tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61606716146412602932024-03-14T04:01:26.574-06:00* Steve * Deidra * Zack * DaisyDeidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.comBlogger159125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-90951655161418156362012-06-18T01:28:00.000-06:002014-08-20T01:29:52.328-06:00Zack says...June 18<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Zack is so weird. He wanted to earn some money so I told him he could dust the basement for .50. Then he said: "can I clean up the dog poo in the yard instead?" For fifty cents? Hell ya!</span>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-15196808036489329552012-01-22T15:21:00.000-07:002012-08-19T15:25:47.430-06:00Zack says...On Saturday Dec 2nd, we were all a little stir crazy and Daisy needed to get to bed early so I told Steve I was taking Zack on a date. We have talked about how we need to spend more one on one time with him but we always feel guilty leaving the other spouse at home. <br />
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I told Zack to get ready we were going on a date. He asked what we were doing and I said it was a surprise because I really didn't have a plan and figured we could look at some Christmas lights and do a little shopping. He seemed excited.<br />
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When Zack went to get in the car, I told him to sit up front with me. (Don't leave me any comments about how it's unsafe, the airbag turns off automatically if a certain weight is in the seat and I know he is safer in the back seat but this was a once in a blue-moon-thing.) Zack was excited and said "Well that's how it should be on a date!"<br />
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I asked him what we should do and he didn't know so I asked him if we should go to a movie. He said no because that would be wasting all our time and it was getting late. Ha! So I told him we would go see some Christmas lights. <br />
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We drove over to my brothers neighborhood where there is a house with about 50 huge blow-up Christmas decorations all over the house, yard and in the trees. It's so hideous it's cool! We sat in front of the house and commented on all the decor for quite a while. <br />
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Next I decided we would go to the house in Murray that has all the lights all over it and you tune your radio to a station that plays music which is synchronized with the light show. It's really cute and we usually go every year. It was quite a hit and Zack and I enjoyed the show. <br />
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Next we were off to Christmas Street in the Harvard Yale area. Boo. It has gotten quite lame over the years and we were not that impressed. But we had fun talking while we drove all over the city. <br />
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On the way home we stopped to get ice cream at the Sub Zero shop. They make your ice cream from scratch right before your eyes. You pick a flavor and add-ins, they put those with cream and sugar in a metal bowl and then they shoot liquid nitrogen into the bowl and freeze it up soft, medium or hard. You pick. We loved watching it freeze and our creations were delish. Zack ordered egg nog flavor with butterscotch syrup and recess pieces. It was actually pretty good. <br />
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On Sunday morning we were walking into church and Zack turned to me and said "I had a really fun time on our date last night." Success! What a cute boy, I love him to pieces!<br />
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Zack had a fun Christmas I think. He got a Halo figure toy from Santa along with a portable speaker for his I-pod. He also got some video games and the family got some games to share. He was also happy to see that mom and dad were given an I-pad by Santa and he now begs to play on it and buy games all the time, much to mom's annoyance since it is her toy. From mom and dad he got several nerf guns and nerf accessories, and some books. <br />
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Every year Zacks school has a spelling bee fundraiser. There are 50 words and we get our family to pleadge an amount for every word he gets correct. This is the 3rd year (out of 3) that he has gotten all 50 correct! He works hard to memorize them and has a great mind for it!<br />
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Zack recently earned his Wolf badge in scouts. We have some great leaders and Steve has done a good job helping him get all of his requirements done. Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-61163559198893772522011-11-30T12:48:00.002-07:002011-12-05T15:24:24.692-07:00Daisy's DiaryDaisy is getting bigger and smarter and cuter every day! We can't believe how smart she is. Here is what she has been up to lately:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She looooves to wear hats!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She also loves to wear any one's shoes or slippers. (This is the face she makes when you tell her to smile!)</td></tr>
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I may have mentioned that Daisy hasn't slept well since we got home. I started her on Magnesium supplements about a month ago and although it helped a little, it wasn't enough. I had an appointment with her pediatrician soon after I started that and I took a list of labs I wanted drawn. He consented to do them, although I am sure he didn't think it was necessary. There was a whole slew of tests and only two turned out to be a problem. She has low iron (which can contribute to bad sleeping) and she was positive for H. Pylori bacteria in her gut. I had noticed that she seemed to be refluxing the past 2 weeks at night and having stomach aches, so that was probably why. The doctor ordered two antibiotics and prevacid. She is almost done with the 2 week coarse and she has slept through the night the past 5 nights! I hope we have found the cure to our sleeping woes! Hopefully it lasts!<br />
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She loves to eat pencil erasers and crayons. No writing utensil is safe from her! She has recently gotten really picky about eating. In fact she rarely wants to eat a meal and just prefers to snack. It makes me crazy because I'm so worried about her growing and being healthy. She mostly wants cereal, cheese, milk, juice, crackers and any junk food she can find. She recently discovered pop corn and lovingly calls it "pop pop".<br />
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She is developing quite an attitude lately. She loves to sternly say "no!" to any question we ask her. Especially if I ask her if she has a poopy diaper, it's always "no!"<br />
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One thing she doesn't say no to is when we ask if she loves us. Soon after my last post where I said she shakes her head no to that question, she started shaking her head yes! Ever since then she has always said yes. If you tell her you love her she says: "Love you" in her cute little voice. When she gives kisses she says "mah".<br />
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Daisy now has about 50 words or phrases that she says. The pediatrician couldn't believe her language skills considering she has only heard English for about 5 1/2 months. She loves to talk on the phone and the other day she had a complete conversation with Steve. She said, "Hello? Hi dada. Bye bye", at all the appropriate times. She can turn anything into a phone (just like Zack used to turn everything into a gun when he was little) and walks around the house "talking".<br />
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She knows her name and refers to herself as "Dizzy" while poking herself in the chest.<br />
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The other day I set her on her newly laundered changing table pad. She pointed at it and said "poople". Then she pointed at her crib bedding and said "poople". These items are all lavender in color. Little smartie! Now we just need to get her to identify the other colors and she'll be ready for kindergarten! <br />
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Zack continues to be an awesome big brother and can make her laugh like nobody else can. I'll have to remember to get it on video! She loves to go into his room and "steal" things. I usually find them in her mouth. She also loves to tear up his Poke Mon cards and his books which makes him really mad. <br />
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Last month was Halloween and Daisy was a fairy. The Saturday before Halloween our church had a trunk or treat so we got the kids dressed up and went. She seemed fine during the party, although she was a little scared of some of the decorations. That night she didn't sleep much, and I slept even less! After that, I decided we needed to keep Halloween really low key so we sent Zack trick or treating with some of his friends and we went to Auntie Lori's Halloween party and ate soup and treats. Luckily there were not too many strangers at her party and Daisy didn't get to overstimulated. She slept better that night. I am surprised that a baby her age would know what "scary" is, but she does. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy with Grandpa A at Auntie Lori's Halloween party</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy and Zack at the church Trunk or Treat. Daisy was petrified of Zack when he first came down with his makeup on.</td></tr>
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</div>Speaking of scared, lately she has been really sensitive to sounds around the house. If someone knocks on the door she cowers in fear. At my mom's house if she hears the sounds that houses sometimes make, she jumps into my moms arms and cries. I'm not sure where this all the sudden came from, hopefully it's just a phase.<br />
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Daisy is always busy. Busy destroying something, eating something, climbing something, or doing a "job". She is constantly getting into cupboards and drawers and "organizing" them. The other day she felt like a good place for my silicone oven mitt would be the toilet. I found it floating in there at the end of the day. One day she passed out water bottles to everyone. She is also very good at throwing things in the garbage.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My poor oven mitt. I almost sent it to the garbage. (Don't judge me by my disgusting toilet, we had some gastro problems right before this!)</td></tr>
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Daisy has recently gotten very good at blowing her nose. I only mention it because I remember being frustrated that Zack couldn't blow his nose until he was quite a bit older (I swear he was at least 3 or 4) and I hated him having a snotty nose and no way to get it out. She blows like a champ! I think she's quite advanced. <br />
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Daisy continues to love her baths and love drinking the bath water. She has discovered that she can recline against the back of the tub and she loves to just chill in this position. She also begs to play with shaving cream!<br />
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As of about a month ago, Daisy didn't really care if we left her somewhere. We stayed with her in the nursery at church because we felt like we shouldn't leave her for attachment purposes. Well, as soon as we decided she was doing well enough to be left, we tried it and she was not having it! So each week at church Steve and I take turns staying in the nursery with her. We are happy to do it and happy that she wants us to stay! We have been able to leave her with a baby sitter at our house a couple of times and she has done really well. I think she feels secure in her own home. <br />
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On November 5th, Steve was able to give Daisy a name and a blessing at church. She was really good and didn't make a peep. It was a really nice blessing, which I tried to write down but Steve was talking so fast I don't think I got it all. He will try to remember and write it all out based on my notes. I hope he can so we can have it for her baby book. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blessing Day</td></tr>
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On November 19th, we were able to go as a family to the Draper temple and be sealed together. We kept it really small with just our immediate family there. Daisy was good up until the ceremony and then she wanted Steve to hold her (at a point when he couldn't) and so she screamed like crazy. The sealer talked really loud and fast and I tried not to laugh. She was so mad! Luckily it's a fast ceremony and so it was a short tantrum and then Steve picked her up and she was happy. It was a really nice day and we are grateful for our families and their support and love and for the gospel of Jesus Christ. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack and Daisy had to get out some of their energy after having to be so reverent for so long!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZtiNGAAAB2poVB08FN8aApUj_0kHuvh2xtsk4eaBo30s0MRzrvP2xOgAGcihNr84uCnjABYfPsUdHsFCuoSdiX-C8KrfxbyPn0zDy6Lk-n27S2F3jg1ia9Zg7nx81lVX14ItUAh-q7c/s1600/temple2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLZtiNGAAAB2poVB08FN8aApUj_0kHuvh2xtsk4eaBo30s0MRzrvP2xOgAGcihNr84uCnjABYfPsUdHsFCuoSdiX-C8KrfxbyPn0zDy6Lk-n27S2F3jg1ia9Zg7nx81lVX14ItUAh-q7c/s320/temple2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(L-R) Grandpa A, Auntie Lori, Grandma A, The A family, Grandma R, Grandpa R, Uncle Mike, Great-Grandma Mary, Auntie Ally, Uncle Sean, Auntie Sheri</td></tr>
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On both days Daisy wore a beautiful white outfit that we bought in China. I was able to take her to get her portrait done with the dress on and the pictures turned out really nice. I don't know if I can post them because of copy write issues though.<br />
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Things are really settling down, especially since we are getting a little more sleep and are able to get out on a date once in a while. We are enjoying Daisy and her spunk and are so happy to have her be ours. We love her to pieces!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjOo2IuYYnptz7aRq4w5rn5dpw5VHOFKbT7An51gXmPHFtg861jWzp_FUWbn_howPCMqnm9Cl0Bi9zhMZlHhFkI0Gs8ENeGirpFe4r_Zpp8s4o-g3nhUUdem8aTeiySVgKdDZi575WdU/s1600/time+iut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjOo2IuYYnptz7aRq4w5rn5dpw5VHOFKbT7An51gXmPHFtg861jWzp_FUWbn_howPCMqnm9Cl0Bi9zhMZlHhFkI0Gs8ENeGirpFe4r_Zpp8s4o-g3nhUUdem8aTeiySVgKdDZi575WdU/s320/time+iut.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes Daisy needs a little "time-out". I stay right by her so it's more like a time-in and lasts about 45 seconds. When she is done she says "sorry"! (She really only gets a time out when she starts destroying something, we ask her to stop and she looks at us and does it anyway!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-7737877143239015152011-11-30T12:10:00.002-07:002011-12-05T18:06:08.000-07:00Zack says...On Monday night:<br />
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Dad to Zack: Why do we have Family Home Evening? (Which is a really funny question because we DON'T have FHE, except on rare occasions when I get my crap together.)<br />
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Z: To...celebrate...literature...with Jesus?<br />
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D: Uh, yeah. So, what song do you want to sing?<br />
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Z: (Without pause) She'll be coming round the mountain!?<br />
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FHE is awesome.<br />
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The other night I put Zack to bed and before I could get downstairs to watch my shows I heard him start to cry. I went back in to ask him what was wrong and he basically told me he felt bad for dad. I asked why and the gist of it was that Zack felt like he had been neglecting his dad and not spending enough time with him because he was busy with other stuff like playing with friends. I assured him that his dad was OK and knows that Zack loves him. I encouraged him to make sure and thank Steve for all the nice things he does for Zack. He is so cute and tender hearted! <br />
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This summer we decided it would be fun to put Zack in tackle football. We had no idea what we were in for (at least I didn't), and the commitment that this would be for our whole family. Practice started at the beginning of August and was 5 days a week, every night from 6-8. Missing a practice was out of the question, it's just not done. Steve took Zack to every practice and stayed for moral support. I thought he was being a little overbearing until I went to a practice and witnessed the spectacle myself. If a kid is late, he runs. If he makes a mistake, he runs and sometimes the whole team has to run with him. The coaches yelled (I mean the kind of yelling where you loose your voice) at and berated the kids constantly. On the first practice of the season, 2 kids puked. These are 8 and 9 year old kids. When school started, practice changed to 3 nights a week with games on Saturdays. Steve and I didn't really see each other much because he would come home and go straight to practice. Also, we didn't end up eating dinner until about 8:30 every night. The stress level in our house was already really high due to having a new baby who was always sick and not sleeping and this just tipped the scales even farther. I was not happy. <br />
<br />
But... Steve and Zack had some really great bonding over this experience. I think it was really good for Zack to learn discipline and really be immersed in something he couldn't just quit when the going got tuff. And it was really tuff! There were about 24 players on the team. There were about 8 kids who didn't get much play time at all and Zack was once of those, although he was on a special team (kick off return) so he got a little more time than the others. Zack worked really hard and in the last game of the season they let him have a starting position (on the corner, playing defense). At the end of season awards banquet the coaches said something nice about each team member. They said that Zack was the most improved player of the year by far. He started off a little slow but worked hard and earned that starting position. We are very proud of him for his hard work and perseverance. When we ask him if he wants to play next year he is unsure. We will see how he feels next summer. If mom has her way he won't play but if dad has his way we will be a football family forever!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULuIqpBdTi10oxatRLPysnAnP9JDJDw5DXRJ4LSzyab45iKKGCg6jlNAZ45eG1YpDlh4g4bsyYufBzxhEB7qPNrU4HS6Ii0KWAMpa1d77trkiuJy-TqZURVdA4uY1gS-vpoKlyvYGYZ8/s1600/z+football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgULuIqpBdTi10oxatRLPysnAnP9JDJDw5DXRJ4LSzyab45iKKGCg6jlNAZ45eG1YpDlh4g4bsyYufBzxhEB7qPNrU4HS6Ii0KWAMpa1d77trkiuJy-TqZURVdA4uY1gS-vpoKlyvYGYZ8/s320/z+football.jpg" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our handsome boy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I should also mention that their team won every game but one and went to the championship playoffs in 1st place. They won the first championship game and then lost the second and last game to the West team. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40CGntn0jNGSE7MYZgcdUcFpl4Ip49MUA3Lo_N9hyphenhyphenANyxwjZUXgbuaK3rFoZQnvrJQyvmxYWR2PQ-gRXdMTvkHfrbEgL9Wyi8pQQEQBXKkMzbGpOkOyEs-hVQkGwIbrO1B-w45kELsEs/s1600/z+halloween.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40CGntn0jNGSE7MYZgcdUcFpl4Ip49MUA3Lo_N9hyphenhyphenANyxwjZUXgbuaK3rFoZQnvrJQyvmxYWR2PQ-gRXdMTvkHfrbEgL9Wyi8pQQEQBXKkMzbGpOkOyEs-hVQkGwIbrO1B-w45kELsEs/s320/z+halloween.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack was a football zombie for Halloween.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl4PS7U4NydzN9yt604uwGQ8voBwynp-WH6IVxfuu4H6KUmxhub_KS_vWagqFj2mkuUNIsizCeaDxhrXbeDv6WEpnCNswTcqf6ksAvPB_7AZrywouxYWhyphenhyphenlMOCWDzCuL2AuIzHF7kMuc/s1600/pinewood+derby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEl4PS7U4NydzN9yt604uwGQ8voBwynp-WH6IVxfuu4H6KUmxhub_KS_vWagqFj2mkuUNIsizCeaDxhrXbeDv6WEpnCNswTcqf6ksAvPB_7AZrywouxYWhyphenhyphenlMOCWDzCuL2AuIzHF7kMuc/s320/pinewood+derby.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack with his Pinewood Derby car. He didn't win any speed awards but he had an awful lot of fun making his car with his dad.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-38356514880088683812011-10-08T12:41:00.000-06:002011-10-08T12:41:28.621-06:00Signs that made us laughI have been going through all of our pictures from our adoption trip and in the next couple of weeks I will be adding them to the posts I did while we were there.<br />
<br />
While we were in Japan and China, we ran across a lot of funny signs. Some had been translated to make no sense and some were just plain funny. We tried to take pictures of the best ones, here they are.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfTcIqKepKo8aJ7FesEcKV56_QqlgsS5Q1c4yzfTWF4MNbMRVsNH85cyRBVFFe4eS3yLGVY3-Iq6AhT_CpgrNINcd9f1okLtCvHl_1oewqbQtUcNK8l856n5x2J2WbgQjBCcgbt1HNsc/s1600/org.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQfTcIqKepKo8aJ7FesEcKV56_QqlgsS5Q1c4yzfTWF4MNbMRVsNH85cyRBVFFe4eS3yLGVY3-Iq6AhT_CpgrNINcd9f1okLtCvHl_1oewqbQtUcNK8l856n5x2J2WbgQjBCcgbt1HNsc/s320/org.jpg" width="295" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical garbage can in China, sometimes they even talk to you. Glad to see they take recycling seriously, although I suspect they just separate it like this so that the people who dig through the garbage's with their tongs will have an easier time of finding what they want. You would HATE to come across ORGANISM while looking for bottles to recycle!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXquEznAa5MZqIqhmJaIeRRA3oyr52-iyoamt9FoYIFkiThA37n6UF2RUTbMQaeBrWf_oc93UyKadwzk9Bo7mnQHO6cR8jNV7_SAVEiA36QkoVRWEK_AsXjSdF8SKPv36V1LjAbL-9xD8/s1600/sign4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXquEznAa5MZqIqhmJaIeRRA3oyr52-iyoamt9FoYIFkiThA37n6UF2RUTbMQaeBrWf_oc93UyKadwzk9Bo7mnQHO6cR8jNV7_SAVEiA36QkoVRWEK_AsXjSdF8SKPv36V1LjAbL-9xD8/s320/sign4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Japan they call a moving sidewalk a <b>travelator</b>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZE-SHyHi_W88-a7rkPqmU71XPWI4Ft1RmX63unG1ZYwa9emxiOdELkovmau1CaHHW_cCv-reotmgclvvsA_vpkZbguOh-BhUMD7Tg9XUnV6OXFk1Kjie2reh11_UkGXgQur1WlZ0C_g/s1600/sign7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiZE-SHyHi_W88-a7rkPqmU71XPWI4Ft1RmX63unG1ZYwa9emxiOdELkovmau1CaHHW_cCv-reotmgclvvsA_vpkZbguOh-BhUMD7Tg9XUnV6OXFk1Kjie2reh11_UkGXgQur1WlZ0C_g/s320/sign7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">China, at the Forbidden Palace. We just thought it was funny that they used the word perilous instead of dangerous.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf9AclHGDH56IGb9POpHoSFu96ODa6U0bb-SYCXMywsx6OOt1aahZa7Tp8peCVkkKMX4cq5moGhdZ40AXVZ-w4XG3s0miJMMowheFG83H81Vl6UKzHY0K0KSbcSucqMO74MsKE0SDWdo/s1600/sign21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicf9AclHGDH56IGb9POpHoSFu96ODa6U0bb-SYCXMywsx6OOt1aahZa7Tp8peCVkkKMX4cq5moGhdZ40AXVZ-w4XG3s0miJMMowheFG83H81Vl6UKzHY0K0KSbcSucqMO74MsKE0SDWdo/s320/sign21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Zoo in Guangzhou. In the cool panda exhibit there were these weird icy patches on the wall, apparently they are very dangerous!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7-pr65nRQf7dKZu3hgRAjqtA_uxXSVmK6ES8n-ivGhTdxiqA4bfT3lqiKWZjdSzmaWO0U9KOCmBd3aDJF3MCxfIF3N2fcysqdPrxW91RoJ6s4p2AhyphenhyphenkeSs0sUnYvLSZlkLHYTJZD2M4/s1600/sign3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7-pr65nRQf7dKZu3hgRAjqtA_uxXSVmK6ES8n-ivGhTdxiqA4bfT3lqiKWZjdSzmaWO0U9KOCmBd3aDJF3MCxfIF3N2fcysqdPrxW91RoJ6s4p2AhyphenhyphenkeSs0sUnYvLSZlkLHYTJZD2M4/s320/sign3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5K6p3J4PBxvWsTzFpfYbbnsItkUbHnM68l5SrL_UeVTC9Ib2145VkM9oSwpCRJMsGEPFIGkRmAsYFqPWkfoLoieRxJUEn40GcfNqGtwvpeopzZHk1qroatC9X_ByHm-9Yb0u8BLn9-c/s1600/sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5K6p3J4PBxvWsTzFpfYbbnsItkUbHnM68l5SrL_UeVTC9Ib2145VkM9oSwpCRJMsGEPFIGkRmAsYFqPWkfoLoieRxJUEn40GcfNqGtwvpeopzZHk1qroatC9X_ByHm-9Yb0u8BLn9-c/s320/sign.jpg" width="301" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "rules" at a park in Japan.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgC3_6QNunsEXFEfa27BJ4ObKg6IayD6m4mMZnLT8ziFTd3b5tOGSqnX16oMASF0peiL8etnyd3fS7IXGAgaxqXaUgWx6NAwlPOWfkf-QAV13ARsKSPlJek92yjKM0YLknjr5H_71LgzY/s1600/sign1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgC3_6QNunsEXFEfa27BJ4ObKg6IayD6m4mMZnLT8ziFTd3b5tOGSqnX16oMASF0peiL8etnyd3fS7IXGAgaxqXaUgWx6NAwlPOWfkf-QAV13ARsKSPlJek92yjKM0YLknjr5H_71LgzY/s320/sign1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Japan</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sE1vhElb23emmjpDMdfqsGKd4sSfhTxkWwTb-uVetTamPcqUKnF95skEC5B2r3c9MJZRWTtl_fMXthfWrcdyxajTV_HdqxPSZ80phDQVBpBeJg16IsagwHJjRKDluX3uQVhLZk3zczI/s1600/sign2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sE1vhElb23emmjpDMdfqsGKd4sSfhTxkWwTb-uVetTamPcqUKnF95skEC5B2r3c9MJZRWTtl_fMXthfWrcdyxajTV_HdqxPSZ80phDQVBpBeJg16IsagwHJjRKDluX3uQVhLZk3zczI/s320/sign2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It seems that spitting on train conductors is common enough in Japan that they need a sign about it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5x83KgUuITMZ-5dWkr1eyix46Sqgu6scgkXgFMVEiJcPfYE6xa3YckaNAvrLlKDB5wVyE_vOTjKQrxKUrlLdpvyODlXwXQjkKLfptRh3eUr2mNTQvOz91rS1EwusGfCICl6oO9r-3Kls/s1600/sign5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5x83KgUuITMZ-5dWkr1eyix46Sqgu6scgkXgFMVEiJcPfYE6xa3YckaNAvrLlKDB5wVyE_vOTjKQrxKUrlLdpvyODlXwXQjkKLfptRh3eUr2mNTQvOz91rS1EwusGfCICl6oO9r-3Kls/s320/sign5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The staff at this museum in Japan didn't<i> seem</i> particularly grouchy...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l0IVAap6Q50mjlThG9CpwUl7AByfYCnjT7vY5klm-LtTu_FLlKx9ox7qy_OnEmytiP1NxPggFFPZpWBTvhOqaSvBz55mlXdyVJPtOqQ38Saa3w9-e37WtSJy4gAeiAspF9Y5cwykVJg/s1600/sign6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6l0IVAap6Q50mjlThG9CpwUl7AByfYCnjT7vY5klm-LtTu_FLlKx9ox7qy_OnEmytiP1NxPggFFPZpWBTvhOqaSvBz55mlXdyVJPtOqQ38Saa3w9-e37WtSJy4gAeiAspF9Y5cwykVJg/s320/sign6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We all know that Coke is not only refreshing but spiritual too! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiclNFqve-pGMlmnut4_afcB4vmEK7nNiuGs_QXkcKB-CWOD-HRzppzOMQllH3HyyfBac5VG5sV2Tl2P0iXUx7H01-aEiJNOcTIIOFti36z8sfMmi6X1Qv04pXgK_p-eW3FnGXRZWtP8/s1600/sign8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiclNFqve-pGMlmnut4_afcB4vmEK7nNiuGs_QXkcKB-CWOD-HRzppzOMQllH3HyyfBac5VG5sV2Tl2P0iXUx7H01-aEiJNOcTIIOFti36z8sfMmi6X1Qv04pXgK_p-eW3FnGXRZWtP8/s320/sign8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who you calling a knockhead?! (And why is he dressed in a bee costume?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgo_xglCyQuVsxGUmacPq2vzR3gcTYbsBKCa0Y79fcRnNk-WwcfMY8HLvfEROvIT-_N-g0Ug_finhMUCpJ4Z701-XDxryEhSx3Yv4scjuxklvSEFzNmAztvVdzj8_FmEvtMz5KSzw51s/s1600/sign9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIgo_xglCyQuVsxGUmacPq2vzR3gcTYbsBKCa0Y79fcRnNk-WwcfMY8HLvfEROvIT-_N-g0Ug_finhMUCpJ4Z701-XDxryEhSx3Yv4scjuxklvSEFzNmAztvVdzj8_FmEvtMz5KSzw51s/s320/sign9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do you rape a mushroom and how do you spend a spiced elbow? And whose elbow is it anyway?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTRpdZ1sL0uSL4e_Z4BGsIYP_s3ajE_G8kgB1OG_QEv7_9S6_KiNlNPODjaBgBlunRLsg1621OkWqfRK1DS8qAQina77VOVq3b4_RA5Imb3wuKX7HCHy1JD7NPAR2QuYAcQEFhyUPQn0/s1600/sign10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdTRpdZ1sL0uSL4e_Z4BGsIYP_s3ajE_G8kgB1OG_QEv7_9S6_KiNlNPODjaBgBlunRLsg1621OkWqfRK1DS8qAQina77VOVq3b4_RA5Imb3wuKX7HCHy1JD7NPAR2QuYAcQEFhyUPQn0/s320/sign10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We did NOT eat at this restaurant, although Steve probably would have if we had asked.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOHOm10AMXwA2eZEGfGWU6ewob8n-GQS1cc-NAjEyczGoBHyxBwm7M7JQgMxRgXxlv0VOQPpLmkbdBj4YWHuy9QanCpFTuBj_GIw3lpnqEpkVOq0oriiNXSDzdIAZBPlKovrNs_bl2xo/s1600/sign11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOOHOm10AMXwA2eZEGfGWU6ewob8n-GQS1cc-NAjEyczGoBHyxBwm7M7JQgMxRgXxlv0VOQPpLmkbdBj4YWHuy9QanCpFTuBj_GIw3lpnqEpkVOq0oriiNXSDzdIAZBPlKovrNs_bl2xo/s320/sign11.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not all the stores in China are 'convenient'.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9YSpYuzzaPZUg3vBS4iANWZ3NAlFoSeG0QQNqkoJA-XIkZjyOq18GURwZNP8_CRu8nHBQvv31JjuwvlaL8aY3U7A0juJIzEaeIOqladRRDLkKkDo6IGLD0CRUcOD_YBtDsdjcrGxWcw/s1600/sign12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY9YSpYuzzaPZUg3vBS4iANWZ3NAlFoSeG0QQNqkoJA-XIkZjyOq18GURwZNP8_CRu8nHBQvv31JjuwvlaL8aY3U7A0juJIzEaeIOqladRRDLkKkDo6IGLD0CRUcOD_YBtDsdjcrGxWcw/s320/sign12.jpg" width="237" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In China they charge for children based on height, not age.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezA57v9ymBsGUv2N3Z5WmmX8prkGtgfWUIJCuoPXrn-bm2GqroADO6Im3TOwMKy8b2pwYJG8vTwUKcEcniozxa9Tuzth5Go60imXkL9vkLaycZKBUrO6tyPcP08ZUywUAM6AqOlwSLgk/s1600/sign13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezA57v9ymBsGUv2N3Z5WmmX8prkGtgfWUIJCuoPXrn-bm2GqroADO6Im3TOwMKy8b2pwYJG8vTwUKcEcniozxa9Tuzth5Go60imXkL9vkLaycZKBUrO6tyPcP08ZUywUAM6AqOlwSLgk/s320/sign13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Like I said, no one in China speaks English...even the 'professional' translators.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found in a park amongst the foliage. Sounds like a Haiku.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was also the weirdest grass I have ever seen. I'm not sure it was real.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They got <b>one </b>of the N's going the correct direction!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seen in the panda exhibit at the zoo. Anyone know what culms are? And how do you cavil?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33uk8XZA4761Xl36qd7-7vNRKo4i4z2TfsgNeoqf1yMI1IAESyuQxS3SpX5b4jocnxUBqXc-NTvWuxzVO-L4zWVp0eKV3_2pFmLsCsHBVZzE5FrKp6wKepkK6dpMUWKwUpZQMxZDe784/s1600/sign19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi33uk8XZA4761Xl36qd7-7vNRKo4i4z2TfsgNeoqf1yMI1IAESyuQxS3SpX5b4jocnxUBqXc-NTvWuxzVO-L4zWVp0eKV3_2pFmLsCsHBVZzE5FrKp6wKepkK6dpMUWKwUpZQMxZDe784/s320/sign19.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Silly groveling Panda!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVJ8knDYDcMFAv5ln7iXWiTNGRDc_ZtoxRYnZm_Fcq011bWaZFsdKZUv6wiMyYdK1W5O-KnQPrx07cqarYfAj7U7AKJ07IZ_OEeqF4L7tGt7U72D5E5vpaK4kYXs979x7cx4RO7JgXAg/s1600/sign22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKVJ8knDYDcMFAv5ln7iXWiTNGRDc_ZtoxRYnZm_Fcq011bWaZFsdKZUv6wiMyYdK1W5O-KnQPrx07cqarYfAj7U7AKJ07IZ_OEeqF4L7tGt7U72D5E5vpaK4kYXs979x7cx4RO7JgXAg/s320/sign22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rotten tourists!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJuqdApAcKyF7toCZSS46L_TiSrQ_VxYAXSi271MHECj4Oujt6ufDPJVJTFRx2WcQjhM54ObMzBlIISgBPMVUa1kkgwF4pEo83LcicqXatmPAfo5d6481mHU7lkbZRGCmVhpPIR61de8/s1600/sign23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyJuqdApAcKyF7toCZSS46L_TiSrQ_VxYAXSi271MHECj4Oujt6ufDPJVJTFRx2WcQjhM54ObMzBlIISgBPMVUa1kkgwF4pEo83LcicqXatmPAfo5d6481mHU7lkbZRGCmVhpPIR61de8/s320/sign23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And boy did we feed that giraffe with joy!</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9eM_vlvV_aFthhO1i-TSppx4ZUaN1uede4hLKoVqi5L0YbUG8FD4NnlnVHnehh-eNiyPfiye-x2lQiZz6jfBSn3hoAB7WJYXoN3aY3hN-Wq_B85IUQ7jP9HifVQkKm31ZbR0jb6r6eI/s1600/sign24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9eM_vlvV_aFthhO1i-TSppx4ZUaN1uede4hLKoVqi5L0YbUG8FD4NnlnVHnehh-eNiyPfiye-x2lQiZz6jfBSn3hoAB7WJYXoN3aY3hN-Wq_B85IUQ7jP9HifVQkKm31ZbR0jb6r6eI/s320/sign24.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRbCH08QgvZrKQYd5PPlcciegtZ8_tpTypQL8IYPcPL0kQjorco8sLIrHlY83QhMcVZ_LEgZhozyCo3V64qMJUOOSNMh8ZEzkIeN_y4uUZ1g03N1hj9z_YM7tnG2BU6wdsHqCnfRYqDk/s1600/spurt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuRbCH08QgvZrKQYd5PPlcciegtZ8_tpTypQL8IYPcPL0kQjorco8sLIrHlY83QhMcVZ_LEgZhozyCo3V64qMJUOOSNMh8ZEzkIeN_y4uUZ1g03N1hj9z_YM7tnG2BU6wdsHqCnfRYqDk/s320/spurt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have a special request NOT to be there when mosquito medicament is SPURTED! Yikes! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-56671843554776457072011-10-03T15:43:00.000-06:002011-10-03T15:43:37.772-06:00Daisy's Diary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLeGiRaDpFCmcVn6rZzyYih_0KmIl26ONZY80_Q4MostwGghJuJSibfkNkwwgDLEX5lafr3YMfrBXPEUpeidGJePgCY4T6uAV5Ux8RGVJtp4qiSvUdaf1ujKwqxzF9f9EYI2HjyN4bwQ/s1600/pretty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMLeGiRaDpFCmcVn6rZzyYih_0KmIl26ONZY80_Q4MostwGghJuJSibfkNkwwgDLEX5lafr3YMfrBXPEUpeidGJePgCY4T6uAV5Ux8RGVJtp4qiSvUdaf1ujKwqxzF9f9EYI2HjyN4bwQ/s320/pretty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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This cute baby has been keeping me a) too tired to blog and b) too busy to blog. We are all still adjusting to having T<s>he Energizer Bunny</s> Daisy join our family, but I think we are finally in the toddler groove. We all love her to pieces and can't stop kissing her, much to her annoyance. <br />
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She has grown and developed so much in almost 4 months of being home, it is amazing! <br />
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Like I said in my last post, she has understood almost everything we say since about 2 weeks after she came to us. She will shake her head yes or no for most things we ask her. She follows commands like, "Go put the book in your room", or "Put it in the garbage", and much more. She is also happy to pick up the messes she makes and wipe up her own spills! I know that won't last so I'm milking it while I can. <br />
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One thing I am not sure she understands is when we ask her if she loves mama or dada, she shakes her head NO! vigorously. I would like to think she doesn't know what we're talking about but I have a feeling she does since we tell her we love her while kissing and hugging her. It's kind of sad but I have to remember that if someone replaced my family (a foster family but the only family she knew) with a new family out of the blue, without any warning it would sure as heck take me more than 4 months to love those new people! We are happy to give her time and we are not worried because she is a happy baby, loves to laugh at our antics and seems to generally enjoy life. She will also give us kisses when we ask her, most of the time. :) <br />
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She has recently really started talking, has quite a few words she uses spontaneously and will try to imitate almost any word we ask her to say. <br />
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These are the words she now says by herself: mama, dada, Zack, Daisy, grandma, ball, up, down, out, car, baby, ouch, flower, sock, ah oh, don't touch, all gone, peek-a-boo, book, Jesus, doggie, fish, birdie, bye bye, cracker, trick or treat (when we tell her to). <br />
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The other day I went to get in the car and wondered out loud where my keys were. I set Daisy down and ran to look for them all over the house. After a minute I found them, went back down stairs, picked her up and started for the car when she said, "there it is!" It took me a minute to realize she was referring to my keys! Little smarty pants!<br />
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When Daisy first met us, she would eat anything and everything. She took bottles from me and I fed her baby food with a spoon. Slowly she has stopped the bottles, will only take a sippy cup or straw and she will not allow us to feed her. She has to do it herself and she likes to use a spoon. This makes for one messy baby! She goes through at least 2 outfits per day and could use 2 baths a day but I just give her a lot of good wipe downs. She has become a bit pickier and loves junk food, especially Cheetos and chocolate milk and loves Grandpa Rodgers because he sneaks her chocolate! She also has a great love for Simpson's kibble. So gross! She does not like beef, avocado, cottage cheese and fruit, except apples and bananas. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's just getting started on the mess!</td></tr>
