Day 9 in China

Day 9 - Thursday, Marc29, 2007
(excerpt taken directly from Susan’s journal) Today we went sight seeing at the Six Banyan Trees Buddhist temple. We entered to the sound of chanting monks, drum beating, and gong striking. We climbed the pagoda. We saw lots of golden Buddhas. Joe and Julie participated in a baby blessing by the monk.



We got back on the bus and once again crept along through traffic to an old market with narrow, stinky streets. The stalls were old and dirty, but filled with such incredible sights: teeming scorpions, hundreds of spices, jelly fish, squid, cats, dogs, large fish hanging by their tails, etc. We then went back to the clothing shopping area for a group lunch.


Our guide, Jun Tao, is excellent - he is full of cultural observations and insights. Our other guides are Lucy and Lisa, two lovely Chinese girls.


Here is what lunch consisted of. Large sections of rubbery/spongy rice cake, an interesting cabbage roll of pork (?) with shrimp eggs on top, sesame balls with sticky rice and red bean center, a dumpling of some sort, and spring rolls.


After a group lunch of mostly fried stuff, we went back to the hotel. When we got back from lunch, Joe, Trevor and Julie napped while Erika and I shopped around the hotel. We stopped by the 7-11 to get some nibbles - they were high priced just like convenience stores at home. We got some good crackers with raisins in them, some peanut butter Oreos, etc. Fun! We then went back to the hotel where she and I had a “picnic” while others slept. As I write, Julie is sitting on my lap. Erika is resting. Joe and Trev are out and about.