Ah...it is good to be home.
We left the hotel in Beijing at noon on the 25th. Our guide then took us to the Pearl Market. It was similar in fashion to the silk market, only on a much smaller scale. The top floor was "authentic and guaranteed" pearls. Very expensive. There were pictures of presidents and first ladies from around the world that shopped there. The other levels had a variety of goods - jewelry, clothes, purses, electronics, etc. I was able to get a camera battery for my camera and I bought a purple purse Dolce & Gabana (sp?) that I'll probably use as a "trendy" diaper bag.
Then we went to a Chinese pharmacy for a lecture on Chinese medicine. They offered us a free health inspection. I wasn't going to do it, but then when the doctor was commenting on chest pains, back pains, internal body temperature (just by checking the patients' pulse and looking at their tongue) I thought maybe if he checks my pulse and looks at my tongue he can give me a Chinese prescription for ingrown toenails! But, no luck. My diagnosis...I'm overweight. And I bet he really didn't need to look at my tongue or take my pulse to determine that! I opted not to get the pills that they offered. :P
Then it was off to the airport. We arrived quite early, but it was good that we did because it took us a long time to check in.
Violet was awake for the first three of hours on the flight. I tried to get her to fall asleep, but it wasn't working. So I tried a little trick. I got Roger to come sit beside her while I went to the bathroom. She started crying even before I left and I could hear her the whole time I was gone (not long). But when I came back she snuggled in and fell right to sleep. (The mean part is that I didn't really NEED to use the washroom.) She then slept for the next 7 hours of the flight and was awake for the last two. She didn't really cry at all and was charming the passengers around us.
Then in Toronto we got through Custons and Immigration. We had to rush to make our connecting flight to Fredericton, but we did it. (Not without some hassle at the security check when Roger forgot his briefcase and had to rush back to find it and go through a huge extra security check.)
Violet slept through the take off and most of the flight. She woke up after we got back on the ground. Family was waiting to meet us at the airport and it was SO good to see everyone. Violet was quite quiet.
Then we were on our way home - with a quick stop for supper at McDonalds. Violet likes McDonalds fries.
When we got home we discovered that Violet DOES NOT like our cat. This morning was even worse. Violet SCREAMS if the cat comes near her. But other than that she is settling in well. We were all able to get some sleep last night.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wednesday
My grown-up China doll
My baby China dollLast Update?
I'm thinking that this will be my last blog entry from China. Today we are spending the rest of the day at the hotel - probably a visit to the pool later on. Tomorrow we will check out at noon. Then go to a couple of markets and a Chinese pharmacy for a lecture on Chinese medicine. That will give us something to do to fill the time until we have to be at the airport. Our flight leaves Beijing at 6:50 pm - that would be 7:50 am Atlantic Time. Our flight is scheduled to arrive at the Fredericton airport at 11:59 pm. Roger says that anyone who is interested in being up at midnight and would like to see us arrive home is welcome to come.
This morning we went to the Silk Market here in Beijing. It used to be an open air market, but with the Olympics in 2008 they put it into a building.There were 7 floors...that we know off. The stores were similar in size to what you would see at an exhibition for a booth. They were probably only 7 feet wide by 9 feet deep (some were bigger). And the aisle was quite narrow. We were not able to walk 3 side by side. Roger was pushing Violet in her stroller and I was holding her hand. Tori walked behind me.
Ray gave us some advice before we arrived. He said that there were three prices - the sticker price, the price they would settle for for foreigners and the price they would settle for for Chinese people. He said that whatever price they quoted first to offer 50 to 75% less than that. Never pay more than 50% than what they quote. I remember my days in Africa and bartering. I had loved it. So I was ready to see if I still had the "gift".
My first purchase I was quoted 400 RMB. I paid 40 for it. :D I still had the touch. The trick is to walk away.
As you are walking down the aisles the merchants are calling out to you. Tori said that she prefers shopping at the mall over the silk market.