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Miss Daisy is super active. She is going, going all day long. She LOVES being twirled, thrown, tossed, dropped and caught, and turned upside down. She also jumps off heights into our arms (sometimes when we are least expecting it) and loves "jumping" on the tramp. She recently started doing somersaults! If she finds Zack's Razor scooter, she tries to ride it, but it is too heavy for her and falls to the ground taking her with it. She enjoyed going to the pool all summer long and asked to ride the water slides at the water park. She loves water and if she finds the garden hose running or the sprinklers on she is soaked within a minute. Since she loves water so much we have to keep Simpson's water dish outside. A few times she has gotten to it and dumped it all over the kitchen floor, then she slips and falls down repeatedly while trying to escape her mama's high pitched "NOOOOOOOO!", which then makes mama laugh hysterically. (I know it's mean to laugh at a falling down baby but it is seriously funny to see her soaking wet, slipping and sliding all over the kitchen with such a guilty look on her face.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to jump to Zack. She can do this all day at the pool!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">She also loves to climb things. She climbs onto the kitchen table, tried to climb the deck railing, climbs ladders, and once climbed the stove! Luckily it wasn't on but the oven door opened and threw her to the ground! She tried it once more but I was able to stop her in time. So far she has not tried to climb out of her crib, but I expect it any day. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbLViw1TxS1v4QqLA3SuyFEMAo9jLqnQlejipZY256u8U-9LPbNefE69E1Nof01alwkV1oqn4oo7kBBkC5dLad5hRu4wNzYm5_-bvwC4pIHN0kJbDk7RXm3h2WlqjApj33EHzkCjeSLw/s1600/DandZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcbLViw1TxS1v4QqLA3SuyFEMAo9jLqnQlejipZY256u8U-9LPbNefE69E1Nof01alwkV1oqn4oo7kBBkC5dLad5hRu4wNzYm5_-bvwC4pIHN0kJbDk7RXm3h2WlqjApj33EHzkCjeSLw/s320/DandZ.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One night Zack volunteered to get Daisy ready for bed. Changed her diaper, put her in her jammies and read her a story. It was awesome!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Daisy loooooves Zack. Probably because he is the best brother ever. He plays with her all the time, carries her around on piggy back, makes her laugh, reads to her, takes her outside to play and he has even happily changed her diaper! When he is home she follows him around and tries to steal toys from his room but he always catches her and gets the toys back because they are choking hazards and he is a good brother like that. He has never said a negative thing about having a new sister or loosing a big portion of our attention. It makes Steve and I so happy to see them together. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqC7X8beWNnTEznfNBP7GgjCE_EkZuCf9oo7vSeC93os6uoBJtyV1wyWX7Pqb2xAvDYG1Wg1Fco49BGCuNp6KLmSg4JfDRG7MlkLRdmrEJz5GXl80sj33d-UgyMGxepf7QBxNfCzln1U/s1600/piggy+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigqC7X8beWNnTEznfNBP7GgjCE_EkZuCf9oo7vSeC93os6uoBJtyV1wyWX7Pqb2xAvDYG1Wg1Fco49BGCuNp6KLmSg4JfDRG7MlkLRdmrEJz5GXl80sj33d-UgyMGxepf7QBxNfCzln1U/s320/piggy+back.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lovin the piggy back ride</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Daisy is not a good sleeper. She doesn't like to fall asleep and it can take 30-60 minutes to get her down at night. We have to rock her to sleep and she fights it every step of the way. Once she is asleep she might wake up anywhere from 3 to 12 times. When she wakes we have to go in and pat her, but sometimes we have to rock her back to sleep, sometimes she is just awake for an hour or two. Sometimes I sleep on an air mattress on the floor of her room so I can say "shhh" every time she cries. She just really needs to know we are there. We have tried having her sleep with us but that is just not going to work for any of us. Letting her "cry it out" is not an option. If you want to know why, you will need to go read a book on attaching to an adopted post-institutionalized child. I can recommend a few if you're interested. :) We are trying magnesium supplements, I will report on how that works out. The good news is she naps well, 2-3 hours in the mornings, which sometimes allows me to nap too.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>She has been sick quite a bit. When she came to us in China she had a terrible cough/cold. It started to go away but returned when we got home. Then she got 4 molars. Then she got an ear infection. Then she got Hand-Foot-and-Mouth disease. She has been on 3 antibiotics in less than 4 months. I hope we can keep her well for a while, but winter is coming. Sigh. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlPBV0a3PBDNVnwkdIYSQclK7WfcCrp3nKQ4KZeuUyCblaqbBYguTvIeJ902iItvTob7NEOMXBdcNyq5oW8KsjccNADzO7TujKZzawradiNxvsEMos4o2yYmypkEZ_fdzL5opAr4gaBU/s1600/big+shoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqlPBV0a3PBDNVnwkdIYSQclK7WfcCrp3nKQ4KZeuUyCblaqbBYguTvIeJ902iItvTob7NEOMXBdcNyq5oW8KsjccNADzO7TujKZzawradiNxvsEMos4o2yYmypkEZ_fdzL5opAr4gaBU/s320/big+shoes.jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to go!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
A few other tid bits: She is getting better at riding in the car and can last about 45 minutes before she gets too antsy. She likes to chastise Simpson. I think we need to model better behavior for her! She loves putting on shoes and walking around, even if they don't fit or have wheels on them! She enjoys watching cartoons in the morning with a cup of dry cereal and a sippy of milk. This gives mom time to wake up and become functional. (Who am I kidding, I'm not functional until at least noon.) <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY1BHRkCAWXVcu5Xow33p7uN_Jd2jCHQqI2utn5syhh-2nFoyLbjHN8hGiJUb_AxFXctbb6JItzabLnCoWoXNyeDhx-eqbBqAFEm0rRx7h6KmUBJEwz_roPUrebTHmo7A7Tdctnxn7kQ/s1600/roller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzY1BHRkCAWXVcu5Xow33p7uN_Jd2jCHQqI2utn5syhh-2nFoyLbjHN8hGiJUb_AxFXctbb6JItzabLnCoWoXNyeDhx-eqbBqAFEm0rRx7h6KmUBJEwz_roPUrebTHmo7A7Tdctnxn7kQ/s320/roller.jpg" width="249" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Future roller derby girl!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Daisy has been saying mama and dada since we got home and we assumed she was referring to us but now I am not so sure because of something that happened about a week ago. We were sitting in the rocker, getting ready for a nap and she looked at me and said "mama?" and I said "yes, I'm your mama." She got this look on her face like she had had a revelation and then said "mama!" Ever since then she pats me and says "mama!" all the time and does the same to her dada. It makes me sad and happy all at the same time. I hope she will be happy with us as her family. We are so happy to have her as our daughter and sister and love her so much!Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-77258968186397191692011-07-02T18:13:00.003-06:002011-10-20T20:27:05.665-06:00Thursday the 9thToday was the longest day of travel I have ever experienced. We were at the airport by 8:30, for our flight to leave at 11:00 am. We had some time to kill so ate breakfast and shopped for some candy.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3QLGhHH7bOlxUUBjig53bxYdI49_KZUOF5BffaEVwGM6wy1_KN64NIUEousgV4nDhSTx-7rxsPkfXC9BnKU-6CwdyXgsGtf3PVZiI8apZXQRyrPyzbVWqRnRhXy3xORbrfHY2stwRnY/s1600/plaane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3QLGhHH7bOlxUUBjig53bxYdI49_KZUOF5BffaEVwGM6wy1_KN64NIUEousgV4nDhSTx-7rxsPkfXC9BnKU-6CwdyXgsGtf3PVZiI8apZXQRyrPyzbVWqRnRhXy3xORbrfHY2stwRnY/s320/plaane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve thinking: "Why are these seats so $%^*ing close together?!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Our flight was 12 hours long to San Francisco. Many have asked how the baby did. She did amazingly well considering how boring 12 hours stuck on some one's lap is. She fell asleep right before take off and slept maybe 2 hours and was awake the rest of the flight! Yikes! I had hoped she would sleep longer. She ate food, played with toys, climbed up my body and waved at everyone behind us, walked the aisles and stopped to talk to anyone who was awake, waved at everyone and smiled her charming smile. She also ripped up all the magazines, threw toys, and screamed really loud (but no tantrums thank goodness). Luckily they fed us a lot so she was happy about that. I did not sleep a wink. <br />
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Our plane arrived in San Fran around 10:00 am and we had a 5 hour layover to look forward too although to us it was really like midnight and we all just wanted our beds. <br />
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We made it through customs and immigration and then took Daisy outside to step on U.S. soil and officially become and American citizen.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gk13_hh_Zfjn12J2QbX3kDxbHMgJ8kkhxCz1WT59BPAAQ7V4Azm5Wvq3a-iKNsuCmaFGtLZzvDAGfsNI2PwYYSTzKQcQGML_iW2CHVVanSMGDB8FX9dc_8rc1LBagE7-jOhotju8hlc/s1600/am+cit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Gk13_hh_Zfjn12J2QbX3kDxbHMgJ8kkhxCz1WT59BPAAQ7V4Azm5Wvq3a-iKNsuCmaFGtLZzvDAGfsNI2PwYYSTzKQcQGML_iW2CHVVanSMGDB8FX9dc_8rc1LBagE7-jOhotju8hlc/s320/am+cit.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First one foot...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNAxZf-aBXoBCrpi_HDucT8_FB2kjErJ9kjWp0ELunUO77lbiONCw8MHaj5cTmJBo4lrDkS3ZYTF1peWztRidPyQVZt1a3V7mcsjQe1bnB3Ds9E9SthB1Pysay40nYqyeDVDwoZJjf18/s1600/am+cit2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyNAxZf-aBXoBCrpi_HDucT8_FB2kjErJ9kjWp0ELunUO77lbiONCw8MHaj5cTmJBo4lrDkS3ZYTF1peWztRidPyQVZt1a3V7mcsjQe1bnB3Ds9E9SthB1Pysay40nYqyeDVDwoZJjf18/s320/am+cit2.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">then the other! It's official! Daisy is an American citizen!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Steve wanted to take the BART into the city and see some stuff which made my mom, Zack and I want to cry. So we didn't. Instead we got into the security line so we could go find our gate and wait out our now 4 hours.<br />
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While coming through security they made me wake up Daisy who was finally asleep in the carrier strapped to me so she could go through security in my arms instead of strapped to me with fabric. Isn't that what x-ray is for?! Whatever! Then they "randomly" pulled Zack aside to PAT HIM DOWN. But, they made him wait in this glass box until the official groper could come do his thing. He was clearly terrified and I tried to pantomime to him that it was OK but I could see the tears forming. They finally did their thing and we were through, Steve gathering up all our many items, all of us trying to put our shoes back on, me holding a baby not in a sling, trying to keep her asleep and trying to comfort poor Zack who was still terrified and now wailing and shaking in fear. I have never been so livid. I had to spend some time reassuring Zack that he had not done anything wrong and that they were all a**holes. Allowing an innocent, sleep deprived, 8 year old child to be terrorized in the name of security does not give me comfort while flying. It makes me never want to take my child on a plane again. <br />
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After this trauma, we staked out a table near our gate and tried to rest. About 2 minutes after I sat down, Daisy woke up. Great. We spent the next 4 hours chasing her through the airport as she tried to meet strangers, eat anything on the ground, poop her pants, and scream bloody murder. It was awesome. I was so tired I think I was hallucinating. Zack slept on the bench at the table for most of it. <br />
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Finally, we boarded our plane bound for home. I think Daisy was asleep on Steve but I don't remember because I immediately fell asleep with my head in my lap and was only roused when the plane landed at 5:00 PM. Did you know sleeping hunched over like that for 2 hours really hurts once you get up? I had a headache of migraine proportions and my whole body ached. Death would have been a welcome relief.<br />
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But, there was no time to die. Luggage had to be gathered and we had to get home. My cute sister Ally and my dad picked us up at the airport and Ally had a darling candy basket and balloons. We got into our car and had a nice quiet drive home without any near death experiences on the road. What a welcome change that was.<br />
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When we got into our house it was clear we had had a home invasion! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUWc_14XvuZpG13sCMQ9D-dLqJg4JabSmZkv4b1iKImlGC6Zoc9uYdYHkWKXP8ZzQi5LGe3FgoZTXcogFPEKOHXE8UYJgdSIe51TVh_Yfopr5WDAE94u9Q2h-6Z2WO9VOAxEm0ZoFv8U/s1600/wh3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUWc_14XvuZpG13sCMQ9D-dLqJg4JabSmZkv4b1iKImlGC6Zoc9uYdYHkWKXP8ZzQi5LGe3FgoZTXcogFPEKOHXE8UYJgdSIe51TVh_Yfopr5WDAE94u9Q2h-6Z2WO9VOAxEm0ZoFv8U/s320/wh3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
My cute friends in our neighborhood had come and decorated our house with tons of balloons and streamers and posters to welcome us home. They has also brought dinner for that evening and lots of good food to eat the next week and a gift bag full of stuff for Zack. I almost cried! Our other friends, the C family were perfect to think of Zack and they left him a darling candy gram poster. It was so nice and we have the best friends and families who are always so caring and supportive! Thank you all!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILj6ireyGGvM2RCYo7Z2C7vRIMsRe73EhUm9zvIYOKanvO9kd1V3IL_TgiUgU-7RAvv8lqK-QhqPGmyLAAQFFNeTosQsEUhBDn7FxCXN0F4dcwiLxxebU9HWyHq_NRgd56vaqrU4mVyQ/s1600/wh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhILj6ireyGGvM2RCYo7Z2C7vRIMsRe73EhUm9zvIYOKanvO9kd1V3IL_TgiUgU-7RAvv8lqK-QhqPGmyLAAQFFNeTosQsEUhBDn7FxCXN0F4dcwiLxxebU9HWyHq_NRgd56vaqrU4mVyQ/s320/wh1.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT5SGrxchlak6iJ-91Xc-Ue-LrrktsqZ2Lv934dFaX2Se6YRJN77JllGkpWGoJXn5WLLWIQWRvElsRgbWNXxGAJnn7vrBUx-8_8qVE15OawBOU4bMWAsDV7kC1mJIb3cY1yEQBK9GiMk/s1600/wh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIT5SGrxchlak6iJ-91Xc-Ue-LrrktsqZ2Lv934dFaX2Se6YRJN77JllGkpWGoJXn5WLLWIQWRvElsRgbWNXxGAJnn7vrBUx-8_8qVE15OawBOU4bMWAsDV7kC1mJIb3cY1yEQBK9GiMk/s320/wh.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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That night I got 4 whole hours of sleep! Yea! Welcome home baby Daisy!Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-32777342331548781222011-07-02T17:37:00.003-06:002011-10-20T20:28:28.826-06:00Wednesday the 8thToday was our last day in Guangzhou. We had another good buffet breakfast and then Steve got to packing. My mom and I ran out to do the rest of our shopping.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGa3KhbFhzm0P3hamFO7eODMC56une15TgYlvj6yeJtE-hwFSAQf7lxx2k-mGGDIi1g_mlRHqkJF-klEa9cqMzO_uAjdrJu0gszBvWL-2XZgUXgmcDuecX6V2LYDnGROKLBo_O80K5zM/s1600/buffet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGa3KhbFhzm0P3hamFO7eODMC56une15TgYlvj6yeJtE-hwFSAQf7lxx2k-mGGDIi1g_mlRHqkJF-klEa9cqMzO_uAjdrJu0gszBvWL-2XZgUXgmcDuecX6V2LYDnGROKLBo_O80K5zM/s320/buffet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At our breakfast buffet. Do I look like I'm about done with China?</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
I wanted to get Daisy a white dress for her blessing and for when we take her to be sealed in the Temple. I was told the only place you can get white dresses for babies is on the island (they cater to Americans remember) because white is usually for funerals in China. (Although there were tons of brides all over the island getting their bridal pictures taken and wearing our traditional white wedding dresses. The island is really pretty with lots of foliage so it makes sense that there are tons of photo shoots happening there every day.)<br />
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Anyway, we hit a couple of shops, got some squeaky shoes for the baby and the cutest white outfit and some other souvies. We got back to the hotel and Steve had just about finished the packing. We were able to get checked out and they held our luggage for us while we grabbed a taxi and went to find the Dim Sum restaurant that Ann had suggested. I think Dim Sum was about the only meal left we had wanted to have in China that we had not had yet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCb3_k9tOe9RqSkLk13nAI0WyyulqgTPY-Lh2r0ShGTxubaE_faOQnkOlLhxyHImzOF-zeo2R0pthUuoyz7f8_evG3pkJjRTbRd2eHbbf1zcYt838KTOd0FMXuLCb0AeT_7G-skjckoA/s1600/dim+sum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKCb3_k9tOe9RqSkLk13nAI0WyyulqgTPY-Lh2r0ShGTxubaE_faOQnkOlLhxyHImzOF-zeo2R0pthUuoyz7f8_evG3pkJjRTbRd2eHbbf1zcYt838KTOd0FMXuLCb0AeT_7G-skjckoA/s320/dim+sum.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our assortment of Dim Sum dishes. They were mostly all good, we especially liked the ones with shrimp.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZaWletMCZlRKjeLe1x0nPTsej_TmCD8bE8Xo4MI3cmC5JnnJlXMVFYiWvuDpFGzBfoGursidRv9R0Pw_VWmbKYYtjx0_jtugWaKzQc3cIHwBC-xpb1yZz7tYUc9rJO0GVzZpFYKrLdI/s1600/steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZaWletMCZlRKjeLe1x0nPTsej_TmCD8bE8Xo4MI3cmC5JnnJlXMVFYiWvuDpFGzBfoGursidRv9R0Pw_VWmbKYYtjx0_jtugWaKzQc3cIHwBC-xpb1yZz7tYUc9rJO0GVzZpFYKrLdI/s320/steve.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve eating some scary chicken feet. Yum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
By some miracle we found the restaurant in a mall fairly close by. When we walked in we made a spectacle again, being the only foreigners in the place. No one seemed to speak English, so when we sat down they brought a cart over with tons of bamboo boxes, each with about 4 dumplings and Steve just chose a bunch of stuff for us to start with. It was pretty good, but not to die for. We got full quickly because dumplings fill you up! The baby slept through lunch on the bench next to me. When we were done we went up to pay and there was a HUGE glass jar (more like a barrel) on the counter. I glanced at it and realized that there was a humongous snake inside, all pickled up and ready to eat. Yuck!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLpLgTN0K_D3hw-Hy1PZUTUfM7shNbZw4xnreFE6QoML8EDqdCOGJbrT_Lv5ErzJvZchSpsIBvChoIlJa-gKoUXqQUnANUq58ruPk2PdkjcbOXhV6d_0fJlMr-9vGA4ItCjsz3SAA41A/s1600/snake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrLpLgTN0K_D3hw-Hy1PZUTUfM7shNbZw4xnreFE6QoML8EDqdCOGJbrT_Lv5ErzJvZchSpsIBvChoIlJa-gKoUXqQUnANUq58ruPk2PdkjcbOXhV6d_0fJlMr-9vGA4ItCjsz3SAA41A/s320/snake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The pickled snake. We couldn't read the sign on the jar but it had a 15 yuan symbol at the bottom. I don't know if that's the price for the whole snake or just a slice! Disgusting!</td></tr>
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It took us a while to find a taxi back to the hotel and then we grabbed our bags and met our guide in the lobby. He picked us up in a van and then we went and got the H family from the White Swan. They were scheduled to leave on the same train to Hong Kong that we were. <br />
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The van dropped us at the curb of the station and we had to lug all our bags through the big station and it was no easy feat with the baby. I had bought another suitcase in Kunming to fit all of our souvenirs so we had one more bag and a baby to take care of. And a really tired 8 year old who didn't much feel like helping out. <br />
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After our trek, paperwork, security clearances and saying goodbye to our guide, we were all settled in the waiting room. The H family has a boy Zack's age so they were constantly chatting and playing games and goofing off. It was great that he was there so Zack could have a friend. We only had to wait about 30 minutes and then boarded the train. For some reason I had it in my mind that the train ride was only about 40 minutes. Wrong. For that reason, the trip seemed like an eternity to me but was really only about 2 hours. We arrived in Hong Kong around 8 PM, rented a van through the tourism booth in the station and they took us to our hotel. <br />
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When we were planning the trip, it was difficult to know where to stay. We just used trip advisor and hoped for the best. Well, we all know how that worked out for us, so I was very nervous to see our hotel. I kept telling myself at least it was only for 1 night!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>When we got to the Harbor Hotel, it looked like a modern boutique hotel. I thought that was a good sign. We checked in and went to our floor and we walked in to the tiniest hotel room I have ever seen! It was smaller than our room on the cruise we took! There was a queen size bed a night stand and a small table and a small walk way to get to the bed from the door. That was it. I had no idea where we were going to put our luggage. Luckily Steve had thought to pack everything we would need in just one case so we didn't have to open more than one and we managed to get it all in and then just tried to shuffle around it when we walked to the door or the bathroom. It did seem clean though and the bed wasn't too hard. Of coarse the air conditioning sucked in our room but my mom switched us rooms so we could have a turn with good air conditioning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT40xNSW125FBQhUjXLnuabQ1n87xkuI16fwANmoqnSObW9fLwejzBFT7lH_cWEMvAeR8MOoYw7zXcTtml4SawOfHG9jv5h2pS-uRUwrb9WAXl5X64aC7uT_SvAg1gS4FSqoLxlDJ4Q_c/s1600/bath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT40xNSW125FBQhUjXLnuabQ1n87xkuI16fwANmoqnSObW9fLwejzBFT7lH_cWEMvAeR8MOoYw7zXcTtml4SawOfHG9jv5h2pS-uRUwrb9WAXl5X64aC7uT_SvAg1gS4FSqoLxlDJ4Q_c/s320/bath.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our bathroom!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0qoiuliluz2uhEXBqJKlo1yDhpVGMkU0uEKvZD6LC269Gi7wZVbh3DS67N22lfWGLruI0cjMJptbY-fWF2qnK0qvznGF9vHXLYhxvFc4eg7l2OltT3xhMylyY0IwJWDY3x6dhE8Bf14/s1600/bed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja0qoiuliluz2uhEXBqJKlo1yDhpVGMkU0uEKvZD6LC269Gi7wZVbh3DS67N22lfWGLruI0cjMJptbY-fWF2qnK0qvznGF9vHXLYhxvFc4eg7l2OltT3xhMylyY0IwJWDY3x6dhE8Bf14/s320/bed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack and Grandma's 100 degree, 100% humiditiy room. This was literally all of it, with a bathroom off to the side! Our room was only slightly larger.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBf35zcQhaus5wa9UHWelgvyiMtaijlw2aFCx79_FcjM0Pj7UhzZm1pnn9DXrPkiwidr44z0KFQyD58NbFeeA0IX6Hze8NrQqqOwK2m1T72y_FSLyM9FWSZCw_JRhKcbnXttMBHAlP5nA/s1600/room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBf35zcQhaus5wa9UHWelgvyiMtaijlw2aFCx79_FcjM0Pj7UhzZm1pnn9DXrPkiwidr44z0KFQyD58NbFeeA0IX6Hze8NrQqqOwK2m1T72y_FSLyM9FWSZCw_JRhKcbnXttMBHAlP5nA/s320/room.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see, there wasn't even room to lay out a suitcase, they had to stay standing up or there was no room to walk!</td></tr>
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We were all hungry so we trooped outside to see if there was anywhere to eat. We happened upon a street that was busy and had a lot of restaurants and I looked up and saw a sign for hot pot! We had wanted to eat hot pot in China but had never seen any so we were excited to try it. It is very similar to shabu shabu in Japan. We went in and ordered and had a good meal. We had a plate of thin shaved beef, some pork, shrimp, veggies and noodles. I felt bad every time I left a restaurant because where ever Daisy had sat there was a huge mess on the floor! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyB3Z8Lq5prDxgGYu3KRKU84TYh9CHq6Wz6A1W6wq6JPbq6ZOEpwD5YSoDNsN9S89RbFAqnn12jCp3Akg0wTnXNjbrQuQ3fVDuCoVzZxlWkHhLf7InT-dCf5zz3AounlXv3TTNBsuNI/s1600/hotpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVhyB3Z8Lq5prDxgGYu3KRKU84TYh9CHq6Wz6A1W6wq6JPbq6ZOEpwD5YSoDNsN9S89RbFAqnn12jCp3Akg0wTnXNjbrQuQ3fVDuCoVzZxlWkHhLf7InT-dCf5zz3AounlXv3TTNBsuNI/s320/hotpot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Hot Pot restaurant waiting for our hot pot to arrive and eating some peanuts and drinking Cal Pis.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YaiDpon578RaS97HJdGah9D7pjUjovwSK8AjjhloUv8OXuOD4Lkpp_hGDmcc7x8gd7br3RePvTWIfPBY1vjLBhk220GtJbClk-vg84r_OAn08IGolzVdNid_Fg3kOtY3CElcDil4zlQ/s1600/hot+pot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3YaiDpon578RaS97HJdGah9D7pjUjovwSK8AjjhloUv8OXuOD4Lkpp_hGDmcc7x8gd7br3RePvTWIfPBY1vjLBhk220GtJbClk-vg84r_OAn08IGolzVdNid_Fg3kOtY3CElcDil4zlQ/s320/hot+pot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hot pot simmering away. You can see the delicious thin sliced beef next to Zack and some of the veggies. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlmqThgm68eOzJ4_GMwtA0Y4RYHR7OK4fUJP-0mubsAPdIXjFfE50MGlVQToMsmsdlq9IueNCkBJPbXRA05b6sCNUhXi_Z63zgnizF2xf_kd1oAxVn_6vKhV1LnuCIt33vH9ENL6yKYY/s1600/d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOlmqThgm68eOzJ4_GMwtA0Y4RYHR7OK4fUJP-0mubsAPdIXjFfE50MGlVQToMsmsdlq9IueNCkBJPbXRA05b6sCNUhXi_Z63zgnizF2xf_kd1oAxVn_6vKhV1LnuCIt33vH9ENL6yKYY/s320/d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy looks as crazy as we all felt at that point. We left an extra good tip because of the HUGE mess she left for them to clean up!</td></tr>
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After this we went to a night market and Zack got some Poke mon cards (a whole slew, I think 115 for $8), and a toy and I tried to buy some stuff but the prices seemed ridiculously high after China so I didn't end up getting anything. <br />
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We were all exhausted after this and went back to our miniature rooms and slept until about 6:30 am at which time we had to wake up, pack, check out, find 2 taxi's and drive to the airport 40 minutes away. <br />
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If we weren't so excited to get home we would have liked to explore Hong Kong some more. It seemed like a neat city, maybe some day we can go back.Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-73450810891604347882011-06-29T16:18:00.003-06:002011-10-22T09:57:06.653-06:00Tuesday the 7thThis morning was our consulate appointment at 0900. We got up early and went over to the White Swan Hotel to meet our guide Eva and the H family who is with our agency. We got on a bus with some other families we didn't know and we were off. The consulate used to be on the island but they moved it about 40 minutes away. <br />
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When we got to the consulate we had to go through major security like at the airport but we also had to surrender all electronic devices including cameras. Then we went and waited and after a while we were all sworn in together and then one by one each family went up to the window to present our paperwork and get visa's for our children to enter the United States. I don't remember what the swearing in consisted of, I wish I would have written it down sooner. Anyway, I almost missed it because I was in the bathroom changing Daisy's poopy bum. <br />
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I think we were there for probably a little over 1 hour. Then it was back on the bus and to the island. We had planned to go to the safari park after the consulate so we freshened up, packed up our backpacks with snacks headed out to find the subway. We had tried to find it another time but got lost and ended up taking a taxi. This time we asked the hotel people first and found it right away. <br />
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It was a hot day and when we got to the safari park we realized most of the people getting off the subway with us were heading over to the water park next door. Much better idea! But, it was good because the safari park was practically empty!<br />
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This was hands down the best zoo we have ever been to. At each exhibit there were tons of animals. I swear there were like 15 elephants! They were all playing in the pond and wrestling and everybody looked healthy and happy. The place was clean (in China!), well taken care of and you could get really close to the animals. They had a cool panda exhibit and koalas too. When we got to the giraffes, we were able to buy a branch of leaves for less than $1usd to feed to the giraffes. The giraffes came right up to us and ate the leaves from our hands and licked us and they were so close! It was awesome.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBAzCNwz5ZAldg1E7-SYhV4-cxzxl-MxX0snAQoFBR2X2Ud32WnHH8GvPgbab9fLkt6pwxztEqCbaVAfxgeqTvJKRPQ0YVoTlHv2OYFCJATCsMQAzvCWTAM_sEVXNAvf948UCQzpF39A/s1600/zoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBAzCNwz5ZAldg1E7-SYhV4-cxzxl-MxX0snAQoFBR2X2Ud32WnHH8GvPgbab9fLkt6pwxztEqCbaVAfxgeqTvJKRPQ0YVoTlHv2OYFCJATCsMQAzvCWTAM_sEVXNAvf948UCQzpF39A/s320/zoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gorilla crotch garbage can</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_88KVRxPpGcPJP2gSBGo367G0Qd-lyNQPBGNU_cu79iB0apgc3EbGJVrXwYFyXCTQRBC9zEvYv_vCRh7ymJoHZ-q9LcCFJ8s7JkMSK0LUeaTHhWg_LGBpm8_j43BSvb3HVc6uj5m6O0/s1600/zoo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6_88KVRxPpGcPJP2gSBGo367G0Qd-lyNQPBGNU_cu79iB0apgc3EbGJVrXwYFyXCTQRBC9zEvYv_vCRh7ymJoHZ-q9LcCFJ8s7JkMSK0LUeaTHhWg_LGBpm8_j43BSvb3HVc6uj5m6O0/s320/zoo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnq09cbePSm5XuFJMJuPgtfdSYx7LG35lgdfRfyFboBHjYOAer6zvaPq-266o7W64dCLNAp3pCfxzMhpFWLmG19GGjmPjxgoZwww2N_nGVl8RsDH5h2pbC1XF2-WcIHskUv2yGewIyUA/s1600/zoo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnq09cbePSm5XuFJMJuPgtfdSYx7LG35lgdfRfyFboBHjYOAer6zvaPq-266o7W64dCLNAp3pCfxzMhpFWLmG19GGjmPjxgoZwww2N_nGVl8RsDH5h2pbC1XF2-WcIHskUv2yGewIyUA/s320/zoo3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Poor Daisy was sweating buckets! (As evidenced by sopping wet hair)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had never seen elephants wrestle before!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk-PWaC91WbUMid-FPMXaKmwbNR7_HB3pr7Y3da90S_p6wf83rRVqhyphenhyphen6r_AGSMRoO_JGMIajzWaSOpOKB_uMh_dxISi96t4W9a9eZrwlrW9AcAZ2nG-RXJWBprsr92JOtAgRk3qNpAd4/s1600/zoo6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRk-PWaC91WbUMid-FPMXaKmwbNR7_HB3pr7Y3da90S_p6wf83rRVqhyphenhyphen6r_AGSMRoO_JGMIajzWaSOpOKB_uMh_dxISi96t4W9a9eZrwlrW9AcAZ2nG-RXJWBprsr92JOtAgRk3qNpAd4/s320/zoo6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3VAfdZQ2FJ1day2SNNEMYCbnfoHaOiFwBg3xy16oZyJOOWtb2VUfKz92OrM9Joa6FtkhEdXRrmXaXm5hJB3hIDDVVLx4RrXyuGn6re_0kAPP_CpgYPw_d2L7XqcVS-qpHQXQX4UR21M/s1600/zoo13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3VAfdZQ2FJ1day2SNNEMYCbnfoHaOiFwBg3xy16oZyJOOWtb2VUfKz92OrM9Joa6FtkhEdXRrmXaXm5hJB3hIDDVVLx4RrXyuGn6re_0kAPP_CpgYPw_d2L7XqcVS-qpHQXQX4UR21M/s320/zoo13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was nice and cool in the Panda exhibit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The panda lets it all hang out! Zack thought this was hilarious!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy looks freaked about the giant fake panda</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinea Pig heaven! Zack loved this exhibit.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What would we have done with out grandma?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feeding the giraffe with joy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oh, mom was at the zoo? One of three pictures of her.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MNesntoncZ6PR1Y_ELrju_qedKPUG9vIdrUaxNfd11zcqhWN6wS52ZuruFdfIQnpwPTWBCq6DCinzv0AyYGiTph_p9TWh8ITlaK-n-00jayJtqkzbgzIG6wPrSjbaPOCyYEiHyIGM4I/s1600/zoo20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2Lw4tMlnrRXGEb7uUNs-Guavtjlp64-jT1_os4Us2WQGZ23ptncTbrK-aKcc4JNkulQRZOhUlgrLpzRD8_b_aMSTrRV-lp2vYB0zVYGBHTrkrQ-Q4Afkki3t_61EGsdpgMEITDSgI1Q/s1600/zoo16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN2Lw4tMlnrRXGEb7uUNs-Guavtjlp64-jT1_os4Us2WQGZ23ptncTbrK-aKcc4JNkulQRZOhUlgrLpzRD8_b_aMSTrRV-lp2vYB0zVYGBHTrkrQ-Q4Afkki3t_61EGsdpgMEITDSgI1Q/s320/zoo16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the safari train ride</td></tr>
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</div>Next, we made our way over to the safari train. We boarded and it took us on a ride to see all the other animals. There were tons of 4 legged animals, like deer, things that looked like deer and things I had no idea what they were because we don't have them in the mountains of Utah. They had hippos and rhinos and there were also all the big cats. They happened to be throwing meat chunks to them when we went by and it was cool to see them attacking their food. The ride took about 30 minutes. Daisy loved looking at all the animals and pointing to them. She loves to point her little pointer finger at things.<br />
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After this were were bushed so we exited the park and took the subway back to our island paradise. We had planned to have dinner with our friends the H family if we got back in time so we called them and planned to meet down the street from our hotel. <br />
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We met up with them and they knew of a street close by with shops and restaurants so we headed that way and ended up eating at a big restaurant called the Guangzhou Restaurant. It was good and probably the most expensive restaurant we had eaten at, about $40 usd per family. Big spenders!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>After our meal, I was tempted by all the shops on the street. Everyone wanted to go to the park by our hotel and let the kids play so my mom and I let them go and we stayed to shop. We were after some cute shoes. Ha! Did you know my size 8 feet are HUMONGOUS in China? My mom is a half size bigger so good luck finding shoes for your giant feet Sharon! We went in a couple of stores and they just took one look at our feet and shook their heads. My mom did find a store that had a pair she could squeeze into and she bought them. Then... we stumbled upon the most awesome shoe store ever! It had great music playing, hip people shopping, and tons of shoes just my style. You would show the girls the shoes you wanted and say the size and they would say it into a little microphone. Then a few minutes later the shoes would come down a shute from the ceiling! I started ordering every cute pair I could find in size 39 (a tight squeeze) or 40. Most of the shoes did not come in those sizes but I was able to find a few and I ended up buying 2 pair. One cost $7 and one $10. It's probably a good thing I couldn't find my size because I would have bought soooo many shoes and Steve would have been mad because he had to figure out how to pack up all our stuff and cart it through air ports. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the pairs of shoes I bought.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We shopped until they were all closing up and then we carefully found our way home through the dark streets of Guangzhou.Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-26584404867147067612011-06-29T15:19:00.001-06:002011-10-22T10:58:24.967-06:00Monday the 6th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevP69TODmC9SmYNHsqxR7aqyFO4RkX1R3mBsC5_jayWx9ymH2qLpbrKZb7nNBB-0pNhgfDKfLnfehVw-nSubzhvVmGEnaBsFtOjRO9QX0RBLDcCmaGhlWr8uCNXB5xvoLpNpdCb_yvMM/s1600/buddah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjevP69TODmC9SmYNHsqxR7aqyFO4RkX1R3mBsC5_jayWx9ymH2qLpbrKZb7nNBB-0pNhgfDKfLnfehVw-nSubzhvVmGEnaBsFtOjRO9QX0RBLDcCmaGhlWr8uCNXB5xvoLpNpdCb_yvMM/s320/buddah.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
Today, we woke up and ate a delicious breakfast our our hotels buffet. They had made to order omelets, tons of fruit, pastries, Chinese food, cereal, rice, bacon and juice. It was the first really good breakfast we had had since Japan. <br />
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After breakfast, we headed out in a taxi to see the Six Banyon Trees Temple. It was cool but we were disappointed to find out that you could no longer climb up the temple to take in the views. It has become some kind of official historical site so they closed it up. We walked around the grounds, saw some shrines, smelled lots of incense and got stared at some more. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Statues at the entrance to the temple, there were two on each side and they were very colorful and interesting.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvO_MP6MlfheFVM8aReJcogpOr1leNAG93VKRggb5lb7oB2ZW0bpEALoIslB21BXNSfxCEwi4qdO0O72Zw9P5xn_U0V41gJTQMvOkkTUt9TmpgygODSp8phhHxZZfvfy3koW4-V6bJeI/s1600/guys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvO_MP6MlfheFVM8aReJcogpOr1leNAG93VKRggb5lb7oB2ZW0bpEALoIslB21BXNSfxCEwi4qdO0O72Zw9P5xn_U0V41gJTQMvOkkTUt9TmpgygODSp8phhHxZZfvfy3koW4-V6bJeI/s320/guys.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjhD36FapqJcStwCOkTroyunne_sTi0UVl4GXNitIPJloxtcSiTPccitqw05-BxgWu9oCzL9l9hkXaCYIQXgPnZXePf3OZyLHNmR2rlCADa9lNgpKy_oB0BoSdXhulj_fYhcyW_fhsS8/s1600/temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrjhD36FapqJcStwCOkTroyunne_sTi0UVl4GXNitIPJloxtcSiTPccitqw05-BxgWu9oCzL9l9hkXaCYIQXgPnZXePf3OZyLHNmR2rlCADa9lNgpKy_oB0BoSdXhulj_fYhcyW_fhsS8/s320/temple.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Six Banyon Trees Temple. It is old and tipping over so no one is allowed to go inside anymore.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6kZJil-Y_CaXnecmu-TQNPCzwfrGLGr06OTXjbVahZXGbiczkoIcLaUJgBcjfo29faNfFctLw2FCxjZgaGyuhq0wohyphenhyphen_Ot7UhsXNik2Wbl7-s3DL5IGNMp6l7wE36HXOuIX_YL5W4y4/s1600/temple1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6kZJil-Y_CaXnecmu-TQNPCzwfrGLGr06OTXjbVahZXGbiczkoIcLaUJgBcjfo29faNfFctLw2FCxjZgaGyuhq0wohyphenhyphen_Ot7UhsXNik2Wbl7-s3DL5IGNMp6l7wE36HXOuIX_YL5W4y4/s320/temple1.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was rebuilt in 1097, appears to have 9 stories from the outside but really has 17 stories on the inside. Too bad we couldn't prove it by climbing it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi9ZbmW4fT_uvW2qH3TLa-DbpCfV-VIMimvs3TcDqnPeD8TNjzo9JAY6CSwChh0sFcAQMa4Z6luwy5Z9QB9uCv07BVsqqLtnmV6-SHMKR60t330iDTv0Ihv42KJ5BvzyuJkuIPWhsmo8/s1600/temple3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAi9ZbmW4fT_uvW2qH3TLa-DbpCfV-VIMimvs3TcDqnPeD8TNjzo9JAY6CSwChh0sFcAQMa4Z6luwy5Z9QB9uCv07BVsqqLtnmV6-SHMKR60t330iDTv0Ihv42KJ5BvzyuJkuIPWhsmo8/s320/temple3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were a lot of shrines on the temple grounds and a lot of burning incense.</td></tr>
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On the way in to the temple there were a lot of beggars outside and Zack let me know that he wanted to give his money to some of them. I thought that was really cute. Problem was, if you gave to one, the others would mob you. We had to make a quick get away.<br />
