few Chinese faces on the streets, adding a touch of familiarity to this foreign city.

Dallas didn’t leave a stunning first impression, but it carried a raw authenticity. The city wasn’t overly polished, yet it had a candid charm of its own.

My first stop was the famous "Eye of Dallas," a glass sphere-like structure suspended in the sky, resembling an eye overlooking the city. From this vantage point, the city bathed in the golden hues of sunset, and the cold steel and concrete seemed to soften under the warm light.

Next, I visited the "Hall of Thanksgiving," a place that pleasantly surprised me. The hall featured a towering stained-glass wall that seemed to fragment the sky into countless colorful pieces. Sunlight streamed through the interwoven blue, red, gold, and green glass, casting vibrant patterns on the floor and benches, as if God had accidentally spilled His paint.

I sat quietly, enveloped in silence, with only the light in motion. The shifting shadows and colors, as time passed, transformed an ordinary afternoon into a solemn yet tender performance. This place bore no specific religious symbols and required no elaborate rituals. It felt more like a sanctuary for the weary soul.

As I gazed up at the kaleidoscope of colors, an indescribable feeling welled up within me: the outside world might be noisy, harsh, and even cruel, but at this moment, I felt genuinely embraced by a gentle warmth.

The light seemed to remind me—no matter how exhausting life gets, there’s always a place where one can pause, take a deep breath, and then move forward again.

Of course, a trip to Texas wouldn’t be complete without barbecue. I made my way to Hutchins, hailed as the "pinnacle of Dallas BBQ." The restaurant was bustling, the air thick with the aroma of grilled meat. The brisket was crispy on the outside and tender inside, the pork ribs were fall-off-the-bone flavorful—each bite a smoky, fiery delight.

But... the plate was all meat, meat, and more meat! By the end, I couldn’t help but groan internally, "It’s delicious, but I’m drowning in meat!" 😤

This brief city excursion didn’t feature grand spectacles or thrilling adventures, but it pieced together a genuine portrait of Dallas: a mix of ruggedness and warmth, boldness and comfort.

As night fell, I returned to my hotel near the airport, feeling that this visit to Dallas had brought me closer to the city than the last.