We got to FaceTime with my parents for a good amount and Bev/his dad this morning so that helped with a little homesickness....but we got to do that because little man woke up two hours before we needed to be up!!! Of course tomorrow and Friday when we need to be up super early.....
Our first touristy stop was a Buddhist temple called Six something Tree Temple. The pagoda was built in the 200 or 600 year....I feel bad not remembering the details, but it was built a super long time ago!!! We also felt bad taking pictures of everything while everyone was praying, but Jason, our tour guide, said it was fine.
Another reason to love Ghengzhou....clear skies and scooters have been banned in the city since 2007. Zhengzhou has the scooters on the sidewalks and there is no room for pedestrians! Anyway, the pagoda is leaning slightly so Jason said it is Asia's Leaning Tower ;)
Offerings outside the Great Hall. The water lilies were GORGEOUS and the fruits all symbolize longevity and keeping evil spirits away. The incense and bowing is done in threes for past, present, and future. The next three pics of Buddhas are in the Great Hall and even though they look alike, their hands are placed differently and they stand for past, present and future. They are the largest Buddha statues either in China or Guangzhou.
If there had been time, I wanted to take a pic of just Benson and me in front of the past, the three of us in front of the present, and just Bray by the future :)
Next stop was an engraving museum, but they bring us for the master calligrapher who will write the babies Chinese names on a scroll :)
The top of the museum....love that detail!!!
When we were at the Great Wall, Benson had really liked a scroll of it, but i told him since it wasn't in Brayden's Provence to pass since we bought shirts. He kept mentioning it and I felt bad. Well they had one here and since Wu Yu Xuan means high and lofty jade and the wall is high and lofty....everyone is happy :)
This man makes these beautiful ink paintings using the side of his hand and fingernails!
Finished product.
Last stop was the shopping place :) it wasn't exactly what I was envisioning (touristy souvenirs), but we made a dent in our list....plus a jade ring for mommy and a jade circle necklace for daddy like our guide Jason has since his daughters American name means Jade :)
Playground, tried to find the amusement park in the park across the street but it was too humid and we (I) forgot Bray's sunglasses and the light really hurts his eyes :( so we hung at the hotel for a bit before the optional group dinner. Really good food!! Getting a bit sad to leave all our friends and instant adoption connection people, but I'm ready to come home!!!! Consulate appointment tomorrow, but i guess he doesn't officially become an American citizen until we land in Chicago Friday!
I was so worried he would cry if I put him down, or worse fall over (we are working on his core muscle strength!!) but I think he was happy to be "free"
I swear he is super happy here tracking me as I moved over by daddy so he would look at the camera :) and then of course he saw the leaves in the sand beneath the palm tree and wanted to eat those so the photo shoot was over :)
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