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After that we walked to a park which housed the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall. Mr Sun was the head of Nationalist government in 1923. Chinese history is very confusing to me but I think this was around the time communism started up. We walked around the park for a while, drinking our Coke Slurpee's, and then we took a taxi back to our hotel because we were meeting Ann of Red Thread to go shopping.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmROSzRXbQZs3bDNLL6U61sB7esfALYzxZtdPsd9wvI1_y1sfA1tCSpvY1WegzyDlDHNNKk65HR1aNRiALo4TbB4naTh4DtdmlmsVP8SZYfot5i9xfMKkFugtF81uYcJz3qxzD_0WFuwk/s1600/sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmROSzRXbQZs3bDNLL6U61sB7esfALYzxZtdPsd9wvI1_y1sfA1tCSpvY1WegzyDlDHNNKk65HR1aNRiALo4TbB4naTh4DtdmlmsVP8SZYfot5i9xfMKkFugtF81uYcJz3qxzD_0WFuwk/s320/sun.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sun Yat Sen Memorial in a really pretty park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUs4qjJNq95np2tSpdCxbvXj4Im4FS5pXvZuC6Ex5mQ1hk0a9bgWtZCRWJKl9NenZBB-5T2EVdXsihVi5VlEDX3fXT6wtD6eFYLwpFSThoL5QO7j9tSDCBQtIVB95o-x3-0-k8j39TyM/s1600/tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlUs4qjJNq95np2tSpdCxbvXj4Im4FS5pXvZuC6Ex5mQ1hk0a9bgWtZCRWJKl9NenZBB-5T2EVdXsihVi5VlEDX3fXT6wtD6eFYLwpFSThoL5QO7j9tSDCBQtIVB95o-x3-0-k8j39TyM/s320/tree.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A really cool, old tree in the park. We couldn't resist having Zack pose in it's roots, they were huge!</td></tr>
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I was told on one of the on line forums that you could hire this Ann to take you shopping. I was all for it but worried that Steve would give me grief for paying someone to help me spend money. But, after my fragile state the last few days I think he decided anything that would make me chill out a little would be good. We met her in our lobby at 2:00 and she is the cutest little thing! I thought she would be older because she owns her own business (she sends care packages to the orphanages and gets updates for adoptive parents before they travel.) She was in her 20's and all of 75 pounds with energy like the energizer bunny! Before we left I had the foresight to rent a stroller. I think it was about $2 a day from a little store down the street. Best idea ever. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TZNlTPGVN99gRy1IwSLCymj4vmV-c-EI-zMY80ojnVCeEkk3uO-mqQBlClDw47J7JmSalY-VDFkV7-m1heBFh1AwsAWIuFv-YqXgCtuCMTT1U3Lq40y_i3uTyCwtggNzfAyLUp7mk4Q/s1600/carrier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TZNlTPGVN99gRy1IwSLCymj4vmV-c-EI-zMY80ojnVCeEkk3uO-mqQBlClDw47J7JmSalY-VDFkV7-m1heBFh1AwsAWIuFv-YqXgCtuCMTT1U3Lq40y_i3uTyCwtggNzfAyLUp7mk4Q/s320/carrier.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tired, sweaty baby strapped to a tired sweaty mama. Time for a stroller!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We all piled into a taxi and we were off. I told her before we left what I was interested in buying. Pearls, jade, clothes for the baby (traditional Chinese clothes) and some general souvenirs. She took us first to the pearl market. There is a certain section of town where all the pearl vendors are and a good portion of them are housed in a big mall. Floors and floors of booth after booth full of pearls, beads and every jewelry making piece you could ever want. Oh that I had a whole day to spend here! Alas, there was only time for pearls. I got a necklace, bracelet and rings for Daisy and I each. Hopefully they were the good quality that I was told they were. I will give Daisy her bracelet on her 16th birthday, her ring on her 18th and her necklace when she gets married (hopefully not till she is at least 25). I also got extra pearls to make earrings with. My mom also got some pearls. They were sold in strands and I bought 3 strands and then we waited while they strung them up for us and mounted the pearls into the rings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6LZElXAnE_C9b4bBfsk7gnmJB8haGLJR5m-C49z1vVCyvftLXqsAfyVBTR9cgpKGuolvQTMP2qZidaob1nsz8tGE3gi5Z8I3nXaSP1lc70bUnqclZ2Lgu82OmbDq6YEfzkcincJRsaY/s1600/pearl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs6LZElXAnE_C9b4bBfsk7gnmJB8haGLJR5m-C49z1vVCyvftLXqsAfyVBTR9cgpKGuolvQTMP2qZidaob1nsz8tGE3gi5Z8I3nXaSP1lc70bUnqclZ2Lgu82OmbDq6YEfzkcincJRsaY/s200/pearl.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the only picture of our shopping excursion, I think from Zack's camera and it is really bad quality. But, you can see the rolls of pearls at one of the shops in the pearl market on the right.</td></tr>
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Next we were off to the Jade district not too far away. I wanted a jade bangle but the man Ann buys from did not have any big enough to fit over my man hands. They even pulled out a plastic baggie to put on my hand and then tried to jam it on but the only way those bangles were getting on my arm was if I broke my hand first! Boo. But I bought one for Daisy to wear when she gets a little older.<br />
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After this disappointment, we went and bought some stretchy jade bracelets to give as gifts and such. At least I can wear one of these!<br />
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As were were leaving the maze of jade booths to go find some souvenirs, we were winding our way through, trying to keep up with Ann and realized Zack was suddenly missing. (Literally he was right there one second and then gone the next.) We ran back the direction we had come and all these Chinese vendors were standing around pointing the direction we should go. They knew the white haired child wandering around by himself must have belonged to us! We found him quickly and reminded him the rule to stay put if he's lost. He was not happy to have been lost!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSjmAGXNbfz0vX1i-tCRNupcF-WWvuoE6fui2T23l4CyUDVvTRAYfcUDJXmWGE9M6u5UpeAQFnQJI57ekbyRk0TxYjK6K_trGQFLYlfCADfbUv9I6DW3q2gyffgPbRrFAlL7La6Sx_3M/s1600/cats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSjmAGXNbfz0vX1i-tCRNupcF-WWvuoE6fui2T23l4CyUDVvTRAYfcUDJXmWGE9M6u5UpeAQFnQJI57ekbyRk0TxYjK6K_trGQFLYlfCADfbUv9I6DW3q2gyffgPbRrFAlL7La6Sx_3M/s320/cats.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some cats just hangin' out on the ice cream freezer in a store. I don't think that would fly with the health department in the U.S.!</td></tr>
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Next it was off to find souvenirs of tigers (me and Daisy are both the year of the tiger - yea!) and dragons and chopsticks and other fun things.<br />
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Lastly we headed over to a giant mall to buy Daisy some clothes. Unfortunately the store Ann uses was closed because it was a holiday. She quickly made some calls and found a store on another level that would work and we raced up there before they closed. We were able to buy Daisy a Chinese dress to wear every year until she is grown. I don't know if she will always want to wear them, but they are cute for pictures and literally only cost $4 usd each! (They probably won't last more than one wearing anyway, ha!) They we all got some Chinese clothes! Yea!<br />
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By this time it had been about 4 hours of racing after Ann and we all felt tired. We asked Ann to recommend some food places and she told us about a Dim Sum place to try for lunch the next day and then we got in the cab to go back home. On the way we asked her if she would like to dine with us, she declined but recommended some places. They when we were almost to the island she told us she would take us to a secret restaurant on the island that only locals eat at. <br />
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She took us to Jordan's shop (if you have stayed on the island you know this shop) and we went up 4 flights of stairs to the top where there was a very casual restaurant with only Chinese people there. She ordered for us and we got cold coke and a fruity beverage (she told us there was no alcohol in it but I beg to differ :) and to eat: fried chicken, green beans, noodles, rice, and I can't remember what else. The thing about the chicken is it had tiny little splintered bones in it. This is when we realized they just smash a whole chicken, cut it up and fry it up, splintered bones and all. It was good, but just scary to have to eat around the tiny bones. We had a lot of interesting conversations with Ann about China and the culture while we ate. <br />
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We paid Ann about $50 usd for the day and it was worth every penny! We never could have accomplished all that by ourselves! (Too bad we didn't get a picture of her, duh! I guess she was just too fast, no time to think of taking pictures!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionpW7wmTcdz79vh9mW1aVwcaVGKlVLjac4CD_KZ6l8xW1qMuvOBOEummqXdKUclrSH9wfolIpkL-TffzY3LfaB7fYqkk042-uCjFyh4uqUPCULHGaYcu12wupdexDp5F4EizdTNb-A1o/s1600/nite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionpW7wmTcdz79vh9mW1aVwcaVGKlVLjac4CD_KZ6l8xW1qMuvOBOEummqXdKUclrSH9wfolIpkL-TffzY3LfaB7fYqkk042-uCjFyh4uqUPCULHGaYcu12wupdexDp5F4EizdTNb-A1o/s320/nite.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are a lot of these kind of statues all over the main street on Shamien Island. We had fun posing with them but most of the pictures didn't turn out.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCL07Sy3V4zyrpuUJYqMpkLf1C6TkImMmA5aXIaCSwLdkPqGntWnLq6WApl7___-ZdU0znIzjihsQjHImqIabXe26C8I6JeqcULlTuCa-hRxzDoCCL1EHgatadIlwehvHaWpxdlgilxY/s1600/steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGCL07Sy3V4zyrpuUJYqMpkLf1C6TkImMmA5aXIaCSwLdkPqGntWnLq6WApl7___-ZdU0znIzjihsQjHImqIabXe26C8I6JeqcULlTuCa-hRxzDoCCL1EHgatadIlwehvHaWpxdlgilxY/s320/steve.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The only picture we got of Steve the whole day! Sad.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUXWTN0hWZm13pt5SCuyTP4iRiALYRQ7azvorbw_xqeQZyd8aC6TgMff9taJOeCsmB3iiRyK2cUCouD-6Q4WKgixzGpmdtCTyLoWho6UucZ06bK981GL8RgoUQ78_JJ71lvmUU55P4fY/s1600/forage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUXWTN0hWZm13pt5SCuyTP4iRiALYRQ7azvorbw_xqeQZyd8aC6TgMff9taJOeCsmB3iiRyK2cUCouD-6Q4WKgixzGpmdtCTyLoWho6UucZ06bK981GL8RgoUQ78_JJ71lvmUU55P4fY/s320/forage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure what Daisy is foraging for but I'm sure she ate it when she found it!</td></tr>
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After that, we played around and took pictures with some of the statues on the street, then it was home to bed!Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-42465539635478723862011-06-25T14:34:00.001-06:002011-06-29T13:22:50.960-06:00Things about Daisy...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbviGp9SCjoWStUZvi81uEJpnV49aG5sk57czO5IfdL0-GIUiejF4YtzV9U_YaZ8WWsrFNXx4jPCeWVTI9dbJyEiO6Dd0iaTkVe9Ikcy8yBc9TVC8mRf5LbG0ODXnFQ7Rh79T1DxioO1k/s1600/daisy1grunge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbviGp9SCjoWStUZvi81uEJpnV49aG5sk57czO5IfdL0-GIUiejF4YtzV9U_YaZ8WWsrFNXx4jPCeWVTI9dbJyEiO6Dd0iaTkVe9Ikcy8yBc9TVC8mRf5LbG0ODXnFQ7Rh79T1DxioO1k/s320/daisy1grunge.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
Since we have been home and adjusting for a few weeks I though I would update what Daisy is up to. <br />
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She still loves to eat. A typical breakfast is: 1/2 packet of oatmeal, 1/2 banana, 1 egg, 1 carton yogurt. I am not kidding here. Breakfast is usually her biggest meal but she would eat all day if I offered it. She usually has lunch and dinner and a few bottles of formula in between. She will eat anything I am eating, i.e. pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, salsa. The other day she ate a coupon. Swallowed it whole before I could stop her!<br />
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She is adjusting really well. She is happy most of the time and loves exploring our house and destroying everything she can get her hands on. She literally does not sit still, but will occasionally sit in my lap for a quick book, quick being the key word. <br />
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She is a ham. She loves to make us laugh, especially when she is supposed to be going to sleep and she doesn't want to. She pulls out all her tricks and tries them out on me to see if I will play. She squints her eyes shut really tight like she is pretending to sleep, then peeks them open to see if I'm laughing. She points to her belly button, she puts her fingers in my mouth, offers up her feet for nibbling and tries to play peek-a-boo. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmNGhiNEWAsByQCLhanEEEqUEL0ka2ckKRgE44ENBY9tSRqBpImSx_ki5kmyGgfMqRACB0bWwNkf1vEBkcIimeutjucvswx6WGjUQfs1gPJ2YkfO-k4xwhZMc9f9CCU7nqqZDYj2wRGM/s1600/daisy3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmNGhiNEWAsByQCLhanEEEqUEL0ka2ckKRgE44ENBY9tSRqBpImSx_ki5kmyGgfMqRACB0bWwNkf1vEBkcIimeutjucvswx6WGjUQfs1gPJ2YkfO-k4xwhZMc9f9CCU7nqqZDYj2wRGM/s320/daisy3.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>When we first got home she was deathly afraid of our dog Simpson. He could not even be in the house if she was awake or she would just cling to me and cry when she heard his jingle jangle coming. Poor Simpson spent a lot of time outside. We have gradually been letting him come inside more so she could get used to him and we would just hold her and show her that we liked him. She is now much more comfortable with him and will pet him a little and walk up to him and look at him. She also has decided it's fun to take his toys from him which could be a problem because he is not a fan of that game. I just make sure I am right there when they are in the same room. It's going to take some time for them to become totally used to each other. <br />
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Daisy is a pretty good sleeper. When we first got home she still had her cough and then a few days later it got worse and she got a fever. I took her to the doctor and he put her on an antibiotic which seems to have cleared it all up after 10 days. But boy were those first few days home a nightmare. We were all jet lagged and she was sick. There wasn't a lot of quality sleep happening and I thought I might die. Since she has been feeling better she has been going to bed around 9:00 and waking anywhere from 7:30 to 10:00. Not sure why she can't settle on a time. She also has a penchant for waking up around 4:30 or 5:30 at which time I give her a bottle and pray she goes back to sleep quickly. She usually naps in the morning, about 3-4 hours after waking up and then tries to steel a quick evening nap. We are all still figuring out what is going to work best. We run a fan for white noise and sometimes play some music. This all seems to help. Steve and I have both been known to slink out the door on all fours while holding our breath!<br />
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This is one girly girl! She loves clothes and shoes. One day recently she walked over to her closet, opened her arms wide and embraced her clothes with wide arms while squealing. She loves her shoes and gets mad when we take them off. She especially loves the squeaky shoes we got her in China. She stomps around with delight when she's wearing them.<br />
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Daisy likes her bath time but hates getting water on her face. This is just something she is not getting used to like I thought she would. She cries and cried when I rinse her hair, no matter how hard I try not to get water on her face. (With Zack I would just pour large buckets of water on his head and he was never bothered, I am not used to being so gentle!)<br />
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The attachment books say not to let her watch TV for the first year. Sometimes a mom is desperate though and a couple of times I have asked Zack to show her a cartoon for a minute so I could get something done. But alas, she has not been interested. Today, I broke out the Baby Einstein DVD's. It was a hit! She loved it and played on the couch for at least 20 minutes while it played! When it first started she was so excited she started shaking!<br />
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She seems to like music. Sometimes she makes sounds like she is singing, it's really cute. Sometimes I tell her to dance and then I move her arms around and she thinks that is really funny, but she hasn't initiated any dancing herself. <br />
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She likes kissing her stuffed animals but has only offered humans kisses a few times. But we kiss her a lot so hopefully she will come around!<br />
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She still does not have any real words but says, ba ba, ma ma and da da, and a few other sounds I can't type. She has said ma ma and da da in reference to us, but only a few times. We just talk to her as much as we can so she can process all these new sounds and words. She does seem to understand a ton of what we say to her. <br />
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A few days after we got home we took her to see the cardiologist. Dr. Cowley ordered a chest x-ray and an EKG which were done quickly and painlessly and then he examined her. He felt like there is probably nothing wrong with her heart. No murmur is heard, her chest x-ray was pretty normal, and her EKG was completely normal. He wants to repeat these tests in 6 months and if it's the same he will see him again when she is 3 and do a sedated heart ultrasound to see if there is a hole between her atrium. If there is, they can fix it then. If there isn't then we will never have to see him again! He thinks she looks healthy and there is nothing to worry about right now. We are so grateful and happy! To think that they thought she had a very severe heart defect in China!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcOsP7oT2wnKOIRAiXBwRi9Zqu5FY7DqsG9OX1lJU5PaYxdF3JcUsbg0L8sM-BMZCsfXo9a01VrBhLUwYMKH1YpUatpRcFT1XhRvFm5sbUcI8w_-JgCUBhEfTaepfWCpQLba98x47X4Q/s1600/daisy2bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJcOsP7oT2wnKOIRAiXBwRi9Zqu5FY7DqsG9OX1lJU5PaYxdF3JcUsbg0L8sM-BMZCsfXo9a01VrBhLUwYMKH1YpUatpRcFT1XhRvFm5sbUcI8w_-JgCUBhEfTaepfWCpQLba98x47X4Q/s320/daisy2bw.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>We are loving this cute girl more and more every day! We are so happy to have her in our lives!<br />
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**Pictures taken by my friend Lindsey at <a href="http://cheekyandtrig.blogspot.com/">http://cheekyandtrig.blogspot.com/</a>. She's awesome!Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-61523002257711998142011-06-25T14:00:00.003-06:002011-10-25T13:45:13.269-06:00Sunday the 5thToday, we woke up in our crappy apartment, packed up our stuff for the 100th time and checked out! We had to get two cabs to carry all our stuff and one cab driver was such a jerk. I got in the back seat with Daisy and my mom went to get in the front and he yelled at her that she couldn't ride in his cab and then he took off! All the luggage wasn't even loaded up! I told him to stop but he wouldn't and then he yelled at me the whole way to the new hotel. I think I told this story before but it was so amazing I had to tell it again. I was near tears on the ride over and then I yelled at him when we got there and wouldn't pay him. If I see him again some day, I might hurt him. We were going to report him to the taxi cab officials but it was too hard to figure out.<br />
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Our new hotel is divine. Small rooms but divinely clean and a nice <b>soft</b> bed. The neighborhood (Shamien Island) is shady and clean, no trash in the streets, cute shops and restaurants all over. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr-e4BENbal5llBtADr-Xc1bEoJ51ZuZADHdM7PFie2I_avg7npFOTjijY5FKJTzyD0tR-DC3Q6Gxb1Oepd5IlW1vPdKoLnc2BNEz3wo4Yr6_o8MkPtWlQ5Cb7Ha4miLhEUM7LifZ3QI/s1600/hotel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixr-e4BENbal5llBtADr-Xc1bEoJ51ZuZADHdM7PFie2I_avg7npFOTjijY5FKJTzyD0tR-DC3Q6Gxb1Oepd5IlW1vPdKoLnc2BNEz3wo4Yr6_o8MkPtWlQ5Cb7Ha4miLhEUM7LifZ3QI/s320/hotel2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good thing Sharon remembered to take pictures of our hotel rooms! Zack and her room at the Victory Hotel. Our room was the same only with one king size bed.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRXwO-fiRP_P8NnsL3eGp8jD5oA1iAGCEGURLOV1AfN9KuQv4xCvvJEoTr7RggT4o7fuMFbbiJKn2Ov77-tiUywu-6QwWIyh2dp_UgK_S8g1mkZr8aHEEv-OHc4Fna0_McwRq6XNjE7s/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYRXwO-fiRP_P8NnsL3eGp8jD5oA1iAGCEGURLOV1AfN9KuQv4xCvvJEoTr7RggT4o7fuMFbbiJKn2Ov77-tiUywu-6QwWIyh2dp_UgK_S8g1mkZr8aHEEv-OHc4Fna0_McwRq6XNjE7s/s320/hotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small but clean and comfy!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY-gHZipMMEEHXX_4gdMvq6todKAoGmp4xFQLstMHk7n07d2gt7OzkKd1Ipje6dBtjym-3Gsj3tJlzbbZhUnde45PeRinnHBeuqbvx8nGwO_oFnLu5L0yh5ncHhcNDCIOgfrXHLEkpmw/s1600/hotel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY-gHZipMMEEHXX_4gdMvq6todKAoGmp4xFQLstMHk7n07d2gt7OzkKd1Ipje6dBtjym-3Gsj3tJlzbbZhUnde45PeRinnHBeuqbvx8nGwO_oFnLu5L0yh5ncHhcNDCIOgfrXHLEkpmw/s320/hotel1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lobby at the Victory. The air conditioning was heavenly!</td></tr>
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After we got settled in we took a taxi to find a restaurant that was recommended by someone on-line. When we got to the place, it was closed for remodeling so we ate at a nearby Malaysian restaurant. It was good, cold drinks, delish curry and nice bathrooms. They even had a high chair for Daisy.<br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">After lunch we took another taxi to the electronic district. Zack wanted to buy DS games and I was told you could get them cheap here. We looked all over and couldn't find any and then we found a store that sold gaming consoles and games. The guy told us that games were more expensive in China than in the US so what they do is sell you a chip with 40 games loaded on it. We decided to go for it and bargained the price down to $60 usd. We probably could have got it way cheaper but you know how sometimes you barter well and sometimes you don't? Plus, it's less than $2 per game so we felt OK about it. Zack was way excited. (I found the chip in the wash the other day, I wonder if it still works?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGH3oeMd7Fh6F4HOW-4wurybdFGMzQ-1ZVSflRY-ze7jo8wupIkfvkEhwLIhyphenhyphenETQ0AyWaOpZ3YrvOvTAyWKwTLCXY8fYJJG4BkAYatDPLIgVXvdBR95O1iI0ak3tReye27-Zdkgv6ON8/s1600/elec.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGH3oeMd7Fh6F4HOW-4wurybdFGMzQ-1ZVSflRY-ze7jo8wupIkfvkEhwLIhyphenhyphenETQ0AyWaOpZ3YrvOvTAyWKwTLCXY8fYJJG4BkAYatDPLIgVXvdBR95O1iI0ak3tReye27-Zdkgv6ON8/s320/elec.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The electronic store. Zack is playing Wii while we wait for them to load up his games. Nice of Steve to carry Daisy in the muggy heat.</td></tr>
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When we got back to our hotel, we booked a boat ride on Pearl River for that night. The river runs right through the middle of the city and all along it they light up the buildings and bridges with all kinds of lights that change colors. It's really pretty. We decided to get the best seats on the top of the boat and a snack was included in the price.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XL5oLldr_TdkCtG8CeKy3ZZaH-f0O5CEOsLTtQUx1kZ4DuRlSzmGobW8s2CG63j2HMMpVJXttUWpHELB3OGkagrZs0yG9z5fVT7gJFgKSei_jaxfkHCDsbD53dyIZipTsgD8SPns00A/s1600/boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3XL5oLldr_TdkCtG8CeKy3ZZaH-f0O5CEOsLTtQUx1kZ4DuRlSzmGobW8s2CG63j2HMMpVJXttUWpHELB3OGkagrZs0yG9z5fVT7gJFgKSei_jaxfkHCDsbD53dyIZipTsgD8SPns00A/s320/boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our boat. We took our time getting on so we woulnd't be crushed in the humanity.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGQjXgvzvTjY781Pzjgf4LldTVDCkgTRcMoISF9bWNzz40w5JwXm04i6Xt7gB1i4Er9FVAWjqnD-4vZJW-02sQPyv4HfCX5GKhmyGQW-mglcaF-4hNAgpQ0i6M2pJUpTZOpRM3tJdy34/s1600/boat10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGQjXgvzvTjY781Pzjgf4LldTVDCkgTRcMoISF9bWNzz40w5JwXm04i6Xt7gB1i4Er9FVAWjqnD-4vZJW-02sQPyv4HfCX5GKhmyGQW-mglcaF-4hNAgpQ0i6M2pJUpTZOpRM3tJdy34/s320/boat10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our table. Note the tea in paper cups. We ended up buying soda's from the concession stand because hot tea in that muggy heat is less than refreashing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpAXRLxCECYFYZesRP9BWpHD28yCz-m-kM0qv6C3Wn0trLgRM66zuTjkWjud002d51pJBKuFbrvmB3lP7bjKqdaB2Gl6Jpvadsq7VPJFdgM1IkSMEkfJyU-My3QBSq2Wpm2gfLGx-0yE/s1600/boat5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQpAXRLxCECYFYZesRP9BWpHD28yCz-m-kM0qv6C3Wn0trLgRM66zuTjkWjud002d51pJBKuFbrvmB3lP7bjKqdaB2Gl6Jpvadsq7VPJFdgM1IkSMEkfJyU-My3QBSq2Wpm2gfLGx-0yE/s320/boat5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were lucky to have a table on the side of the boat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKXfe8wXAigWc9yBn4mACI-UpdGhHVVOYBF1CBYtWRbJwRwDX96jmSFzWipurfJgrcd1HbwXQDrlfD1wJdtjamDuoaatyh19LCZEwBfD5ilLbhKDnqhUEJ64v-Nn1bYtIKl3XRm-KgRo/s1600/boat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKXfe8wXAigWc9yBn4mACI-UpdGhHVVOYBF1CBYtWRbJwRwDX96jmSFzWipurfJgrcd1HbwXQDrlfD1wJdtjamDuoaatyh19LCZEwBfD5ilLbhKDnqhUEJ64v-Nn1bYtIKl3XRm-KgRo/s320/boat1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think I was actually taking a picture of the kids ducktail behind Zack. Love it!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpz7iqzqns5ArtsYbVOIOTH_YoXyQ_1H2IibS_BnD_RmpC9Jgz8HxBsnZEPYZfkyryKG-qLIeWgB7Wx8W8u0097MGkifwO5rumlq9-S8Dkm5aVoxuwFQvH2UajrHlUGiRBey1OunnFiwc/s1600/boat12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpz7iqzqns5ArtsYbVOIOTH_YoXyQ_1H2IibS_BnD_RmpC9Jgz8HxBsnZEPYZfkyryKG-qLIeWgB7Wx8W8u0097MGkifwO5rumlq9-S8Dkm5aVoxuwFQvH2UajrHlUGiRBey1OunnFiwc/s320/boat12.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I only included this picture to prove I was there. Hideous.</td></tr>
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It's funny because in China personal space and manners are very different. When it was time to line up to get on the boat, everyone started a stampede to the line. People were pushing and shoving and trying to be on the boat first. I was so confused because the seats on the boat were reserved. What was the urgency? I still don't know.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IbnXrG8kGNoEcnL8o5i8t1z1gfopdw_PvKKM3Vi2F-mvKnCAGW8JAS4uChXaD2DLfhfUO_ouG1aGA-HKmidk5M0E-cvdxXAIvQtqBRGE4q_ohaf0sVOxIxBSpS5lP-tJfbs4dcqkdfc/s1600/boat2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4IbnXrG8kGNoEcnL8o5i8t1z1gfopdw_PvKKM3Vi2F-mvKnCAGW8JAS4uChXaD2DLfhfUO_ouG1aGA-HKmidk5M0E-cvdxXAIvQtqBRGE4q_ohaf0sVOxIxBSpS5lP-tJfbs4dcqkdfc/s320/boat2.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>We got to our reserved table and the boat took off and we were served tea and a bowl of peanuts and dried bananas. We tried to take pictures but we are not good photogs so they didn't come close to capturing the coolness of it. Every bridge was lit as were many of the buildings and they kept changing colors. It lasted about 1 hour which was plenty long for us with our squirmy baby. We got off the boat and walked a while trying to find a taxi. Finally someone picked us up and the ride home took about 3 minutes, we were closer than we thought! We took our sweaty selves home and to bed in our deluxe soft beds!<br />
<br />
In the desert of Utah, it cools off at night and feels really nice after a hot day. In tropical China, it is hot and muggy in the day and hot and muggy at night. There really is no change. We kept expecting to feel some relief after it got dark but it never came. I love the desert. </div>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-59944125110967085542011-06-24T14:18:00.001-06:002011-11-08T14:57:34.118-07:00Zack Says...**When we were coming through customs in San Francisco it was taking a long time and Daisy had reached her limit. I was holding her in the carrier strapped onto me and she was screaming and yelling like crazy. We had tried everything but she was just mad. Zack and my mom had gone through customs and were waiting a short distance away. I could see Zack getting upset over there and could tell he was just mortified. When we finally got through, he walked up to me in tears and said "Lets just take her back to Kunming! I am so embarrassed, everyone is staring!" He was dead serious about taking her back! It was all Steve and I could do to not laugh out loud, but he was in such a state we didn't think that would be helpful.<br />
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**The other day in the car Zack looked over at Daisy being nice and quiet and he said: "I bet Daisy speaks Chinese in her mind."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqSvsdPCvyU2cDW6WWNzoQNQxzA6QwABk13dtNXheHfYmpHfiN4whVHyEc4gzjTm127vCIsnRkfPPucL-daaJC4Z9vUBRv1NL0PwCSl3Uwb344atcnwP8NbR1YAacBS6ou8sL0jFJkLI/s1600/zack+says.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqSvsdPCvyU2cDW6WWNzoQNQxzA6QwABk13dtNXheHfYmpHfiN4whVHyEc4gzjTm127vCIsnRkfPPucL-daaJC4Z9vUBRv1NL0PwCSl3Uwb344atcnwP8NbR1YAacBS6ou8sL0jFJkLI/s320/zack+says.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-25023354397917883852011-06-24T13:59:00.001-06:002011-06-24T14:35:03.092-06:00Things about Daisy...I want to keep a record of things Daisy does and says and I am behind. This is all stuff from when we first met her in China.<br />
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Daisy looooves Steve. She gives him lots of smiles and giggles. He can do no wrong. Even if he scolds her she just smiles at him. He is the only one who can calm her down when she is mad (usually because of something I've done like wipe her nose or change her diaper!)<br />
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For the first two days if we tried to set her down she would just buckle her legs. Then she just started walking! It seems like she hasn't been walking very long though. She is still a bit unstable and has no idea that you can fall down stairs. She does not prefer to crawl at all. <br />
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The sound she makes most of the time is Ba. She says Ba Ba a lot which is Chinese for daddy, although we are not sure if she is referring to Steve or if that is the only sound she says. She also says shhh when she sees fish or snakes (we taught her this one!). When she is mad she yells BA! really loud. <br />
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She looooooves to eat. She mostly likes to eat whatever we are eating. Don't try and eat in front of her or she goes crazy and demands to have some too. She likes the jar baby food with rice powder in it, but doesn't love the fruit ones. She loves those Gerber puffs and they will make her stop crying every time. But as soon as we put them away she gets really mad so we have to have another distraction. She likes to feed herself and make a mess.<br />
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She will only drink formula from a bottle. We have tried sippy cups, straws and plain old cups but she can't quite do it yet, she gets choked up on the fluid. She also hates fruit juice. She will however drink a little water from a straw that we put in her mouth that already has water in it. But she spits most of it out. She takes FOREVER to drink a 4 oz bottle. Like 45 minutes. But she is getting faster.<br />
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She loves playing with the stacking cups we brought. She could play with those all day. <br />
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She loves her shoes and always wants to put them on. She also likes to eat them.<br />
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She HATES blankets. Do not try to put a blanket on her, even if she is asleep, she will wake up and get mad and kick it off. Good thing we brought warm pajamas.<br />
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She scratches herself a lot, like she is itchy, but there is usually no rash. Seems to be she does it when she is stressed or really hot. She doesn't like to be hot.<br />
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She sits still for me to do her hair, for the most part. She also doesn't cry if I tug on it a little. <br />
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She loves to point things out that she sees. She is constantly going around pointing at things with her little pointer finger. Sometimes she whispers about what she is seeing.<br />
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She is very friendly to strangers (typical behavior for children who have been institutionalized, but it will be interesting to see if this is the reason or if it is her personality. We'll have to see what happens when she is fully attached to us). She is always waving and smiling at everyone and wants to stop and talk to everyone. <br />
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She is not overly sensitive. If you tell her no, she either stops or ignores you but she doesn't get offended and cry. <br />
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She loves her belly button and showed it to us right away. The boys immediately made a game of pushing her button and saying "ping pong" and she can't get enough of that.<br />
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She has 8 little teeth, 4 on top, 4 on bottom. Coming through immigration she was screaming so vigorously with her mouth wide open I saw a new tooth coming in on the top left side toward the back. No wonder her nose is running and she drools constantly (that and the cold she has).<br />
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She likes men better than women. I think it's a trust thing. <br />
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When she is mad, she will hit, scratch and pinch me. She also does this thing where she flings her whole body backward and has hit her head a couple of times when I was not prepared. She also noodles her whole body and lifts up her arms if she doesn't want to be held, so she then slips out of your grasp if you're not careful. She is quite the little firecracker!<br />
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She loves to play in the toilet. Ooops. OK, it's only happened twice and I think we learned our lesson. The lid stays down! Boy is she quick though!<br />
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She is so pretty! We have the cutest little girl ever!Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-86349505921613728762011-06-14T17:00:00.004-06:002011-10-25T14:12:12.976-06:00Saturday the 4th - Not a very fun day<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Saturday we awoke in our apartment from hell (what I wouldn't give to be back at our Kunming hotel!) and found that Daisy had gotten hives in the night (french fry cooked in peanut oil?) and scratched her arm till it bled. She is an itchy little thing and I wonder what scabies looks like? I am trying to google it but with no luck on this slow connection. If it doesn't get better I will have to put the toxic scabies cream on her.<br />
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I really didn't sleep because it was hot and my arms kept going numb from the hard bed. That and Daisy waking up a lot.<br />
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We had to be on the island at 9:00 to meet Eva for some paperwork and a medical exam to get Daisy her visa to come to America. We left Sharon and Zack at the apartment and told them they would have to find their own breakfast, which they found at a quickie mart down the street. Yum.<br />
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Our taxi ride took about 20 minutes to the island (with me crying most of the way) and we met another family who Eva is also guiding for. They are with our same agency and live in Eagle Mountain. The wife happens to teach at Waterford School so we know some of the same people. They also have an 8 year old boy who they brought to China and are adopting a 4.5 year old boy. The bunch of us set off for the medical exam which was very simple and non-invasive and we were done pretty quick. Daisy did make quite a fuss though, she didn't like being examined. (By the way she is the cutest baby we have seen!)<br />
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The island is like heaven on earth. Trees everywhere, clean and pretty with nice colonial buildings and nice hotels and restaurants and shops. Why oh why did we not stay here!?<br />
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After, Eva told us she was taking us to the pearl market. We were hesitant to go because we had left Sharon and Zack and we were thinking about getting a different hotel and needed to get everything squared away. She seemed disappointed, but took off with our new friends. (We later found out that she gets a cut of all sales so that would be why she wanted us to come so bad.)<br />
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We went back to the apartments and I lost my mind for a while. Steve took Sharon, Zack and Daisy out to find lunch and the store we never found while I had a nap and a good cry. As I was sleeping I heard a knock, which I ignored. Then I heard some people enter the apartment and go in the bathroom. They started clanking around with something (the toilet?) and they were clearly smoking. After a long while they left. Weird. <br />
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We decided that even though this place would not give us our money back (we prepaid, duh!) we were going to find a new place. It wasn't worth me loosing my mind. (I admit I am such a wimp! And a princess.) We took a taxi to the island and found a great hotel with soft beds (we made them take us to a room to check before we committed). Unfortunately they couldn't get us a room until the next day. We ate at a Thai place next door and then went back to the ick for one more night. Zack and Steve went to the swimming pool and had a good time. Poor Zack, he is so sad when I cry and I haven't been able to stop today! He needed to have some fun.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SQID! Strange for a picky eater like him to like seafood so much! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfDG317sQhEhAPjlg59Rukzih6CRDVjm-bXipP3LHruyVI9Lw-tl7uXlDebWAnNYel-UYLHwr8USyUF9XivmQFepyGomRsMpvvywDcIUtcDLlWnvPNLnk-4ceLg8jkSexVzGiuO8UpLg/s1600/thai.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfDG317sQhEhAPjlg59Rukzih6CRDVjm-bXipP3LHruyVI9Lw-tl7uXlDebWAnNYel-UYLHwr8USyUF9XivmQFepyGomRsMpvvywDcIUtcDLlWnvPNLnk-4ceLg8jkSexVzGiuO8UpLg/s320/thai.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At The Bridge and Cow restaurant on Shamien Island.</td></tr>