My favourite quote of the day was when a merchant said to Roger, "I can see that your wife likes a bargain." Oh, baby, if that ain't the truth!
We were able to get some Chinese style clothing for Roger and myself. Tori got a very pretty silk shirt. And we got a few clothing articles for Violet, too. But it wasn't all traditional clothing. There was a lot of brand name clothing - like Columbia jackets. I'm not big on brand names, so I didn't even recognize a lot of them.
Tori was thinking that I should have blinders on.
When we were finished we didn't see Ray and Fiona. So we decided to head back on our own. The thing I was most nervous about was crossing the streets. But, obviously, we made it back!
Thank you everyone for your support on this amazing journey of ours. We are so pleased that we will soon be home with our family complete. We'd appreciate your prayers for a safe journey home and that we'll all be able to rest on the flight. See you soon!
I'm thinking that this will be my last blog entry from China. Today we are spending the rest of the day at the hotel - probably a visit to the pool later on. Tomorrow we will check out at noon. Then go to a couple of markets and a Chinese pharmacy for a lecture on Chinese medicine. That will give us something to do to fill the time until we have to be at the airport. Our flight leaves Beijing at 6:50 pm - that would be 7:50 am Atlantic Time. Our flight is scheduled to arrive at the Fredericton airport at 11:59 pm. Roger says that anyone who is interested in being up at midnight and would like to see us arrive home is welcome to come.
This morning we went to the Silk Market here in Beijing. It used to be an open air market, but with the Olympics in 2008 they put it into a building.There were 7 floors...that we know off. The stores were similar in size to what you would see at an exhibition for a booth. They were probably only 7 feet wide by 9 feet deep (some were bigger). And the aisle was quite narrow. We were not able to walk 3 side by side. Roger was pushing Violet in her stroller and I was holding her hand. Tori walked behind me.
Ray gave us some advice before we arrived. He said that there were three prices - the sticker price, the price they would settle for for foreigners and the price they would settle for for Chinese people. He said that whatever price they quoted first to offer 50 to 75% less than that. Never pay more than 50% than what they quote. I remember my days in Africa and bartering. I had loved it. So I was ready to see if I still had the "gift".
My first purchase I was quoted 400 RMB. I paid 40 for it. :D I still had the touch. The trick is to walk away.
As you are walking down the aisles the merchants are calling out to you. Tori said that she prefers shopping at the mall over the silk market.
My favourite quote of the day was when a merchant said to Roger, "I can see that your wife likes a bargain." Oh, baby, if that ain't the truth!
We were able to get some Chinese style clothing for Roger and myself. Tori got a very pretty silk shirt. And we got a few clothing articles for Violet, too. But it wasn't all traditional clothing. There was a lot of brand name clothing - like Columbia jackets. I'm not big on brand names, so I didn't even recognize a lot of them.
Tori was thinking that I should have blinders on.
When we were finished we didn't see Ray and Fiona. So we decided to head back on our own. The thing I was most nervous about was crossing the streets. But, obviously, we made it back!
Thank you everyone for your support on this amazing journey of ours. We are so pleased that we will soon be home with our family complete. We'd appreciate your prayers for a safe journey home and that we'll all be able to rest on the flight. See you soon!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Pictures
Pictures: Tori at the Summer Palace
Violet wearing Daddy's Hat
Tiananmen Square
Roger & Tori at the Temple of Heaven
Tuesday
Today I woke up feeling fine! Hooray!!!
We thought we were going to have a short day touring, but it actually was quite long. So I'm glad I was feeling fine.
We started by going to Tiananmen Square. It is the largest city square in the world. It also contains their parliament so we got to see that today. The square had tight security. We had to go through a security check before we entered (scanned bags, etc) however, Tingting told us to just keep going. She put her bag up but told us we didn't have to. There were video cameras everywhere. Tingting told us there were undercover police officers everywhere, too. Ray was nervous about opening his backpack and taking out his thermos to make up Logan's bottle. Tingting stood beside him and said she would explain if anyone questioned him.
