Sightseeing Day!

Yesterday (January 15) was a sightseeing day for our little happy adoption group. We boarded the bus, then headed into the heart of Guangzhou to visit the ancestral temple of the Family Chen. It was a beautiful structure with elaborate architecture. I'll have to tell you more about it when my brain comes out of this fuzz!

The H family and the S family while we wait for the bus (Victory Hotel lobby)

Stephe and Karen with Precious Panda beauties Giorgia and Kaelie

Following the culture and tradition of Chinese mothers and grandmothers, I always try to make sure Kaelie is clothed properly for the weather!

Gargoyles warding off evil spirits (Family Chen temple)

Preservation work at the Family Chen temple. Note the bamboo scaffolding...

Ceramics on display at the Family Chen temple (I believe these are on loan from the Guangzhou Folk Arts Museum)

Kaelie enjoying a bottle in the garden of the temple

Sculpture in the garden of the Family Chen Temple

Next our group made their way to the Yuntai Botanical Garden. What a sight to behold. This was very reminicient of Callaway Gardens (for you Georgia folks!). It was filled with fountains and all different kinds of plants and flowers, familiar ones (like petunias and roses) to ones I had had never seen before.

Kaelie and Karen

Giant jug given by Germany

Water Wheel

Kaelie amongst the roses

Roman columns and fountains

Unusually shaped and sculptured tree

I must say here that our wonderful agency has arranged for us to eat at some beautiful and delicious restaurants. Allison has been terrific at ordering the food, and there's hardly anything that I won't eat! I'm so glad that I've practiced with chopsticks over the past few years, it has really paid off! We ate at a wonderful restaurant today near the botanical garden.

After our sightseeing was over, we came back to the hotel to rest. Kaelie and I walked down the street to Michael's Place to drop off our laundry, and I found a stroller suitable for bringing home. I really think that I'm going to need it, especially for the long, six-hour layover in Detroit.

After some shopping, we headed out to the Cow and Bridge, a Thai restaurant, where I ordered the sweet and sour chicken with cashew nuts. Delicious!!!!

Sweet Kaelie girl

Donna, Stephe, Chrissy