Statues on Shamian Island

"Sure I'm sure ice cream is made from fish- enjoy!"

"Eww, all sticky. That is the last time I lend you my abacus."

Juxtaposition of Chinese girls through the ages. From sensible shoes to ankle snappers.

"Girls just wanna have fun!"

City of Neon on the Pearl River

Shopping!

At the passport office to get Katie's Chinese passport. Daddy didn't answer any questions wrong! What a relief!

Carrefour is the all in one shopping destination for the adopting parent who really cares about quality. Unfortunately all these diapers were pale comparisons to the mighty HUGGIE. Man, we miss them.

Mission accomplished!

Julie and Eugene were the master shoppers of the day! That is a gallon of water from the USA for a very reasonable price!

Eugene was also able to find some treasured Chinese comic books featuring OLD MASTER Q! A childhood favorite. Sooo funny. http://www.oldmasterq.com/

More Katie

New talents!

Resplendent in blue.

"Whatchu lookin' at?"

Good Morning!

More pictures, Dad? Sheesh!

After bath time relaxation.

And bonus Video!

The Chinese say if a little girl makes raspberries, rain will come! If it is a little boy, then dry weather is in the future.

Thanks to Katie, the next day, we got Typhoon Nuri! :)

*(typhoon comes from the Chinese "da feng" or big wind!)

More Six Banyun Temple pics. Formerly known as the Purifcatory Wisdom Temple, famous Song Dynasty poet Su Dongpo was so moved by the six wonderful banyan trees growing in the temple's courtyard and was delighted. We can assume he was a rock star of his time and was flocked by papparizzi running after him making detailed ink paintings of his comings and goings. When Su Dongpo was asked to rename the temple, he with a flourish of his caligraphy brush, I can imagine that he with made a beautiful inscription of "Six Banyan Temple" with nuanced and moving strokes of the brush on a gigantic scroll. I also imagining monks standing stoically beside, but beaming inside. Su Dongpu then refused autographs and then ran the gauntlet of papparizzi to get to his next gig.

This is the tippy top of the Six Banyan temple's 184 foot tall pagoda. There is a gold tower inside the gated area, as if it is rising toward heaven. Climbers have slipped money into the gate to get some good luck.

Happy Grandpa Ted on the highest level. This pagoda is know fondly as the Flowery Pagoda.

Eugene not banging his head this time.

Hi everyone! Your comments and emails have added so much to our trip. We can't wait to get Katie home to meet you! Please review today's blog postings from the bottom up since that is the order in which the photos were taken.

One of the banyan trees (there are only two of six left).

Who is imitating whom?