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The other thing I have not mentioned that was adding stress was the fact that Daisy was not a big fan of me. I was prepared to have her reject one of us (this is quite common) for a while but it turned out to be harder on me than I thought it would be. She was all smiles and giggles for everyone else but she barely tolerated me and often tried to hit, pinch and scratch me. Steve was the only one who could comfort her and I usually did things that made her mad (wipe nose, change diaper, etc.). It was very frustrating and just added to my already stressed state, even though I knew she would come around and she probably just didn't trust female caregivers. Why would she? They have all left her.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At least the pool was nice! And Steve and Zack made some friends.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyn9LdyY2xS5TjgAaPJi-9-ukWBQe8k567sAMztgCc0yiNT5_v6irU17txoy6knqupodfd5gsUcanTr6pAEGod7_qUk8od1riUpbNqZO2cFTBWcH7_M4LU1T0SShQ1oEav079fL-IfBw/s1600/swim1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFyn9LdyY2xS5TjgAaPJi-9-ukWBQe8k567sAMztgCc0yiNT5_v6irU17txoy6knqupodfd5gsUcanTr6pAEGod7_qUk8od1riUpbNqZO2cFTBWcH7_M4LU1T0SShQ1oEav079fL-IfBw/s320/swim1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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During the night while I was asleep the broken A/C unit (which we were running because it was better than nothing at all) started dripping on my head. A lot. I put a towel down, and switched my head to the bottom of the bed. Good night!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzgzp4Dbta8RaGurA-N5t4MmnAPlYSpGgWxWhQr1mW7bXXqmYnLZ13L8t4lfxG4GKfEP8oWcn37-_u6hAKt8VZzhGrjWHK1SwNqQASQcV7kZbopLOcpxbKEgnU66-m5565VvSqlmSGFw/s1600/crazy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXzgzp4Dbta8RaGurA-N5t4MmnAPlYSpGgWxWhQr1mW7bXXqmYnLZ13L8t4lfxG4GKfEP8oWcn37-_u6hAKt8VZzhGrjWHK1SwNqQASQcV7kZbopLOcpxbKEgnU66-m5565VvSqlmSGFw/s320/crazy.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Help, my mom is loosing her mind!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-72518735947609870332011-06-13T22:52:00.003-06:002011-11-08T15:53:50.522-07:00Friday the 3rdToday is our last day in Kunming. Paul called this morning to tell us that they couldn't get the passport to us unless we gave the official 100 yuan ($16 usd). Of coarse we were more than happy to pay and he delivered the passport right before we got on the plane.<br />
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That morning Paul came to give us some paperwork in the lobby of our hotel and I was following Daisy around as Steve talked with Paul. At one point I said something to Daisy and Paul looks at me and says: "She can't understand you." Hmmm, really? Ya think? She's a smarty though. In the lobby they have fish and I kept telling her "fish" and pointing. Finally she started saying "shh" when she saw them. <br />
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We spent about 3 hours packing up all our crap. Then it was off to the airport where we had lunch in a restaurant while we were waiting for our flight. We ordered something with green beans and the green veggie that came was most def NOT a green bean, but it was tasty so we ate it. Translational issue I guess. Thanks to Paul we can now order COLD drinks. We say coca cola BEEN. They usually figure out what we mean after we yell it a few times. <br />
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We gave Paul 100 yuan per day for a tip and off we went for Daisy's first airplane ride. She enjoyed eating the emergency evacuation cards and ripping up magazines. It was about a 2 hour flight and fairly painless.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkLvr3YlCqhYBuP76WiWk-aYBkizi-UT2ZG_acZtJwEt-D0oKvWakEvGwTB5MynOikRaaS_8svdhwwFARITqNZZWA2q-lvHKXmrRcJTDJPQzvXJYSfmW6GzCWVlJ9jRUotFgy6RbrwpU/s1600/1st+plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTkLvr3YlCqhYBuP76WiWk-aYBkizi-UT2ZG_acZtJwEt-D0oKvWakEvGwTB5MynOikRaaS_8svdhwwFARITqNZZWA2q-lvHKXmrRcJTDJPQzvXJYSfmW6GzCWVlJ9jRUotFgy6RbrwpU/s320/1st+plane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy's first airplane.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit9DredYEN_3QN8Xs7nZuBwfyb50WyV5Yu3F9CYL-t3wvROFjQjpumOCshJ6USJlzhr59Pt6aVroYJnt-ExmPi89Wc6jzdyc94MAFg1yuIuB9v4RDgI66AbafA4HliEiiBvv5YiEokww/s1600/fam+plane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjit9DredYEN_3QN8Xs7nZuBwfyb50WyV5Yu3F9CYL-t3wvROFjQjpumOCshJ6USJlzhr59Pt6aVroYJnt-ExmPi89Wc6jzdyc94MAFg1yuIuB9v4RDgI66AbafA4HliEiiBvv5YiEokww/s320/fam+plane.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy loves Daddy and Zacky!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpjY-P3a6sT3yzGf1XgGl53HE2a5vGfj_ypznZl7ATqfcthpFH12DHbWNWPLz4h0rIyfpkd5kqazmcgazz0iKw_LXglHyS4lEi9W08FzEgIrVUHhpSTGzUxfiQVZSWS7486XxVm9jeBk/s1600/Daisy+plane+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpjY-P3a6sT3yzGf1XgGl53HE2a5vGfj_ypznZl7ATqfcthpFH12DHbWNWPLz4h0rIyfpkd5kqazmcgazz0iKw_LXglHyS4lEi9W08FzEgIrVUHhpSTGzUxfiQVZSWS7486XxVm9jeBk/s320/Daisy+plane+ride.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how Daisy felt about the trip!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-Xp3AuSP-6XVx7X4Q2xf6VZWp2xmwK0y54fpZNobIqyI1Mk4VR7-BvJComkvxRYvp2IQz2fSd5QNDvVcMAxl78A10NF1vPwzlQOjn4KMp5julbIJZ30YdOE4s5n4hbPX_ZSNh_8GYe0/s1600/plane+ride.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ-Xp3AuSP-6XVx7X4Q2xf6VZWp2xmwK0y54fpZNobIqyI1Mk4VR7-BvJComkvxRYvp2IQz2fSd5QNDvVcMAxl78A10NF1vPwzlQOjn4KMp5julbIJZ30YdOE4s5n4hbPX_ZSNh_8GYe0/s320/plane+ride.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy is entertained for hours by putting hats on and off a head.</td></tr>
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We arrived in Guangzhou at 7:00 pm and walked off the plane into a literal sauna. We thought Kunming was humid? Ha! We are talking 95 degrees and 100% humidity at 7 PM. No desert style night time cooling off here. Our guide was called Eva and she was adorable. Luckily our van had good A/C. I almost cried when Eve handed me a written schedule for the week, Paul could learn a lot from this Eva.<br />
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div>Before the trip we thought we had wanted to experience the REAL China so we declined staying on Shamien Island where most of the other adoptive families stay because it is more catered to Americans. Also, we didn't want to have to get 2 hotel rooms so we booked this apartment hotel that had 3 bedrooms, a kitchenette, living room, 2 bathrooms and the coup de gras: a clothes washer! Upon our arrival in the apartment, I noticed it was a bit shabby. Upon further inspection, we noticed: dead bugs and other debris along the edge of the floors, filthy dirty floors that leave babies feet black, rock hard beds the equivalent of box spring mattresses (it literally sounds like you are knocking on wood when you rap your knuckles on it), broken A/C in Steve and my room, a tiny clothes washer with Chinese buttons (no English), no where to hang the washed clothes, no soap or slippers (we had to buy for $5 usd), a refrigerator that keeps tipping like it's going to fall over, a really old, stained, disgusting hot pot that looks like it's a fire hazard (a hot pot is a water pitcher that boils water because you can't even wash dishes or brush your teeth unless it is boiled first), a really bad raw sewage smell coming from the toilet and wafting into the living room, crumbs all over the dining table, no one that speaks English in the place and no breakfast buffet! I could just FEEL the bed bugs looking at me from the corners of the room! I was sickened. (Did I mention I have issues with germs?)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA0fMKF_q4u5zzMDjXBc7K8WraTzTUXHvm_zIwqtj_fXohgmri9HWQH1gkzE2M_yVCYIiryua3dDiDmWBRrPYV7tesMJKN2b0GJQ32zSgt_BvZ5HvLP9ARgJiV8U-OE1CrM81uwRjs8s/s1600/apartment+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLA0fMKF_q4u5zzMDjXBc7K8WraTzTUXHvm_zIwqtj_fXohgmri9HWQH1gkzE2M_yVCYIiryua3dDiDmWBRrPYV7tesMJKN2b0GJQ32zSgt_BvZ5HvLP9ARgJiV8U-OE1CrM81uwRjs8s/s320/apartment+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kitchen. Dead bugs everywhere. Beyond the green glass was a small out-door balcony on which rested the washing machine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5A1Onb9jvD-Rx6-1ugLABy-A3wBemeDPsTjuonjUavaJfrhRZ0IS0a1V2hdZQdoLAygUfvUTledAxFUX1hMM7LVO_mDuW4tVQV66b24llPTljtPItjjxUNo1W0jqJ8AWCV_gKXxswJE/s1600/wash+machine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5A1Onb9jvD-Rx6-1ugLABy-A3wBemeDPsTjuonjUavaJfrhRZ0IS0a1V2hdZQdoLAygUfvUTledAxFUX1hMM7LVO_mDuW4tVQV66b24llPTljtPItjjxUNo1W0jqJ8AWCV_gKXxswJE/s320/wash+machine.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The washing machine. Good thing Steve can read the characters so he knew which button to push. This machine was the only saving grace of the hotel room.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEapG2TrhaINfXrk_fC0otEsuX4fCdGsQYxkAlWrNZEYZ-XyKZHxkHYsDIelnQm5iD7fK4jVdTG1lBSaWy9DctfIDUA3BjdkZ6wkhN69Rm6nlecHYhkpIMgxUrSCp6nUAUwkRyDEbAP0c/s1600/apartment.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEapG2TrhaINfXrk_fC0otEsuX4fCdGsQYxkAlWrNZEYZ-XyKZHxkHYsDIelnQm5iD7fK4jVdTG1lBSaWy9DctfIDUA3BjdkZ6wkhN69Rm6nlecHYhkpIMgxUrSCp6nUAUwkRyDEbAP0c/s320/apartment.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The living room. It may look OK, but it was really filthy and run down. The fridge would try to tip over when you opened it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTkmGX1zLFt0kzxTcFq50UhoLY4mdBXpL9ibJTh2FhdsOrMoZjP36uLX80ES4imkoFid-uEv6-TLUIC5oC8kqpZIwgA3k7jVWAeF08OGo88KdYfR96JST-ijjqnc_b3Hn6V8RzUo44vI/s1600/apartment2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvTkmGX1zLFt0kzxTcFq50UhoLY4mdBXpL9ibJTh2FhdsOrMoZjP36uLX80ES4imkoFid-uEv6-TLUIC5oC8kqpZIwgA3k7jVWAeF08OGo88KdYfR96JST-ijjqnc_b3Hn6V8RzUo44vI/s320/apartment2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining area and the stinky bathroom. Note the cushion on the chair is faded and yellow.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ePMkvL1UQuzBq_1ueV9NSm2_ZhSVW6zEf-T6ZrKuiExwexsPP09O652D5JwSgRmo9cbz2o6deVgHABoqbZg_c8DyOL1ELFZ5yQ79iGlzcmKZCHLqSnOjIkZEqQyU9m7eCZ92OvNvBfU/s1600/apartment3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ePMkvL1UQuzBq_1ueV9NSm2_ZhSVW6zEf-T6ZrKuiExwexsPP09O652D5JwSgRmo9cbz2o6deVgHABoqbZg_c8DyOL1ELFZ5yQ79iGlzcmKZCHLqSnOjIkZEqQyU9m7eCZ92OvNvBfU/s320/apartment3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grandma's bedroom. Again, it looks OK but those beds are hard as rocks!</td></tr>
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We immediately went down to the desk and made a list of everything that needed to be fixed. More like we pantomimed our list. Finally, a house keeper came with a dirty, wet sponge mop and swiped at the floor a couple of times in the hallway. Then he suddenly disappeared. I took Daisy down to the desk and shoved her black feet in the guys face. He got the message. Later a maid came and mopped everything while my mom supervised, after making her go back for some soap. I kid you not.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbHJ4bZeI-0fYHW-KMEHJ5i0n4jl8ck-diE5ZAP5p5ogmQq4gjeLOAEe-G7umIvca0ftsEZnDdATGNO9vFBUoxBs82ow9Ej_M59Syf7WV6yWfIp0KT8ydZjwCBnbcpOSv-qxawMu1N7s/s1600/view+from+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCbHJ4bZeI-0fYHW-KMEHJ5i0n4jl8ck-diE5ZAP5p5ogmQq4gjeLOAEe-G7umIvca0ftsEZnDdATGNO9vFBUoxBs82ow9Ej_M59Syf7WV6yWfIp0KT8ydZjwCBnbcpOSv-qxawMu1N7s/s320/view+from+window.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from our balcony at night.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH13IQQIA4Q9q20ZYVzt_-20S5khgvAZWBXDBVxteruWcMvD8C-IV6OWWAq3gRbCzWq5eOWpsN0HZ3M4HrMgQm3m1wZBb-l4WuTQY0PiSk7oKM6EpPhku-AJRxu3LeJg_0HWJQT3h87_Y/s1600/view+from+window+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH13IQQIA4Q9q20ZYVzt_-20S5khgvAZWBXDBVxteruWcMvD8C-IV6OWWAq3gRbCzWq5eOWpsN0HZ3M4HrMgQm3m1wZBb-l4WuTQY0PiSk7oKM6EpPhku-AJRxu3LeJg_0HWJQT3h87_Y/s320/view+from+window+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day-time view.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It was late by now but we went in search of a store, got lost and ended up at McDonald's. I gave Daisy a couple of french fries to get her to stop screaming. Then we went back to the 8th floor of hell and went to bed.Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-45326282875411595892011-06-13T22:10:00.041-06:002011-11-10T15:01:51.864-07:00Thursday the 2ndToday our guide picked us up and we took a short taxi ride to Daisy's orphanage. On the day she was brought to us we had a bunch of questions written down to ask them about her and especially her schedule and eating habits. Our guide wanted us to wait and ask when we toured the orphanage. This was frustrating to me because it meant for the next 3 days we had to guess at what she liked to eat, when she liked to eat and how she slept, etc. I also was dying to know if she was in foster care before or if she had been in the orphanage for her whole 14 months of life.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xZGPSNTeTFeM4LL6RprxyJK0rFwCE40pBtTYV-GCeGxrg2uS-kDqSONzny77LYWqnJATwQQ34_DLmnL7yZu7HFO0fzKLn2ZjsvRA2OdX9jOJMZX6GUeW_6bWZSDQAm61xBOxfeQbVTY/s1600/orphanage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6xZGPSNTeTFeM4LL6RprxyJK0rFwCE40pBtTYV-GCeGxrg2uS-kDqSONzny77LYWqnJATwQQ34_DLmnL7yZu7HFO0fzKLn2ZjsvRA2OdX9jOJMZX6GUeW_6bWZSDQAm61xBOxfeQbVTY/s320/orphanage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the Kunming Children's Welfare Institute</td></tr>
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</div>I had seen pictures of the orphanage before so I wasn't surprised. It looked really cheerful and well kept. There are several buildings, the main one being white with bright colors and a turret. There was also a medical building and 2 other buildings.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcCOylfzrix_tp4AgCweFNMwG6uUqCmqy52_O0ebsuBX4LmwP0_zEX7WpSDI6DCrM6gDwSAc0TTQwm3ijjGQSCbrsgPHH2lW6n41wPPjffBzrYktkqlH86QOwKPQfnNGDJn1y7QZJntU/s1600/orphanage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfcCOylfzrix_tp4AgCweFNMwG6uUqCmqy52_O0ebsuBX4LmwP0_zEX7WpSDI6DCrM6gDwSAc0TTQwm3ijjGQSCbrsgPHH2lW6n41wPPjffBzrYktkqlH86QOwKPQfnNGDJn1y7QZJntU/s320/orphanage2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where the library and physical therapy rooms were. </td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We were taken to a room and offered water and candy. They gave us a book about the orphanage and then took us on a short tour of the facilities. Everything was SO clean and modern which was a surprise because not much in China is considered clean. We saw some kids getting physical therapy, some babies getting developmental play time, a nice library, and a TV room. They showed us the newborn baby room and there were lots of cute babies sleeping in their cribs. The older baby room was empty because they were all off getting breakfast. The lady touring us around asked if we would like Daisy to have breakfast with the other kids and I declined because I was afraid they would take her from us and have her eat while we finished the tour. I didn't think that would be so good. But it would have been interesting to see how they feed all those babies and what they were feeding them. Most of the older kids were at school (we were told they go to a local school in the area) so the place was very quiet. It really seemed like they did a good job of caring for the kids and it is probably considered a really nice orphanage. I don't have anything to compare it to, however my mom has been to orphanages in Armenia and she was shocked at how great this one was because she was expecting something more like Armenia. This one was top notch in her opinion.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVx815hfDeYb3JECYhvB7duHq_UcE9lAu7MVnMBa5p98msF7uE-AnttDRO1BLYKChZTisF6V58y2FhtPUYCB3EKxBitvwWcH-r1KjzH8ye3dZ7rwyFxn8MyoKsj9Yj7Sq8T1RwRoC0k8/s1600/orphanage+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVx815hfDeYb3JECYhvB7duHq_UcE9lAu7MVnMBa5p98msF7uE-AnttDRO1BLYKChZTisF6V58y2FhtPUYCB3EKxBitvwWcH-r1KjzH8ye3dZ7rwyFxn8MyoKsj9Yj7Sq8T1RwRoC0k8/s320/orphanage+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The library, with lots of books for the older kids.</td></tr>
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</div>Unfortunately, the lady touring us around wasn't the usual person who knows the babies really well. She didn't know much about Daisy and I didn't get any real answers to my questions. Basically they said she went to foster care when she was about 5 months old and then she was brought back to the orphanage 1 week before we arrived to get her. Its really so sad! I can only imagine how confused she must be, wondering when she will stop getting new caregivers. I am sure she doesn't imagine that we are the final stop in her life. I hope she will quickly learn to trust us.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxELeHKDuY9eSJ_xkDQQa4LhxgG2JjBUoIJQUo4MoX5diw4D415yTqH5T6lIjbJ-LjLuRdINmTuiDExu4GvhziD9RjpnjoB_qM0DDTa-WhATIxFbPYBFzthQGl6orlXtBVFWy3Zv0rGp0/s1600/orphanage7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxELeHKDuY9eSJ_xkDQQa4LhxgG2JjBUoIJQUo4MoX5diw4D415yTqH5T6lIjbJ-LjLuRdINmTuiDExu4GvhziD9RjpnjoB_qM0DDTa-WhATIxFbPYBFzthQGl6orlXtBVFWy3Zv0rGp0/s320/orphanage7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The main building where the children sleep and eat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgA1j7OlQ0eFJzELhFcBh5mZ_xKM6S1fHTDhD4izbk4tCu7pZ6r228TAlHO9S3njrFGCE9gf3wjujgnwuwo_7WKy5PURqQ308FrpcmVujdRRFDC-zGcAyxIIFkNZLBP_z6kNMABKOIj4/s1600/orphanage4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDgA1j7OlQ0eFJzELhFcBh5mZ_xKM6S1fHTDhD4izbk4tCu7pZ6r228TAlHO9S3njrFGCE9gf3wjujgnwuwo_7WKy5PURqQ308FrpcmVujdRRFDC-zGcAyxIIFkNZLBP_z6kNMABKOIj4/s320/orphanage4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> The inside of the main building. It seemed very new and was very quiet at that time of day. </td></tr>
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They also gave us a little piece of paper with her schedule on it for feeding and sleeping. But, it was the orphanage schedule and she had only been on it for 1 week. I wished we could have gotten the foster families schedule. The only thing they would tell us about the foster family was that there were other foster kids and the couples biological child also living in the home. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRMubGCtWyTT-drjD2CThC7za6-JK280lkxwfNQ4_chS4vj-JqJf8H6kGXvuh5z96XqchNZ8APSUye3gy1HSkRGFqHMWxAiAkgZJQYGrMjrIgjHMA2WM58XYnKCHYoBs1UCIRvaxj-3w/s1600/orphanage5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmRMubGCtWyTT-drjD2CThC7za6-JK280lkxwfNQ4_chS4vj-JqJf8H6kGXvuh5z96XqchNZ8APSUye3gy1HSkRGFqHMWxAiAkgZJQYGrMjrIgjHMA2WM58XYnKCHYoBs1UCIRvaxj-3w/s320/orphanage5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a cool metal sculpture mural on the outside of the colorful building.</td></tr>
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In Kunming, they have what is called the foster village 1 hour away from the orphanage. That is where they foster all the kids. I imagine it's like a big compound with apartments for every family. I also think it is their main job, to be foster care givers. There are 500-600 kids at the foster care village and about 100-200 kids in the orphanage. I was surprised at how many there are! Daisy's hands and face are quite tan so I figure they spent a lot of time outside.<br />
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The person giving us the tour (translated by our guide) thanked us for giving Daisy a home and we thanked her for taking such good care of her. Then a film crew asked us if he could film us and he did for a minute but we didn't talk, just stood there staring into the camera. It was kind of weird. I guess somewhere, someday we'll be on Chinese TV!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwIEfpOb_GNBX6fbO7TN6RvnL8323aayH9w7p4RV9T6qcc6tq0UJF3gSAcGXRI2NiTOYuLEsS7G3S8oTalsNUiXAfUPXt15b1iUkbjGudRmYnS4QBi_ytRsgce4vaBCFG1v3ZKeCGfso/s1600/orphanage6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwIEfpOb_GNBX6fbO7TN6RvnL8323aayH9w7p4RV9T6qcc6tq0UJF3gSAcGXRI2NiTOYuLEsS7G3S8oTalsNUiXAfUPXt15b1iUkbjGudRmYnS4QBi_ytRsgce4vaBCFG1v3ZKeCGfso/s320/orphanage6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The medical building behind us. We were not invited to go inside.</td></tr>
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</div>That was it. We were told it would be $250 for the tour but we were not charged in China and have not seen a bill yet, but it could still be coming. We were also only allowed to take pictures of the outside and one of the inside lobby. NO children could be photographed. <br />
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We left the orphanage and Paul said he would take us to Green Lake Park, which I had wanted to see. We went and walked around, there were a bunch of ponds with lilly pads, bridges, gazebo's (with people doing Karaoke), shops and a kiddie amusement park. There were also people dancing and doing Tai Chi and performing music. We loved watching the Tai<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tyFOoBJbg4c27wQi789HE6fRNHuBuFyDIc3SQkLWX1_XvmfLDb7IO-zmIxj51cnCxSVNvg8Mbgw1EzeKx-xJwKsVVeHeFHDQ0raFWFqgc7y3bzYr38d4HUJOlU3GJwQb9FXaOigtysQ/s1600/park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tyFOoBJbg4c27wQi789HE6fRNHuBuFyDIc3SQkLWX1_XvmfLDb7IO-zmIxj51cnCxSVNvg8Mbgw1EzeKx-xJwKsVVeHeFHDQ0raFWFqgc7y3bzYr38d4HUJOlU3GJwQb9FXaOigtysQ/s320/park.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many lakes/ponds in the park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCI-4OqDXVzS9HYlVe1V_p1_o_bNQUz35TlA3UzHjMGSue7FjcTqJbYlTaMD2_os9wjlAGKrK-rZJHAY6FR6gOGzm-tox9-2hNFokzJ9lx6kBaC6BHCxRkK9zdHOOcmWXYbguN6VfqeM/s1600/park2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCI-4OqDXVzS9HYlVe1V_p1_o_bNQUz35TlA3UzHjMGSue7FjcTqJbYlTaMD2_os9wjlAGKrK-rZJHAY6FR6gOGzm-tox9-2hNFokzJ9lx6kBaC6BHCxRkK9zdHOOcmWXYbguN6VfqeM/s320/park2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Badminton anyone? With a bike for a net? Note the tai chi dancers in the background.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigSnevuQ8m9NXC4_oa_hlaXv-RMEB8kVwVECEQ2OcGdt-FXYMsZaWmk0S6OOTYckdptCDQwfbPxHCEdXn67MRLJznn-Txbj_MCr34MSssWqVCp3iqFth_UZFQWXLavHvXf_b6MQPJ57A/s1600/park3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigSnevuQ8m9NXC4_oa_hlaXv-RMEB8kVwVECEQ2OcGdt-FXYMsZaWmk0S6OOTYckdptCDQwfbPxHCEdXn67MRLJznn-Txbj_MCr34MSssWqVCp3iqFth_UZFQWXLavHvXf_b6MQPJ57A/s320/park3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you would like a nicely drawn caricature of Bin Laden or Obama, this is the place to get one!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYeZ20plkVk75DxyO27LYDOHtptJ_z4lo5bTe5oXeGKDfkMU-z1QyxBEKB9Z1D_eGLqNu0CsQEij0UA5K9e4W28eqZ8yjhI5RwAztrRP9L0K4IubY7Ay588Hy0hraiLtw5UYJ3u8YosI/s1600/park5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXYeZ20plkVk75DxyO27LYDOHtptJ_z4lo5bTe5oXeGKDfkMU-z1QyxBEKB9Z1D_eGLqNu0CsQEij0UA5K9e4W28eqZ8yjhI5RwAztrRP9L0K4IubY7Ay588Hy0hraiLtw5UYJ3u8YosI/s320/park5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilly pad heaven.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0XXWIqizC9GsynmMleeSTDuNVo2GkCDz99L46Yru6h4Ar_u2znspLItuJFPokPJ0FuPy173-zQnba7NBlPmuA1YepeTOBwgEqFmGxPzsM-jfnwn22W2IV8JyyKE8KSNUTdRv_7eJF4/s1600/park6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjas0XXWIqizC9GsynmMleeSTDuNVo2GkCDz99L46Yru6h4Ar_u2znspLItuJFPokPJ0FuPy173-zQnba7NBlPmuA1YepeTOBwgEqFmGxPzsM-jfnwn22W2IV8JyyKE8KSNUTdRv_7eJF4/s320/park6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lone dancer practicing her moves.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfhPcPlpaIo6t6ou9eOJk2OYrazvhWiWWq9GUFfvZfaepsYjOD689lXL0uHTrj0fHjqLIm_SaUyakMJbUYHNMKVyVz9iwpQuHG-ddI_ohr9rKyH1abjgJOoTLDKdCad3281Y7SeNwiLI/s1600/park8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNfhPcPlpaIo6t6ou9eOJk2OYrazvhWiWWq9GUFfvZfaepsYjOD689lXL0uHTrj0fHjqLIm_SaUyakMJbUYHNMKVyVz9iwpQuHG-ddI_ohr9rKyH1abjgJOoTLDKdCad3281Y7SeNwiLI/s320/park8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve carried Daisy around like that all day. He didn't let that stop him from filming.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrxD4MP3oKhNnaG3ZanmMPOMQTM11n0zm3XuHuI9nuzdoebvj1ksRc3oSRlRGviMvDvJzub_LxsH-MwxfYGWJreWHiBv5SEuC38YZMc9y00wip0e8Z1k7VySrCYSB7xlWXOuMIaGFg7A/s1600/park9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYrxD4MP3oKhNnaG3ZanmMPOMQTM11n0zm3XuHuI9nuzdoebvj1ksRc3oSRlRGviMvDvJzub_LxsH-MwxfYGWJreWHiBv5SEuC38YZMc9y00wip0e8Z1k7VySrCYSB7xlWXOuMIaGFg7A/s320/park9.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack was determined to sink the lilly pads with these rocks. An impossible task, he found.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsqlgCYN8AMYzwINqYJWSDHn7dS1rOqNNRIURqJz5tCCAYAFSmdYVOmtAmPFZaNCwu2X1y8Ag-IbTym7R7xFeVhIgB9ZapEj-L8nFeUNtUrN9PnBDO1R7_6wi0xMwi9lG9YFNA292VG0/s1600/park10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBsqlgCYN8AMYzwINqYJWSDHn7dS1rOqNNRIURqJz5tCCAYAFSmdYVOmtAmPFZaNCwu2X1y8Ag-IbTym7R7xFeVhIgB9ZapEj-L8nFeUNtUrN9PnBDO1R7_6wi0xMwi9lG9YFNA292VG0/s320/park10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a building in the middle of the park with big windows we could see inside to the people who were all at tables playing majong or studying or just chillin'.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O2w_NzTz187twAZ2PH1hDPCgzoxHLfjZFcJlULaurj7cGRuxe9ueO__cJJ-1_dVlANmLA8UNtfTRu0DyGK61q8wRa01mxdoQXPdSECRsI7bbZrBPBahCBtKBZpDBB6iNJHOQ7JTH44A/s1600/park11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1O2w_NzTz187twAZ2PH1hDPCgzoxHLfjZFcJlULaurj7cGRuxe9ueO__cJJ-1_dVlANmLA8UNtfTRu0DyGK61q8wRa01mxdoQXPdSECRsI7bbZrBPBahCBtKBZpDBB6iNJHOQ7JTH44A/s320/park11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two ladies practicing their dance moves together.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-3jvQ5K7sFP4lB8Ji3ZEMnlAawg1-UkfXtqsFprJ01t8nc8Mmv8CLDMxZOPl2or1dT1Vi5sZHgXRlhcGs8Bl1rkot2QMR8d5Ql6-F7llvKT4PigJKF4-dvXdoAm92q6BYPcctl7Fz24/s1600/park12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn-3jvQ5K7sFP4lB8Ji3ZEMnlAawg1-UkfXtqsFprJ01t8nc8Mmv8CLDMxZOPl2or1dT1Vi5sZHgXRlhcGs8Bl1rkot2QMR8d5Ql6-F7llvKT4PigJKF4-dvXdoAm92q6BYPcctl7Fz24/s320/park12.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawyWJ6kSpIu0Tjvx3s_0_tV7K8o5M9iBOwx8-L0bwVe3sFsr8rnkji_42y4BwhpzaOPN_T-tQcnvQxNJN1ySZ5HPjn4Mi004cNv1PBWl4GhZVljs8yBeY9x2JJxeG2zSNI3zGy10XnVg/s1600/park13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgawyWJ6kSpIu0Tjvx3s_0_tV7K8o5M9iBOwx8-L0bwVe3sFsr8rnkji_42y4BwhpzaOPN_T-tQcnvQxNJN1ySZ5HPjn4Mi004cNv1PBWl4GhZVljs8yBeY9x2JJxeG2zSNI3zGy10XnVg/s320/park13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One entrance to the park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fTBuikw3odQ98IXqBdREhkQPyDKMA0dZqsmkXXQgCFg0pNwvbdcPtnQ0CoWIxBlZHJyV9WOzj6YdZ6MIy52wUFkbsWK_wB8YafV5dV_lJhHIMjrMV4Q7SQGKC1-SIlkVh-iLM40ofSA/s1600/park14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3fTBuikw3odQ98IXqBdREhkQPyDKMA0dZqsmkXXQgCFg0pNwvbdcPtnQ0CoWIxBlZHJyV9WOzj6YdZ6MIy52wUFkbsWK_wB8YafV5dV_lJhHIMjrMV4Q7SQGKC1-SIlkVh-iLM40ofSA/s320/park14.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cutest baby at the park that day!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vXVQnIxdWDy6pRSLkKlC1nmcUb1wDFnhOGp4tx5A69P-QcQ5x3kPTDWnzBENGOYWed86gvr4uU-lPH1_LNSD3eY8XXkIdtF7TtKyfV4DVQSgczaqy_4oA8wtxhm2Up_2cYuHO-bmspc/s1600/park15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2vXVQnIxdWDy6pRSLkKlC1nmcUb1wDFnhOGp4tx5A69P-QcQ5x3kPTDWnzBENGOYWed86gvr4uU-lPH1_LNSD3eY8XXkIdtF7TtKyfV4DVQSgczaqy_4oA8wtxhm2Up_2cYuHO-bmspc/s320/park15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IQ_lhen_BUSvf28P4BdfjKhrfzFHbaY54A_qA_9BVS32kUTjyqb76-TdZlse0h0pO1sxxeq5DKFlEElLyK_Wh1SEM1pLBQluL4ghvhwQXnL3m9FkpmCUZjFgFQ1Yx-QY-zWylRO75eI/s1600/taichi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IQ_lhen_BUSvf28P4BdfjKhrfzFHbaY54A_qA_9BVS32kUTjyqb76-TdZlse0h0pO1sxxeq5DKFlEElLyK_Wh1SEM1pLBQluL4ghvhwQXnL3m9FkpmCUZjFgFQ1Yx-QY-zWylRO75eI/s320/taichi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A group of people doing Tai Chi. (Behind the people watching.)</td></tr>
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When we got to the park, Zack spotted some hamster balls on the lake. We told him he could do them so after we had walked around a while and Paul had left us, we went to inquire on the price. Well, Steve asked and they told us about $5 usd. I went up to pay because I was going to get in it with Zack. They told me a huge price like $30-40 usd. We decided to leave and go check out the hamster balls on the other side of the park. This time they told us $5 usd. Zack and I got loaded in and started running. And we went nowhere! Have you ever done this? It is freaking hard work! Zack was laughing so hard and having the best time. I would run really fast and he would just get tossed around like salad in a spinner!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4rF_WiCEDtzZYBFjbv7D_xWd19gPnjm8nGBKOOVUQK4MsdYxGpZHzSAQT9B_rFKM4szJl_PQIEKCkLJuFqp-TVnlyB8JmAM37bSdW5bJCUGJkwRya68uAqbrj-E7EMTgSq_Qy1ZjubQ/s1600/park4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4rF_WiCEDtzZYBFjbv7D_xWd19gPnjm8nGBKOOVUQK4MsdYxGpZHzSAQT9B_rFKM4szJl_PQIEKCkLJuFqp-TVnlyB8JmAM37bSdW5bJCUGJkwRya68uAqbrj-E7EMTgSq_Qy1ZjubQ/s320/park4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I NEED to get into those hamster spinners!"</td></tr>
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At one point I looked over to see if Steve was filming and I realized we were once again quite the spectacle. A huge crowd had formed to see the large American woman and white haired child spinning in the hamster balls. This is not the most graceful I have ever been and they were quite amused. After I was sufficiently tired, I got out and Zack continued for 10 more minutes. After, he thanked us profusely and said that was the most fun he had ever had. Pretty boring vacation if the hamster ball is the highlight! Ha!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzibti-fkmAMnfhPvTjVp26SwMWHShTdgDr6XSUfv2nGx5_JKbd5KTDW50kUiKVUMW6xBmhUxf27Z3vDZITKlrubsEdvCFNAqr1NijFaJqGRNUCLw49P2CW2uVWwklkMI50rz69gce_E/s1600/ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqzibti-fkmAMnfhPvTjVp26SwMWHShTdgDr6XSUfv2nGx5_JKbd5KTDW50kUiKVUMW6xBmhUxf27Z3vDZITKlrubsEdvCFNAqr1NijFaJqGRNUCLw49P2CW2uVWwklkMI50rz69gce_E/s320/ball.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to start!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F4N3U7XVl6dSXrHovUyAk-Jy3r5kFvxSi128ZRkHiHnFvFtl6cbJfuhD1btw6yd8gZEDAgF5-EHOkk0LBtuLa7SryXOvLf9xXNhuMfv07noPiz3cND3WMshap2L9_nYMat9MxC0qj1g/s1600/ball2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2F4N3U7XVl6dSXrHovUyAk-Jy3r5kFvxSi128ZRkHiHnFvFtl6cbJfuhD1btw6yd8gZEDAgF5-EHOkk0LBtuLa7SryXOvLf9xXNhuMfv07noPiz3cND3WMshap2L9_nYMat9MxC0qj1g/s320/ball2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round and round we go!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi641DkbjW6pmdFqIi6iTGuIpKhp29L1_sfcfV0pqFGCxXmCDzKinyGWhvlcO0twJS3cFaQ9qUmrnGP1-KJ8b3DzLbb5aCIWNn54iKMTMNjwmdy0qhuuaMr-qgKKa8lVp3NYZFtEgqlleA/s1600/ball3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi641DkbjW6pmdFqIi6iTGuIpKhp29L1_sfcfV0pqFGCxXmCDzKinyGWhvlcO0twJS3cFaQ9qUmrnGP1-KJ8b3DzLbb5aCIWNn54iKMTMNjwmdy0qhuuaMr-qgKKa8lVp3NYZFtEgqlleA/s320/ball3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">People gather to watch the spectacle.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishK2IG13Spla4sM1rBv4QbxaUB-_NcOmY8_0eLsqSs50_e70LHI2eNyRy3rm0S9lYwX2JDCnjsfO7-Xp_GvWpzUtXbKT2H69F1m7YzLKvwN38KsWG_7r42RKt7XSvNdgXOOo3n44IFIE/s1600/ball4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEishK2IG13Spla4sM1rBv4QbxaUB-_NcOmY8_0eLsqSs50_e70LHI2eNyRy3rm0S9lYwX2JDCnjsfO7-Xp_GvWpzUtXbKT2H69F1m7YzLKvwN38KsWG_7r42RKt7XSvNdgXOOo3n44IFIE/s320/ball4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had to work together or Zack would get tossed! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2qc1UnHtA3giY0WntsRVpA2fCzXI-3XsfivVoC7X26cZHhhm5KdpUjM6sedIS0xQg28UPd8RHUf13GyaLQc254qX122qFl4i430VCUjog9vkXNtsi1VLeBFGB-EDobxgRC_5izBuVJc/s1600/ball5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2qc1UnHtA3giY0WntsRVpA2fCzXI-3XsfivVoC7X26cZHhhm5KdpUjM6sedIS0xQg28UPd8RHUf13GyaLQc254qX122qFl4i430VCUjog9vkXNtsi1VLeBFGB-EDobxgRC_5izBuVJc/s320/ball5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We didn't get too much further than this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhgFpzx0aRvMfXpThipnDp0FA1mgHqg2hi168Q8xh1P2Opsu9C4jUURAk8Z_50UpaiZfJPyFx3D8nURaYW8muRhULMhyzla5zOjlkGy5YwQLLyjJbt-JTN7YYeldf93R5nrFd-zQPks/s1600/ball7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_EhgFpzx0aRvMfXpThipnDp0FA1mgHqg2hi168Q8xh1P2Opsu9C4jUURAk8Z_50UpaiZfJPyFx3D8nURaYW8muRhULMhyzla5zOjlkGy5YwQLLyjJbt-JTN7YYeldf93R5nrFd-zQPks/s320/ball7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a break! This is hard work!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8z0DhJLMI1iwkOFgkkKi8toE4c7-T8fivWzld8iQgSx8XWUk2G3VCp_we-3tFh37UebX_IdQ1nrezRoshy43g_fZmEunBNqdq5lHqO-hllbk8FQQ_YtPQgiTNQBNUw68XarC7_eqLNg/s1600/ball6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8z0DhJLMI1iwkOFgkkKi8toE4c7-T8fivWzld8iQgSx8XWUk2G3VCp_we-3tFh37UebX_IdQ1nrezRoshy43g_fZmEunBNqdq5lHqO-hllbk8FQQ_YtPQgiTNQBNUw68XarC7_eqLNg/s320/ball6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom's ready to come in! Zack's ready for more. He really got that thing going when he was alone!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>During our time at the park we went from sunny and roasting hot to poring rain, to sunny and hot and more rain, then sun again. We kept getting out the umbrellas and putting them away. The rain did little to alleviate the heat and just made it feel more like a sauna. <br />
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Before Paul left us, he took us to a restaurant just outside the park that he said had good noodle soup. He ordered for us and then left. He had lots of paperwork to do you know so we could only ever have his company for half a day. The soup came boiling hot and then a plate with noodles and meat parts that you were supposed to dump in the boiling broth to cook. One bowl we weren't quite quick enough and the meat didn't end up getting all the way cooked. Luckily no one got sick. I took all the meat out, it was unidentifiable meat parts so I passed. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PHMg3ZFgXsQfy59jN84A7aJnrT4PHteDkai4z-FGK7R6rSFdnYZq3jeZ2EAyY-fV7FDq2vA402ohBwqq69UvZ27iTzgGMZl1gl5mpuFPYCO9zW6EgqIeWVO7ZeQ9l-6meGKD3ov0xO4/s1600/lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8PHMg3ZFgXsQfy59jN84A7aJnrT4PHteDkai4z-FGK7R6rSFdnYZq3jeZ2EAyY-fV7FDq2vA402ohBwqq69UvZ27iTzgGMZl1gl5mpuFPYCO9zW6EgqIeWVO7ZeQ9l-6meGKD3ov0xO4/s320/lunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sluuuurrrp! Those are huge bowls of soup!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Of coarse right when the food came we smelled the baby. She can load a diaper like no body's business. I was a little freaked because I had no idea where I was going to change her. I'm not sure but I think even in China it is considered bad form to change a diaper next to where people are eating. My mom volunteered to help me, thank goodness, so we set off with a screaming baby and our diapering kit. As I walked through the restaurant the workers would see me coming and point me in a direction. I just kept going and after 3 minutes of walking through a maze of different dining establishments, I was directed to a bathroom.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>A tiny bathroom with a sink and two stalls. No where was there a changing table or counter top. There was however a deep window sill. So of coarse our only option was to lay our screaming Daisy's head out the 2 story window, onto some pipes, with my mom supporting and handing me wipes. All the while Daisy was pitching a major fit and was in danger of flinging her whole body out the window! It wasn't too bad, but most def a 2 person job! My mom took Daisy and I proceeded to use the squatter as gracefully as I could. Just so you know, I thoroughly scrub my feet every night in the shower!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozHMCaFmx25CWulHe2qok9Y22HmUJ6nY94bhxmEwgLeQr6Y7SWcD9wv8oRjJO8WcUiDucnOQTyMh2gLt_qtg-txI4gx8haTTYJHEaX0uhTuZb02Oc08-71KCSmwIBokVjoaJGexDrU0o/s1600/squatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiozHMCaFmx25CWulHe2qok9Y22HmUJ6nY94bhxmEwgLeQr6Y7SWcD9wv8oRjJO8WcUiDucnOQTyMh2gLt_qtg-txI4gx8haTTYJHEaX0uhTuZb02Oc08-71KCSmwIBokVjoaJGexDrU0o/s320/squatter.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The squatter, in case you've never seen one. I could never figure out if I was supposed to face the tank or the stall door. ?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZD2BPWttHOoDKbF7JmEWtQ-PJKYvm0fHLeDZHIN1b5fFwF3PZketjCGWJYZFlgrFzto0XNGQ8-yEA0Wqq4eSW6n4lytpxy0pdE-mkkBcZ5U2cGjxvd2KkpWdytBxhjdXFDYdLKnSc7g/s1600/tongs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ZD2BPWttHOoDKbF7JmEWtQ-PJKYvm0fHLeDZHIN1b5fFwF3PZketjCGWJYZFlgrFzto0XNGQ8-yEA0Wqq4eSW6n4lytpxy0pdE-mkkBcZ5U2cGjxvd2KkpWdytBxhjdXFDYdLKnSc7g/s320/tongs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I may have mentioned before that there are always people emptying the garbage's with tongs. Here is an example.</td></tr>