Then we went to a pearl factory. These were freshwater pearls taken from oysters from Kunming Lake from the Summer Palace. Ainsleigh netted an oyster out of a pond and we guessed how many pearls were in it. Can you believe 26 pearls? Tori and Ainsleigh each got to keep one of the pearls out of the oyster that they opened for us.
Then we went to the Summer Palace. We actually walked in a corridor that is in the Guinness Book of World Records. The corridor at the Summer Palace is the longest in the world. So today we were in two of the "world's largest" places. (city square and corridor)
On our way to our dinner (which is now in the mid-afternoon) we passed by the Olympic Stadium. That was cool to see.
Then it was to the restaurant for our Peking Duck meal. I thought it tasted like chicken, but Roger didn't really. Violet didn't like it. She would spit it out of her mouth - even if there was other food in there - she would only spit out the duck. They just kept bringing dishes of food, and more food and more food! And I was eating very lite because I wanted to take it easy on my stomach.
Now we're back at the hotel for a relaxing evening. Tori wants to go swimming. Since we had a late lunch I imagine we'll only have snacks for supper. Tomorrow we'll going to go with the Chongs to the Silk Market. Since they haven't been buying souvenirs hardly at all (waiting for the silk market) I hope to find some good deals there!
We thought we were going to have a short day touring, but it actually was quite long. So I'm glad I was feeling fine.
We started by going to Tiananmen Square. It is the largest city square in the world. It also contains their parliament so we got to see that today. The square had tight security. We had to go through a security check before we entered (scanned bags, etc) however, Tingting told us to just keep going. She put her bag up but told us we didn't have to. There were video cameras everywhere. Tingting told us there were undercover police officers everywhere, too. Ray was nervous about opening his backpack and taking out his thermos to make up Logan's bottle. Tingting stood beside him and said she would explain if anyone questioned him.
Then we went to a pearl factory. These were freshwater pearls taken from oysters from Kunming Lake from the Summer Palace. Ainsleigh netted an oyster out of a pond and we guessed how many pearls were in it. Can you believe 26 pearls? Tori and Ainsleigh each got to keep one of the pearls out of the oyster that they opened for us.
Then we went to the Summer Palace. We actually walked in a corridor that is in the Guinness Book of World Records. The corridor at the Summer Palace is the longest in the world. So today we were in two of the "world's largest" places. (city square and corridor)
On our way to our dinner (which is now in the mid-afternoon) we passed by the Olympic Stadium. That was cool to see.
Then it was to the restaurant for our Peking Duck meal. I thought it tasted like chicken, but Roger didn't really. Violet didn't like it. She would spit it out of her mouth - even if there was other food in there - she would only spit out the duck. They just kept bringing dishes of food, and more food and more food! And I was eating very lite because I wanted to take it easy on my stomach.
Now we're back at the hotel for a relaxing evening. Tori wants to go swimming. Since we had a late lunch I imagine we'll only have snacks for supper. Tomorrow we'll going to go with the Chongs to the Silk Market. Since they haven't been buying souvenirs hardly at all (waiting for the silk market) I hope to find some good deals there!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Tuesday - early morning
Tuesday early morning
It is 5:30 am Tuesday morning and this is the latest that I've slept since arriving in China. The pharmacist said that the nighttime cold medication they got for me would help me sleep. I can't really attribute my good rest to that, however, since I fell asleep before taking one last night.
So the good news is that my stomach is not upset this morning and I don't think I have a fever. (I'm not going to search in the dark to look for the thermometer to check.) Everyone else is still sleeping.
Yesterday I wasn't sure if I would be leaving the hotel again until it was time to head for Canada. That was how bad I felt. But today is a new day. I also discovered that staying in our hotel room with a two year old, really isn't the most "restful" experience.
