Playing Frogger

Yesterday morning after we finished changing our flight arrangements to get home, we then went to the US Consulate to sign a form to give my parents power of attorney to take Kailey and Justin from China back to the US. We took a taxi from the hotel. You should see us; we must look like circus clowns. Dad rides up front with the driver. Mom, Greg and I ride in back with the kids on our laps.

We had to pass through very tight security to get into the consulate. Once we were inside, we were surprised at the staff. There were only 2 that we could see who were Caucasian. The rest were Chinese, with very heavy accents. At any rate, we got the forms signed and left for our next adventure.

We were trying to figure out how to get to our next destination, when I spotted a fountain on a building across the street. We just had to go check it out! But first, we had to cross the street. Our general strategy is to get with locals and cross when they cross. There weren't any traffic lights where we were crossing, but there was a marked cross walk. I am not exaggerating when I compare it to playing Frogger. There are no real breaks in the flow of traffic, so you just move between cars and hope the one you are stepping in front of will stop, or at least slow down. We crossed an 8 lane road to check out the fountain. On the other side of the street, Kailey commented to Greg that that was fun. He snorted and suggested they wait until they are an adult and are responsible for the life of another to call that fun. It was an amazing waterfall that literally covered the side of the building. Next to it was a beautiful garden. Behind it was the train station we had come in on. Who knew this was there? It was wonderful.

We caught another cab at the train station and took it to the base of Bai Yun Shan, translated as White Cloud Mountain. Now, as far as mountains go, it is only1,259 feet high, but we did not realize you could spend an entire day there. We took a cable car to the top (a new mode of transportation!) The view of Guangzhou was breath taking. The difference between Chinese cities and American cities is this: we tend to have a cluster of very tall buildings in one area, then shorten out to individual houses and other short buildings from there. Here, everything is 10 stories, or more. Ten stories may be a slight exaggeration, but nothing is only one story high.

(Notice our shadow on the top of the Pagoda!)

At the top we found lots more people. They were sitting, talking, playing that hacky sack game (they call it a shuttlecock, like in badmitton, according to our travel coordinator), walking in huge tour groups, and more. Apparently at the top of White Cloud Mountain there is also bungee jumping, grass skiing, and tobagganing, but we did not see it. We went through a huge enclosed bird observatory. There were ducks, swans, cranes, hurons, and peacocks. There were tons more, but I have no idea what kinds of bird there were. It was so nice to be surrounded by green and listen to the sounds of nature. Very nourishing to the soul. Greg made an observation a couple of years ago that I think there is some truth to. People who live in cities may sometimes have a harder time staying close to God, because they are surrounded by the works of the hands of men. Out in nature, we see the works of the Hands of our Creator and can be humbled more easily.

We took the cable car back down, caught a cab, and returned to the hotel for dinner. We ate at a restaurant in the hotel and were pleasantly surprised. They had sesame beef, which was deep fried, then encrusted in ground sesame seeds and cashew. It was wonderful. We also had beef sauteed in garlic, beef sauteed in a sauce with lots of mushrooms, and chicken in a lemon sauce (the kids loved that, but the rest of us avoided it.) Now for lunch, we ate in a hole in the wall near the consulate. Hmmm. I think I mean that literally. We were escorted upstairs of this little restaurant to a small room with a six foot ceiling. We know the exact height because Greg's hair touched the ceiling when he stood. The food was great (Singapore noodles, fried rice and steamed dumplings) and the whole family ate for RMB40, including the tip ($5 US.)

I took the kids back up to the hotel room to give them some time to decompress before bed (they didn't get their quiet time today.) Mom, Dad, and Greg went shopping on the island. It is so funny here. Some things are so cheap: a girl's silk dress for $6, a Casio calculator for $2, 4 silk ties for $7.50 (total), but other things are so expensive. We have to get to Hong Kong to catch our flight home. The flight leaves at 10:05, so we need to be a the airport by 8 am. The hotel shuttle (which costs $35/person) doesn't get there until 9:30. We will have to hire a van that will cost $300! And don't use the hotel laundry! That costs a fortune, but it would still be cheaper than staying the night in Hong Kong.