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That night, we set out to find a good restaurant. We stumbled upon a Tempanyaki place (you know where they cook the food in front of you? Except there were no theatrics or onion volcano's). It was probably some of the best food we had the entire trip. We ordered so much food! You should have seen the employees faces, like they had just hit the jackpot! Steve got sauteed duck tongue. Sharon and I politely declined a taste. Did I mention this baby loves to eat? She ate and ate too. We were happy to have found it and wished we could have found it earlier in the trip.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPRdGStiGiTyiidycylIcVO3UBacOZNHF3qimhjyBaN5mYglNnq1X1NmSlsYI_yvOXc9vyQS7wK0by1-yVyvvdjxlecA5c9UfUJf9eOYqYD3HdZyIKkpIFZhFjYnYP10ZXF3p3J5aTdw/s1600/bull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiPRdGStiGiTyiidycylIcVO3UBacOZNHF3qimhjyBaN5mYglNnq1X1NmSlsYI_yvOXc9vyQS7wK0by1-yVyvvdjxlecA5c9UfUJf9eOYqYD3HdZyIKkpIFZhFjYnYP10ZXF3p3J5aTdw/s320/bull.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Out looking for a restaurant, we came across this bull and Zack took a ride.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpq7Jr2PHVtRh4itN3K-f-t0uVbpatS01MdYH0vlZBYBHTpAxBzXkMOAqmkdU_oox4t5JAlavkjNjq0e99cf5VGjAyum8e5y6BraTFYbb3Z-Kn8s2VpYyx9ttsD49lzDW0GXsHbte2fw/s1600/dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpq7Jr2PHVtRh4itN3K-f-t0uVbpatS01MdYH0vlZBYBHTpAxBzXkMOAqmkdU_oox4t5JAlavkjNjq0e99cf5VGjAyum8e5y6BraTFYbb3Z-Kn8s2VpYyx9ttsD49lzDW0GXsHbte2fw/s320/dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tempanyaki restaurant. If we ever go back to Kunming we will need to remember this place!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5-SRM4GtCSlf_n417gtTDu-z8bt4_-GC1gAOQ0q8VAE9YnanJ-50mxy7ewCPqECoQrxw4kjUL5uxD_zUgvv7tCwfz_3o71dbd_44BuGR7CtQEltu1NXhec_V0FBiwMDyEUmc4eUzFbk/s1600/dinner3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5-SRM4GtCSlf_n417gtTDu-z8bt4_-GC1gAOQ0q8VAE9YnanJ-50mxy7ewCPqECoQrxw4kjUL5uxD_zUgvv7tCwfz_3o71dbd_44BuGR7CtQEltu1NXhec_V0FBiwMDyEUmc4eUzFbk/s320/dinner3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sat at the counter so we could watch them cook our food. Only some of it was cooked here. Some came straight out of the kitchen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW8BrFzVMZecW-yBcYOJ9Gi0xZgyahdBUAinb4hKLUQ8_3P2cYtu7jzuYzc8EOY3Hn1e3d4GPm7YJIwn4X-jSUnnWfYdDMwHeS669qHEij7ruNR1wYILnKs0EsTrSnq2tB9y-R5UbU2I/s1600/dinner2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkW8BrFzVMZecW-yBcYOJ9Gi0xZgyahdBUAinb4hKLUQ8_3P2cYtu7jzuYzc8EOY3Hn1e3d4GPm7YJIwn4X-jSUnnWfYdDMwHeS669qHEij7ruNR1wYILnKs0EsTrSnq2tB9y-R5UbU2I/s320/dinner2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve ordered Duck Tongue.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIptAM5B-1cPipT2wwXJZ-yaHrFTBCWKxJYdaiwtcjNELhi9zxaGn9oLEXYIh05rq-fgt5FVhfvLI-MSpcBuUP7kJGz9HVwPPExqp4dhCamKGELsbGaeUeIXPVc2Dp3_YbvEuQig2RwP8/s1600/dinner5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIptAM5B-1cPipT2wwXJZ-yaHrFTBCWKxJYdaiwtcjNELhi9zxaGn9oLEXYIh05rq-fgt5FVhfvLI-MSpcBuUP7kJGz9HVwPPExqp4dhCamKGELsbGaeUeIXPVc2Dp3_YbvEuQig2RwP8/s320/dinner5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve ENJOYED his duck tongue.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxWgIEnwNxFtjcZdrL6uCg4fsxfSs1qULotKVTb-VPgPCdKbZceMGaWDYGWI2abTnymrY1vyJ7-6fV4kwyLGsKtSeqj67jhPYROWtKZav8EyUEmbnJ6ECO3vbTsY86uSFaN5kByZZtCw/s1600/dinner6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxWgIEnwNxFtjcZdrL6uCg4fsxfSs1qULotKVTb-VPgPCdKbZceMGaWDYGWI2abTnymrY1vyJ7-6fV4kwyLGsKtSeqj67jhPYROWtKZav8EyUEmbnJ6ECO3vbTsY86uSFaN5kByZZtCw/s320/dinner6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No thanks, you can have all the duck tongue Steve.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys3IPMKWm019ipOk_EzuPfEETB8wziQnRQXSMHOMTLvkYUIlR1Z4Niqe-8DVDr-9ixRVz3CUk_Bhq9sBOQNS_ofG3Wawu49CYD9wEWgusPvEG-51XxUFuP7iKzYx5l7_MYH-YAbjNOr8/s1600/dinner7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiys3IPMKWm019ipOk_EzuPfEETB8wziQnRQXSMHOMTLvkYUIlR1Z4Niqe-8DVDr-9ixRVz3CUk_Bhq9sBOQNS_ofG3Wawu49CYD9wEWgusPvEG-51XxUFuP7iKzYx5l7_MYH-YAbjNOr8/s320/dinner7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We thoroughly enjoyed our meal and Daisy is a happy baby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-74026489612600619522011-06-05T10:17:00.003-06:002011-12-10T15:43:02.214-07:00Things About ChinaSo my post yesterday made it sound like I just wanted everyone to pray for me only! Sorry, I didn't clarify that we are all having a hard time, but I am the one who is loosing my mind! And you all know what happens when mom looses her mind...everyone suffers. But really, everyone else is handling things so well. I wish I wasn't such a wimp!<br />
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Today was a better day, I don't think I cried once! Well, I got a little teary when the meanest Taxi driver on earth took off with me and Daisy in the back seat, leaving the rest of the family to cram into another taxi with most of the luggage while we had plenty of room in our taxi for people and luggage. When I told him to stop he yelled at me and said: "you don't know, I know!" Then he yelled at me the whole way to the new hotel and drove really crazy. When we got there he wanted his money and I yelled back that I didn't have any and if he wanted to get paid he would have to wait because he left the people with the money back at the old hotel. He kept telling me he had to go to lunch and I just glared at him and told him it was his own fault. Finally the bell boy paid him and he left. I've never been so furious. We were able to check into a much nicer hotel in a much easier part of town to navigate and many more people speak English so that helps us to get where we are trying to go more easily.<br />
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I need to do an update post so I don't forget everything that has happened but it is late so I am going to give you my Things about China list I have been working on. I really tried to come up with some positive things so it is not all complaining. Here goes:<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Things about China:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Driving is CRAZY! I have never seen anything like it. Lines are ignored, blinkers are not used, speed is fast, pedestrians have no right of way, horns are used to communicate like some kind of Morse code, they pass so close to each other and on either side, when passing on the left, they wait till a car is almost head on to get over. Zack almost got ran over more than once. The new rule is he holds our hands, which makes him mad.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBs7hsJnyV13JRPAQjEYRLOJROjFy-61WqaEER3s3FpesjcBqyix2UVzD61I2UvcYsUpCNfTvZM9OMlVkcEeVLO0xfurEed2d66lBfEkY5yDGdYBv4ENDlXgumpD3sqMjnSnUQ9Lsd4g/s1600/traffic2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBBs7hsJnyV13JRPAQjEYRLOJROjFy-61WqaEER3s3FpesjcBqyix2UVzD61I2UvcYsUpCNfTvZM9OMlVkcEeVLO0xfurEed2d66lBfEkY5yDGdYBv4ENDlXgumpD3sqMjnSnUQ9Lsd4g/s320/traffic2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was hard to capture the true chaos of the traffic but here you can see a typical 3 lane road and note that there are 4-5 cars across and no one is lined up. Just squeeze in where you can. And honk.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-It is filthy here and when it rains, it doesn’t make it feel cleaner, it gets all mucky and muddy and greasy and slippery. Then you fall down and get really dirty. Yes, I fell down and everyone saw up my skirt at the Summer Palace. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-86b0Ge-ZuRgAVNJ1Bd-mf2JBfSEWSpe73lSUURTTNzuZpsgzT0LQzwQ8WhcS6GSWN1aHL8pz1NUiQPU7RuN_OXIox2-ZJ_g1DRZ7HdIbjQbD7sZ7CgkNb_RBOQlz9Ulyj9QRDAKwRPo/s1600/wash+road.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-86b0Ge-ZuRgAVNJ1Bd-mf2JBfSEWSpe73lSUURTTNzuZpsgzT0LQzwQ8WhcS6GSWN1aHL8pz1NUiQPU7RuN_OXIox2-ZJ_g1DRZ7HdIbjQbD7sZ7CgkNb_RBOQlz9Ulyj9QRDAKwRPo/s320/wash+road.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We always laugh when we see people "cleaning" the streets and side walks because it really does not seem to help at all. Water is squirted onto the pavement and then brushes are used to swish the water down the drains.</td></tr>
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-There is mostly only squatters to go potty in and they are often very dirty. You usually need to use your own TP. I try not to go very often.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJYhFGGJyqHfhyphenhyphenY6QfuEkRExJd-hw5rmjQ7iSHJDLqkMbCHM0NsKgVfkPGVhcBf2h6po6-Kkh0Iq4MKU_fYXKnko4WdHN2FUQoBq5mEw7Emo-GIp63m41cNzJenqL4lTorn6JzvaZuyY/s1600/squatter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJYhFGGJyqHfhyphenhyphenY6QfuEkRExJd-hw5rmjQ7iSHJDLqkMbCHM0NsKgVfkPGVhcBf2h6po6-Kkh0Iq4MKU_fYXKnko4WdHN2FUQoBq5mEw7Emo-GIp63m41cNzJenqL4lTorn6JzvaZuyY/s320/squatter.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This squatter is really clean!</td></tr>
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-If they see us coming (tourists), they automatically up their prices 100%.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EyadgGO219AzpNiNkQUHyj2kxerVRWPRmi-MBE0ZURN4vUWz-TPmLxi0HKalMbOjl9lL4hlIxmbNUXDewI54pqjIroEYdhmo-RUn_EgJQ_7Ga9jZM6E767HOvVvE1Jh5exWYUzxVbWs/s1600/toys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3EyadgGO219AzpNiNkQUHyj2kxerVRWPRmi-MBE0ZURN4vUWz-TPmLxi0HKalMbOjl9lL4hlIxmbNUXDewI54pqjIroEYdhmo-RUn_EgJQ_7Ga9jZM6E767HOvVvE1Jh5exWYUzxVbWs/s320/toys.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A booth at the park selling toys. Zack wanted everything so we had to set limits. He takes after his mom.</td></tr>
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-You can’t drink the water or eat anything that’s not cooked. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-They stare at people with white hair, hard staring and pointing. Zack is not OK with this.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-There are packs of dogs roaming around, chasing each other.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-There are no tampons in China. But they do have an endless array of every kind of pad you could ever want or imagine.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-They ask to take pictures with you like you are a celebrity. At one point we just had to drag Zack away because a line was forming and we would have been there all day.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeaaPRZPUjvyL8JicVJfQHZa1-RzFSqXmYUbcFMdKyzBx9VYakFzkO0_XjA3t5buhmlIcZrjeRHiB5cQmlR1G7ViZ-pYacZK_jfK5B4oNrmCIjbeXjh-y8lejKcQS03A1VEYqVe7CU_s/s1600/picture+taking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSeaaPRZPUjvyL8JicVJfQHZa1-RzFSqXmYUbcFMdKyzBx9VYakFzkO0_XjA3t5buhmlIcZrjeRHiB5cQmlR1G7ViZ-pYacZK_jfK5B4oNrmCIjbeXjh-y8lejKcQS03A1VEYqVe7CU_s/s320/picture+taking.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Daisy joined us, people were really interested in her and they would try to talk to us about her but since we don't speak Chinese we all just ended up smiling and nodding. We never had any negative responses from anyone. Everyone seemed really pleased that she was with us.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2TogXdXTrYSDVlJaDC5t-uPYas-iOcljFm2mbNFwwCMnjzCT5HyueG6xI-gewP7Xm5PI-_uLnP_2LenkY3ZhylonU41F0O-aj1vPdaROy1xoXiBEhgxIFuu-y31cfsE1pKQwAQ5ymBk/s1600/picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk2TogXdXTrYSDVlJaDC5t-uPYas-iOcljFm2mbNFwwCMnjzCT5HyueG6xI-gewP7Xm5PI-_uLnP_2LenkY3ZhylonU41F0O-aj1vPdaROy1xoXiBEhgxIFuu-y31cfsE1pKQwAQ5ymBk/s320/picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The shoe store owners wanted Zack's picture with their little one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM6aNHSXFTJ7MyqwmTkG18f733Ha3q1Pp1VcfUfNmuEan0jHifLqmbP5QlpBLnbfZuYU9Y0jZhyphenhyphenBAeBsR9tmTFXAkzmaaofUrgZPnff44zL_rL4sbZhnfktYEbwdaMTx65Cs06FqirWU/s1600/picture2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM6aNHSXFTJ7MyqwmTkG18f733Ha3q1Pp1VcfUfNmuEan0jHifLqmbP5QlpBLnbfZuYU9Y0jZhyphenhyphenBAeBsR9tmTFXAkzmaaofUrgZPnff44zL_rL4sbZhnfktYEbwdaMTx65Cs06FqirWU/s320/picture2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Forbidden City, this is where the line started forming. They each wanted an individual picture with Zack, not a group photo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IQFOBSNj1ll6zHArS04wIwvc8Bdo6GcD9uoyT-lhyOfZQVh3VZWsbuPxYnUvsI0Qnz2H3Ljgom9KihpvvIZqsImpWUFMjp2AL1CK7vaY2XOftfbHSps5G1XTXQzFIMg9JKgD8HW1TSk/s1600/picture3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IQFOBSNj1ll6zHArS04wIwvc8Bdo6GcD9uoyT-lhyOfZQVh3VZWsbuPxYnUvsI0Qnz2H3Ljgom9KihpvvIZqsImpWUFMjp2AL1CK7vaY2XOftfbHSps5G1XTXQzFIMg9JKgD8HW1TSk/s320/picture3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What a good sport!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiokJ9Zg0RiNDAvyEeKbqOLKHnGaXkCKyJS2dY60JSj0Fh8bquBaA20JXclA3i40v-IdW1MJfj_9HkOFfU9iuFwohuOK6NjczIFsmCgEVZBKIsAsTqFhARIJqBzNC85KsGMqwOXYlQsA/s1600/picture+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiokJ9Zg0RiNDAvyEeKbqOLKHnGaXkCKyJS2dY60JSj0Fh8bquBaA20JXclA3i40v-IdW1MJfj_9HkOFfU9iuFwohuOK6NjczIFsmCgEVZBKIsAsTqFhARIJqBzNC85KsGMqwOXYlQsA/s320/picture+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This little girl was not too happy about standing next to Zack for a photo op.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">-They hack stuff up and then spit it out on the ground, even women.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-The babies don’t wear diapers. They have a large hole in their pants and the parent just holds them up over the sidewalk and they go. Everywhere we go we see baby bums; and puddles on the ground.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-If you are a blond American tourist and you start to cry in public, everyone stares.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-You might be walking down a very busy city street, and suddenly there is a string between two poles and someone has hung their laundry up to dry in the middle of the sidewalk. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1cK0IfgEVQod5IUi_yVGMaez1QRkaye29Vucb10B_jP_P1z6R9SbtOsO1TGo9_2o3XEQISIAzycdJX67vTLIuUsLalBkq8EL222eMsCRksSrJwOwRGhIJEZwFudxriZhjoSA5aJS8VI/s1600/laundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy1cK0IfgEVQod5IUi_yVGMaez1QRkaye29Vucb10B_jP_P1z6R9SbtOsO1TGo9_2o3XEQISIAzycdJX67vTLIuUsLalBkq8EL222eMsCRksSrJwOwRGhIJEZwFudxriZhjoSA5aJS8VI/s320/laundry.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were no places of residence anywhere near this laundry line, that I could tell.</td></tr>
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</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-While walking down the street you are accosted with smells of urine, sewage, fish and other unknown atrocities.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-There is no fashion here, feel free to wear what you want, don’t worry if It doesn’t match.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDH4thzv_Rxj6ZEBhLax869bS7JlcoO0Qn9OsyCi2ArIqKoYkCuphAw_kcH5ufXmhI9uCmM01ChH_jfbzgmcFB_8S49tLURsQXot-eGkGtTxBHohDDqcG0Z56FvZu8ayUocC0HPKqkHk/s1600/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDH4thzv_Rxj6ZEBhLax869bS7JlcoO0Qn9OsyCi2ArIqKoYkCuphAw_kcH5ufXmhI9uCmM01ChH_jfbzgmcFB_8S49tLURsQXot-eGkGtTxBHohDDqcG0Z56FvZu8ayUocC0HPKqkHk/s320/hat.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love these visors everyone was wearing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-The subway is easy to use (Tokyo was so big and complicated!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Despite the heat and humidity, everyone wears nylons, even if they are just ankle high.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Condoms sold in every variety and everywhere you go (remember the one child policy?)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Warm soda is the norm. When we get a cold one I am so happy!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-They don’t give you a bag at a store unless you pay for it and then it is usually a nice cloth bag. Only Walmart had plastic bags and you have to pay for those too. I have thought for a long time that stores should do this so everyone would stop using so many plastic bags. Who knew that China would be so ‘green’!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">- We have not seen any instances of road rage, even though they are so aggressive when they drive.</span><br />
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-There are lots of garbage cans on the streets but everyone just throws their trash on the ground (opposite of Tokyo – no cans anywhere and no trash to be seen either). Sometimes the garbage cans talk when you put stuff in. The ‘garbage people’ people come and remove trash from the cans with these tongs and take it away in plastic bags, this is for garbage’s everywhere: airport, street, restaurants, etc. They don’t use can liners.</div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk_P08s5SMAgH38H0r0FdzIFLho6QFuCb1U3KpHHkrT18rkLDePY5THWBnRIBT5goC2BRNjNX9ASZYo71nAe6fNHYEjmBv8TBX50HHV5sPbvnTzz1AZTIWwGby92lpeimTA06l5ONR0Y/s1600/tongs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAk_P08s5SMAgH38H0r0FdzIFLho6QFuCb1U3KpHHkrT18rkLDePY5THWBnRIBT5goC2BRNjNX9ASZYo71nAe6fNHYEjmBv8TBX50HHV5sPbvnTzz1AZTIWwGby92lpeimTA06l5ONR0Y/s320/tongs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was a nice bathroom so it had a liner!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Customer service leaves much to be desired.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-Stores/shops have tons of employees and most of them are sitting around.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhxZSohmGySq4-qO_ASnQzDV3xsebQygYqYqf2h2mD1S3A3JuNq-nSssar-eTFbj7BpN9jbMclauDBWfBY0sMoZ6IIzbVRXH8AvdzFZj_LEo8520f0j4HUwJBoRiwa176isJGIH990LM/s1600/workers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXhxZSohmGySq4-qO_ASnQzDV3xsebQygYqYqf2h2mD1S3A3JuNq-nSssar-eTFbj7BpN9jbMclauDBWfBY0sMoZ6IIzbVRXH8AvdzFZj_LEo8520f0j4HUwJBoRiwa176isJGIH990LM/s320/workers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We ate at this restaurant one day for lunch. Behind Steve are a few of the employees with nothing to do but chill on the patio.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKUXdF8ei29MtsDHdmUev3GymGdyevXHsLSiyHdAF4__cVoRxzFeJLJ9Q063BYNeYDNbZzvlPkW_hyphenhyphencPGkWKsAgBn4y4GgiudFOmBQUMBY6IEGd3ter5hEkXmRNXqJlt3c5zfKVGffL0/s1600/workers2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJKUXdF8ei29MtsDHdmUev3GymGdyevXHsLSiyHdAF4__cVoRxzFeJLJ9Q063BYNeYDNbZzvlPkW_hyphenhyphencPGkWKsAgBn4y4GgiudFOmBQUMBY6IEGd3ter5hEkXmRNXqJlt3c5zfKVGffL0/s320/workers2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another lunch restaurant we ate at. After our food came, we noticed all these guys outside the window smoking and playing cards. The rest of the employees were inside standing 4 feet from us in a group and staring. (WHY did I not take a picture?!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-The concept of ‘personal space’ does not seem to exist.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-People walk around like they drive, pushing and shoving and getting way too close.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-There are no napkins at restaurants; they give you a tissue if you’re lucky and sometimes you have to pay for a tissue. Also no soap or paper towels in bathrooms. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">-We keep wondering what they do with the chicken breasts, all they serve is dark meat? (One of our guides told us that the people actually WANT the dark meat and pay more for it to have bones in it too! (Personal preference I guess.) So apparently all the poor people are getting the delicious white boneless breasts! Ha!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUuOQwp9oc-QEaqIscldeozcYkXYaZScsV8cKxsu5m8lvtSFH7TDTHga-h8eVA3dqZELt1PRWsUyotKNyaGSf5QOKTfwSTM2rIZYv1MRNDFYtzC1ag4LPqmLwcfpx1964FGrsmGux0a4/s1600/chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUuOQwp9oc-QEaqIscldeozcYkXYaZScsV8cKxsu5m8lvtSFH7TDTHga-h8eVA3dqZELt1PRWsUyotKNyaGSf5QOKTfwSTM2rIZYv1MRNDFYtzC1ag4LPqmLwcfpx1964FGrsmGux0a4/s320/chicken.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A delicious whole chicken with the head still attached. Yum.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
-If you are on the subway, holding a baby, many of the men will get up and give you their seat.<br />
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Here are some pictures of other things you might only see in China.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7dSC9fjdjTCeFNWdyjvomwiNRFDcE9ipPBSdvNA1RIb_XZf8KjivhHUWi4leFC6paAaQbIITwm0sPEYgK6AlSXouwE4wLBrvPlRAwPcSjTdvxN5C-GzjK6h7g_GZUuXSne5uEo1kRsQ/s1600/big+leeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7dSC9fjdjTCeFNWdyjvomwiNRFDcE9ipPBSdvNA1RIb_XZf8KjivhHUWi4leFC6paAaQbIITwm0sPEYgK6AlSXouwE4wLBrvPlRAwPcSjTdvxN5C-GzjK6h7g_GZUuXSne5uEo1kRsQ/s320/big+leeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What's for dinner mom? Giant leeks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5nH7RULrMpxHNxl8UkyXBoehYJVKcBzY-M0yjAtX1T_IEAOXos4RWgNwsanGy0QQ3P5p9jj4hfZqoXpn2BYpcK2SsZMxD_i0xFd8yHasxe18lTmKUMPDZSgzXmmBsLnwO_3J0oAsuM4/s1600/cap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5nH7RULrMpxHNxl8UkyXBoehYJVKcBzY-M0yjAtX1T_IEAOXos4RWgNwsanGy0QQ3P5p9jj4hfZqoXpn2BYpcK2SsZMxD_i0xFd8yHasxe18lTmKUMPDZSgzXmmBsLnwO_3J0oAsuM4/s320/cap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All pools require swim caps. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWYf4k7FzIUQyPgFzq7pE1txRZntadzu06m569PcOvO1d8ErKarKGW-jj0mjxMKRR6NAkdpd-TXmAHCXxjh84WHStAao4v4i-OeCfV_AlJY00vxP785gtfVVDbRvG5jTW0tmgDtoLlDQ/s1600/cap2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDWYf4k7FzIUQyPgFzq7pE1txRZntadzu06m569PcOvO1d8ErKarKGW-jj0mjxMKRR6NAkdpd-TXmAHCXxjh84WHStAao4v4i-OeCfV_AlJY00vxP785gtfVVDbRvG5jTW0tmgDtoLlDQ/s320/cap2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We forgot to pack our swim caps so we had to buy some at the pool.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJAwUWa_xvhHw0-BBVassF1IduqWfS3pzKPOaQcxF54rKVLycIMXA8ad6A-rMNbBB5hv6mIohzh8z2y_olKb3_dXKxZrnifYKBjFEm3ueJSsiOueudgjWv8b7eB7SkQBr8Fo5h_4hHh8/s1600/cap3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJAwUWa_xvhHw0-BBVassF1IduqWfS3pzKPOaQcxF54rKVLycIMXA8ad6A-rMNbBB5hv6mIohzh8z2y_olKb3_dXKxZrnifYKBjFEm3ueJSsiOueudgjWv8b7eB7SkQBr8Fo5h_4hHh8/s320/cap3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve chose a crazy one. Because he's crazy like that.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-5jA_sVJxQ-0t9_mUUXMlwtrPTAUcgmOI-XUlRAyjIAimfT10BYH4MLtP02K57fR2tCq7I6tFh5h0pnSyT82w70wehCJTFJCKniL7oMHe9C77wYL3DEPe1K00GAF0FuaR_ABNc5Q-Pw/s1600/city.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy-5jA_sVJxQ-0t9_mUUXMlwtrPTAUcgmOI-XUlRAyjIAimfT10BYH4MLtP02K57fR2tCq7I6tFh5h0pnSyT82w70wehCJTFJCKniL7oMHe9C77wYL3DEPe1K00GAF0FuaR_ABNc5Q-Pw/s320/city.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kunming. Even small cities are big.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDN7guBys46oTWTk1KhE5aKNoHuDL5hgDSyil0SYU4ced3dktolF3GNXQoZRzkgl_qus_LhysSxWC9Ny5qj9YQkQ3rCyYgX0tv4y_rW2kXR_EM4NBO0L0nsgem6q0jturhkQXfNWBIec/s1600/flowers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKDN7guBys46oTWTk1KhE5aKNoHuDL5hgDSyil0SYU4ced3dktolF3GNXQoZRzkgl_qus_LhysSxWC9Ny5qj9YQkQ3rCyYgX0tv4y_rW2kXR_EM4NBO0L0nsgem6q0jturhkQXfNWBIec/s320/flowers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of pretty flowers on the side of the highways in Kunming.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-_elkT3LjeZ9-5I0WNFzdavmrO77W9FcVX3VdFc81HVxnIESQv7HzoUJyD5wqM_MpafnO7q34mF3KEv8dj_HxQc7Y-yK96MXrCe8qqFUrJKffEa3-9Kogn3Lm3H5kYUlbESzk5YFVLg/s1600/trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-_elkT3LjeZ9-5I0WNFzdavmrO77W9FcVX3VdFc81HVxnIESQv7HzoUJyD5wqM_MpafnO7q34mF3KEv8dj_HxQc7Y-yK96MXrCe8qqFUrJKffEa3-9Kogn3Lm3H5kYUlbESzk5YFVLg/s320/trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cool palm trees in Kunming.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-bdyYgefCoUd4jFQZ14q8rPXVRbLq16179mRj66M7lI4E-29X3XfobkPROs1A0mimt81wz5TSnd5z41u10z4-jRspCDUYAGK3-BPlC98i3f_TjNScuG23f-miLXAC1euso8_kHTQSkg/s1600/herbs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq-bdyYgefCoUd4jFQZ14q8rPXVRbLq16179mRj66M7lI4E-29X3XfobkPROs1A0mimt81wz5TSnd5z41u10z4-jRspCDUYAGK3-BPlC98i3f_TjNScuG23f-miLXAC1euso8_kHTQSkg/s320/herbs.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A street by our hotel in Guangzhou had nothing but herbs. All the shops looked like they had the same stuff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk8qXe-IOQlfr2CYLkTsbyCb_mxOWsdu4miLPfKIJQDc5HZI3QxQ4ls2dLvoHIg2IIp8d7kCpTL7EPYQPIdPhhoxuH8S-hoJGNcUF43NcxWvl-2JFv9v3cKZiZpCl3n4ou1A_bXTQUbk/s1600/herbs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLk8qXe-IOQlfr2CYLkTsbyCb_mxOWsdu4miLPfKIJQDc5HZI3QxQ4ls2dLvoHIg2IIp8d7kCpTL7EPYQPIdPhhoxuH8S-hoJGNcUF43NcxWvl-2JFv9v3cKZiZpCl3n4ou1A_bXTQUbk/s320/herbs2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More herb shops.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH7KKGI2a8r_wRoJGhK31HW42kWy0vU_-EaS3PK7XU4_5aVCrmEZhBOR7XRT8cY4bW1sLNIPkvsBOPft9aHceiJfGpTnwHj7vYlHympeDF19TFyM-Nhih6F5BlsbOJdK26UfuPD9gRXs/s1600/hydrant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIH7KKGI2a8r_wRoJGhK31HW42kWy0vU_-EaS3PK7XU4_5aVCrmEZhBOR7XRT8cY4bW1sLNIPkvsBOPft9aHceiJfGpTnwHj7vYlHympeDF19TFyM-Nhih6F5BlsbOJdK26UfuPD9gRXs/s320/hydrant.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I hope they don't need to use that hydrant. (Kunming)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aET_b-lOEepMLFRkr08BQ6DuEhj6RNplV7gvnk5pYhHZz_JF3P-V36IBie-JdjyTWoQFe2FgofTHlC3lDdg2bgg-3jcoHX6BpY8ePApzAzuKzA_9IHpc3RuRjbDQO1w1vM2uh7xLpas/s1600/kids+play.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6aET_b-lOEepMLFRkr08BQ6DuEhj6RNplV7gvnk5pYhHZz_JF3P-V36IBie-JdjyTWoQFe2FgofTHlC3lDdg2bgg-3jcoHX6BpY8ePApzAzuKzA_9IHpc3RuRjbDQO1w1vM2uh7xLpas/s320/kids+play.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I thought these kids were cute, playing with some bricks that were lying around the Hutong.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsTs5eu5S8gDpANtzZECfL9ge43ue-mYTTqk8iS16rMD6XnT_nGUcDyzT4fATKoSlkWcEO1qUMRtNyj0_NMPgzz6DQISmmo_QUPosDbaf3XghaSDfnDTJfUqocfndw8D8YLwYcWvyJQ8/s1600/raw+chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGsTs5eu5S8gDpANtzZECfL9ge43ue-mYTTqk8iS16rMD6XnT_nGUcDyzT4fATKoSlkWcEO1qUMRtNyj0_NMPgzz6DQISmmo_QUPosDbaf3XghaSDfnDTJfUqocfndw8D8YLwYcWvyJQ8/s320/raw+chicken.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some raw chicken lying out in the open, ready to be sold.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68APaZZi2soFdMsiZ3PoGgjcAk1RUFQi6uGmnXuwOclTWJ2c9IYghYHoUwX_31ypE5Hv1IUnsLl6wbd3RECD5mBOU4fDUwqgNrg57RxBNVcY3Qk2t2nmu7Z4KIdn7q9XeXdSQR5_fS_0/s1600/rubble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg68APaZZi2soFdMsiZ3PoGgjcAk1RUFQi6uGmnXuwOclTWJ2c9IYghYHoUwX_31ypE5Hv1IUnsLl6wbd3RECD5mBOU4fDUwqgNrg57RxBNVcY3Qk2t2nmu7Z4KIdn7q9XeXdSQR5_fS_0/s320/rubble.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many piles of rubble in the Hutong.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhvBR-cmsLoK0dJ5M7pbD2-D0mw_r70H2VIZ7E4bED4zeSuqQnmThiTq62z0ZgEQ6SsCQbnQkYgl1Y7anuUDTxyPw3R2FxLtAfHjvs8_7_aGhcd1NfWyOwReu-EkUXZSJRnkjxRm62lc/s1600/scooter+sidewalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhvBR-cmsLoK0dJ5M7pbD2-D0mw_r70H2VIZ7E4bED4zeSuqQnmThiTq62z0ZgEQ6SsCQbnQkYgl1Y7anuUDTxyPw3R2FxLtAfHjvs8_7_aGhcd1NfWyOwReu-EkUXZSJRnkjxRm62lc/s320/scooter+sidewalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yes, this is a guy riding a motorcycle on the sidewalk. Everyone does it. Hold on to your kids pedestrians!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes2sTuMCTAf_Sdz_bu6wHXw71_HyNPEo5JFdJsQO2LwDnI4huQycbKTD7Fww0nGxSkyI1cfM0Q8BXPEltbwYMPNgYVBv40VQpdIy32iudJgcG5UV1dPji4be3VH6_EHqW0auJNwt1BAo/s1600/scooters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhes2sTuMCTAf_Sdz_bu6wHXw71_HyNPEo5JFdJsQO2LwDnI4huQycbKTD7Fww0nGxSkyI1cfM0Q8BXPEltbwYMPNgYVBv40VQpdIy32iudJgcG5UV1dPji4be3VH6_EHqW0auJNwt1BAo/s320/scooters.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A small bike lot. They are mostly all electric so very quiet. It's hard to hear them coming up behind you on the sidewalk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipyHVCRZUB4IgD-jSROjyNsxSntuljUez_fjgXNPDoHH94PZC6XE_6LcU2cAwzjda_gG7J7VQYI9awJoVmB93Oo6auiJEnElHnh4fdKUTZUv6NAKS5RYz2PjHjF-xWqX4oxaUGxfqFv4/s1600/sculp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjipyHVCRZUB4IgD-jSROjyNsxSntuljUez_fjgXNPDoHH94PZC6XE_6LcU2cAwzjda_gG7J7VQYI9awJoVmB93Oo6auiJEnElHnh4fdKUTZUv6NAKS5RYz2PjHjF-xWqX4oxaUGxfqFv4/s320/sculp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kunming had a bunch of cool sculptures all along the highway coming from the Minority Village.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tJN0N4X86NAc-_qY7zFlPDdKErrpZuucnvfMCBco1Ho-Sbj_H134HqWZ44IsQwfJMvSAShygCPnT5DzcQgTywOETw6EBToICYTebEfh6f3IvseFX3aSA7DOjh5DdYC4mTXkbd7z8Ocg/s1600/sculp2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tJN0N4X86NAc-_qY7zFlPDdKErrpZuucnvfMCBco1Ho-Sbj_H134HqWZ44IsQwfJMvSAShygCPnT5DzcQgTywOETw6EBToICYTebEfh6f3IvseFX3aSA7DOjh5DdYC4mTXkbd7z8Ocg/s320/sculp2.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7wlwU2DgqZYO7JItqNuG1faIIiLeSL2b60_bRY2DR8_NnaH13ourtdiBrKfWKTBAjY-saoH2ipZtiwTE95HOCnARnIkKY2sHRWG92DJVvSuxBDoaomed_QR0oiPoATs9Fy_4DaErIz8/s1600/sculp3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD7wlwU2DgqZYO7JItqNuG1faIIiLeSL2b60_bRY2DR8_NnaH13ourtdiBrKfWKTBAjY-saoH2ipZtiwTE95HOCnARnIkKY2sHRWG92DJVvSuxBDoaomed_QR0oiPoATs9Fy_4DaErIz8/s320/sculp3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t_vdb0au8TedxiQk6c70gPS5PpLpK40PpHwRTAnbH07ghyjxcAxN2lezMpp5AXBtBMmPMpec1DWAdNaB1cQaamF1XCQQexmJaj2P4xvCUMNv2gd78ONChDmBqLQtKO7TdFBqbD8a9mQ/s1600/smoke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1t_vdb0au8TedxiQk6c70gPS5PpLpK40PpHwRTAnbH07ghyjxcAxN2lezMpp5AXBtBMmPMpec1DWAdNaB1cQaamF1XCQQexmJaj2P4xvCUMNv2gd78ONChDmBqLQtKO7TdFBqbD8a9mQ/s320/smoke.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most everyone smokes and they do it indoors. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ29LTV8YX7lXs4m8WmGB3HZGyFh1x0iKUdy44PlAciqP6zywqYWEbAP5pY63fmvJ2A2aPdPuayuLIZ9aI55b8aY4G7koEre37mRZR1xLigc7GGLuyWI7tg1JY6uBlUlpKx-zFyqO7ON4/s1600/super+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ29LTV8YX7lXs4m8WmGB3HZGyFh1x0iKUdy44PlAciqP6zywqYWEbAP5pY63fmvJ2A2aPdPuayuLIZ9aI55b8aY4G7koEre37mRZR1xLigc7GGLuyWI7tg1JY6uBlUlpKx-zFyqO7ON4/s320/super+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super 8 in the Hutong.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcmzcQyggKHkex62pPDLKwbaNtANH3sQ3Dl4tZAvdCimNvLgedUwPLYPd1B3AqldxJN4uqZftlr0tfdZawQLOt_1dIqqOI_h0RBRbWiF_kUg2vijSTpBDkdSEB7HwJgOommgqFymYbfQ/s1600/taxi+squish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcmzcQyggKHkex62pPDLKwbaNtANH3sQ3Dl4tZAvdCimNvLgedUwPLYPd1B3AqldxJN4uqZftlr0tfdZawQLOt_1dIqqOI_h0RBRbWiF_kUg2vijSTpBDkdSEB7HwJgOommgqFymYbfQ/s320/taxi+squish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Have you ever seen 5 people in the back seat of a small taxi? Where are the seat belts and car seats you ask? Pfft. This is China.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOv3ZGvfz6Gs-ERN8ljwHq9T9dXnDt12Tewjt-JzynwbuparUY5OeQzDUlmwqMGKn5nstw8fiGH4jPZVEDXJJKXDzucr1dmtLoon_IzBxynAYk1Fa3LkwqiKP40ll9lHZNEwzqn81Sq8/s1600/traffic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoOv3ZGvfz6Gs-ERN8ljwHq9T9dXnDt12Tewjt-JzynwbuparUY5OeQzDUlmwqMGKn5nstw8fiGH4jPZVEDXJJKXDzucr1dmtLoon_IzBxynAYk1Fa3LkwqiKP40ll9lHZNEwzqn81Sq8/s320/traffic.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A crosswalk in Kunming.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvGW_-ezGsH8BWq8J4nsirkjtp9CXjblaGlAWYb3aO1IZADWt8YPouQNX51x5JvbcNK7onpCzLXJxlWOApvbILZKuQYR1cUeN2_CBR1acbHh9oehvStYmVlII_qYuYSGT2EcnUWvlhuo/s1600/tummy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvGW_-ezGsH8BWq8J4nsirkjtp9CXjblaGlAWYb3aO1IZADWt8YPouQNX51x5JvbcNK7onpCzLXJxlWOApvbILZKuQYR1cUeN2_CBR1acbHh9oehvStYmVlII_qYuYSGT2EcnUWvlhuo/s320/tummy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So, if it's 90 degrees and 100% humidity, you should roll up your shirt so your pot belly can cool off. All the men do it.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YGazss7SEAqlz5mZ0lSjVHdWOaQiPJ9rC0bEE_Y016WDYjazXUBGlWu6qM941hWBkrM2Bse1PI6SgI96fRd1zAViGZBtQPL59uCiZJvGiQl6EkHecptI7H7gyBnV2A8TpA3gITU9SwI/s1600/umbrella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6YGazss7SEAqlz5mZ0lSjVHdWOaQiPJ9rC0bEE_Y016WDYjazXUBGlWu6qM941hWBkrM2Bse1PI6SgI96fRd1zAViGZBtQPL59uCiZJvGiQl6EkHecptI7H7gyBnV2A8TpA3gITU9SwI/s320/umbrella.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know if they use sunscreen in China but they do NOT want a tan so the women carry umbrellas for rain or shine.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-55201311685085426712011-06-04T06:59:00.001-06:002011-06-04T06:59:18.766-06:00Rough DayI thought things were getting easier for a minute and then they just got 1000 times harder. Everything is great with the baby, except an itchy rash but we could use your fasting, prayers, good thoughts or positive energy on our (mostly my) behalf. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. Thanks for all the postive comments on the blog and facebook! Love you all and will see you soon,<BR> Deidra<BR> Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-19225790801880741792011-06-02T09:02:00.197-06:002011-12-05T18:04:35.526-07:00Surviving China<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>When I last wrote, we had been up all night with Daisy and were just starting a new day. It was a much better day than I had planned on. Somehow we all had enough energy.<br />
<br />
Paul met us in the lobby at 9:30 and we ran down the street to a bakery for some baked goods. We have decided against the breakfast buffet after our first experience. Then we caught a cab (one cab for 5 people plus the driver = Paul in front and the rest of us, 3 adults 2 children in back! Seat belt? Car seat? Never heard of them!) to the Minority Village. The Minority Village kind of reminds me of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Hawaii. In Yunnan province there are like 25 different Chinese minorities (bet you thought Chinese was the only race in China huh? Not so, Han Chinese is the majority race and then there are a bunch of minorities.) This tourist spot has a bunch of little "villages" for many of the different races. Like the Mongol village was made to look like Mongolia with Yurts you could go in and people dressed in traditional Mongolian clothing and shops with handiwork and food from there as well. We rented little golf cart thing so we wouldn't have to walk too much and we could see more in a shorter time. It was about $35 usd for 2 hours and came with a driver. We were able to see about 7 villages, some had performers dancing and singing and other entertainment. I was able to buy Daisy a really cute outfit for when she is bigger from the Bai village and a little purse too. Zack, Steve and Paul rode a fun zip line in the Tibet village (apparently the zip line was invented in Tibet. Who knew?) It was fun to try to guess which minority Daisy comes from as Paul was quite certain she is not Han. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8b8IPGAsfMYQyk3ykyJRHjMmUKm2GKdB_Kf1hZpCSa5E58_89ymt_LssVD6hHL8IKAKq7AXkPW43Td8vVvoAEDXcmndRyvirGyofVCf-hz5G9J5wrfZbbzLmh8s83Oe2TZTerhTzCrM/s1600/entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG8b8IPGAsfMYQyk3ykyJRHjMmUKm2GKdB_Kf1hZpCSa5E58_89ymt_LssVD6hHL8IKAKq7AXkPW43Td8vVvoAEDXcmndRyvirGyofVCf-hz5G9J5wrfZbbzLmh8s83Oe2TZTerhTzCrM/s320/entrance.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance gate</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMbY-QiqRu2XqTA1s7mTYSxlRv0_Iskej84KxbvWthxhp8iIl3HXFpFqjpJyxJj20Z3a8yW66zgrumNCPaoX8Z8XcA46dlmUE-qDn587muu_Jgq0OUCWPju5uNjzRitIcZXUlC5KGViE/s1600/entrance+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMbY-QiqRu2XqTA1s7mTYSxlRv0_Iskej84KxbvWthxhp8iIl3HXFpFqjpJyxJj20Z3a8yW66zgrumNCPaoX8Z8XcA46dlmUE-qDn587muu_Jgq0OUCWPju5uNjzRitIcZXUlC5KGViE/s320/entrance+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walked down this "street" of shops to get to the ticket booth and rent our golf cart.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxySKkOiUAyqyCBRBFiWqpR8TtT8u-Dm31OPAbK1vIkgp2-m3K8Cn6T9P5Fry5kR2qPyfyOjbHOh-4de4JRWcz4qA32el1722PvTYEw9vNMAGvuW35uxFCV7ycHLa7PMPa9jDsrdd5wg/s1600/entrance+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggxySKkOiUAyqyCBRBFiWqpR8TtT8u-Dm31OPAbK1vIkgp2-m3K8Cn6T9P5Fry5kR2qPyfyOjbHOh-4de4JRWcz4qA32el1722PvTYEw9vNMAGvuW35uxFCV7ycHLa7PMPa9jDsrdd5wg/s320/entrance+3.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoOo9ZMagkRLQ-NnwESlLfN3owyFWR1O9MydjgPqRuySnMsuVtKxWyqjAGpvc6xJlV4bGQnyoRKAvlmgsaLIGvdm-Pb5jA36Yi8M1x821OVJRyhyphenhyphenLqRCZYHK5W02G4SlGNDapRWAH-0E/s1600/shops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoOo9ZMagkRLQ-NnwESlLfN3owyFWR1O9MydjgPqRuySnMsuVtKxWyqjAGpvc6xJlV4bGQnyoRKAvlmgsaLIGvdm-Pb5jA36Yi8M1x821OVJRyhyphenhyphenLqRCZYHK5W02G4SlGNDapRWAH-0E/s320/shops.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71Rdz2glBRd70Kx5PL6yjUvbs925pkj9VNNqrRalvM3v5LYDUAWsHTcQhVlMt1ulX-E_yhnMHSFLOHGE1AbmBiV4Lar3kOQApG2L33eu54XFGceFHzT2lErOGUhsQPG3fkoCKl5qJqK0/s1600/golf+cart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71Rdz2glBRd70Kx5PL6yjUvbs925pkj9VNNqrRalvM3v5LYDUAWsHTcQhVlMt1ulX-E_yhnMHSFLOHGE1AbmBiV4Lar3kOQApG2L33eu54XFGceFHzT2lErOGUhsQPG3fkoCKl5qJqK0/s320/golf+cart.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was worth every penny, the minority village was huge!</td></tr>