Yesterday Roger and Tori went to the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon and Violet and I stayed at the hotel. Thankfully I was able to get a little nap in before they left, because I certainly didn't have opportunity when they were gone. Violet is a typical two year old and loves to explore and play with things. Like the telephone on the bedside table. Thankfully I caught her before she placed any calls. But there was once I wondered if front desk would ring the room to see if I needed assistance making a call! She also likes to eat, but only seems to have good manners when she is sitting in a high chair. Otherwise the food seems to go everywhere. She is quite entertaining, though. And she learns very quickly. For example, whenever she saw the thermometer yesterday she would pick it up and hold it to her ear. I didn't take my temperature that much, so she caught on very quickly how it is supposed to be used. The other action of mine that she copied was whenever she passed the garbage can by my side of the bed she would lean over it, cough, and then spit. I don't think any explanation is necessary for what she was mimicing then.
When Roger and Tori got back from the Temple of Heaven they said Tingting was waiting for them downstairs and she was going to take them to pick up some food. The hotel food here is not the same as in Fuzhou. Nothing to really appeal to a sick Westerner. I thought maybe Tori would stay with Violet and me, but she wanted to go with Roger. Can you believe it? She WANTED to go shopping.
Before she left she gave Violet her birthday card that plays "Bibbity Bobbity Boo". Roger figured they would be about 1/2 an hour and then they would be back. Well, for 1/2 an hour Violet and I laid in bed and listened to Bibbity Bobbity Boo. I tried to teach her to say "More" for when she wanted to hear it again. But instead she would sit up and slap the card. (I showed her that you need to press on the button to make it play.) We were both getting sleepy and soon the slaps were less forceful. I played it a couple of more times and we both fell asleep. I'm not sure if how much longer it was until Roger and Tori came back.
Roger got some soup for me and noodles for the rest of them. The soup tasted delicious and I was able to keep it down. Hooray! Violet is like her sister and really enjoys the ramen noodles.
Today we are to meet Tingting in the hotel lobby at 9 am. We will be going to Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. Lunch will be Peking Duck. I believe I will go today. We will be able to use the stroller, I hope. Which means I don't need to carry Violet - just walk beside her holding her hand. (That is the only way we can pacify her to stay in the stroller.) And, as I discovered yesterday, I don't get much rest staying at the hotel. I'll take my medication for my stomach with me - just in case I need it.
Even though I probably won't eat much (taking it easy on the stomach) I do want to try the Peking Duck. Tingting told us that to be a hero there are two things you must do - climb the Great Wall and eat Peking Duck.
After we get back to the hotel this afternoon I'll send some pictures and let you know how the day went.
Thank you, everyone, for your prayers. I know that it was only by God's strength that I was able to get through our appointments yesterday. I'm glad today is looking much better.
It is 5:30 am Tuesday morning and this is the latest that I've slept since arriving in China. The pharmacist said that the nighttime cold medication they got for me would help me sleep. I can't really attribute my good rest to that, however, since I fell asleep before taking one last night.
So the good news is that my stomach is not upset this morning and I don't think I have a fever. (I'm not going to search in the dark to look for the thermometer to check.) Everyone else is still sleeping.
Yesterday I wasn't sure if I would be leaving the hotel again until it was time to head for Canada. That was how bad I felt. But today is a new day. I also discovered that staying in our hotel room with a two year old, really isn't the most "restful" experience.
