Day 11 6 Banyan Temple and Pearl and Jade Market

Today we visited the 6 Banyan Temple. Named by a famous Chinese Poet. The temple itself dates back more than 550 years. It features a pagoda which was originally a tomb for the monks that served there but now pagodas are special features. This one houses over 1000 Buddhas. It was very “active” many people coming and going to pray and offer incense. Incense is always offered in multiples of 3 because the Chinese believe every person has 3 lives past present and future.

The fruit that is offered is always round fruit, the circle being very significant in every way representing ongoing generations.

Inside this room are 3 huge Buddhas each representing one life (past, present and future) The monks live and work at this temple. While we were there a bell rang which meant it was lunch time for the Buddhas and the monks served them rice, as well as placed rice as an offering at all the places around the temple where offerings are presented.

When the wind blows it rings the bells and scares the bad spirits away. All temples have steps up to them because evil can’t jump.

Pagodas are not commonly seen. This temple is smack dab in the middle of the city with hi rise apartments surrounding it. Its like a peaceful ancient oasis in the middle of a bustling, crowded, city.

John is keeping track of all the Chinglish he sees.

Maggie running her hands over the wall of names of all who helped build the temple.

Next we went to the Pearl and Jade markets which was totally overwhelming. Its packed with store upon store selling pearls and other jewelry. Our guide took us to the store she frequents with families. This owner is knotting the string in between each pearl.

At the Jade counter with our group. Their Jade is like our diamonds. You can wipe out all your spending money right here. Traditionally a Chinese girl is presented with a Jade circle necklace on her 16th birthday and a Jade bangle on her wedding.

Maggie has her two favorite things in her hands: her mommy in one and her Gerber puffs in the other.

 
 
 

Day 10 Christmas Day

Christmas Day in Guangzhou is clod and rainy. Our hotel is a huge attraction to the local people and they are lining up to tour all the sculptures and art that is set out and see the beautiful Christmas decorations. Shawn, Meghan and I all have colds but our group is headed to the Quingping Market today.

    Maggie loves to brush her teeth!

This is an herb market. Our guide says these shops look simple but these owners are all millionaires. It seems there is an herb for everything that might ail you and a soup can be made. Also the Chinese use mushrooms, many dried varieties, like the US consumes soda. All this is sold in the herb market.

  Dried frogs can be made into soup.

Scorpions are sold by the kilo and they are not cheap. Making them into a soup helps with heat rash!

Moving on to the meat markets there were bags of snakes, crabs every kind of creature of the sea and I mean every kind, not fish necessarily, either although plenty of that too.

The foul is fresh in this shop.

This is a kitchen shop.

The pet market selling all sorts of pets. Now you can apply for a license for 5000 yen and have a pet. A dog or cat.

This picture doesn’t show it well but this was an outdoor mall which was incredibly crowded. Like people touching you constantly crowded. Our guide said its like this always.

Merry Christmas to you all!

Day 9 Christmas Eve in China

This post is a couple of days late. Day 9 was December 24, 2010.

 
After breakfast we explored the area out by the pool. It was decorated for a big Christmas reception.
 
Bubbles are really fun.

  
In the afternoon we went to the zoo.

We saw many animals including the famous Chinese Panda who is a celebrity here in China as well as the US.

      Brothers are always willing to help and play with Maggie!

After the zoo we went to have an authentic tea experience. Guangzhou traffic is crazy as promised. The Asian games were going on when we arrived and traffic was regulated in the following way: license plates ending in an even number took alternating days with license plates ending in odd numbers. This decreased the traffic for the first few days. Now the games are over and traffic is bad.

Just like every market we’ve been too these streets are lined with shop after shop that is the same (to me anyway). These just sell and serve tea.

Maggie sat on her own chair and watched for a little while before she decided to throw a fit. A long day for her!

We liked the tea very much and Meghan and Mike bought some.

Day 8 Medical Exam

This post is a couple of days late, Day 8 was December 23, 2010. Today we walked to a clinic to have Maggie’s medical exam.  When we arrived it was FULL of people seeking medical attention.  We were relieved to be taken to an empty room in the back just for adoptive families.  The kids took turns seeing 3 different doctors.  Each one examined Maggie for about 30 seconds.  That was it!  We were free to go.  She weighs 19.5 lbs with all her cloths on and a toy in her hand!  She is tiny.  12 mo clothes fit, 12-18mo clothes are a little big.

                          Keeping Maggie happy required snacks.  She is a messy eater.

                               Later we went to Guangzhou Botanical Gardens.

                                                      JM holds Maggie

                                               This is a trained bouganvilla!

                                          Maggie loves swinging from our arms!

A teapot is traditionally passed to a couple on their wedding day symbolizing ongoing generations.

                                              Daddy and Maggie watch the fish.

           At dinner JM holds the pigeon head.  They serve their roast fowl with the head!