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<div>Wa Village</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdm1msovK8R0jhSIIklL19oDGRzaSNv5EU_ddlMY30lK55ZmgcXFBUmhnsrFo8OuL-Gvup7gHtdHQRADSjc7YRmJu64ENtp48CFhsOwv7QfI1mlRCamfi0zlma3_ewJDzDACcqoGbzaE/s1600/wa+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdm1msovK8R0jhSIIklL19oDGRzaSNv5EU_ddlMY30lK55ZmgcXFBUmhnsrFo8OuL-Gvup7gHtdHQRADSjc7YRmJu64ENtp48CFhsOwv7QfI1mlRCamfi0zlma3_ewJDzDACcqoGbzaE/s320/wa+village.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIJBVd6p3T4QOUjMECmsim_tn76MrUVxTLxtQN0HtgAW6iaRop6T5Ik0riJbzXRD94pOP3vOO3ZBQbhXHKKaQ5qdEz6Z7n8-vPyVPSSZwXAvp4sXD99YUOzDed1cDrktdABBDXtbFurU/s1600/wa+admirer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDIJBVd6p3T4QOUjMECmsim_tn76MrUVxTLxtQN0HtgAW6iaRop6T5Ik0riJbzXRD94pOP3vOO3ZBQbhXHKKaQ5qdEz6Z7n8-vPyVPSSZwXAvp4sXD99YUOzDed1cDrktdABBDXtbFurU/s320/wa+admirer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A performer stops in the middle of the song (the others kept going) to come visit Daisy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgArjri3jITOS8f6TPmeMljMHnnfuU8tub6Mio1u37Kiz2ZYkGufJmufA-_gQoD9LpwWz375QmFVmuDFAEoCmRRpN5bDbD21aLrTHyhXZX9FnX6gMBwHI2Wmq9RUdTaxZgM-qsPFBZdyE/s1600/wa+dance+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgArjri3jITOS8f6TPmeMljMHnnfuU8tub6Mio1u37Kiz2ZYkGufJmufA-_gQoD9LpwWz375QmFVmuDFAEoCmRRpN5bDbD21aLrTHyhXZX9FnX6gMBwHI2Wmq9RUdTaxZgM-qsPFBZdyE/s320/wa+dance+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the only performance we saw all day, we got lucky!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03ooA3-Lz4H3qzRWBVLwmmB6Uh1A1IDIlZSyS19ogaEF46u578_52mcVQ7CPVNx6RtD08dApqHmjymunGaWLsk-VjKhk6IwUIoadd_mEtp7hK-ah4GSZiXsWdzzAZ6PuAu6OhDsbzikA/s1600/wa+dance+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03ooA3-Lz4H3qzRWBVLwmmB6Uh1A1IDIlZSyS19ogaEF46u578_52mcVQ7CPVNx6RtD08dApqHmjymunGaWLsk-VjKhk6IwUIoadd_mEtp7hK-ah4GSZiXsWdzzAZ6PuAu6OhDsbzikA/s320/wa+dance+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The people were really pretty!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheouf2Xb4sGD8DWpI6eEKkH06UGAxlOvGuUem8Qvhf_R8ZdhjY5t9VlJYhYgjA-Ze_FsRKPZ20entUgwnCzZv0iDKFza1mIRPIMymn4-TcD3iXY1nAKv7ryNApGRUj7obr5a_KRV_OAVM/s1600/wa+dance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheouf2Xb4sGD8DWpI6eEKkH06UGAxlOvGuUem8Qvhf_R8ZdhjY5t9VlJYhYgjA-Ze_FsRKPZ20entUgwnCzZv0iDKFza1mIRPIMymn4-TcD3iXY1nAKv7ryNApGRUj7obr5a_KRV_OAVM/s320/wa+dance.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RfMftR1sRjDivTYdg9FHoAhB44qTpiF6BPS2BpttjUv7LPMtR81YZiU5bAr8aZtmg2OO18O4QSKWj-1dA_LbQaYQLv4y_6ha1z3f4SsjvNTcAsFGTC57w4eMGnvBe3SGp6yux2rEsC8/s1600/wa+dancers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2RfMftR1sRjDivTYdg9FHoAhB44qTpiF6BPS2BpttjUv7LPMtR81YZiU5bAr8aZtmg2OO18O4QSKWj-1dA_LbQaYQLv4y_6ha1z3f4SsjvNTcAsFGTC57w4eMGnvBe3SGp6yux2rEsC8/s320/wa+dancers.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0MsqmcH5ygrctI_kYlURMIoXiIgHR9OMIJWhuH1eKBdiVBkFgdDnYf7chi_RFWn453MoQOpQMIG9RA5INSuaU-Sz83d5cIO1Weudlqvw3UKQkvQWSacCc75yjiF5lx5rtSYWi1DyZdU/s1600/wa+drum+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0MsqmcH5ygrctI_kYlURMIoXiIgHR9OMIJWhuH1eKBdiVBkFgdDnYf7chi_RFWn453MoQOpQMIG9RA5INSuaU-Sz83d5cIO1Weudlqvw3UKQkvQWSacCc75yjiF5lx5rtSYWi1DyZdU/s320/wa+drum+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We got to practice our drumming on this big piece of wood.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jyhr1L1hz9NzEJulhru7iHx9Y1tBqo0XjdgY9gmZxeOri0FRV9YFckCyQJ5EW72A_PIucOers_641S_IihNXRyCnzDilrkJBOTHx-BLQlt6gIKC1VONdA_2wh2yhgSsJmeCLRrE7w54/s1600/wa+drum.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4jyhr1L1hz9NzEJulhru7iHx9Y1tBqo0XjdgY9gmZxeOri0FRV9YFckCyQJ5EW72A_PIucOers_641S_IihNXRyCnzDilrkJBOTHx-BLQlt6gIKC1VONdA_2wh2yhgSsJmeCLRrE7w54/s320/wa+drum.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Mongol Village</div><div><br />
</div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5OmxMXfRjerBG539Lv9Ez9bGNk00UP4igSf-O38rKDvVkwYryd1Gf35Dzd7Y6FdwyFMdrv0cX1djvxa-R3CV6vrsNlDXpK_jtRH26HxO153nbi-n5U0t45N8d11NrUNkcWNMXXo3iho/s1600/weapons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM5OmxMXfRjerBG539Lv9Ez9bGNk00UP4igSf-O38rKDvVkwYryd1Gf35Dzd7Y6FdwyFMdrv0cX1djvxa-R3CV6vrsNlDXpK_jtRH26HxO153nbi-n5U0t45N8d11NrUNkcWNMXXo3iho/s320/weapons.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack loves weapons.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJz9Y_D-0TQMwvsJG6OC3TnYhb2gzsPd3HoxnubZo5WH6kR2kYesQKsLcF5-lIt-Bd33wBtL3-IXfDS9oCitZyDLIOYPeKdu0e5A3HwPJyjdMHMmK4IkOz7qW6M4MlneclDJLZi1RTgg/s1600/mongul+hut+outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTJz9Y_D-0TQMwvsJG6OC3TnYhb2gzsPd3HoxnubZo5WH6kR2kYesQKsLcF5-lIt-Bd33wBtL3-IXfDS9oCitZyDLIOYPeKdu0e5A3HwPJyjdMHMmK4IkOz7qW6M4MlneclDJLZi1RTgg/s320/mongul+hut+outside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of the Mongolian hut. It seems small.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODAkTRqBRzJUcOBMbziBB5Hv1hxa6yYVDPkL7cDID6YpEAyW3nMGtnvwFOFj7vOV6T9_Urhr41VEoNgf-yt_GyGt6yV0opgCKeb3S7gusF6dJlbII9OwHbb6u3Up30An_bSCIwvWoNaY/s1600/mongul+hut.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODAkTRqBRzJUcOBMbziBB5Hv1hxa6yYVDPkL7cDID6YpEAyW3nMGtnvwFOFj7vOV6T9_Urhr41VEoNgf-yt_GyGt6yV0opgCKeb3S7gusF6dJlbII9OwHbb6u3Up30An_bSCIwvWoNaY/s320/mongul+hut.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But the inside seems huge!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDxGdPjy4jvEU-fbk8r7eBd-9CFeqD2VrlpD5ay7tTo2CXnDRcGGy8tESrRAyDqKuxtQ1clQW6jcCir37Al5oClynjiMnXJkrrJB9BWR55f3Lwt-EDJ6aOGns5LLlGriyhTpnhWzWJM4/s1600/mongul+hut+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUDxGdPjy4jvEU-fbk8r7eBd-9CFeqD2VrlpD5ay7tTo2CXnDRcGGy8tESrRAyDqKuxtQ1clQW6jcCir37Al5oClynjiMnXJkrrJB9BWR55f3Lwt-EDJ6aOGns5LLlGriyhTpnhWzWJM4/s320/mongul+hut+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBmrndoK1XcsJoZNdQ5MZQ7BF5i-t5bVxdSG8cfrLzveFfP-8VaMXglDlrpzZSFrc734UVPKV7O8m95iICln7XUCbmHGd_HJDdhEiOpfiFN_zoTiYvbc0KFln02bg81FBL6cncv3qDPk/s1600/mongul+cart.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcBmrndoK1XcsJoZNdQ5MZQ7BF5i-t5bVxdSG8cfrLzveFfP-8VaMXglDlrpzZSFrc734UVPKV7O8m95iICln7XUCbmHGd_HJDdhEiOpfiFN_zoTiYvbc0KFln02bg81FBL6cncv3qDPk/s320/mongul+cart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMgiCXbEX2WRcDUAORtQrwqZ2tPv-geEMYWU_vx5oqCL4r0A_Z3E1LnYgzI68s8zmLUwHQYneGR2AYVP_JjlJ8JZ6yeqY8ISyTBdxo-KP8ueKONOUkzoPo4tlPUSonJsaep3zldea1Sk/s1600/mongul+villagers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXMgiCXbEX2WRcDUAORtQrwqZ2tPv-geEMYWU_vx5oqCL4r0A_Z3E1LnYgzI68s8zmLUwHQYneGR2AYVP_JjlJ8JZ6yeqY8ISyTBdxo-KP8ueKONOUkzoPo4tlPUSonJsaep3zldea1Sk/s320/mongul+villagers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Mongolian performers practicing their dance.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Naxi Village</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4MVplh1SK_-eYW3fawfURqTCqITLr8Q3gIVxEez560gqVBwAs0uiW52nVldTLWXIkF9vgvrUvt-uerWBgTCCPQs3M0rUCgF-UpyX1G-dI1OsDcOZZCxBchwHlrhGhOivOkjub5ADuLA/s1600/naxi+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4MVplh1SK_-eYW3fawfURqTCqITLr8Q3gIVxEez560gqVBwAs0uiW52nVldTLWXIkF9vgvrUvt-uerWBgTCCPQs3M0rUCgF-UpyX1G-dI1OsDcOZZCxBchwHlrhGhOivOkjub5ADuLA/s320/naxi+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xm8efdd5JCgWGLIJATIN5gc8nb8fnaCZu3CtEDPhUGNfd706y86hw5P7ghK_3beDdUqLy8c_l6d6dLDSdbL3kdLzwYtBZFYsmMch6CPHSMNERQ7P_htPn812c3cJ8m3O6YDcP1YL8AI/s1600/naxi+courtyard+entrance.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xm8efdd5JCgWGLIJATIN5gc8nb8fnaCZu3CtEDPhUGNfd706y86hw5P7ghK_3beDdUqLy8c_l6d6dLDSdbL3kdLzwYtBZFYsmMch6CPHSMNERQ7P_htPn812c3cJ8m3O6YDcP1YL8AI/s320/naxi+courtyard+entrance.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to the Naxi village home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6f5zQUIa08CWqqIbOB4RS_sxt-3TVz-TSIspUo7qfrvTwm0tTGMINtkh2HE4RoerHT2ZGwdKr0k5_L9xBS3UFo9aU86boJuo_VCnKdlp_GaE8VDx08-6rBHTsWW8bhyrA_iw6KB1MU0/s1600/naxi+courtyard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho6f5zQUIa08CWqqIbOB4RS_sxt-3TVz-TSIspUo7qfrvTwm0tTGMINtkh2HE4RoerHT2ZGwdKr0k5_L9xBS3UFo9aU86boJuo_VCnKdlp_GaE8VDx08-6rBHTsWW8bhyrA_iw6KB1MU0/s320/naxi+courtyard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The home had a large open square in the middle with rooms all around it.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAuaXnevX7WFb3x-z_sJ-luqW-pQL6LzgeFCZQhwey5UCyIT-RZyqhBjwLhh_SI8AqYbC7j_Ir4RbXFZV1cbYKI70phVdKJ8uN3oUq-ypOd1-3uXWF7zhUa0rZGUxEmcTO47H0iNPAck/s1600/naxi+rooms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAuaXnevX7WFb3x-z_sJ-luqW-pQL6LzgeFCZQhwey5UCyIT-RZyqhBjwLhh_SI8AqYbC7j_Ir4RbXFZV1cbYKI70phVdKJ8uN3oUq-ypOd1-3uXWF7zhUa0rZGUxEmcTO47H0iNPAck/s320/naxi+rooms.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyEflNaGKM76OpPvbARaSX1MOSzlAL_lPTolda14lZjt7rmGwr3aLP3cXJr0_qUcX1De6ZRAyJUGadu2Z126ebdme0t9jyVmBfeyYqG0d9xsZ_UpjM3WVWaP3FGfWdGoKeet9OCF-JIc/s1600/a+naxi+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifyEflNaGKM76OpPvbARaSX1MOSzlAL_lPTolda14lZjt7rmGwr3aLP3cXJr0_qUcX1De6ZRAyJUGadu2Z126ebdme0t9jyVmBfeyYqG0d9xsZ_UpjM3WVWaP3FGfWdGoKeet9OCF-JIc/s320/a+naxi+room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A bedroom in a Naxi home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApV_brjsH1jOQmnWd3l9V2JbOD7Nw0zlMz8ZD-Ym2-nBdz4RCnMGUaWjWC-xYnpbu03oSeecpsnA90WrHKlq_wDxxJpu2gUvS4RSzCuh15ILpvfa62j47tXp11YK9Wwtqq-JyF1czcqc/s1600/naxi+%253Fdresses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApV_brjsH1jOQmnWd3l9V2JbOD7Nw0zlMz8ZD-Ym2-nBdz4RCnMGUaWjWC-xYnpbu03oSeecpsnA90WrHKlq_wDxxJpu2gUvS4RSzCuh15ILpvfa62j47tXp11YK9Wwtqq-JyF1czcqc/s320/naxi+%253Fdresses.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Traditional Naxi clothing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Bai Village<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXEIOBdRTCQ4vZzUv21dHxl9Y1EBqxanj-IP-3is_qXUSSdNUx-t7w4LMWSIovr2IXOABBGLsSEsFaAGq0QccMtBWkrCoZ86d50MB8HbCU7uOG90kWgHVjOKElfx726DsPnPHzFV7ZTY/s1600/bai+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXEIOBdRTCQ4vZzUv21dHxl9Y1EBqxanj-IP-3is_qXUSSdNUx-t7w4LMWSIovr2IXOABBGLsSEsFaAGq0QccMtBWkrCoZ86d50MB8HbCU7uOG90kWgHVjOKElfx726DsPnPHzFV7ZTY/s320/bai+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGucbueyEEGeDONKlaZoUCZ7smFzJaiF5pUmutyOHBZUYzwT6r6-IeTjL-EhJOoAUxktXCQPyqOfhTEhgpBm0Ae5gtiy-2NB0Av6j3RY4N_0Sa8JBljZGPA1Jh6TtYLmDfxMjLWIcc68/s1600/Bai+villagers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGucbueyEEGeDONKlaZoUCZ7smFzJaiF5pUmutyOHBZUYzwT6r6-IeTjL-EhJOoAUxktXCQPyqOfhTEhgpBm0Ae5gtiy-2NB0Av6j3RY4N_0Sa8JBljZGPA1Jh6TtYLmDfxMjLWIcc68/s320/Bai+villagers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some Bai performers. The Bai people are beautiful!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbT00SnziWY1t-dxp0THXTS6k619riANunQkipaOdUimZLvSxZpbNvsIU1R3pX_7cdo7P5IpViqCz0uTp8UGcEZxXqDbdTLN9vtC_TVocfM9F1BuBDBLmb-2WkKBd94ueUVWkcqO-dKc/s1600/bai+musician.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTbT00SnziWY1t-dxp0THXTS6k619riANunQkipaOdUimZLvSxZpbNvsIU1R3pX_7cdo7P5IpViqCz0uTp8UGcEZxXqDbdTLN9vtC_TVocfM9F1BuBDBLmb-2WkKBd94ueUVWkcqO-dKc/s320/bai+musician.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We liked the sound of this instrument but I don't know what it was called.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHEKiUQCFS-0-G0cEtR7JTrU0rUKIOnUj-DWUb-ebQOI_qQaqGZhWXzwp_Q011q8nAvqamrfTWLqJNoRRIi2ODNHCpZPS-0eNc6yLM7-V0DRMifjV4BKiUaPdEKrkX3SzyltFjlUQ8Nw/s1600/butterfly+alph.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHEKiUQCFS-0-G0cEtR7JTrU0rUKIOnUj-DWUb-ebQOI_qQaqGZhWXzwp_Q011q8nAvqamrfTWLqJNoRRIi2ODNHCpZPS-0eNc6yLM7-V0DRMifjV4BKiUaPdEKrkX3SzyltFjlUQ8Nw/s320/butterfly+alph.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The was a butterfly preserve in this village but it must have been the wrong time of year because there weren't any butterfly's around. This alphabet poster was made of pictures of different close-ups of patterns in butterfly wings.</td></tr>
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Dai Village<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NnSozRbD-vjzgFuWa5XhA1aY-d-BbF24St0LcN520k7ROb13lk1CN9TNL7jp5szfxvsEnK1J8OJFXwWA20EORYimbwBMt63z_GJtU8CSW3MKyTsbXIReuoihfaDJmXiuSm-CWCEhBoc/s1600/white+building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NnSozRbD-vjzgFuWa5XhA1aY-d-BbF24St0LcN520k7ROb13lk1CN9TNL7jp5szfxvsEnK1J8OJFXwWA20EORYimbwBMt63z_GJtU8CSW3MKyTsbXIReuoihfaDJmXiuSm-CWCEhBoc/s320/white+building.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a replica of a real structure in a Dai city.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGGGLfb0ocPNAl2UzCUwzNwRmboqmQuWRaklgvfUc5I32Z5moIdaahUE9N4s_YdhJnh3oy2GdaXzLKsoYGsoRloBy8ufCFcEyWGOoW1C9sCGO4qrxd3F7eZ2Hjln4hQiLRUwGtYUX5Tw/s1600/dai+village.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeGGGLfb0ocPNAl2UzCUwzNwRmboqmQuWRaklgvfUc5I32Z5moIdaahUE9N4s_YdhJnh3oy2GdaXzLKsoYGsoRloBy8ufCFcEyWGOoW1C9sCGO4qrxd3F7eZ2Hjln4hQiLRUwGtYUX5Tw/s320/dai+village.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-yqvlM3ifhxTrY3B_rh4NE1CQw8qzaNgokrbLd07v0gM3ClHMq-vdLDPkDvZ-U4FHGDRIXo8sbuO7NyAJ4780aieEpXqoBkJtxaP4QnS9WEFaBYocOndhpe4eHNcdPTBaWf8vLxH8dE/s1600/dragon+boat+w2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-yqvlM3ifhxTrY3B_rh4NE1CQw8qzaNgokrbLd07v0gM3ClHMq-vdLDPkDvZ-U4FHGDRIXo8sbuO7NyAJ4780aieEpXqoBkJtxaP4QnS9WEFaBYocOndhpe4eHNcdPTBaWf8vLxH8dE/s320/dragon+boat+w2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy woke up in time to sit on the Dragon boat.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m3Cm-1-x6Q_zaAu2isxQKwyXewEHWsKyGaSC-byXStYTEjRK_yGiza2glrWEo5j_TYRKP-oAspAPRvpOMf0f6SI0y3Ft-b_HVdfWnzif-odE2311WnXhBxJFNPUcq_VmpoYtpPXpI6I/s1600/dragon+boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8m3Cm-1-x6Q_zaAu2isxQKwyXewEHWsKyGaSC-byXStYTEjRK_yGiza2glrWEo5j_TYRKP-oAspAPRvpOMf0f6SI0y3Ft-b_HVdfWnzif-odE2311WnXhBxJFNPUcq_VmpoYtpPXpI6I/s320/dragon+boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack had fun running around the minority village. We all did! It was a welcome change and a very touristy thing to do, which we love.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6xJoZXSa_KvipEqy2WyLT7HS2Q78IlIqQGXNm8LyynbvOIKxqJfTQxLlnKREoaEgOR8Py3a2arNKYBbXRGxZLe0tHlYR5A25jLtHj_giTGqNv6gytzQp6Em_yxH0i82ZWco-4XNM1EQ/s1600/pretty+girl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6xJoZXSa_KvipEqy2WyLT7HS2Q78IlIqQGXNm8LyynbvOIKxqJfTQxLlnKREoaEgOR8Py3a2arNKYBbXRGxZLe0tHlYR5A25jLtHj_giTGqNv6gytzQp6Em_yxH0i82ZWco-4XNM1EQ/s320/pretty+girl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve with a pretty Dai girl. She is holding a Hulusi gourd pipe. My brother Jeff was the recipient of such a pipe from my mom upon our return. We hope he learns to play it soon!</td></tr>
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Tibetan Village<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0G5izxwpVrmmo0FiqsqwCndD9u96n17vUytFrG2vYfh2C-Pca_7k-DOYB5QI2QTdgebuqDbZ-ZnzsMPR_stIEpLaL91tw8Nb3nQxS47zI9R6yKS4LitOtSdTgdnbDMW4ZgB04n2M0PQ/s1600/tibet+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0G5izxwpVrmmo0FiqsqwCndD9u96n17vUytFrG2vYfh2C-Pca_7k-DOYB5QI2QTdgebuqDbZ-ZnzsMPR_stIEpLaL91tw8Nb3nQxS47zI9R6yKS4LitOtSdTgdnbDMW4ZgB04n2M0PQ/s320/tibet+girls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tibetan Villagers</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHV8tNE585WnhlO7D6cBxDznHgw-bdL2z_1f9cvZXz-CQ5eXx4sY7cpPebW_iY9wB0AHv33SQIKbCLxlvSAjbR_1Cr9RcKAa1h4eT9GusgOZ231bducQ-PA-Uuf3Slx0d4B4tPLrAS5g/s1600/tibet+villagers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaHV8tNE585WnhlO7D6cBxDznHgw-bdL2z_1f9cvZXz-CQ5eXx4sY7cpPebW_iY9wB0AHv33SQIKbCLxlvSAjbR_1Cr9RcKAa1h4eT9GusgOZ231bducQ-PA-Uuf3Slx0d4B4tPLrAS5g/s320/tibet+villagers+2.jpg" width="224" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPr3AaFFEuUfozNIBHVf0A-X966PudFymeFvMaAuh51oKoKQz7ogRCCsvewS7RTsZDhHRjzlbWwCrYkpWOzwHJhUUcLhgDpm4AN8wUgzDntfDcPp75nEqp0qg_r4zqER-BT6GYm2A3CU/s1600/tibet+villagers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFPr3AaFFEuUfozNIBHVf0A-X966PudFymeFvMaAuh51oKoKQz7ogRCCsvewS7RTsZDhHRjzlbWwCrYkpWOzwHJhUUcLhgDpm4AN8wUgzDntfDcPp75nEqp0qg_r4zqER-BT6GYm2A3CU/s320/tibet+villagers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prayer flags. Note the hat on the villager, it's made of metal.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAMUeL4TmEKNtuBVtZeKzsmC2i2KuzpfCOriYQ7vFR_exOl5pV_itZl6FVbr5jMibT3AWljTvF09rhN93ql0EHWMs7RpzGANU4fMHVTxEDlOhslr2asmcV7faZuWVHzZU6vkAYxpNlcI/s1600/zip+line+fun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPAMUeL4TmEKNtuBVtZeKzsmC2i2KuzpfCOriYQ7vFR_exOl5pV_itZl6FVbr5jMibT3AWljTvF09rhN93ql0EHWMs7RpzGANU4fMHVTxEDlOhslr2asmcV7faZuWVHzZU6vkAYxpNlcI/s320/zip+line+fun.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to ride the zip-line.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MmTAFQgR5WT6Et6EEz4KGv5kU3ikz0QQwuvRbb8dZ39tGLt90taQxlL9wayaEFM6CuKDNYYQVqHieNUc5drpoeoYIYk2MNSVOM53UqQjl8QKgUxoOTliKgODbxdVxcJ0JnXuLiczuO8/s1600/steve+zip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5MmTAFQgR5WT6Et6EEz4KGv5kU3ikz0QQwuvRbb8dZ39tGLt90taQxlL9wayaEFM6CuKDNYYQVqHieNUc5drpoeoYIYk2MNSVOM53UqQjl8QKgUxoOTliKgODbxdVxcJ0JnXuLiczuO8/s320/steve+zip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve was too tall for the zip-line but found out too late and almost lost his head on re-entry! No wonder they told him to lean waaaaay back!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CekO1K24WJ8sC-Qv39FjqF9rwCKWuxgP3NfbPowXFTRkmJlhO2hgFmMmcxjUM4e-ifx9qwFvuXYCftR60JJfD4qrZyBX3NcK-scxqNfVwetlt4s8GRBKVxCP8ipubKuiDTJCrCL9BWs/s1600/paul+zip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7CekO1K24WJ8sC-Qv39FjqF9rwCKWuxgP3NfbPowXFTRkmJlhO2hgFmMmcxjUM4e-ifx9qwFvuXYCftR60JJfD4qrZyBX3NcK-scxqNfVwetlt4s8GRBKVxCP8ipubKuiDTJCrCL9BWs/s320/paul+zip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul decided to take a zip too.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8zwK0QRK5umspgVgHBP5-kFeoknNsHERYgyuKK0GWCr2-mAzGLq8tilw-h94GT-MnLf9VRUm01jiNc86kdHGjs7v36FGB2uQmyveBr_B5Brf10aaK6z3X6FWJl_fKaUi4foKh1ZNpQE/s1600/zack+zip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv8zwK0QRK5umspgVgHBP5-kFeoknNsHERYgyuKK0GWCr2-mAzGLq8tilw-h94GT-MnLf9VRUm01jiNc86kdHGjs7v36FGB2uQmyveBr_B5Brf10aaK6z3X6FWJl_fKaUi4foKh1ZNpQE/s320/zack+zip.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack loved his adventure.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEtMsCDCOp7aBAWuSdEU2HqF8IO2jzM0c8btUkSQORAw-N_fLFDDGpghyphenhyphenpUmbXUtj7zaTu8ql-Wg3A5PdZfHMDmWYkNaIT61FFF_oWSWAmQQCe_tcUlOfQK9toQwvO5dMcvIJpI6BBCg/s1600/amirers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqEtMsCDCOp7aBAWuSdEU2HqF8IO2jzM0c8btUkSQORAw-N_fLFDDGpghyphenhyphenpUmbXUtj7zaTu8ql-Wg3A5PdZfHMDmWYkNaIT61FFF_oWSWAmQQCe_tcUlOfQK9toQwvO5dMcvIJpI6BBCg/s320/amirers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of Daisy's fans.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8lN3ksp1A7dGiENN2HGdBohz4_4UG2BKl94LrEl1UwvN9ysgp3Tyyec-7sgBEyeYB2XnV-jdTmQi49_87jQgMLQA4P7ahnnIYzUnB5ZL-KOLHnO-U1UvVT5bGG6gp3_VwFSt6Ka8FuI/s1600/by+drums.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8lN3ksp1A7dGiENN2HGdBohz4_4UG2BKl94LrEl1UwvN9ysgp3Tyyec-7sgBEyeYB2XnV-jdTmQi49_87jQgMLQA4P7ahnnIYzUnB5ZL-KOLHnO-U1UvVT5bGG6gp3_VwFSt6Ka8FuI/s320/by+drums.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All the animals from the Chinese Zodiac.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLNfx7VsjVVVLi6cMqca0MQBQnFxr_NRBlVc3ggVhgnzQoWDSOL06NhQ4zwNvz2K76P2lfA0bnwTVXvJc6lXvbQY5k7LIJ2wVTNj1mdc-19Ex9yBKqLAOS7j5W8qdr5zW5fiLhN756io/s1600/ram+zack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoLNfx7VsjVVVLi6cMqca0MQBQnFxr_NRBlVc3ggVhgnzQoWDSOL06NhQ4zwNvz2K76P2lfA0bnwTVXvJc6lXvbQY5k7LIJ2wVTNj1mdc-19Ex9yBKqLAOS7j5W8qdr5zW5fiLhN756io/s320/ram+zack.jpg" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack is a sheep. Sheep<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> are: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Righteous, sincere, sympathetic, mild-mannered, shy, artistic, mothering, peaceful, generous, seeks security. Can be indecisive, over-passive, worrier, pessimistic, over-sensitive, complainer and weak-willed.</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJx3jTBdHxm749rVXqiAa0rAOGxXTWAI7lnaPSuVeVAyQjobTS7gKrNiH3HG8gg_GjpdFZ0BOMq_J4C-QzFMhHqJE2RPPZhkqUIAMSVZYk4wmvpSQleLHxg1Y35wRkKS4ppm25wNbeJ4/s1600/boar+steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJx3jTBdHxm749rVXqiAa0rAOGxXTWAI7lnaPSuVeVAyQjobTS7gKrNiH3HG8gg_GjpdFZ0BOMq_J4C-QzFMhHqJE2RPPZhkqUIAMSVZYk4wmvpSQleLHxg1Y35wRkKS4ppm25wNbeJ4/s320/boar+steve.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steve is pig. Ha! Pigs are<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Honest, gallant, sturdy, sociable, peace-loving, patient, loyal, hard-working, trusting, sincere, calm, understanding, thoughtful, scrupulous, passionate, intelligent. Can be naïve, over-reliant, self-indulgent, gullible, fatalistic, materialistic.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxWGs6G80hnbq9xP2MiQOL4IgLIYFjstvfJkItmIZmuq_X26OrvQN7qUvE02gkOu8Qpr2-HjYoMhXy99sywTWGp0DQs_WGIAs_4q4jEqpQtcUcfEjc1hf_CDhQSqjsG-cf9FyCFjkGrA/s1600/tiger+d+and+d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxWGs6G80hnbq9xP2MiQOL4IgLIYFjstvfJkItmIZmuq_X26OrvQN7qUvE02gkOu8Qpr2-HjYoMhXy99sywTWGp0DQs_WGIAs_4q4jEqpQtcUcfEjc1hf_CDhQSqjsG-cf9FyCFjkGrA/s320/tiger+d+and+d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy and I are both Tigers. Tigers ar<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;">Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, obstinate, selfish, aggressive independent,self-controlled and moody.</span> </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAXSURW3uJ8VC-uF67E2n8j0V9QQf6dTUISXE3lbOtgsTFlGKqvIpGbnaOVx7vMjdxNv1iLdqMsvgPJG-cwjYitLqw9SM9vBAochplvgtOqWojAXXGRnd4Ie-pjQN48tQNiByBSQMP10/s1600/giant+tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglAXSURW3uJ8VC-uF67E2n8j0V9QQf6dTUISXE3lbOtgsTFlGKqvIpGbnaOVx7vMjdxNv1iLdqMsvgPJG-cwjYitLqw9SM9vBAochplvgtOqWojAXXGRnd4Ie-pjQN48tQNiByBSQMP10/s320/giant+tiger.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack getting eaten by a tiger!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4xKUR7wRmbbVFPqAGjhevfly9HhjjQBZI_EXc_Jj6edHx2W-UfqfNKhoagENZQjwvj5kJVhHzEosStNx5tOXiIKWB9rTqpa9p9IR5PmElY7hti9wwk8DpRkQVnUKU8lGWAVCHca_wQ/s1600/hoopes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAa4xKUR7wRmbbVFPqAGjhevfly9HhjjQBZI_EXc_Jj6edHx2W-UfqfNKhoagENZQjwvj5kJVhHzEosStNx5tOXiIKWB9rTqpa9p9IR5PmElY7hti9wwk8DpRkQVnUKU8lGWAVCHca_wQ/s320/hoopes.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This game was outside the Naxi village. You had to try and get bean bags through the holes. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF3_1e8VO6IxK03o34VSvQGymqG6GO7un2fVPR1Hgel3cR86PCPBcAzqEf5ThZY9YHcfjoF1VHLG3DbsQfgtn7Mo5dTzJVpN3ID0fCb6jaIEBbxJnCDb_KYcU81v8ELVwCctCyK2ytJw/s1600/pine+and+palm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxF3_1e8VO6IxK03o34VSvQGymqG6GO7un2fVPR1Hgel3cR86PCPBcAzqEf5ThZY9YHcfjoF1VHLG3DbsQfgtn7Mo5dTzJVpN3ID0fCb6jaIEBbxJnCDb_KYcU81v8ELVwCctCyK2ytJw/s320/pine+and+palm.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm trees next to pine trees.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5fk-RdYdrU0015XEffLXORoxEElIbP9NjFcAdSjlPlT44znwfqMaxeCkBmt0xQ1e1XOMJumGjs0KoBXG0djbgmUHppaSFaK52ett3lFtSLkvfU201kw7fmmc18dLGpaaXnUe_5ruWp0/s1600/scenery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL5fk-RdYdrU0015XEffLXORoxEElIbP9NjFcAdSjlPlT44znwfqMaxeCkBmt0xQ1e1XOMJumGjs0KoBXG0djbgmUHppaSFaK52ett3lFtSLkvfU201kw7fmmc18dLGpaaXnUe_5ruWp0/s320/scenery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0PM8rs7odxATpSXmJ2PJrk2DE3Asf8X-xS5bgKVEsvOM91jlMxmXeYQG9ypM6E8drz_u3gK24P_IXkFzgJtZ4G22WWZdzr0kiqdGgnCJ9ekh24-ZPM9UsyGAVEV0bBN-5H560A3D7Ow/s1600/towers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0PM8rs7odxATpSXmJ2PJrk2DE3Asf8X-xS5bgKVEsvOM91jlMxmXeYQG9ypM6E8drz_u3gK24P_IXkFzgJtZ4G22WWZdzr0kiqdGgnCJ9ekh24-ZPM9UsyGAVEV0bBN-5H560A3D7Ow/s320/towers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A replica from a city we can't remember the name of. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zHJupEIr66ktDUTx9e9KH_XePk0Y1paQU7GZWpym9zoR23lFGThwKgm_tKofz1a-8rM3WRUhhatVhA_PILbKCaEgmzAwciFNkME0c8eOg3GCXEDpK4tIIY4xnCdF5z5rh_qJUkCEDo4/s1600/tree+house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zHJupEIr66ktDUTx9e9KH_XePk0Y1paQU7GZWpym9zoR23lFGThwKgm_tKofz1a-8rM3WRUhhatVhA_PILbKCaEgmzAwciFNkME0c8eOg3GCXEDpK4tIIY4xnCdF5z5rh_qJUkCEDo4/s320/tree+house.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the minority groups lived in tree houses like the one pictured here. Unfortunately we don't know the name of the group.</td></tr>
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At the end Zack got his picture taken while sitting in a live elephants trunk. I told him I would pay him to do it because he was nervous. It turned out really cute and they laminated it for us too. I think it cost $5 or so.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfTjdM1hWRl_xjQ5vvAjlJvJocjyxNQfdEZPpsfGwWC2Otyw_cZQEZkJ5PCaOV5bGMHWoWiuIqUJItKdDse0BimDBiS4UmpyvQy4lkDWE35bg_2mMDHyhulqPU6y9FQBm0p2b2yklJ7k/s1600/elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOfTjdM1hWRl_xjQ5vvAjlJvJocjyxNQfdEZPpsfGwWC2Otyw_cZQEZkJ5PCaOV5bGMHWoWiuIqUJItKdDse0BimDBiS4UmpyvQy4lkDWE35bg_2mMDHyhulqPU6y9FQBm0p2b2yklJ7k/s320/elephant.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When asked how he felt sitting in the elephant's trunk? "Terrified".</td></tr>
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Funny story: On the way out everyone had to use the toilet (that's what they call it) except me (I try to not eat or drink much so I don't have to use the squatters and I just wait and go at our hotel as much as I can). I was just standing there (Steve was somewhere sitting down with the baby) by the entrance waiting and this man comes right up to me, circles round me, all the while speaking Chinese, points his finger in my face, and then laughs out loud, speaks some more Chinese and then walks away, still chuckling. Weird. And funny. I told Zack what happened so he would feel better about being stared at all the time and it just made him really mad which I thought was cute. I am trying not to take it personally, I think maybe he was just looking at my blue eyes and commenting and then realized I couldn't understand and so he laughed. I keep telling myself that anyway.<br />
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On the way back from the village we were all starving so Paul said he would take us to a restaurant and order for us since we have been having trouble knowing what to get. He takes us to this pretty big, nice looking (upon first glance) restaurant around 2:00 pm and we walk in and there are literally 15 employees all over the dining room sleeping in the chairs with their heads on the tables, some stretched out over a couple of chairs, some people just sitting and smoking. My first instinct was to turn and run from the place. Steve asks Paul if this is a bad sign and Paul just says: "I think this is normal, it is not really the usual time for eating". OK then. Upon further inspection of the restaurant, I notice it is extremely filthy (most of the restaurants we have been to are very dirty, we are not dining at 5 star hotels, we like to eat where the people eat, it just has its drawbacks). The floors are covered with spilled stuff, the table cloths have not been washed in ages, everything has a greasy film on it. (Do I sound like a snob? I'm really not trying to be, it's just how it was.) Paul orders for us, we tell him we like our drinks ice cold and our soup hot (last place we ate at he ordered us soup and it came cold and the soda's are always warm) and he looks at us like we are crazy and says "reeaally?"<br />
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Well the food came and it was really good. We were skeptical when he ordered us bamboo but it was so good! You peel it like an artichoke, kind of, and then dipped it in spicy sauce. I could go for some more of that. We had some other dishes that were good too. The other weird thing is you would think in China that rice would just come with your meal right? Wrong. You have to ask for it specifically. While we were ordering we told him to make sure and get rice and I look over and there is this bucket of rice on a sideboard table, all old and dry. My mom and I told Paul to make sure we didn't get THAT rice and he just looked at us like we were crazy again and said of coarse we wouldn't be served that rice. You just never know in China. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxHnwAAPVkGQIwMsktHk1ouNJ09kUfpQWfUQj7KYdlY5akdjRjBQSOYXeXtOdWYzvj4EX6gHgoWmebNoguCrwRhexiQemXjwExDNLZfo5Uqzvlb6BFa8-NSOM6iEtA8qw5_zM_TTTNYU/s1600/restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrxHnwAAPVkGQIwMsktHk1ouNJ09kUfpQWfUQj7KYdlY5akdjRjBQSOYXeXtOdWYzvj4EX6gHgoWmebNoguCrwRhexiQemXjwExDNLZfo5Uqzvlb6BFa8-NSOM6iEtA8qw5_zM_TTTNYU/s320/restaurant.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our lunch restaurant. Note the employee asleep in the chair above.</td></tr>
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We let Daisy feed herself some of the food and she made an absolute mess and spilled my soup again! It was very funny and we took some pictures of her covered in rice. She is happiest if she gets to eat what we eat and use her hands. But, I am having a hard time getting fluids in her because she will only eat formula from a bottle, when I try to give her juice or water in the bottle she freaks. She does however want to drink from our water bottles but then she pours the whole thing all over her self and ends up wet all day. I have even tried different nipples but no. What baby doesn't like juice? Also, she is the slowest bottle drinker I have ever seen (and I work in the NICU so I know slow eaters!) She takes like 45 minutes to drink 4 oz! We'll keep trying.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkB9OFCHNe3W0J0W8zWolyu9hyphenhypheniZwt_Z10WsEPK7hWdhBQ2QGYEcnXts6JkJZ8ykwxNSU2rJg9JJjRXNLaDNOx9dEUmg8z6abIWGGTC48GBC724q3eZNsiERnPYtadqo7bK5iohx56GQ/s1600/d+eat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkB9OFCHNe3W0J0W8zWolyu9hyphenhypheniZwt_Z10WsEPK7hWdhBQ2QGYEcnXts6JkJZ8ykwxNSU2rJg9JJjRXNLaDNOx9dEUmg8z6abIWGGTC48GBC724q3eZNsiERnPYtadqo7bK5iohx56GQ/s320/d+eat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"I can't get enough rice!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPWovT732QSfAZJe61mBcIG6iyR-7gSGd1tbuFchcpvfCD7sFIheJBE1-AA1M9NhnzDegx0M2bEJO7yhlzKzLoGX-Zn1yz9jDzScLxToDyIDfX6vzd8w261LjCa4jq-giLMLK96qYg8U/s1600/d+eat+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTPWovT732QSfAZJe61mBcIG6iyR-7gSGd1tbuFchcpvfCD7sFIheJBE1-AA1M9NhnzDegx0M2bEJO7yhlzKzLoGX-Zn1yz9jDzScLxToDyIDfX6vzd8w261LjCa4jq-giLMLK96qYg8U/s320/d+eat+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What? You've never seen someone snort rice up their nose!?"</td></tr>
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After lunch, it was back to the hotel for rest and then pool time. Since Daisy was so keen to get in last time, we put her suit on and my mom and I took the kids while Steve did some work. Swim caps are required! We looked ridiculous! Daisy loved splashing and playing with her cups in the water. She was a little nervous about just being all the way in but loved sitting on the side and bending down to the water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6UeGOdLgSqhyphenhyphenX0SkUhcZL9x0h3_JTKJl5WtzUWtQr69WcoIXRK7slRU2OINLLBr4AeRwJsyLHu48XKnF02vCQJjRdkgL2eHNlt6Bgo1GR2S5eTDImgpVElqR9AqEFifOMXW-dQLrpZw/s1600/tired.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6UeGOdLgSqhyphenhyphenX0SkUhcZL9x0h3_JTKJl5WtzUWtQr69WcoIXRK7slRU2OINLLBr4AeRwJsyLHu48XKnF02vCQJjRdkgL2eHNlt6Bgo1GR2S5eTDImgpVElqR9AqEFifOMXW-dQLrpZw/s320/tired.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too tired to even play his Nintendo DS.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihw-Wd960TUCTdv41rYO5jZDoGmD3I7_QkDdeH7uJdXENgY46P4ulRb2wXhrolU41S168aJGKASkxL3LBE6Xg0PXdSA0L05oOC8f88b4TUV9Hppa3mVzZDIIq0_gpJDEXXQHK7drPeadQ/s1600/ready+to+swim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihw-Wd960TUCTdv41rYO5jZDoGmD3I7_QkDdeH7uJdXENgY46P4ulRb2wXhrolU41S168aJGKASkxL3LBE6Xg0PXdSA0L05oOC8f88b4TUV9Hppa3mVzZDIIq0_gpJDEXXQHK7drPeadQ/s320/ready+to+swim.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to swim and loving the stacking cups.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwPggdve3AgXZ08WklEa-N0q6HUtBkaoUA78Aamayvzwpk7DSyGB58Sc_PDXnTZCfMNlvJ_Au30t3hWtOi9wK2zOeSPbOS_-6ZJgEhmpuEvvUrO7HGZJvyq5_3N99cQTx7lZby6tK7sc/s1600/pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqwPggdve3AgXZ08WklEa-N0q6HUtBkaoUA78Aamayvzwpk7DSyGB58Sc_PDXnTZCfMNlvJ_Au30t3hWtOi9wK2zOeSPbOS_-6ZJgEhmpuEvvUrO7HGZJvyq5_3N99cQTx7lZby6tK7sc/s320/pool.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our pool at the hotel. It was very nice and clean.</td></tr>
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After some more rest, we headed out to find dinner. I was needing something safe so we found a place I had heard about that had pizza and some American food, but also some Chinese food called Ma Ma Fu's. It was half good and half bad. Once again Daisy fed herself and made a mess. Forget wearing anything twice and saving on laundry! Ha!<br />
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After that, it was home and to bed!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>(This post is way long so I will talk about today in another one, Goodnight!)</div></div>Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-44318962973221847182011-05-31T18:10:00.004-06:002011-12-05T18:07:15.319-07:00So tiredNo sleep last night, Daisy cried exactly every 10 minutes. And punched me in the head a lot.<br />
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Also, my sister said "no offense but you sound kind of miserable". Sorry guys. I have a hard time hiding my feelings. This is really hard and disappointing because I thought it would be "backpacking through Europe for 4 weeks hard". But it is much more difficult than that.<br />
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Also, another funny thing I forgot to report. We obviously couldn't bring enough clothes for us all for 3 weeks so we planned to do laundry. There are no laundromats in China but we were led to believe that you can send out the laundry to be done. We were also told not to have the hotel laundry do it because it is uber expensive. So we had our hotel do a few items in Beijing for a big price and then were thinking when we got to Kunming our guide would handle finding us a laundry place. (This is what other adoptive parents have reported their guides did for them.) Our guide seemed baffled when we asked him. Finally he told us he had found a place and so he and Steve took a whole suitcase of yucky clothes to the place. <br />
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Want to guess at a price? $45 USD! I could have bought a whole new wardrobe in China for that price. Oh well, that's life in China! Oh, and it took 2 whole days to get it done, so we have been washing underwear in the sink in the meantime. Hopefully the website was correct and our hotel in Guangzhou will have a washer and dryer. Crossing my fingers!<br />
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See you soon!Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-37568487656052791832011-05-31T08:34:00.001-06:002014-08-20T01:37:01.837-06:00Daisy YuChenOn Monday morning we met our guide promptly at 8:10 am in the lobby of our hotel as instructed. This was after we attempted to eat breakfast at the totally disgusting breakfast buffet in the hotel. Even the drinks were gross. I ate one bite of toast and egg and that was it, because my stomach was in knots.<br />
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We took a short van ride to the civil affairs office immediately got a stack of paperwork to start filling in and signing. Luckily our guide told us what to put where because it was all in Chinese. About half way through the pile a lady walks up the stairs into the room with two babies. She walks over to us and hands us Daisy and then rushes out to deliver the other baby to another room. Not a word was said and our guide kept nudging us to keep going on the papers. So I held her while Steve wrote and tried to film until Sharon came and took over the camera.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyA82qvzBzkFgqG8EdCSv0Cs7GsnNTqHQ3IB4IoDfpaiYMn4FEHBmEAFLloC76Zz9bKtPypCodyH8998fjyuNv0TEyOdAU4xSVTCaGlUS3nf93nVYgxwGCS3r6w8fot_P90qqGTLdhxWY/s1600/paperwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyA82qvzBzkFgqG8EdCSv0Cs7GsnNTqHQ3IB4IoDfpaiYMn4FEHBmEAFLloC76Zz9bKtPypCodyH8998fjyuNv0TEyOdAU4xSVTCaGlUS3nf93nVYgxwGCS3r6w8fot_P90qqGTLdhxWY/s320/paperwork.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul supervises while we do endless paperwork. Minutes before Daisy is brought in.</td></tr>
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All we knew of Daisy before was a chubby little baby about 5 or 6 months old. I had a hard time recognizing our baby in this toddlers face. She was terrified but didn't cry much, just a few little mewls. She was clutching a tube of yogurt like her life depended on it. She was dressed really cute in tights, pink soft shoes, a onesie, a white collared shirt and a pink cotton sundress. Her hair was in pigtails and two tiny barrettes helped hold her bangs back. She is skinny! She has four teeth up and four down. <br />
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She sat on my lap throughout but wouldn't really look at me. She was interested in Zack. I feel bad because we only got video, and not very many still pictures but I think we can extract some from the video when we get home. It was just too crazy to worry too much about pictures, even though they are so important. It would have been nice to have a little warning that she was coming, but that is how they do things. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tQk1IdKtTRQwOboyYXPgpjepKWvHdJv9eOY48J35FJUtPKGFp-EtVWdzHDLAL3mBasfKH2__QUt676ww07PnS7y1UwEp8_P1yaSWcQaGbMIZQo-6g8huwhgW39BCiX4tn0CSy-ogD1A/s1600/mdmeet2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9tQk1IdKtTRQwOboyYXPgpjepKWvHdJv9eOY48J35FJUtPKGFp-EtVWdzHDLAL3mBasfKH2__QUt676ww07PnS7y1UwEp8_P1yaSWcQaGbMIZQo-6g8huwhgW39BCiX4tn0CSy-ogD1A/s1600/mdmeet2.png" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictures I got from the video we took. So sad we have none of Steve with her, he was too busy filling out all the paperwok!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack made her smile from the start!</td></tr>
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During the paperwork we got out some of those Gerber puffs treats and let her take them from my hand. She loved them. We also tried a sucker but she made a sour face at it. When we were almost done, one of the ladies (I don't remember who) told our guide something and he yelled at us "no more popcorn for baby!" Apparently they didn't like us feeding that to her. Also it was hot and they kept telling us to keep her warm and dress her warmly. <br />
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I forgot to mention, it was clear right away that she was sick, I could feel stuff rattling in her chest and she had a runny nose and coughed once in a while. Our guide all the sudden hands us a box and says "here's her medicine". The box was only in Chinese of coarse. We really had to drag the instructions out of everyone there to know how they wanted us to administer the medicine which turned out to be amoxicillin in powdered form. The only gave us 5 doses and told us to give it to her 3 times per day. Weird. I don't know if that is going to do it but I have more from home, if I need to give it to her I can.<br />