Yesterday Roger and Tori went to the Temple of Heaven in the afternoon and Violet and I stayed at the hotel. Thankfully I was able to get a little nap in before they left, because I certainly didn't have opportunity when they were gone. Violet is a typical two year old and loves to explore and play with things. Like the telephone on the bedside table. Thankfully I caught her before she placed any calls. But there was once I wondered if front desk would ring the room to see if I needed assistance making a call! She also likes to eat, but only seems to have good manners when she is sitting in a high chair. Otherwise the food seems to go everywhere. She is quite entertaining, though. And she learns very quickly. For example, whenever she saw the thermometer yesterday she would pick it up and hold it to her ear. I didn't take my temperature that much, so she caught on very quickly how it is supposed to be used. The other action of mine that she copied was whenever she passed the garbage can by my side of the bed she would lean over it, cough, and then spit. I don't think any explanation is necessary for what she was mimicing then.
When Roger and Tori got back from the Temple of Heaven they said Tingting was waiting for them downstairs and she was going to take them to pick up some food. The hotel food here is not the same as in Fuzhou. Nothing to really appeal to a sick Westerner. I thought maybe Tori would stay with Violet and me, but she wanted to go with Roger. Can you believe it? She WANTED to go shopping.
Before she left she gave Violet her birthday card that plays "Bibbity Bobbity Boo". Roger figured they would be about 1/2 an hour and then they would be back. Well, for 1/2 an hour Violet and I laid in bed and listened to Bibbity Bobbity Boo. I tried to teach her to say "More" for when she wanted to hear it again. But instead she would sit up and slap the card. (I showed her that you need to press on the button to make it play.) We were both getting sleepy and soon the slaps were less forceful. I played it a couple of more times and we both fell asleep. I'm not sure if how much longer it was until Roger and Tori came back.
Roger got some soup for me and noodles for the rest of them. The soup tasted delicious and I was able to keep it down. Hooray! Violet is like her sister and really enjoys the ramen noodles.
Today we are to meet Tingting in the hotel lobby at 9 am. We will be going to Tiananmen Square and the Summer Palace. Lunch will be Peking Duck. I believe I will go today. We will be able to use the stroller, I hope. Which means I don't need to carry Violet - just walk beside her holding her hand. (That is the only way we can pacify her to stay in the stroller.) And, as I discovered yesterday, I don't get much rest staying at the hotel. I'll take my medication for my stomach with me - just in case I need it.
Even though I probably won't eat much (taking it easy on the stomach) I do want to try the Peking Duck. Tingting told us that to be a hero there are two things you must do - climb the Great Wall and eat Peking Duck.
After we get back to the hotel this afternoon I'll send some pictures and let you know how the day went.
Thank you, everyone, for your prayers. I know that it was only by God's strength that I was able to get through our appointments yesterday. I'm glad today is looking much better.
Hi from Roger
Our Monday is almost done. My girls are all fast asleep its 10:00 pm here. Patti is feeling a bit better. She ate a little soup tonight. Tori and I went shopping at a "small" store which turned out to be a little smaller then the Superstore in Oromocto. It's not a long walk and the prices were ok too. We bought soup and noodles along with some other snack foods and drinks. Oh and water - no one here drinks the tap water not even the locals. It's not safe.
Tomorrow is our last tour day. We go to Tian'an Men Square and the Summer Palace. We will also be having Peking Duck for lunch. This will complete our second half of our becoming heroes. An old leader of China had stated that if you climbed on the Great Wall and eat Peking Duck you were a hero. The wall was hard on my legs so I'm hoping the duck dinner is easy on my stomach.
Wednesday we are going to the "silk market." I guess it's quite a bargain shopping area.
Our guide will pick up our final paperwork to bring Violet home, and then we pack and get ready for our 16+ hours of flying....but according to my watch it'll only be 5 or 6 hours....got to love the International Date Line.
Well better get to bed now thanks again for the prayers for Patti, I know God has been at work for us and I've seen it again today!
Tomorrow is our last tour day. We go to Tian'an Men Square and the Summer Palace. We will also be having Peking Duck for lunch. This will complete our second half of our becoming heroes. An old leader of China had stated that if you climbed on the Great Wall and eat Peking Duck you were a hero. The wall was hard on my legs so I'm hoping the duck dinner is easy on my stomach.
