More Photos

Here are more photos for your viewing pleasure. MaryAlice is taking her afternoon nap after a dip in the pool. Monica and Marcia have ventured out in Guangzhou to do some shopping off of the island. Our guide gave them directions on what to tell the taxi driver so they can get back to the hotel. I thought it was a little too much to go out again with the baby and I just wanted to relax with her and play. We went to a park in Guangzhou this morning that was just beautiful. The foliage is very similar to Florida and they were decorating for the Autumn Moon Fesitval Celebration. The Mooncakes are selling like hotcakes everywhere. There is constantly a line in the lobby of our hotel to buy them. Our guide said the hotel sells some of the best ones and they're fairly expensive. I've bought them in Orlando to try (see previous post in September 2006) and I think I'll hold off on purchasing them for now. I haven't quite recovered from my last tasting. I did buy some teacakes in Beijing that were delicious, so we'll see if those make it home.

Tomorrow morning we go for the US Visa Medical Exam and come back to the hotel to do paperwork for the Visa. Our guide said it could take an hour to get through the Visa application. The medical exam consists of height, weight, hearing check (rattle a toy and see if baby looks) and probably just some other cursory stuff. We'll have the afternoon free, so may try to get some shopping done or go for another one of those awesome $10 foot and shoulder massages. We may also go to a tea house for a demonstration on serving tea. I've emailed the woman who sent MaryAlice the care package a month ago at the orphanage to see if she's available on Saturday for shopping. She charges $10/hour for her negotiating sevices at the pearl and jade markets. Our guide arranges a trip there as well for Sunday, but we'd rather go with someone who can assist us in haggling...although Monica is prety good!! The woman's name is Ann at Red Thread China and I received everything back that I had sent to MaryAlice in the care package included the disposable camera that we had developed here. Wait 'til you see the early photos I received of her in the Half The Sky Journal. She had so much hair when she was a week old!!

Well, that's it for now. I appreciate all the well wishes and comments. They're fun to read and it helps us feel connected to home, so I'll keep posting photos, if you keep posting comments. Little Puffin is stirring again, so gotta run..