Thursday, November 6

Tengwang Pavilion was on tap for today. It is located just behind our hotel, Gloria Grand, on the Kan River, so we could walk there. The original building was erected in 654, but it has been destroyed many times. We saw the rebuilt 1926 structure. It is beautiful, surrounded by smaller pavilions, parks, bridges, lakes, trees. We walked in and around it for a long time. It's warm-almost hot-and overcast. I walked up six flights of stairs to get to the top of the pavilion with Lia in the sling--and I was one sweaty mama.

After our Tengwang visit, we ventured out for some lunch with two other couples. We got our Mandarin translation book and ordered some chicken, dumplings, noodles and pi-jyao--beer. I ordered the chicken--and it came in a boiling pot of broth, complete with the head, beak, and feet sticking out the top. Not what I was expecting! Didn't try the head and feet, but the rest of it was delicious. Once the head and feet had submerged in the broth, I just pretended they really weren't down there. I did fish out the liver with my chopsticks-yum-o! The noodles and dumplings were equally fine. The owner/waitress were friendly and happy to see our little girls. One of the waitresses took Lia over to show her friends, and Shane said to go get her before she was kidnapped.

From here we walked across the street to the grocery. When in China, you take your chances crossing the street and hope for the best. I haven't seen anyone get hit yet--but some close calls. Cars and buses honk when approaching you, honk while they're passing you, and for good measure, honk when they've passed you. If you wait for a break in the traffic, it'll never come--so you just go. Bicycles, pedicabs and motorbikes are also a force to be reckoned with!

We bought bananas (Lia loves smashed bananas) and water, and wandered around looking at all the wares. The grocery employs an awful lot of people who appear to just stand around and look at you and make sure your baby is bundled. The women will gather around and chat while looking at you and the babies--a never ending source of amazement--from both perspectives.

That evening we walked down the street for another dinner as a group again--new place, and not as good as the first place we had been. I am getting adept at picking up kernels of corn, noodles, rice, eggs with chopsticks and feeding our little bird, Lia. She just opens up and I plop it in. I may have already said this, but she's unable to pick things up, hold on to it, and put it into her mouth. She'll drop it before she gets to her mouth.

After that, we boarded a bus to go see the fountain and light show. Our big old bus made two U turns right in the middle of the street--no casualties. The fountain show took place on the other side of the Kan River...laser lights, jumping fountains, geysers...and more rain. We are ready for sun--we have had nothing but overcast foggy/smoggy/rainy skies since Beijing.
More to follow--all is well!