Wednesday we are going to the "silk market." I guess it's quite a bargain shopping area.
Our guide will pick up our final paperwork to bring Violet home, and then we pack and get ready for our 16+ hours of flying....but according to my watch it'll only be 5 or 6 hours....got to love the International Date Line.
Well better get to bed now thanks again for the prayers for Patti, I know God has been at work for us and I've seen it again today!
Monday
Okay, so here's how things have gone today:
I woke up around 3 am sick to my stomach. When I was getting Violet to fall asleep last night I was starting to feel sick. I tried not to think about it and thankfully was able to get some sleep. Violet slept with us again last night as she has the last few nights. I took my temperature at 3 am and it was up around 100.6. So I took 2 ibuprofen. Didn't sleep anymore until about 5. Was quite sick to my stomach again and Roger found me some gravol. Slept a little then.
I woke up around 3 am sick to my stomach. When I was getting Violet to fall asleep last night I was starting to feel sick. I tried not to think about it and thankfully was able to get some sleep. Violet slept with us again last night as she has the last few nights. I took my temperature at 3 am and it was up around 100.6. So I took 2 ibuprofen. Didn't sleep anymore until about 5. Was quite sick to my stomach again and Roger found me some gravol. Slept a little then.
When it was time to get up for the day I said to Roger, "How am I going to do this today?" He replied, "You're not, God is going to do it for you." And He did.
Roger and Tori went for a quick breakfast. Violet and I stayed in the room. We still had a form to fill out for Violet's permanent residency. So I did that. Violet walked down with us to the lobby so that I didn't have to carry her. It wasn't a long drive to the place where we went to get visa pictures taken for Violet. I felt so weak. Thankfully I found the strength to carry her. But I felt like I could fall asleep at any moment. My stomach was still rolling a little - but I wasn't sick.
After pictures we walked across the road to the S.O.S. International Clinic where Violet was getting her medical done. Violet went before Logan. She weighs 9.6 kg. She is 79 cm tall and her head circumference is 45 cm. When the doctor checked her over he said his only concern was that she was below the percentile for her size according to her weight.
Then we asked him about my symptoms. He said it sounds like a stomach flu. He suggested that I take rehydration salts. He directed us to the pharmacy on the first floor and said the pharmacist would be able to tell us which medications would work the best for me.
Roger ended up picking up rehydration salts, cold medication and adult pepto bismal. I took a pepto tablet at the clinic before we left. The doctor explained that my weaknesses and tiredness was most likely due to the gravol that I had taken. (3 since 5 am that morning) We were actually at the clinic quite a long time as Logan's appointment took longer since he hadn't been seen by a doctor at his orphanage.
Then we went to the Canadian embassy to get the kids stuff for coming to Canada. That took a while too - and we had to stand the whole time.
I'm doing okay now, but I plan to take it easy. If I don't feel like going out now I don't have to. All the paperwork is done and we signed a form to allow Tingting to act as our representative and pick up our paperwork on Wednesday.
Thank you everyone for your prayers. The way I felt today I know it was only by God's help that I made it through the morning. The doctor figures that it is the flu because I haven't had diarrhea with it. He said if I'm not better by Wednesday to come back to the clinic - but this way it saves us the cost of an examination (since he felt it wasn't really necessary). His best advice - rest. That's what I'm planning to do!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Great Wall - Great Day
Great Wall - Great Day
Thank you, everyone, for your prayers. After a feverish night I enjoyed a day with no fever and no stomach problems. Thank You, God!
After a very quick breakfast, we were slow moving this morning, we met up with Tingting in the lobby. Roger had to take 2 extra trips back to our room. The first was for his hat. Then as we were getting on the bus I realized that I hadn't gotten the snuggly. So back he went again.
On the way to the Great Wall - over an hour's drive, we stopped at a jade factory. We were given a special discount - 35% off anything we bought - because we were adopting a Chinese baby. We bought two things there.