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When we were done with the paperwork, they took a family picture and then we got in the van and headed to the passport office. We have to rush a passport for her since we need it by Friday and it usually takes at least a month. We had to have her picture taken for the passport and they put a red jacket on her for the photo and then of coarse she starts screaming when I set her down for the picture. All these ladies who were waiting for their pictures outside came rushing in to try and maker her smile. Then smarty pants Paul rushes out and gets the "popcorn" and waves it in her face. Not helpful. I had to beg him for the popcorn, which he gave me begrudgingly but of coarse when I gave it to her she stopped crying and they were able to take the picture. Paul informed us that sometimes it takes hours to get the picture because they can not be crying. Also, they had to crop out her pigtails, for some reason they are not allowed.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbhcLmlrdyiWNJOzvs2KoVJXS5bjolhEljQJ_TUowoWBNKwJcUX63pPn_-SV9FcnRefJdn1e1N6IWLScF7hdaSgY1D9UKH9thAEW2t9ncWXc2ioI0hoYFDI-gbI5toKi0PcCasLaWz2Q/s1600/passport+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbhcLmlrdyiWNJOzvs2KoVJXS5bjolhEljQJ_TUowoWBNKwJcUX63pPn_-SV9FcnRefJdn1e1N6IWLScF7hdaSgY1D9UKH9thAEW2t9ncWXc2ioI0hoYFDI-gbI5toKi0PcCasLaWz2Q/s320/passport+2.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the passport office. Daisy holds a cup of "popcorn" because it makes her happy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More waiting at the passport office while Paul runs around.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One more thing to sign and then we can go.</td></tr>
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After the passport office it was off to the bank to get money to give the orphanage. They get $5000. I hope they use it wisely. :)<br />
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Next is the funny part. The first day we met Paul I was trying to get him to tell me the schedule for the week so I could figure out how it was all going to go down. He said, Monday, we get baby. Tuesday we go to market to buy stuff for baby. I had to stop him here, because I did not bring formula for the baby except one little packet because I was told you should give them the same stuff they are eating in China so they can keep something they are used to. Also, I needed diapers because I only brought a few of those because who wants to transport diapers all over their vacation? Tomorrow was not going to cut it. He really tried to argue, telling me tomorrow was going to be a hard day. Um, yes, it certainly will be hard if our baby is starving and wet. I finally told him never mind, I would go by myself to the store. He decided to make it work. So after the bank, he took us to Walmart. Who knew they had Walmart in China? I guess they really are taking over the whole world! <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding in the van to Walmart. Daisy was happy to sit with me but did not want to look at me!</td></tr>
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We bought everything we needed including some jars of food and rice cereal. This Walmart was four floors and worse to navigate than Ikea so we were there for a while. Also, we really drew a crowd where ever we went so that slowed us down. <br />
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After the shopping was done we came back to our hotel, which did I mention I hate? No baby crib available, no air conditioning, bad breakfast, no one speaks English except the concierge, all cigarette smokey. And my mom and Zack's room is on another floor from ours. (We finally got them a room on our floor for an upcharge.)<br />
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When we get to the room I put Daisy on the bed and she starts freaking out and she cried herself sick for at least 2-3 hours. The hotel staff called to see if everything was OK. It wasn't. I finally told Steve to take Zack and Sharon out to lunch since we hadn't eaten all day and I stayed with her while she cried and cried. Finally, she started to cry less and less and doze off but she would still wake up and cry about every 30 seconds until she was finally really asleep. We both took a short nap and then the others came home. <br />
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We found out that she really, really likes stacking cups and her brush and comb and she really hates the bed for some reason. <br />
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Zack wanted to swim so we all went down to the pool and he and Steve took a swim while we watched and I fed Daisy some jar food which she really loved. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO3cL9Iw_O_qHtTmoYuUqpTWoA95rai8rYbfKhNhvfx6MIk49WLUotdfWjIkT7FdOSXXO8ZvR-Bu-BnE_Zi15gheZ4Se7WgHGWuGPmI_QCWVgApTFOAV4mzwb2Z2D5juOqfMH1TCT-l8/s1600/pool+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivO3cL9Iw_O_qHtTmoYuUqpTWoA95rai8rYbfKhNhvfx6MIk49WLUotdfWjIkT7FdOSXXO8ZvR-Bu-BnE_Zi15gheZ4Se7WgHGWuGPmI_QCWVgApTFOAV4mzwb2Z2D5juOqfMH1TCT-l8/s320/pool+4.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">See those steps? Daisy stepped right off them and Steve dove and caught her in mid-air. He's like Superman!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KOFOzH9t-O1A-64IiLvQ9UGeA4vBgapHYosKG2_JT3xvnE5b1ziuVgYFP6sliIxEjuV8ZvrEtwTHF44PxDGL-7Qvrl06IReFkzIJeVY6cNY7QJlcjgrzNBdC5IpqDfgCxE8GqYQf8h4/s1600/pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5KOFOzH9t-O1A-64IiLvQ9UGeA4vBgapHYosKG2_JT3xvnE5b1ziuVgYFP6sliIxEjuV8ZvrEtwTHF44PxDGL-7Qvrl06IReFkzIJeVY6cNY7QJlcjgrzNBdC5IpqDfgCxE8GqYQf8h4/s320/pool.jpg" height="320" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy loves to play with stacking cups and water bottles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHljTu7m00V10YxnZ6yIXvIuia1Ho6IoB-dbf3IdnKNT6vHNqcRCtJxX-HZszd7Hq2_G15igh3OViRbXNSJ-nY5KE6RD6W_CEyXRshyphenhyphenqGe_y1sX4D_P3IhR3vXkhfTsXNIHR7t8yTUOlM/s1600/pool2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHljTu7m00V10YxnZ6yIXvIuia1Ho6IoB-dbf3IdnKNT6vHNqcRCtJxX-HZszd7Hq2_G15igh3OViRbXNSJ-nY5KE6RD6W_CEyXRshyphenhyphenqGe_y1sX4D_P3IhR3vXkhfTsXNIHR7t8yTUOlM/s320/pool2.jpg" height="248" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Who are these crazy new people?"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Next, we needed a walk (because my blisters need to get even bigger). I put her in the Ergo carrier we brought and we walked back to Walmart for more jar food and then out to dinner at a place with no picture menu. We were able to order pork with rice and noodles. It was pretty good. Did I mention that most places serve warm soda? Daisy was a gem the entire time we were out and we started getting some smiles and maybe a laugh or two. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC6H0fPs0ZGpK2PoPTJdVrp2-538G4VEbWHwOPs6_iQgSrCLW5yDGhOZ1GAn3CcqcbzVb47jmqqccJZVQkVBcugiG13imhsromyI8ACXonX-nn9vWq6YubaP2ldBzfLV03Cqgq5gh9fI/s1600/restaurant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkC6H0fPs0ZGpK2PoPTJdVrp2-538G4VEbWHwOPs6_iQgSrCLW5yDGhOZ1GAn3CcqcbzVb47jmqqccJZVQkVBcugiG13imhsromyI8ACXonX-nn9vWq6YubaP2ldBzfLV03Cqgq5gh9fI/s320/restaurant.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the restaurant with no pictures. See the menu on the table? We ended up going outside with the waitress to the window where they had meat hanging up and we pointed to some pork. It was pretty good.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Time for bed. In the bed she hates. No crib available remember? She cried herself to sleep on my chest while I rubbed her back, which she seemed to like. The hotel people called again to say they were bringing something for baby, we couldn't understand what but hoped for a crib. They never came. Still curious what they were going to bring us. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP5SK4zf8Z7cHGefzrjg3L-KpvBJWMK-j6Ed_SXyKCDXaAZYAmIk8QO5zLqi0Sdd6PYbBYnGlbDnvNHjsSLXoX3e71XJ7V_r_9IK809_l32OGns72uAvSZvplFXQGUxVvJKg1U_L7J5A/s1600/sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAP5SK4zf8Z7cHGefzrjg3L-KpvBJWMK-j6Ed_SXyKCDXaAZYAmIk8QO5zLqi0Sdd6PYbBYnGlbDnvNHjsSLXoX3e71XJ7V_r_9IK809_l32OGns72uAvSZvplFXQGUxVvJKg1U_L7J5A/s320/sleep.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finally sleeping, now can I put her down without waking her?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We had a fitful night but mostly slept. Except Steve because he never sleeps anyway. She woke at 6:30 and took a bottle. <br />
<br />
We had a good day today, mostly just took it easy. We really wanted to see the famous stone forest while we were here but today was the only day we could have gone and we didn't know if it was a good idea to take her on an hour and a half bus ride each way and hike around a forest on the second day of having her. Paul took us to the bird and flower market and we bought some cool stuff and bartered pretty well for good prices. Actually one lady was yelling at us she was so mad. But she sold me the stuff for my price anyway, so I don't think I was being too cheap. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Mj8nvq2_63SykUpoVhKKJAuTkKC7jArfzr6hKyUK5b2SqfCAtGYkDeuCnwA8C4FG0dnGy1z9Ac_lrcFH-25r1MVCBCDBn_Bq7Uq7ldi4CCpNaoQcgdOxh-WP651A7IwGgRDYzzaNuLU/s1600/shop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Mj8nvq2_63SykUpoVhKKJAuTkKC7jArfzr6hKyUK5b2SqfCAtGYkDeuCnwA8C4FG0dnGy1z9Ac_lrcFH-25r1MVCBCDBn_Bq7Uq7ldi4CCpNaoQcgdOxh-WP651A7IwGgRDYzzaNuLU/s320/shop.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paul and I were a great bargaining team. It was a bonding moment for us and he was proud when I told him so.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH-u9vPhblnBFURl96n_FgE5Lvis_6ChJKWTZL7rIMu6f3qwItH570V88BB8FO2D5tOlwCNYxrPLOnn4NpwLOwW8-glEtfHPTf54vc-AUlqHiBWHII8jeK9xCQq6kI1QJKcIVG5nE42g/s1600/shop2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLH-u9vPhblnBFURl96n_FgE5Lvis_6ChJKWTZL7rIMu6f3qwItH570V88BB8FO2D5tOlwCNYxrPLOnn4NpwLOwW8-glEtfHPTf54vc-AUlqHiBWHII8jeK9xCQq6kI1QJKcIVG5nE42g/s320/shop2.jpg" height="179" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharon took a while to find the perfect gourd flute for Jeff.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMr6oDMTkMrgrRLyyHlWuNQt_x5HuasffBICeo1gBHbZUN_00nS9nzgb2MNA3IXPQbL6MHcypIDUKgjpdJFxKRWN5ygS9kkkrVzqDglsSeLDnqrM0ZSoDRfJQKXRZTjBFeq003Zh8wjA/s1600/shop3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFMr6oDMTkMrgrRLyyHlWuNQt_x5HuasffBICeo1gBHbZUN_00nS9nzgb2MNA3IXPQbL6MHcypIDUKgjpdJFxKRWN5ygS9kkkrVzqDglsSeLDnqrM0ZSoDRfJQKXRZTjBFeq003Zh8wjA/s320/shop3.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We saw the exact same gourds in the airport for 10 times as much!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1tuzaAAVocmHsmF_5LccUfwyO9_5_TgSw3RdEkZf3TdiB1jv0LyjS_UnomTk7mUIDWB42pHfp0taD6ZG7ohJVql-3bMs7HG3_OD9VwfFiLRHRDQq8HHOfyE2uo9zsJePxGwJnMJ1NWY/s1600/shpooing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje1tuzaAAVocmHsmF_5LccUfwyO9_5_TgSw3RdEkZf3TdiB1jv0LyjS_UnomTk7mUIDWB42pHfp0taD6ZG7ohJVql-3bMs7HG3_OD9VwfFiLRHRDQq8HHOfyE2uo9zsJePxGwJnMJ1NWY/s320/shpooing.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Bird and Flower Market.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
After shopping, Paul took us to lunch and ordered for us before he left. He said he couldn't eat with us because he was too busy doing paperwork. The food was OK, not the best we have had. Daisy woke up right when our food came and started reaching for it so we tried to feed her some baby fruit with rice cereal mixed in. She about came unglued. We have a firecracker on our hands. Before I knew what was happening she started hitting me, the baby food and anything she could get her hands on. I got control of her hands and she kicked her foot up on the table and brought down a whole bowl of soup, all over the place and us. Don't fool your self into thinking she was just throwing a fit and flailing about, she was very deliberate in her hand and foot placements. Then she threw her head back, arched her back and tried to fall on the floor! Whew! I immediately gave her the food we were eating and she was happy as a clam. So we found out, if we are eating, we had better share!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tycioP4tafdc_S1EGkAJYO6A94x_S62fluVp3uiYILL2pdnoauJfuIl2ftAhN-O0KBgbJ-k5kz8cWiAmFXKwu_CDyDP1oS6Ii9sIlaFU3-TtFbOAGorPI7gE4F019yMWc-lt2uZ4uyM/s1600/lunch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9tycioP4tafdc_S1EGkAJYO6A94x_S62fluVp3uiYILL2pdnoauJfuIl2ftAhN-O0KBgbJ-k5kz8cWiAmFXKwu_CDyDP1oS6Ii9sIlaFU3-TtFbOAGorPI7gE4F019yMWc-lt2uZ4uyM/s320/lunch2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby sleeping. Nice baby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3glJhl4IkYgxL3KMgtqMLNMTqwlaYFHNVdacbz7z19mdlGEJxkAu0u_CIEFCc8fM7iWd8gF1n2WL86KvfOE6ULUjtz4aPMeyqMXLL2BpFeDjycA3nDCwuPuReGhgC8iRPmBezbAOLZE/s1600/soup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc3glJhl4IkYgxL3KMgtqMLNMTqwlaYFHNVdacbz7z19mdlGEJxkAu0u_CIEFCc8fM7iWd8gF1n2WL86KvfOE6ULUjtz4aPMeyqMXLL2BpFeDjycA3nDCwuPuReGhgC8iRPmBezbAOLZE/s320/soup.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby awake. Mad baby! <br />
(This was right before that bowl of soup went flying into my lap!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
After lunch we came back and she agreed to sit on the bed and play. Steve talked her into it. I am pretty sure she prefers him to me but she puts up with me because I feed her. She was playing so happy on that bed for over an hour while Steve took a nap and I blogged. <br />
<br />
Did I mention that she has not been willing to stand up much let alone walk? We were wondering if she could even walk. Well, all of sudden she sees something on the bed she wants and gets up and walks over on the bed to get it! So we put her down on the floor and put the "popcorn" across the room and she toddled right over to get it. She has not stopped walking all day and practically ran right into the swimming pool this afternoon, twice. Once Steve had to dive to get her and I about had a heart attack because I couldn't move fast enough. Don't think we are bad parents. Tomorrow we will put her in the pool because she was dying to get in but none of the adults were in their suits today, just Zack. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisMvVFdgFVFXvzOmfRyhEnF7LSGZBsVyQ8JjhETHYm2g0bwHYZ49oiy_bAiYc14PbBf7nqNrqnfomnLsBJt04etqOowqZztYy5PF6ShjzdzunZfEjuKmCm_QAz98ueX51y5L7eqLIZjI/s1600/ping+pong.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisMvVFdgFVFXvzOmfRyhEnF7LSGZBsVyQ8JjhETHYm2g0bwHYZ49oiy_bAiYc14PbBf7nqNrqnfomnLsBJt04etqOowqZztYy5PF6ShjzdzunZfEjuKmCm_QAz98ueX51y5L7eqLIZjI/s320/ping+pong.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who can resist a little game of Ping Pong?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDER7bPQ8IeRadssMi0xG5bDpPXiXDVqZnixXX2RKQD3pnYrEIvlq0sc3jYilTg6HxxO50PDKl1XsG4YPzTckK6fBV6zEWCI1fMUn4B10L6p6AMki4cW8L59lgPcGHX56J7ksvXrSZqPM/s1600/ping+pong2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDER7bPQ8IeRadssMi0xG5bDpPXiXDVqZnixXX2RKQD3pnYrEIvlq0sc3jYilTg6HxxO50PDKl1XsG4YPzTckK6fBV6zEWCI1fMUn4B10L6p6AMki4cW8L59lgPcGHX56J7ksvXrSZqPM/s320/ping+pong2.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pants optional.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Anyway, that is how it is going with Miss Daisy. She is starting to trust us, and we are starting to see her personality come out a little. She really likes Zack too and he is very cute with her. He loves her to pieces. He wants to carry her and kiss her and rubs her head. <br />
<br />
When we first came back to the hotel and she was crying and crying, he started crying too. He just couldn't handle it. Then he said to me, "I knew getting a baby was a bad idea! She just cries and cries! And why did she have to be sick!?" I reassured him and sent him with grandma. Later in the day, when Daisy was smiling and playing a little he looked at me and said, "Now I think getting a baby was a really good idea!"<br />
<br />
We think it was a good idea too and we are so happy to have her and get to know her and her cute self!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAIKKnuW4z85oCxdjT4cgZ3mfLvsY5RbzN9WgZ54b_nWMqioy0HpfeSYAnHl6d-yyHPWaLw72pqu5RHTy7XStCR46uxdYHhruYSvglOEiogzBoX_vSTU0Zpr-ZgfBNQ8nkzxR-pPLrSM/s1600/crazy+sleep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRAIKKnuW4z85oCxdjT4cgZ3mfLvsY5RbzN9WgZ54b_nWMqioy0HpfeSYAnHl6d-yyHPWaLw72pqu5RHTy7XStCR46uxdYHhruYSvglOEiogzBoX_vSTU0Zpr-ZgfBNQ8nkzxR-pPLrSM/s320/crazy+sleep.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She's a crazy sleeper!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsi3qCmY_RnkEVUcO1WMnwcn_4PSOoU79hTel4YVAI_IqCkRReF2dNYnnZjVbDuNhTawrGy30Um8fZ8k6P9OwjNEeFDQzK5Bn9gGDgxtXC_PBF-IIomPBg1aDpBCKPRxLPQ1mEd8bd2E4/s1600/grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsi3qCmY_RnkEVUcO1WMnwcn_4PSOoU79hTel4YVAI_IqCkRReF2dNYnnZjVbDuNhTawrGy30Um8fZ8k6P9OwjNEeFDQzK5Bn9gGDgxtXC_PBF-IIomPBg1aDpBCKPRxLPQ1mEd8bd2E4/s320/grandma.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So glad to have grandma along!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLjgtrTMBaHVEVQVWJasgFxg1HyCPEN2163Qa4mUDIwNTbbKfoEfmyza3SqVfcbrroM3pibj1JYxgYWdwt9pDYakABBVHbA8xX1FhQmsaO72mn70S-xlrmjPLTS2XFGXozA8rzeay9_o/s1600/loves+Steve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLjgtrTMBaHVEVQVWJasgFxg1HyCPEN2163Qa4mUDIwNTbbKfoEfmyza3SqVfcbrroM3pibj1JYxgYWdwt9pDYakABBVHbA8xX1FhQmsaO72mn70S-xlrmjPLTS2XFGXozA8rzeay9_o/s320/loves+Steve.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This baby loves her daddy, he is so silly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlyp56uDfBIKEn0dd1CUxu-S91AhNkVqAAQhow_vyo-0ZXIXHhiJjUpyShUN0XSFVcTJflb4_ngqncW3OSyxXRDqqXssuKq3RWj3HT2uhLX51Ca0fp7JyRYUmE1yxCTR5bWYcqVYBLEs/s1600/peep.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlyp56uDfBIKEn0dd1CUxu-S91AhNkVqAAQhow_vyo-0ZXIXHhiJjUpyShUN0XSFVcTJflb4_ngqncW3OSyxXRDqqXssuKq3RWj3HT2uhLX51Ca0fp7JyRYUmE1yxCTR5bWYcqVYBLEs/s320/peep.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack was getting in the shower and they were both laughing hysterically as Daisy kept peeking through the glass at him.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkjj-jpziMOK2mzdGDo0acoQWvHn0uF0CVETskpWVxTrQbhIDCv3tL6A7kk_9JWUnTCkdrCBEKiRf_PnC_dLCB4dL-GTV_k4qOLT6NIxJeQONNYb3uBeeF0estKXE-5mD1kIjqRYyGT8/s1600/puffs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkjj-jpziMOK2mzdGDo0acoQWvHn0uF0CVETskpWVxTrQbhIDCv3tL6A7kk_9JWUnTCkdrCBEKiRf_PnC_dLCB4dL-GTV_k4qOLT6NIxJeQONNYb3uBeeF0estKXE-5mD1kIjqRYyGT8/s320/puffs.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gimme those puffs! Can't get enough of those puffs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXDzkeWsMWVJOZvcht7Bq6fWfaru111AHyYdLfmGFh076YC72R4avyIupHF0msl5-FSOVbQ2wmXS8tKZUtDSdQhOQMhYrcHlcTmRABFKo-sYTYfawU-yFJ325u16NS880v-4RROSxsM8/s1600/puffs2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtXDzkeWsMWVJOZvcht7Bq6fWfaru111AHyYdLfmGFh076YC72R4avyIupHF0msl5-FSOVbQ2wmXS8tKZUtDSdQhOQMhYrcHlcTmRABFKo-sYTYfawU-yFJ325u16NS880v-4RROSxsM8/s320/puffs2.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even Zack loves puffs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0937hUB1HzC-rlQndSX_Oo1ntRCW51ekC35_wEYOBqg_ZbqAzC3-b0l1qDuquewet_x_6lmNChLXSJQnmb8XoDp3u9GyAr2lQm3YNP-MahBHg75ztf4YUXilGz_K2EYdv_25zoVE6KGs/s1600/walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0937hUB1HzC-rlQndSX_Oo1ntRCW51ekC35_wEYOBqg_ZbqAzC3-b0l1qDuquewet_x_6lmNChLXSJQnmb8XoDp3u9GyAr2lQm3YNP-MahBHg75ztf4YUXilGz_K2EYdv_25zoVE6KGs/s320/walk.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daisy's first steps! (At least that we saw)</td></tr>
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Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-67942684990801946152011-05-31T02:54:00.004-06:002011-12-09T16:12:31.454-07:00A quick update, then I'll tell you about the baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Surviving in China is really, really hard. Surviving in China with a new baby is nearly impossible! But I wanted to blog since this is my journal and I want to remember everything. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My last post was a bit of a downer. Sorry. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">That night (Saturday) we went for Peking Duck at a place we saw on the food network. Our hotel called and made a reservation and told us it would be 198 yuan for the 4 of us, which is $34. We took a taxi and showed up to a dump (we knew it would be from the TV show). The duck was OK. They carve it up at your table and then you wrap it in little crepes with green onion and a sauce. It also came with some side dishes, a few of which were raw veggies. We were told not to eat anything that was not cooked so we didn't dare eat the uncooked ones so that left us with only a couple of things. We have since been told that we should just eat everything but avoid the water only. We are becoming a little more daring and have not been sick yet. The bill came to over $70. We tried to argue but to no avail. They see us tourists coming and the prices triple. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07P2x9ogWVNrY4Z6GCH-OlicM6ztOhR1MUVdKpyw8nyUk86bBDGabn37A4qb-jq8QUrr9EKF0i8VTRcJ0Z_9n4TvWgpjLF5pF28jaymI8Xmf_dm9oF6ckjgz6JMAPjISJQEX8K2o3sCE/s1600/duck2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07P2x9ogWVNrY4Z6GCH-OlicM6ztOhR1MUVdKpyw8nyUk86bBDGabn37A4qb-jq8QUrr9EKF0i8VTRcJ0Z_9n4TvWgpjLF5pF28jaymI8Xmf_dm9oF6ckjgz6JMAPjISJQEX8K2o3sCE/s320/duck2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Just follow the ducks down the alley...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9XAkejCyL1y4SkdIRNuzL5e7V3jLWoa5GTnX77WG3TfivjM1gKLkkkU-ZukEQ78V5u1MAiUpZZCUGx28a5hiTOJFzo_pOKoaj9FNqt5anra7MMaYrrbZjtag2jm0orNNK0dCUylNuG4/s1600/duck+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl9XAkejCyL1y4SkdIRNuzL5e7V3jLWoa5GTnX77WG3TfivjM1gKLkkkU-ZukEQ78V5u1MAiUpZZCUGx28a5hiTOJFzo_pOKoaj9FNqt5anra7MMaYrrbZjtag2jm0orNNK0dCUylNuG4/s320/duck+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sometimes you have to wait in the alley for a table. We went early so no one was there.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM50rTTkJfpMaNtL6A1HQqWAC7FdcR1xZ9WqujrGP-bWda331SyTIGv0dFkkFAVRmyNqcPO8fNRRF1qSMPenRIQ2lsUJk8W-1CDZG4YMoQclZziUUNkryOHY-ikAYWhXDYjxLCFXu-9I/s1600/duck6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrM50rTTkJfpMaNtL6A1HQqWAC7FdcR1xZ9WqujrGP-bWda331SyTIGv0dFkkFAVRmyNqcPO8fNRRF1qSMPenRIQ2lsUJk8W-1CDZG4YMoQclZziUUNkryOHY-ikAYWhXDYjxLCFXu-9I/s320/duck6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Entrance</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lsJGkWEH-DGJ5VLHa3TS1uASTSwKsu2yMGYQFDIsZgKStgVtnyhT3JWeXNeUDZNqeaWEvQNIja0A4TdoER83gxzzZjjkfObKfFxYoFvVBoU2HghtkS6gNboLHXIxVkEibA74zlKsjmo/s1600/what.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1lsJGkWEH-DGJ5VLHa3TS1uASTSwKsu2yMGYQFDIsZgKStgVtnyhT3JWeXNeUDZNqeaWEvQNIja0A4TdoER83gxzzZjjkfObKfFxYoFvVBoU2HghtkS6gNboLHXIxVkEibA74zlKsjmo/s320/what.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What the DUCK?!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvjTqtCApWrYowyrotLdaQtCh3oeM1V30cVRHU9MDHThHyyjmgyeWdhAcGkbNlC3yMRn9akI37_zESzpgnjuAf5iQd7jampVbBJ-q75RcAL80lmtmCmduXFMnDbAiZvMS6wklKaJqAic/s1600/eat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSvjTqtCApWrYowyrotLdaQtCh3oeM1V30cVRHU9MDHThHyyjmgyeWdhAcGkbNlC3yMRn9akI37_zESzpgnjuAf5iQd7jampVbBJ-q75RcAL80lmtmCmduXFMnDbAiZvMS6wklKaJqAic/s320/eat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Digging in to a mystery vegetable! Sharon looks skeptical.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunGV0ignaWEffN4RD5vOWu6KIdvMJJYBLK-vnYnLzwzwDstSEY3Y9PeDrar2m0h_MXNLuYRwhkUBWGZ6lGKvjMP0xUjqhHjmQ3047yeWa1knSrP2sQKk9f0aQgIkxSP-fEhIaBW200QI/s1600/sprite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgunGV0ignaWEffN4RD5vOWu6KIdvMJJYBLK-vnYnLzwzwDstSEY3Y9PeDrar2m0h_MXNLuYRwhkUBWGZ6lGKvjMP0xUjqhHjmQ3047yeWa1knSrP2sQKk9f0aQgIkxSP-fEhIaBW200QI/s320/sprite.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We let Zack have sprite pretty much with every meal, I am hoping the carbonation kills any germs he eats!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINsDLLm2-_NYXegs3H-lbHVXSj8dnhOeJ1_UwOaqR8cmJtwlU2XVDGBVdjpOhsi3FDpoWXDAGpevnUMgEbd4Km71SGUdlN3d-rMya-UADcP-_vU0KJnqYxjVXbDfQCPl8szar4hNCX0Y/s1600/duck4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhINsDLLm2-_NYXegs3H-lbHVXSj8dnhOeJ1_UwOaqR8cmJtwlU2XVDGBVdjpOhsi3FDpoWXDAGpevnUMgEbd4Km71SGUdlN3d-rMya-UADcP-_vU0KJnqYxjVXbDfQCPl8szar4hNCX0Y/s320/duck4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My big legs wouldn't fit under the table.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10eCJwcnd-AGKh-9O0UF0OfvsNZWOUdKUpoyEFog-bL7eTB82MbLjQPR-ImWWPYMonSEa_tgIOCBg8_xVFG-DuJxlYXiyRutJp0Cm28In_mSW74LlZjL1TQAVRmJaDC4CJz1_7CLf0oI/s1600/carve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10eCJwcnd-AGKh-9O0UF0OfvsNZWOUdKUpoyEFog-bL7eTB82MbLjQPR-ImWWPYMonSEa_tgIOCBg8_xVFG-DuJxlYXiyRutJp0Cm28In_mSW74LlZjL1TQAVRmJaDC4CJz1_7CLf0oI/s320/carve.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chef carves it up for you.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRTUoZ2uktF9b49mysM7O1RFQ_CKW3tsJBYp-iQArpgSJJS83S-CbjsgT0u3xKb0LcFP4wYilrt7_FJ4SRb6mJYsMQAKbguQXTbArSXq-ZgVRYr_eW8gcvyPfJY0LpUprPAFHPwYJpxs/s1600/carve+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXRTUoZ2uktF9b49mysM7O1RFQ_CKW3tsJBYp-iQArpgSJJS83S-CbjsgT0u3xKb0LcFP4wYilrt7_FJ4SRb6mJYsMQAKbguQXTbArSXq-ZgVRYr_eW8gcvyPfJY0LpUprPAFHPwYJpxs/s320/carve+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is not much meat on a duck. We could have eaten two!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCaRkKA-U_OuGP2dVri3GUMLRWm8DWU3hmmrhwhF4GRh-fiOOxPcWpok10c-7Nfr4agKrMdLt-BCTIGY0XUYNhT_pMrWa1wYeLK5UGg8AHEXQg6pN8CjI7ibpU7Q0X7bMV4BZqUAbAsM/s1600/duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCaRkKA-U_OuGP2dVri3GUMLRWm8DWU3hmmrhwhF4GRh-fiOOxPcWpok10c-7Nfr4agKrMdLt-BCTIGY0XUYNhT_pMrWa1wYeLK5UGg8AHEXQg6pN8CjI7ibpU7Q0X7bMV4BZqUAbAsM/s320/duck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mmmmm! We like duck!</td></tr>
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After dinner, we went back to the hotel to catch our transport to the theatre. I guess their definition of an "air conditioned bus" is a van with the windows rolled down and 12 people crammed in. Ha!<br />
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We chose the Kung Fu show because we have already seen Chinese Acrobats. It was OK, but a little cheesy. The rest of the family really enjoyed it.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbgdcrzt4jvGwVk06D4QQ-l-EwohqpRYIZVS6By2czL-4jed1Femr68NL5kvuGuICnCoVZPvrnCumXmm4beq-UKrwpeZ3n7IVgf2Ug1fFH7DywqvIWXme95nZuWfedXTSumcAlVHP10M/s1600/theater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbgdcrzt4jvGwVk06D4QQ-l-EwohqpRYIZVS6By2czL-4jed1Femr68NL5kvuGuICnCoVZPvrnCumXmm4beq-UKrwpeZ3n7IVgf2Ug1fFH7DywqvIWXme95nZuWfedXTSumcAlVHP10M/s320/theater.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The star of the show. Zack was embarrassed for him that he had to sit there before the show.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KbB3NP9SUpPQapeYmrEg2TiRFFAO9BuxhPOayOYVLLFcqOJKU-vvAQZab-60Sil_2QOJi1b8l4QXXoe4_Ptx1T0PFUGHDwnHKOrdQPE8Qk3Sp-acC0X8jpuueRTGWxilwffnNz3CXBY/s1600/theater2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KbB3NP9SUpPQapeYmrEg2TiRFFAO9BuxhPOayOYVLLFcqOJKU-vvAQZab-60Sil_2QOJi1b8l4QXXoe4_Ptx1T0PFUGHDwnHKOrdQPE8Qk3Sp-acC0X8jpuueRTGWxilwffnNz3CXBY/s320/theater2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Cast</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVZYWrhkwV4ing3UY9Gmrez5UPr1R-CtVjitPvinSUVab2e3GahicbNToxav5R6SBwvyPf6QGcgl1ruT9KpHnrqOSht_t3_IHEmkffLu8F_bSdiqMRo5x2yAH4VQlSuY0alxo_Dwwr74/s1600/theater3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLVZYWrhkwV4ing3UY9Gmrez5UPr1R-CtVjitPvinSUVab2e3GahicbNToxav5R6SBwvyPf6QGcgl1ruT9KpHnrqOSht_t3_IHEmkffLu8F_bSdiqMRo5x2yAH4VQlSuY0alxo_Dwwr74/s320/theater3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBvKrboscdCCFy5ksjDBXvTT5s5nqJr9WotTQRbJNgoaJbXTfNO2vqjhdx298SyzzgPHfULuxAZ_oa81BkqRvP9dnL4v2DBJZPCCKiDiM87d7SjnEcOITZ2UBaqoLLve0Q4tbtqj6hm0/s1600/theater4.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBvKrboscdCCFy5ksjDBXvTT5s5nqJr9WotTQRbJNgoaJbXTfNO2vqjhdx298SyzzgPHfULuxAZ_oa81BkqRvP9dnL4v2DBJZPCCKiDiM87d7SjnEcOITZ2UBaqoLLve0Q4tbtqj6hm0/s320/theater4.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br />
After the theater we went back to WangfuJin street because I wanted to get the experience while I wasn't having a nervous breakdown. It's amazing what hormonal balance will do for you. There were these "candied apples" I have seen in movies that I wanted to try so I got some. They look like mini apples. They were... weird. I liked the candy coating though. Zack and Steve both got daring and ordered some fear factor food. Steve ate a fried scorpion and Zack ate a seahorse. Steve liked the scorpion but they didn't like the seahorse. Sharon got some bread stuffed with veggies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5-RAygqYiZ75iMhJGNed7MrKPFKCzdlkIzExV_BUKp77buQmbveYFKgF8DhCoOHwx4bS8bd3-TAVBjC-Lli7R_F5P03wERiLyRoXDrfALpp6GW66RPvEGK8fqqn64ZbFwf2VFd8aQsg/s1600/wangfu2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5-RAygqYiZ75iMhJGNed7MrKPFKCzdlkIzExV_BUKp77buQmbveYFKgF8DhCoOHwx4bS8bd3-TAVBjC-Lli7R_F5P03wERiLyRoXDrfALpp6GW66RPvEGK8fqqn64ZbFwf2VFd8aQsg/s320/wangfu2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candied apple things.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk9vQePElT1rNHdnpMvkM3FsKsnr1gav-215NM56D5n6NhVUi6gEddea6MB52goSWfDfrIYdKk0SUhVh9cfySzzlnKB_MA6tQMYQbU-iaEbSTl95gwPOWDUjPSNYf-SqlWiyuSLTmohw/s1600/wangfu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk9vQePElT1rNHdnpMvkM3FsKsnr1gav-215NM56D5n6NhVUi6gEddea6MB52goSWfDfrIYdKk0SUhVh9cfySzzlnKB_MA6tQMYQbU-iaEbSTl95gwPOWDUjPSNYf-SqlWiyuSLTmohw/s320/wangfu.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to Wangfujin Street. It was a really small, crowded ally surrounded by big modern stores.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
The next day was Sunday and we got up and packed for leaving. We really enjoyed our authentic Chinese hotel in the hutong. The breakfast buffet was also really good every morning.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksrIqlfkb57CrSyo3QB2vkGFQWg2qR-Yb9_uTLECZxfi6Gj4cRgziuvM8-tuuUWvfCj-8NnB999I2qlh4BIrkT0NqLNqWchi56APcGFAPGr5omjdFcxQhffEg74aWrAjdb8x6aKiCCUU/s1600/breakfast2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhksrIqlfkb57CrSyo3QB2vkGFQWg2qR-Yb9_uTLECZxfi6Gj4cRgziuvM8-tuuUWvfCj-8NnB999I2qlh4BIrkT0NqLNqWchi56APcGFAPGr5omjdFcxQhffEg74aWrAjdb8x6aKiCCUU/s320/breakfast2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The breakfast buffet at the hotel.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuVjCEapeWcrDkcGsX9-v1RUQg00zW2S-XmIAu4Q_5msqdtPN_LNCVeBVVnyN-QrdNAKXi4i4Nnu8uiZBj_T3zNANE2hDS9V_fVEHngmgDSc2qPS4MlTLrcl6d-k4e_D4tbRWPti5oI0/s1600/breakfast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPuVjCEapeWcrDkcGsX9-v1RUQg00zW2S-XmIAu4Q_5msqdtPN_LNCVeBVVnyN-QrdNAKXi4i4Nnu8uiZBj_T3zNANE2hDS9V_fVEHngmgDSc2qPS4MlTLrcl6d-k4e_D4tbRWPti5oI0/s320/breakfast.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were about 6 tables in the dining room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
After packing we had some time so we walked around the streets of the hutong for a while. There are so many funny sights in a hutong. Basically the "street" is a little ally way that one car can fit down. There are people walking, bikes riding, scooters scooting and cars squeezing in between them all. The cars go really fast too. While walking around the hutong you might see people working in shops, people sitting on steps, people digging through overflowing garbage cans, people sorting veggies on the ground, people cooking food in giant woks, people going potty (there are neighborhood toilets on every street and the doors are open and there are just 4 squatters in a row with no stalls, I was going to get a picture but every time I tried I ended up walking in on someone going). The things you might smell are fish, garbage, sewage, dust from the piles of rubble lying everywhere, and cooking meat. The things you might hear are people yelling at each other, beep beep of the bicycles about to run you over, construction and demolition sounds, and horns honking. Another funny thing I saw that I forgot to get a picture of was veggies of some sort hanging out all along a laundry line to dry. I guess I shouldn't take my salad spinner for granted!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxabgnTPQXZ5-z5gXnZWgf89laWdVuG7cnqEpDo7v0mOh4k-JXGh_As_Jbmt28qo7m4bnHfJKBCnvaj7kxJj-aikVdYaATFr5VJ_c9iAMUZ5grLHWSQ6Ib0bI1Ta0Sh3lehesraKxOhto/s1600/building.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxabgnTPQXZ5-z5gXnZWgf89laWdVuG7cnqEpDo7v0mOh4k-JXGh_As_Jbmt28qo7m4bnHfJKBCnvaj7kxJj-aikVdYaATFr5VJ_c9iAMUZ5grLHWSQ6Ib0bI1Ta0Sh3lehesraKxOhto/s320/building.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this was the police station in our hutong.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmSM4LJVoqi7WFqI1rk32NocpnQ2AiIsJHjZxSR8YGcx3kmqOS-DihP3MgbyfI6FNy8xY-YrGzRtMRyC441OT51Lfecd0L6AnlRfBEY77qrD7302B6MgEbDxVPc9dQlrXZ1Bp_Edtce8/s1600/door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmSM4LJVoqi7WFqI1rk32NocpnQ2AiIsJHjZxSR8YGcx3kmqOS-DihP3MgbyfI6FNy8xY-YrGzRtMRyC441OT51Lfecd0L6AnlRfBEY77qrD7302B6MgEbDxVPc9dQlrXZ1Bp_Edtce8/s320/door.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This door in the alley was open and we got a peek inside some one's home. Not sure if it is one family home or several.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXPrgrc-BYtT8cFehu6WYPkSHQNf-Klu6KQpZ5rEg1c5f1FKPdRpbsKjujhBEUNNXw9MngIxHhIxvJMzaE3Grv7xIfAtRTLfIlUHQuncrAsnolWnipvDPYhK5t8VuVwWjR2t3ZSkYMXI/s1600/rubble.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXPrgrc-BYtT8cFehu6WYPkSHQNf-Klu6KQpZ5rEg1c5f1FKPdRpbsKjujhBEUNNXw9MngIxHhIxvJMzaE3Grv7xIfAtRTLfIlUHQuncrAsnolWnipvDPYhK5t8VuVwWjR2t3ZSkYMXI/s320/rubble.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rubble.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUvspQTIRZg3aq8FimtTykONjvJWHT7roA27D0aZZHcSIfxG-Knvb0HejLmpeNQYWavvBrbWO037e2R7O7aUDMTYe6E0u6OQQWNyhb_T_iAB7kTDmuqKWYGfrThG96KPURmGUQaiPmfQ/s1600/sights.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGUvspQTIRZg3aq8FimtTykONjvJWHT7roA27D0aZZHcSIfxG-Knvb0HejLmpeNQYWavvBrbWO037e2R7O7aUDMTYe6E0u6OQQWNyhb_T_iAB7kTDmuqKWYGfrThG96KPURmGUQaiPmfQ/s320/sights.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The gym.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl3BvXMAWYOcjlURNYIt7yu2AUml6Wfx4mNKEtd975N5hwFjPNnryi6SHmuhVBtwdLyN10YZkXoAoG6tCUOGk26bGuoIExWT5OSrEeGWsp3zRVReFif2bx54AqW-CRsA1B615ahPX5uY/s1600/sights2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsl3BvXMAWYOcjlURNYIt7yu2AUml6Wfx4mNKEtd975N5hwFjPNnryi6SHmuhVBtwdLyN10YZkXoAoG6tCUOGk26bGuoIExWT5OSrEeGWsp3zRVReFif2bx54AqW-CRsA1B615ahPX5uY/s320/sights2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another peek into someones turf.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGbCyGZgJCd8PGFZbsTN2qB2Y9mq4GrVuoFqyATZvr9klO20bWeNhocjK2VjhFx_kzH2eC0KtltpjPr0hMcsYrsdAmnnRza2FWiM0-4nmbfKyTXPjcpAsFLtnt2RnzImUf7tVB9G67Bc/s1600/sights3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipGbCyGZgJCd8PGFZbsTN2qB2Y9mq4GrVuoFqyATZvr9klO20bWeNhocjK2VjhFx_kzH2eC0KtltpjPr0hMcsYrsdAmnnRza2FWiM0-4nmbfKyTXPjcpAsFLtnt2RnzImUf7tVB9G67Bc/s320/sights3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The narrow alley, not room for 2 cars to pass each other. The building on the R with the three windows is a public bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MRDfWVR6D_v1KTetsyachLlZ8JHdpu3g81gpiZKYnE4h3of4cgCby6_JAj7mbaIfbKML9u2z-yJW_veDC9UXgUVagpH8UsIsO1eMDcvd15x6in4QZExjvaKhNSGFS1PF4nb0k93NoTc/s1600/sights5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3MRDfWVR6D_v1KTetsyachLlZ8JHdpu3g81gpiZKYnE4h3of4cgCby6_JAj7mbaIfbKML9u2z-yJW_veDC9UXgUVagpH8UsIsO1eMDcvd15x6in4QZExjvaKhNSGFS1PF4nb0k93NoTc/s320/sights5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Most people walk or ride bikes and they have little bells on the bikes to warn you to get out of the way.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We had a nice ride to the airport by some taxi's that the hotel hired for us. They promised that they were good drivers and they were, although I could tell me and my moms driver was annoyed at having to go so slow!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMICu3aQiIB4hkgDurCp16pqP2pqN2KqRFytv5jArId1da_8WmTIJIan-bDzcaavvc4PS3tFjxyAWJR4t0ZOi0n2br3aF_vvNvf0otrDnRKO7BcHQgPJ4mEBQZr7t8CemnYPE-48T5eY/s1600/lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMICu3aQiIB4hkgDurCp16pqP2pqN2KqRFytv5jArId1da_8WmTIJIan-bDzcaavvc4PS3tFjxyAWJR4t0ZOi0n2br3aF_vvNvf0otrDnRKO7BcHQgPJ4mEBQZr7t8CemnYPE-48T5eY/s320/lunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch at the airport, yummy noodles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
We arrived in Kunming around 8:00 pm and had our adoption guide waiting for us at the airport with a van and driver. It was nice not to have to worry about finding a taxi and communicating. I am actually really surprised at how little English is spoken in China. Not that I am complaining, I know I am in another country and should not expect them speak English. I just thought there would be more English speakers, and it is super hard to communicate. We were so excited to eat the food but have found that unless we go to a restaurant that has pictures on the menu, there is no way to order ANYTHING, even a soda.<br />
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A little about our guide. His name is Paul. He is 28 years old. After that first day of meeting him, I thought I might end up kicking his butt. He is bossy and his manner of communication leaves much to be desired. After 3 half days spent with him, I think we are understanding each other now. Also our shopping excursion today, bartering together at the market really brought us together. I told him we make a great team and he practically beamed. Oh, and when I finally thought to tell him that I was a baby nurse, he stopped telling me how to take care of Daisy. Should have thought of that sooner.<br />