Then it was on to the Great Wall. During the trip Tingting gave us a lot of information about it's history and other tidbits about China.
I was nervous about the climb, especially since I had to carry Violet and just recovering from whatever I had had the night before. The first part that we walked was sloped, not steps. Then the steps began. It wasn't easy. Roger took some pictures of the steps, but the ones that he got were the short ones. Some steps were almost to my knees. A lot of the way had a railing (I'm sure not original :) so that helped. I had many people say things like, "You are very strong" and the like when they saw me climbing with Violet. We hadn't gone too far when I knew that I needed to take it easy. Going down was even worse than going up - for me at least. Wearing the snuggly made it so that I couldn't see my feet. Tori and Roger went ahead of me and warned me of "dangers" like puddles, steep steps, drainage troughs, etc.
Tori decided to stay with me while Roger started to climb again. I am so proud of how far he got. He went to the second tower up. Quite a feat.
We stopped at a Chinese restaurant on the way home. I didn't eat much, even though the food was very good, because I wanted to take it easy on my stomach.
Then it was home to the hotel. I was happy to get back to our room and take it easy. But I had to wait until after we went for a swim. Tori was pleased to be back at a hotel with a pool. Violet loved swimming, which we were expecting since she loves bathtime. She was not so fond of the swimming cap. But after she got in the water she forgot about it.
Tomorrow we go and get Violet's pictures for her visa and permanent residency. She gets her medical. We also go to the Canadian Embassy and apply for her visa. It will be a very important day.
We plan to go to The Temple of Heaven tomorrow afternoon. We are going to get a calligraphy scroll done for Violet. It will be done by a descendant of the Emporer's Family.
Thank you, everyone, for your prayers. After a feverish night I enjoyed a day with no fever and no stomach problems. Thank You, God!
After a very quick breakfast, we were slow moving this morning, we met up with Tingting in the lobby. Roger had to take 2 extra trips back to our room. The first was for his hat. Then as we were getting on the bus I realized that I hadn't gotten the snuggly. So back he went again.
On the way to the Great Wall - over an hour's drive, we stopped at a jade factory. We were given a special discount - 35% off anything we bought - because we were adopting a Chinese baby. We bought two things there.
Then it was on to the Great Wall. During the trip Tingting gave us a lot of information about it's history and other tidbits about China.
I was nervous about the climb, especially since I had to carry Violet and just recovering from whatever I had had the night before. The first part that we walked was sloped, not steps. Then the steps began. It wasn't easy. Roger took some pictures of the steps, but the ones that he got were the short ones. Some steps were almost to my knees. A lot of the way had a railing (I'm sure not original :) so that helped. I had many people say things like, "You are very strong" and the like when they saw me climbing with Violet. We hadn't gone too far when I knew that I needed to take it easy. Going down was even worse than going up - for me at least. Wearing the snuggly made it so that I couldn't see my feet. Tori and Roger went ahead of me and warned me of "dangers" like puddles, steep steps, drainage troughs, etc.
Tori decided to stay with me while Roger started to climb again. I am so proud of how far he got. He went to the second tower up. Quite a feat.
We stopped at a Chinese restaurant on the way home. I didn't eat much, even though the food was very good, because I wanted to take it easy on my stomach.
Then it was home to the hotel. I was happy to get back to our room and take it easy. But I had to wait until after we went for a swim. Tori was pleased to be back at a hotel with a pool. Violet loved swimming, which we were expecting since she loves bathtime. She was not so fond of the swimming cap. But after she got in the water she forgot about it.
Tomorrow we go and get Violet's pictures for her visa and permanent residency. She gets her medical. We also go to the Canadian Embassy and apply for her visa. It will be a very important day.
We plan to go to The Temple of Heaven tomorrow afternoon. We are going to get a calligraphy scroll done for Violet. It will be done by a descendant of the Emporer's Family.
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