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Kunming is a bit cleaner than Beijing, and the weather is much cooler. Also, people stare way more but that may be because we now have a Chinese baby with us. Today at lunch, all the workers literally lined up 5 feet from our table and just stood there staring and talking about us. Zack started to cry. He just couldn't take it anymore. Then Steve blatantly stared back at them and all the girls laughed but they kept right on staring. Sometimes when we are walking down the street people will come right up and stare in your face and then touch Daisy. I don't mind because I know they are curious about the baby so I just smile and say Ni Hao (hello). Then they try to talk to me in Chinese and I say English only and they nod and walk away.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyf5xjxSfGo1pfm8_HrLWJZeuXsFBrLONDCOwcuyAJ8gWLWybX7OpgQsp2Zax5SANRCdEKzJAl4f1rLghLhA-nwue0yIIq7_5Gg2pakuXhS-pDlWWRKAyVSic0uv1Yp-dqWrVR_7ZYW8/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwyf5xjxSfGo1pfm8_HrLWJZeuXsFBrLONDCOwcuyAJ8gWLWybX7OpgQsp2Zax5SANRCdEKzJAl4f1rLghLhA-nwue0yIIq7_5Gg2pakuXhS-pDlWWRKAyVSic0uv1Yp-dqWrVR_7ZYW8/s320/hotel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel rooms were big.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6Q2dV3GH6UMlYE3BgihH1A_QsTyGn-Jq5-3dBs9DFRfIhFrSRAILrBTfisAfdCv6Lb9UVx-IRsIXB-d_ASB75flnW6WXhflb6KaDTVhujnGm2aiOMscxFi0RNKJfTJqWOxlxgAc5_3w/s1600/hotel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6Q2dV3GH6UMlYE3BgihH1A_QsTyGn-Jq5-3dBs9DFRfIhFrSRAILrBTfisAfdCv6Lb9UVx-IRsIXB-d_ASB75flnW6WXhflb6KaDTVhujnGm2aiOMscxFi0RNKJfTJqWOxlxgAc5_3w/s320/hotel2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice soft bed.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOe8iK2FdiOpneYML0QYIf5EoaexgMkrrlu8G0_BYLhzTkcp3GlSloNjoBqBQbLp04zBxkDyQYrj8PwSBzagYaQCVQUrIgqG_UjDXov22lYzpI3oNiJ2tLYTAQeJxCHROivH0tWqnDtg/s1600/hotel3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQOe8iK2FdiOpneYML0QYIf5EoaexgMkrrlu8G0_BYLhzTkcp3GlSloNjoBqBQbLp04zBxkDyQYrj8PwSBzagYaQCVQUrIgqG_UjDXov22lYzpI3oNiJ2tLYTAQeJxCHROivH0tWqnDtg/s320/hotel3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinning area.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuATYBoqyr-DtMXoWMO7h8ctX2Tsbb4QIKsM_6m-LzXYOoaXZapshq3piLoaYNcDE9oD12ua2ZFPZUQuvygk41cPDP4kmmtI8rXJ51W2_blfL78Va-tEf9cddZUualRrI8Bn0xZQicgM/s1600/hotel4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDuATYBoqyr-DtMXoWMO7h8ctX2Tsbb4QIKsM_6m-LzXYOoaXZapshq3piLoaYNcDE9oD12ua2ZFPZUQuvygk41cPDP4kmmtI8rXJ51W2_blfL78Va-tEf9cddZUualRrI8Bn0xZQicgM/s320/hotel4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Sharon and Zack's room.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSpg3a_NMSyGCQCLbxU2rfzYAr-GlvTZEWbjYpiny9iEVyH3UfuP4CzX5D1juiW6bwUI2f0rjcmGbybVPSc0dgy5wpWjxgv493w9Vd8yl91-pdgyXRaw0RgF1gOvSrHWA-wkzGl-3LtQ/s1600/kunming.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSpg3a_NMSyGCQCLbxU2rfzYAr-GlvTZEWbjYpiny9iEVyH3UfuP4CzX5D1juiW6bwUI2f0rjcmGbybVPSc0dgy5wpWjxgv493w9Vd8yl91-pdgyXRaw0RgF1gOvSrHWA-wkzGl-3LtQ/s320/kunming.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bridge in Kunming.</td></tr>
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Well, that is it for catching you up! I will post about the baby in my next post. Right now my mom needs to email my dad because he is missing her sooooo much! Poor dad!Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-73385077547107260362011-05-28T00:21:00.011-06:002012-08-20T16:46:09.874-06:00May 28th, 2011<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">It’s basically our last full day in Beijing (we leave tomorrow to go to Kunming) and I have committed myself to the hotel room. My feet are in ruins. I have blisters the size of quarters under the thick calluses of my heels. I also have other blistered areas on my feet and my foot bones feel like they are broken. The swelling in my feet and ankles has not totally gone away either. Maybe I am a total wimp but pain is pain and I am out of the game for now. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cankles and blister (Ok maybe not as big as a quarter but seriously painfull)</td></tr>
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I am having culture shock and I hope I get over it soon. So beware if I have nothing positive to say in this post, but China is kicking my butt. </div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Yesterday we were told by the hotel staff that we could easily walk to the Forbidden City so we did. It ended up taking an hour. Also, we met this very helpful English speaking woman on the street. She told us how to get there when we were lost. She also invited us to visit her art gallery, only a slight detour from our destination. I was about to say no thank you when Steve happily agreed to go with her. We ended up buying some art work and she drew Daisy and Zack's names in Chinese for free. Later I was reading in our guide book and it said "beware of scammers who invite you to tea ceremonies or art galleries, you will end up paying way more than you should!" Oh well, we like the art we got. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We went through the whole city, it was slightly interesting, there were big crowds and everyone wanted Zack’s picture. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the start of the walk through.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Threre were many buildings...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;">many statues...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57TCmIAze5gDMUOPulYPdJYJFz-1WHBmuNAZ5BQkvBbEqaJzRnirBXhT7IJMK6XHFIcKD-KwxOjU85k0Az2ILUS2sa6MsR8sFlY0cp5b_I5WVcOTFJrK0p3U9szwUrirolKdzNjZHJUg/s1600/plain+throne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh57TCmIAze5gDMUOPulYPdJYJFz-1WHBmuNAZ5BQkvBbEqaJzRnirBXhT7IJMK6XHFIcKD-KwxOjU85k0Az2ILUS2sa6MsR8sFlY0cp5b_I5WVcOTFJrK0p3U9szwUrirolKdzNjZHJUg/s320/plain+throne.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And many thrones.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were naked babies...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">huge crowds...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and lots of people taking pictures of the white haired boy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the end there was a neat garden area with these crazy rocks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is a moat that goes around the whole forbidden city. When they dug the moat they placed all the dirt across the street and made a big hill. There is now a park there and a temple on top of the hill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The temple at the top of the moat dirt hill.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">When we came out, there was a cool park so we went to that and climbed a big hill to a temple at the top with views of the city. It was great! I love to see the view of a city from up high. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyaj4ZL64kFkKdc-Y4TYjIXrFJu7NB5x0Sk0CzS-nS6k5nzeKY-WYCDv4W4thzYzfbUkbTOL8pj-9RpwAK3Dy2BBOrlTxtJ42AhXxu0wspiSW6I3JFiXOh8ap_v5aaCXDLrdj44mg6Vc/s1600/peeing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyaj4ZL64kFkKdc-Y4TYjIXrFJu7NB5x0Sk0CzS-nS6k5nzeKY-WYCDv4W4thzYzfbUkbTOL8pj-9RpwAK3Dy2BBOrlTxtJ42AhXxu0wspiSW6I3JFiXOh8ap_v5aaCXDLrdj44mg6Vc/s320/peeing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gardener watering on the steep climb up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnNJoP9IZIuE-3UsT9OvfdfVrpBAY3IeJ47Hslml2MmUa8SdlXxTDtnakVQ2ZLDtSRxHv48tSQykm-I7K22PK4sPRaqhPJPcqTYRTpM4eFdpv8AA0Ze83AC-qwueG_e9vYNA5agW-Dg0/s1600/view7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSnNJoP9IZIuE-3UsT9OvfdfVrpBAY3IeJ47Hslml2MmUa8SdlXxTDtnakVQ2ZLDtSRxHv48tSQykm-I7K22PK4sPRaqhPJPcqTYRTpM4eFdpv8AA0Ze83AC-qwueG_e9vYNA5agW-Dg0/s320/view7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view of the forbidden city behind us from the top of the hill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XxjlEcH0Ryjrn5L8VOfSNB64KzeDgcAl53KEOeRC-P8nYuTUtbX-0knUy6aOmQ5Ok0mom2bp2T46KR7z2ucVaR_I2FhcJn2NRuPYkRwPeUh79JYQ95rpZGfX1PW4D-Z5kOsj316zh8Q/s1600/view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3XxjlEcH0Ryjrn5L8VOfSNB64KzeDgcAl53KEOeRC-P8nYuTUtbX-0knUy6aOmQ5Ok0mom2bp2T46KR7z2ucVaR_I2FhcJn2NRuPYkRwPeUh79JYQ95rpZGfX1PW4D-Z5kOsj316zh8Q/s320/view.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The forbidden city goes as far as you can see.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Beijing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qHBNMSqxf_TfcWghZN1HfqGZF27bBNS7EXk5m8tQAmtpCuJpbbIC4NyWjmy8W93Ur-EDqqWZl_afE9tBfMISCt3Ud8GQlzkUGuejONkki5c3vhRo3fEjFkvXTBB1Qh_vPMWdTbcrBBU/s1600/toy+guy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_qHBNMSqxf_TfcWghZN1HfqGZF27bBNS7EXk5m8tQAmtpCuJpbbIC4NyWjmy8W93Ur-EDqqWZl_afE9tBfMISCt3Ud8GQlzkUGuejONkki5c3vhRo3fEjFkvXTBB1Qh_vPMWdTbcrBBU/s320/toy+guy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toy seller at temple with his magical rings.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpan4Xhi5hMYtnRT7dUSKxUwBKAHk-CHHvpBOk2iacvI5PIZ41kpb0qkI70T0wDtzK4x3T32d7t1kCCB0oHfeeqNjqzELviGXOxGk_BpOED3Yv8o1DsZ8a2fHFP86YbfYdcxKwxaSdMzs/s1600/hat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpan4Xhi5hMYtnRT7dUSKxUwBKAHk-CHHvpBOk2iacvI5PIZ41kpb0qkI70T0wDtzK4x3T32d7t1kCCB0oHfeeqNjqzELviGXOxGk_BpOED3Yv8o1DsZ8a2fHFP86YbfYdcxKwxaSdMzs/s320/hat.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Where can I get one of those cool visors?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiecspkXpuiERTNxOcISP4Hn49rpdAt5iRFRorExXh7NUNXlG-zDRKGje-XIs1TCsTeFb2jMP9QAaI6tUvl7cR3qVAyd47AxaB4C5gv3VwgdlLZbanBx5J0aAS8ViKyCtiqWFnB76IgEI/s1600/temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiecspkXpuiERTNxOcISP4Hn49rpdAt5iRFRorExXh7NUNXlG-zDRKGje-XIs1TCsTeFb2jMP9QAaI6tUvl7cR3qVAyd47AxaB4C5gv3VwgdlLZbanBx5J0aAS8ViKyCtiqWFnB76IgEI/s320/temple.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Up in the temple. It was very pretty and colorful.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">After the park visit, we walked to Tiananmen Square, another heinous 40 minute walk. It was a big cement square with lots of people milling about and no benches to sit on. Chairman Mao’s picture is really, really small in case you were wondering. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One end of the square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other end of the square.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWVLVXFMOpS7XKYq-_1C-uimGn8HDT1wRahIz42NVxOK4RNAJ7lrx_l882MctSZz2xE4oc-nEv2A84zXiU1gO9jm9Emz2jQp_PEaSd3WcQXJcXIhmcTYs42tnRHmafTmas7Eu1LxuUfs/s1600/mao2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBWVLVXFMOpS7XKYq-_1C-uimGn8HDT1wRahIz42NVxOK4RNAJ7lrx_l882MctSZz2xE4oc-nEv2A84zXiU1gO9jm9Emz2jQp_PEaSd3WcQXJcXIhmcTYs42tnRHmafTmas7Eu1LxuUfs/s320/mao2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">OK, so his picture is actually quite big, weighing in at 1.5 tons. It just looks small from far away.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h-G5PLFkW2s24ad8c__oaju4qort1AzEJORjCtPJScjU7jJJa_ry4QqVUUTlx-upOUMRNeYJTGHfbnBe7X3o3TGMWJtoui-EYey6qT_fVlBoXJviNu2u-nsn7WXPHAAweDjk2OFAAPI/s1600/mao3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-h-G5PLFkW2s24ad8c__oaju4qort1AzEJORjCtPJScjU7jJJa_ry4QqVUUTlx-upOUMRNeYJTGHfbnBe7X3o3TGMWJtoui-EYey6qT_fVlBoXJviNu2u-nsn7WXPHAAweDjk2OFAAPI/s320/mao3.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picture is changed out every year before Oct 1st, which is the founding day of the Peoples Republic of China.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">On the way home, I insisted we figure out the subway. No more walking. So we did and it was really easy to use and cheap. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We came back to the hotel and rested for so long that it was late when we set out for the night market at Wangfujing Street. I bought some new shoes on the way hoping it would help my feet to have a change. It helped for a little while. Having not eaten lunch, we were anxious to find dinner but got lost trying to find the noodle house we wanted to try. We gave up and just headed back to the market and thought we would eat there but there was no food except KFC and McDonald's. Weird. Oh, and the mystery meat on a stick and live bugs on sticks that people were eating. So, going against our own rules again, we ate at KFC. Gross. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Then we went home, to our hotel. Forgot to wear my pedometer again! Double blast!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">TMI warning:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Right now the others are out exploring while I sit and rest. I am not myself and needed to just chill. The problem: destroyed feet, fatigue, culture shock, germaphobia, PMS and the worst period I have ever had. Period. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight we are going to eat Peking Duck and then to see an evening Kung Fu show at the theater. No walking needed. I am looking forward to it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tomorrow we will pack up and fly out around 3:30. Two more days till we meet Daisy!</span></div>
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<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQeoPFQIw26Q3EqWCXR3wOGeCbAJYmrNMjY09bF0HuIAY3gy0dMtnZPhhTOpEmZ6DBxNZ65_UqGtrKg-knBAtLYPPQOaLIXM8rmcqfvGbKA3AlzSS1ro3dgnCAKL9XkOpjkWkPoM5QZQ/s320/lion.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 386px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2906px; visibility: hidden;" width="54" />
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<img height="72" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcch-JaFgRRkp01mXHDnMmfeCBRONE4dy6RUojWIiBUOnydXRNYCOtjIO1J3bzf1CgFzLTLrf7_24KKB2JfUncMqSVB4dty6td4wn2uRzXF4bUQjRvbIyI9H1cBA0-M3Na5xp-nEw0vMM/s320/for+city8.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 312px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 2323px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /><img height="69" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHeVUB3nCd10dz0wGVMzZ1cvj6sP_yGMBxuray6chcBtT24MV0E3el4MTdTpHHfW8YZDNcSNTZMHbmai1MsaCnI-FjSAvjD22-tapG4Rned-Prr3SlLZklelGFORu_BYr9ne_QBtLQ7SE/s320/for+city4.jpg" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 394px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1746px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" />Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6160671614641260293.post-91879896521615584952011-05-28T00:16:00.000-06:002013-07-16T15:46:53.585-06:00May 26th, 2011<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Yesterday mom and I slept in and then finished laundry and organized our suitcases while Steve and Zack went out to find the fish market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was closed but they did some exploring and Steve ate a few meals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom and I tried to do some shopping while they were gone but we quickly realized that none of the clothes would fit us giant people and none of the rings I wanted to buy would fit my sausage fingers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Japanese women are very thin and petite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to feel like a big, clumsy fatty, go to Japan.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn5pCzE2iPizZFWca_MK4vzA68mSPqR3CD_rJQsOw_CMSYMd55nPPM3-Ct1N_o0Cs9ciiNIyharzbxtcdIKiueWblT2LmBdoEZ1Cmed6z9PiyRbTT4IG8Q0WQDs5wfP_y9iOfrj4OCCI/s1600/ChinaVixia+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvn5pCzE2iPizZFWca_MK4vzA68mSPqR3CD_rJQsOw_CMSYMd55nPPM3-Ct1N_o0Cs9ciiNIyharzbxtcdIKiueWblT2LmBdoEZ1Cmed6z9PiyRbTT4IG8Q0WQDs5wfP_y9iOfrj4OCCI/s320/ChinaVixia+006.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramen for Steve and McDonalds for Zack. Two happy guys.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Around 1:00 we started our journey to the airport.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Through the streets, down to the subway station, onto the train, with all our luggage in tow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUYbajvHV6NNzeWbvmUgOvedGtRmKA0419vjUhQ0PpGs1sFzYkl8yerDUYemm5df70R80J1VR2zsTmyEYnMGAhle_bYJWK2AVhso9Mh3UFKDkSJec3Y31Gbk868-ZGtp6Fe1ohbWnpN4/s1600/leaving+jap.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSUYbajvHV6NNzeWbvmUgOvedGtRmKA0419vjUhQ0PpGs1sFzYkl8yerDUYemm5df70R80J1VR2zsTmyEYnMGAhle_bYJWK2AVhso9Mh3UFKDkSJec3Y31Gbk868-ZGtp6Fe1ohbWnpN4/s320/leaving+jap.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the subway with waaay too much luggage.</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We made it to the airport with little time to spare but we did make it down to McDonald's for a burger and fries as Steve had been led to believe that there was no meal service on our flight.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It is against our rules of not eating American food while abroad but it sounded good and there was no other food around that part of the airport.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Steve had a special 4 patty Big Mac, yes you read it right, 4 patties.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">My mom is amazed at how much food he can put away.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">He had already had a sushi meal, a bowl of Ramen and a couple of doughnuts before we left!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5Z2Onu0fJEk7e_as7N5g0cADKcaKh3WLmqKCxJ_-7LPzKRlCaQM3nL52CLeLbTGO7coPWSi6XNsb3ZpLlZvKM4MWY3RPUExtdZExStS6YbkEIXw8yl5zMcEK6T_brdCQQPwl7-fYqrQ/s1600/bigmac.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk5Z2Onu0fJEk7e_as7N5g0cADKcaKh3WLmqKCxJ_-7LPzKRlCaQM3nL52CLeLbTGO7coPWSi6XNsb3ZpLlZvKM4MWY3RPUExtdZExStS6YbkEIXw8yl5zMcEK6T_brdCQQPwl7-fYqrQ/s320/bigmac.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's summmm burger!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We flew All Nipon Airlines to Beijing, a 3 ½ hour flight.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It was a nice airline with lots of leg room and low and behold, a really nice big meal!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We also had our own TV’s with movies, TV shows, video games and music to choose from.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Deeeelux!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShyha-aDbL58zqM90LjJUXIx_YWY0i5UAuqp7xOlpmmdmDyGLK3sJA9XPb4GBHfgqmiFxzRm-HECKcpH7B-ZwzXdQ72lmadJBKtpSq10SM3HSRLoWhMQlSN4RtMGdxhfvwdVRAABNkjA/s1600/leavejap3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiShyha-aDbL58zqM90LjJUXIx_YWY0i5UAuqp7xOlpmmdmDyGLK3sJA9XPb4GBHfgqmiFxzRm-HECKcpH7B-ZwzXdQ72lmadJBKtpSq10SM3HSRLoWhMQlSN4RtMGdxhfvwdVRAABNkjA/s320/leavejap3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our huge plane.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIkbssxMYfrUTiqSLxX9kBFDzpxZLVinAd2h0fYMmhu5KiTcD2N-k3Jtu11mOGRJYSygCXcVsrpX2gjLhWQYW6mf_sW7OzCSUtvuQKoJEFR1TlAPcdWrZU_kfTbXruBpbWa8QXy7B3k4/s1600/leavjap2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtIkbssxMYfrUTiqSLxX9kBFDzpxZLVinAd2h0fYMmhu5KiTcD2N-k3Jtu11mOGRJYSygCXcVsrpX2gjLhWQYW6mf_sW7OzCSUtvuQKoJEFR1TlAPcdWrZU_kfTbXruBpbWa8QXy7B3k4/s320/leavjap2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goodby Japan! (Can you see Mt. Fuji?)</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We arrived in Beijing at around 8:30 and by the time we went through customs, got our luggage, changed our money and got in line for a taxi, it was 10:00 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tried to get a Van taxi but he wanted to charge us $100 usd so we literally squeezed into a small taxi, Steve up front, mom and I in back with Zack on my lap and our two big suitcases on the seat next to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No seat belts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He drove like Satan was chasing him, all the while talking on his cell phone, weaving in and out of the freeway traffic, ignoring the lines, and going sooo fast!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom was gasping in horror; all I could do was pray.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have never been so scared in a car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we came upon a wrecked car that had been completely burned up in a fire, firemen and water all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He barely slows down but gets out his phone and snaps a picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I lost it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t stop laughing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom was like: “Deidra, it’s not funny!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But really, how does a car catch on fire and burn completely up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only in China.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That cab ride cost us $40 usd.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We did make it to our neighborhood alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, he just dropped us at our neighborhood, we had to drag our luggage down a dark street<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at 11:00 pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A nice lady helped us find our hotel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wanted to stay in a traditional Chinese place so we chose The Double Happiness Courtyard Hotel and it is in a traditional old neighborhood called a hutong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is really cool and if you have ever seen a Chinese movie set in the old times it looks just like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is really clean and has a nice bathroom and the beds are comfy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also a breakfast buffet is included.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_HkTwsaaoYzWZO9cJxQ8Kt7FR2KYO-_sCa1vLQdoVi5TGgWOeRnr7ijdZ_bE6NTJgknJETpHHc4J8rLcJR7kz5C8iqb8FB3dGUapV4zlSbkQS-HdmACkdGZIk-KM6AXEkohOY_QaEaA/s1600/our+street.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_HkTwsaaoYzWZO9cJxQ8Kt7FR2KYO-_sCa1vLQdoVi5TGgWOeRnr7ijdZ_bE6NTJgknJETpHHc4J8rLcJR7kz5C8iqb8FB3dGUapV4zlSbkQS-HdmACkdGZIk-KM6AXEkohOY_QaEaA/s320/our+street.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The street our hotel was on.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFiJKAkedHxtDQpjGt1ZbhP-0E9PxnjADZdSoGgyjgPg23ZzLHxsAIl5fuDTJ0p-ws2qxlZrw_5PGgmnk9Uw5PO-U2zfNw420F98lIvPilaisfAsNk809xiBCnPpGps9udZtgwTdUu4Y/s1600/hotel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTFiJKAkedHxtDQpjGt1ZbhP-0E9PxnjADZdSoGgyjgPg23ZzLHxsAIl5fuDTJ0p-ws2qxlZrw_5PGgmnk9Uw5PO-U2zfNw420F98lIvPilaisfAsNk809xiBCnPpGps9udZtgwTdUu4Y/s320/hotel2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to our hotel, The Double Happiness Courtyard.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxGjJRdL1Sjf91bHaUb1umsMkgcHpkjxLlnZHn68y8K5Zr_l49Rd5bmc7YigSpefMu1yjH6qO1KyMEgZn2VNwCci5NdS5hd8UxKA2R3TaHypf4X0RL4t1p8lch0hhcg_C5WGvWUYUaqg/s1600/hotel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxGjJRdL1Sjf91bHaUb1umsMkgcHpkjxLlnZHn68y8K5Zr_l49Rd5bmc7YigSpefMu1yjH6qO1KyMEgZn2VNwCci5NdS5hd8UxKA2R3TaHypf4X0RL4t1p8lch0hhcg_C5WGvWUYUaqg/s320/hotel.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The courtyard right outside our room.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAJGnu69QoNQMtnIQpSXRkElsxGkLWbg_c1MoKRWvJtGqkSZuObzLp_lqYOa9SePMFxjwuHkFxCxGR225Wb4saI_3MGpaUSy6PUhStbtrcUBSH0SvL6rdQLtSlqHpL0G65ldJaKD129Y/s1600/hotel+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAJGnu69QoNQMtnIQpSXRkElsxGkLWbg_c1MoKRWvJtGqkSZuObzLp_lqYOa9SePMFxjwuHkFxCxGR225Wb4saI_3MGpaUSy6PUhStbtrcUBSH0SvL6rdQLtSlqHpL0G65ldJaKD129Y/s320/hotel+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJZlvCHSS-K1VY3sAXn0_E56LAm39GeCfNWPf45HUb39mLaHeoaMKecpCcj5qLEFYJ67TvP263GdFsGXyBHDxicSPuLgN3DVdwkulHwQJasD_ITzzhsnrnaxABmpUz_M2lL307ybusRo/s1600/hotel+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJZlvCHSS-K1VY3sAXn0_E56LAm39GeCfNWPf45HUb39mLaHeoaMKecpCcj5qLEFYJ67TvP263GdFsGXyBHDxicSPuLgN3DVdwkulHwQJasD_ITzzhsnrnaxABmpUz_M2lL307ybusRo/s320/hotel+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBso4HSERjcbper49GAZsAtyVtQyfI48SeLTP27npTZxJxHs2kNZMqZmIIxA7w6Gj7YJ9ngu91jDnfC5Yr3QNGEKiVa6KF-VzDDTs_VRuAkxHB8hNz3BE-P6aFEZxzebP9pnPyZVtI68/s1600/hotel+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBso4HSERjcbper49GAZsAtyVtQyfI48SeLTP27npTZxJxHs2kNZMqZmIIxA7w6Gj7YJ9ngu91jDnfC5Yr3QNGEKiVa6KF-VzDDTs_VRuAkxHB8hNz3BE-P6aFEZxzebP9pnPyZVtI68/s320/hotel+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack's in good spirits, mom looks kind of dead.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bathroom</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCobc-DmwK87nlXG7W8XOPb7LZI8CctE0I7j86MxN5_Od-lZF6NQqd_iADjE2bAnuwxm7Lmy2Q6IoedVGGEISEBT-CJDICPV_sIGQewfx6qCMlB6bCCmX7ptDMD_x4x9c9CA7182qdsk/s1600/hotel+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrCobc-DmwK87nlXG7W8XOPb7LZI8CctE0I7j86MxN5_Od-lZF6NQqd_iADjE2bAnuwxm7Lmy2Q6IoedVGGEISEBT-CJDICPV_sIGQewfx6qCMlB6bCCmX7ptDMD_x4x9c9CA7182qdsk/s320/hotel+9.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIJduatB4Bn-RVrpRoiNNhLLU2PJMOBoDppe3xCce9EGL2XxS5RjeL12LKJDa05uuKCdo0BrkXlbkgD54QTbKvnUhBa90zpa-EsTdQ5Aum7Tr2YbxaARM_PBWXyDiaBrRymeu01xxvqY/s1600/hotel6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjIJduatB4Bn-RVrpRoiNNhLLU2PJMOBoDppe3xCce9EGL2XxS5RjeL12LKJDa05uuKCdo0BrkXlbkgD54QTbKvnUhBa90zpa-EsTdQ5Aum7Tr2YbxaARM_PBWXyDiaBrRymeu01xxvqY/s320/hotel6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zack and grandma's bed</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">This morning we got up and ate breakfast (we had fried rice, fried eggs, bacon, breads, juices, yogurt drinks, and cereal but a myriad of Chinese food was available) and then our driver arrived to take us to The Great Wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a good guy and spoke better Japanese than English so Steve mostly spoke to him and translated for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We chose to go to a less touristy area of The Wall with a little further distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was fabulous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were some ski lifts to take us up and then we hiked along the wall for what seemed like miles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was very steep and mostly made of stairs so it was a hard hike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The air here is hazy so I hope our pictures turn out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2xq6pSvzGqvadV6nGOnsIzuArzJQOzwc8F1I6x2N0T_sqiqBOjyzB0C3kAxYTo6UKLmxq7jU6az0wPt9b-gmYn_jXYBdMwtkcGzUY7lJBVj1iDQierUkyRC0J1VtLj00WQXYt2FPNcg/s1600/wall13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO2xq6pSvzGqvadV6nGOnsIzuArzJQOzwc8F1I6x2N0T_sqiqBOjyzB0C3kAxYTo6UKLmxq7jU6az0wPt9b-gmYn_jXYBdMwtkcGzUY7lJBVj1iDQierUkyRC0J1VtLj00WQXYt2FPNcg/s320/wall13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We visited the Mutianyu section of the great wall.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-evwRo_xLEsxEYiOzoOQ44PZkpmHPugSCqnwPe3RuTNNheixDss4QVWqa9A1v8uB24ev_67IYbXmMlPoxVH2hTgmvtjMXJLw0mNwpDRwv-ljGYL-43TVA68zdy09jkRZOsy6PWqYkEaE/s1600/wall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-evwRo_xLEsxEYiOzoOQ44PZkpmHPugSCqnwPe3RuTNNheixDss4QVWqa9A1v8uB24ev_67IYbXmMlPoxVH2hTgmvtjMXJLw0mNwpDRwv-ljGYL-43TVA68zdy09jkRZOsy6PWqYkEaE/s320/wall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding up the ancient chairlift to the wall</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZWTKXCTviBdluR8C8Tkt3PM68A-fONummmZfOp5zwk4EDRh6_dl2P3TTnbkdOTxarN5RDvsS9-MLLq_A_khjiAutyMoJ_cCp80hBvXB1mg6pVy_lsRE-cZlvvQv4E5aaz4SLa4qODzE/s1600/wall15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZWTKXCTviBdluR8C8Tkt3PM68A-fONummmZfOp5zwk4EDRh6_dl2P3TTnbkdOTxarN5RDvsS9-MLLq_A_khjiAutyMoJ_cCp80hBvXB1mg6pVy_lsRE-cZlvvQv4E5aaz4SLa4qODzE/s320/wall15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zc4jOeDoY5K2p6zgIEIyhVtDhlwf16kIIhCE4FdfDwgS-SgDXg2dQ6eI3d9JItFHiot2f3vZCbMo2ikotuZoC6-rG2StsKgLc_0ZY1JHaGcGDO16VAT1eEAlsufxB3pPR4jijb3cZFE/s1600/wall10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0zc4jOeDoY5K2p6zgIEIyhVtDhlwf16kIIhCE4FdfDwgS-SgDXg2dQ6eI3d9JItFHiot2f3vZCbMo2ikotuZoC6-rG2StsKgLc_0ZY1JHaGcGDO16VAT1eEAlsufxB3pPR4jijb3cZFE/s320/wall10.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZOik6PgS6r-Q9OCCWeDgp-YhnTUJEtTFqVDBwlE-2nsccbML14CYfjexJotDwvZWqwu7KYb_Jo7wSCMkI2IPKiKrqSXAfAFdKw5kfizbytWpeS1XmrgOx1A30SorQwQSdzDMqQ_X-Cs/s1600/wall11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZOik6PgS6r-Q9OCCWeDgp-YhnTUJEtTFqVDBwlE-2nsccbML14CYfjexJotDwvZWqwu7KYb_Jo7wSCMkI2IPKiKrqSXAfAFdKw5kfizbytWpeS1XmrgOx1A30SorQwQSdzDMqQ_X-Cs/s320/wall11.jpg" width="219" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We had quite the hike and still only covered a small portion of this wall </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8U9ZAB52LQ_uaQm4jpG1EfTeCATSdBBbaySBrqCxGfBz9wkLrQCPHvZtvgI6cjZTVUhQdimfmD3EHU9D3rcH0h9Z3rWCRIyQ0QV1OmzzUP17A0u2g6X8xTOvKTbKkBb0-SKbChc8IgI/s1600/wall12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih8U9ZAB52LQ_uaQm4jpG1EfTeCATSdBBbaySBrqCxGfBz9wkLrQCPHvZtvgI6cjZTVUhQdimfmD3EHU9D3rcH0h9Z3rWCRIyQ0QV1OmzzUP17A0u2g6X8xTOvKTbKkBb0-SKbChc8IgI/s320/wall12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVlkg0H4ZRaNxHWLGt6Mum7vg4et1-3-wwhaTMmFARuqVSy9fu0kWXNI57PcEkDU3JlVVAHeigEbPRyWv5GOb0Wi6hXBz1p0qPX170A9GQgNuObRVjcrT2phJXSgFNY-2GUyNm-w-WOY/s1600/wall14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcVlkg0H4ZRaNxHWLGt6Mum7vg4et1-3-wwhaTMmFARuqVSy9fu0kWXNI57PcEkDU3JlVVAHeigEbPRyWv5GOb0Wi6hXBz1p0qPX170A9GQgNuObRVjcrT2phJXSgFNY-2GUyNm-w-WOY/s320/wall14.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We paid a small fee to take Zacks picture on this donkey. The family before us paid a small fortune. Ha! Too bad we couldn't ride this donkey instead of killing ourselves hiking up and down this mountain.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-elwUDg0OKdS0PUCsRICRyBoIA3HWy5dyB5QJWr4buhLc3uoxGxaVObG_YM-ixZPtvP32bgT2tp3nhBFgSGyKzJQRAPBD7afwLucZlUdSw__5mmqWBi9QYcagCWj7wOHD66C1qHcEGXs/s1600/wall3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-elwUDg0OKdS0PUCsRICRyBoIA3HWy5dyB5QJWr4buhLc3uoxGxaVObG_YM-ixZPtvP32bgT2tp3nhBFgSGyKzJQRAPBD7afwLucZlUdSw__5mmqWBi9QYcagCWj7wOHD66C1qHcEGXs/s320/wall3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmz_UGW1fCbnHWPlpGLqdFT5JorWpHB4hwj5uy047Jx1RPwjTgQpsZuYb-DbITMXnURoP8ZHl5ELcPPQSO8NhPF-VGVNF_0r0cDPzhTEsL2M9nZbGqfskPbMBHzLo9Ca9G8EKZ77oSGE/s1600/wall5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMmz_UGW1fCbnHWPlpGLqdFT5JorWpHB4hwj5uy047Jx1RPwjTgQpsZuYb-DbITMXnURoP8ZHl5ELcPPQSO8NhPF-VGVNF_0r0cDPzhTEsL2M9nZbGqfskPbMBHzLo9Ca9G8EKZ77oSGE/s320/wall5.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These Chairman Mao hats and paraphernalia were sold all over China.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPki-_2jnRwtUK_vb3zr6NindRtdDOZz6EtRvc-jXXt1tL1KJ_RPRdmmDNDLhCNtfSJdsVx-aN-pEPIz-jCX9WxRTYqklyllZYGnHb1bb2sLw8EZZMEdBcHuPduBl_27oGkRonGmFBBMQ/s1600/wall6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPki-_2jnRwtUK_vb3zr6NindRtdDOZz6EtRvc-jXXt1tL1KJ_RPRdmmDNDLhCNtfSJdsVx-aN-pEPIz-jCX9WxRTYqklyllZYGnHb1bb2sLw8EZZMEdBcHuPduBl_27oGkRonGmFBBMQ/s320/wall6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfQ-D2zEiWTzbonWE31PFWYbEMUOwLFrR09ejo7u7Yfx6FEM0pNJrhDyWj7HinP-5_Ts8DmIbeS4ZYmGfPHKPhEn8IG3wmJ3-g3Be2BdXGZ4dHN4bZQHi679t83g3p7dujiZgO2oYfkg/s1600/wall7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMfQ-D2zEiWTzbonWE31PFWYbEMUOwLFrR09ejo7u7Yfx6FEM0pNJrhDyWj7HinP-5_Ts8DmIbeS4ZYmGfPHKPhEn8IG3wmJ3-g3Be2BdXGZ4dHN4bZQHi679t83g3p7dujiZgO2oYfkg/s320/wall7.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqT-YlSWuq1FR_PWcEDh5P9SvxO0vZy3GPvQbDvNdsM23pa2T19oCGK1TDQv-Z9HjWavJgnqZjbJavpdUBbSF-k6Iph6Gyg_97FYZmjGUpL0agA13NBPgOoLiM5ZZTz10Rr0L5uU4aY8/s1600/wall8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqT-YlSWuq1FR_PWcEDh5P9SvxO0vZy3GPvQbDvNdsM23pa2T19oCGK1TDQv-Z9HjWavJgnqZjbJavpdUBbSF-k6Iph6Gyg_97FYZmjGUpL0agA13NBPgOoLiM5ZZTz10Rr0L5uU4aY8/s320/wall8.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-icS5G2D7IdadU3X8B9hrpH4QPZitd_syQKuH_S-cEXxsPjFmqe8QKCCQhQ5v77YQRHFnbSnCcLb1NgdGEwwMnxya5UfBdHPypeLgdEVKNFBsFaTsD3kowu8pzPgZy38P68drBoLz50/s1600/wall9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-icS5G2D7IdadU3X8B9hrpH4QPZitd_syQKuH_S-cEXxsPjFmqe8QKCCQhQ5v77YQRHFnbSnCcLb1NgdGEwwMnxya5UfBdHPypeLgdEVKNFBsFaTsD3kowu8pzPgZy38P68drBoLz50/s320/wall9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">After we hiked about ½ the length of that portion of the wall, we turned around and went back and rode an Alpine slide back down. It was a good slide and we kept getting yelled at for going too fast, but we are used to going fast on the slides!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_dha-MkES2kao05yDb8mmuGith__mzK7Ejj3XTrTIrSBHV7kA97w1XpoZWl3pLscgI3lJMv85jNOk4-EG26PoSwKLgUlM-NOcTUz673AT46Gj5TDByUI80G51UuDCy2HerMReQ9R1L0/s1600/wall4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ_dha-MkES2kao05yDb8mmuGith__mzK7Ejj3XTrTIrSBHV7kA97w1XpoZWl3pLscgI3lJMv85jNOk4-EG26PoSwKLgUlM-NOcTUz673AT46Gj5TDByUI80G51UuDCy2HerMReQ9R1L0/s320/wall4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">A quick stop for a soda and we were back in the car with Mr. Yong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We asked him to take us somewhere good for lunch and he sure did!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He drove a ways, stopped in a little town and up to a little hole in the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He ordered for us because we don’t know what we’re doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The food came and it was all really delicious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soup, salad (we couldn’t eat it, not cooked), tender chicken in sauce and then you wrapped it in these tofu wrappers, another dish with cooked cucumber, mushrooms and meat, some delish bread and jasmine tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was all really good and cost only $8 total!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Not $8 each person, $8 total!</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Restaurant. No idea what it was called. At one point in the meal Steve had to go potty. Our guide told him to just go outside. So he did.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwX7IKIJdobxWCeMtrJhfqn5Kpm6-wIw9lTMD5yBC7i89noy4v1Baf6GYRnZlNCCebehiAcIM_b9_fTbQzli5cr-0wB0Yr1JzKmPtnkpP6A_BHo0-baZuu_AvyJpqFa06tNVj9uQOU5Y/s1600/lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfwX7IKIJdobxWCeMtrJhfqn5Kpm6-wIw9lTMD5yBC7i89noy4v1Baf6GYRnZlNCCebehiAcIM_b9_fTbQzli5cr-0wB0Yr1JzKmPtnkpP6A_BHo0-baZuu_AvyJpqFa06tNVj9uQOU5Y/s320/lunch.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was seriously so good. Zack was tired and the guide told him to go lie down on the couch behind him. You can't tell but it is filthy. I gave him a look that said "over my dead body do you lie on that couch!"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We then started back to Beijing to see the Summer Palace.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">On the way it started to rain and then pour.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">I suggested that maybe we should skip it but it was on the agenda so on we went.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">It literally dumped buckets of rain and there was a lot of lightening then entire time.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We didn’t end up seeing much of anything so it was pretty much a waste.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We were soaked by the time we got back to the car despite our $1 poncho’s.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH3ai76Z616Sm5cpBMzc2ZPwuwpDaAC9KllXZMgRNfE5G1cRG7sBQoP6dBYT6Zx36CFIHBI0uU6rXEVLq9ZXVrrCG9o7TvnOnatJjNjICJnb8b0vFAXPFQau26ZtibhJ-5TVS3sTBo7s/s1600/sumpal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtH3ai76Z616Sm5cpBMzc2ZPwuwpDaAC9KllXZMgRNfE5G1cRG7sBQoP6dBYT6Zx36CFIHBI0uU6rXEVLq9ZXVrrCG9o7TvnOnatJjNjICJnb8b0vFAXPFQau26ZtibhJ-5TVS3sTBo7s/s320/sumpal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ceiling of the pagoda we spent most of our time in. Along with 200 other people.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEDQ5RgFWaBThr5SW9nW2mkexeXOS_4WzFtpCcF3sSyH1YiJlKiRwltD-506igTparcM3R2Mu5vnTa0xWVkc50RMmey74kXWUCyhXEpHMI0Fie2gxy-6BBiqEiSgmRp7GeisPxo8P-Hc/s1600/sumpal2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEDQ5RgFWaBThr5SW9nW2mkexeXOS_4WzFtpCcF3sSyH1YiJlKiRwltD-506igTparcM3R2Mu5vnTa0xWVkc50RMmey74kXWUCyhXEpHMI0Fie2gxy-6BBiqEiSgmRp7GeisPxo8P-Hc/s320/sumpal2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm saying, "Can we go now?" There was tons of lightening and I was freaked out. So was Sharon.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR1GgIypCVLYOyB05Ayd19VNzh-iFtfFpWzonjdgXRWu1CgNUlN46oayvY9neUFiztQjJeX7OWezUujfXUiAe81YudTuPok_51DJpMC-GuZHrO3dXn2W6WFBG9xRHyXt-CJhSM9YKRSA/s1600/sumpal4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWR1GgIypCVLYOyB05Ayd19VNzh-iFtfFpWzonjdgXRWu1CgNUlN46oayvY9neUFiztQjJeX7OWezUujfXUiAe81YudTuPok_51DJpMC-GuZHrO3dXn2W6WFBG9xRHyXt-CJhSM9YKRSA/s320/sumpal4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think this was right before I slippd and fell down and my skirt came up. </td></tr>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">We went home and then after it stopped raining and a little rest we went out for dinner at a really good restaurant where Steve had frog legs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gross.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the rest of dinner was really good.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5_nrXOsCSdc9qlLuI4ivYObIuBVwYBaOIS-3zJmE5EHbjdaJ6Or4BKgfIIG3iJyXuQ2fkvbbmioSE13Wa1Uki8EuTFiU1uI67WpMan6EWAnVCCGdq_wWImplZ8NUOZbzygqxxCYp3pQ/s1600/dinner1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ5_nrXOsCSdc9qlLuI4ivYObIuBVwYBaOIS-3zJmE5EHbjdaJ6Or4BKgfIIG3iJyXuQ2fkvbbmioSE13Wa1Uki8EuTFiU1uI67WpMan6EWAnVCCGdq_wWImplZ8NUOZbzygqxxCYp3pQ/s320/dinner1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"What are you going to eat?!"</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub78mdv2UJ4eInuX3oY_InzWeguN8U6hdq-_K21CU7LxFpFbPmMwfKrcgr8jk-LHqt2ubUmYO4o689jgxIFVFGph60WB3fxaKDEvdxiA4IbjoOCoLOHx81LhyNN7Q56AA1qX3bvFE4pU/s1600/dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub78mdv2UJ4eInuX3oY_InzWeguN8U6hdq-_K21CU7LxFpFbPmMwfKrcgr8jk-LHqt2ubUmYO4o689jgxIFVFGph60WB3fxaKDEvdxiA4IbjoOCoLOHx81LhyNN7Q56AA1qX3bvFE4pU/s320/dinner.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Just some delish frog legs. Mmmm."</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Forgot to wear my pedometer!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Blast!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Goodnight!</span></div>
Deidrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15753749864631243159noreply@blogger.com1