Summer palace buildings

The group, minus me, I took the picture

the aquatic centre for the Olympics, across the street from the birds nest. The Olympic village is behind that.

Holds 91,300 seats, to be done March 2008

Lauren is pissed and Lia is shy. The stadium was closed. As close as we could get. Awesome building!

I don't think he can read English!

A marble bridge at the summer palace

Sue, not wanting me to take her picture

Hi,

Today we ventured off to see the Olympic sites. There are 31 venues and 21 of them are new. We were able to see the birds nest and aquatic centre from a distance. They are both to be ready in March. The birds nest is a work of art. I would love to see inside but no luck. The Olympic village is complete and each apartment is already sold but they can't move in until after the Olympics. The prices for other apartments in the area doubled and in some cases tripled the day they announced where the site would be. The aquatic centre is a beautiful building as well.

The summer palace while beautiful and vast was a bit of a let down. Mainly due to the huge crowds as this is a big holiday in China. I would say it is like the busiest day at Ontario Place but multiply it by 10. They wasn't a square metre where we could just sit and relax. It was a total gong show! Trying to get people together and not losing people. Pushing strollers was a pain in the ass! I would love to see it in January or even December. The emperor built it in the 1700's as his summer residence.

The other families head out tomorrow and we leave Saturday. We are free to roam tomorrow and will head out for some final shopping and then pack up and leave Saturday. This could be the last post until we are home and then what would be the point really as you could just come over and see what we are doing if you really wanted to but I have a feeling it won't be too interesting! We very much appreciate all the comments and encouragement. This was a much different trip then last time. Hauling 2 kids, 2 grandmas and all the stuff around was quite a challenge at times but we couldn't have done it without everyones help.

Lauren has started to show that she is quite stubborn and knows what she wants when she wants it and isn't afraid to let us know about it either. Pray for us on the plane ride, it is going to be interesting to say the least! I already feel sorry for those seated around us a bit but I guess they could have flown 1st class so they can get over it.

Thanks again and we land at 6ish pm in TO on the 6th! See you all soon after that.

Ken, Susan, Lia and Lauren signing of from Beijing.

Medical Day

Heart- OK

Head measurement = BIG BRAIN!

Big Toy helped us out

Childrens waiting room

BIG SMILE!

All is Ok with her!

Hi everyone! (It's Sue again...)

This morning we were off to the SOS Medical Centre for Lauren's physical. The goods news is the doctor was great (compared to Lia's physical). He was actually thorough and personable. Everything went well. Her confirmed her palate is not bad at all and gave her a clean bill of health. He was a kind man and she did not seem to have too much fear of doctors. I actually expected her to react differently as I assumed the last time she saw a doctor would have been for surgery and who knows what memory that holds for her. I am happy to report things went really well for all three kids. (Has Ken mentioned we are in Beijing with two other families? The Wrays with three kids and a grandma in tow and the Hertz's with two kids and a grandma in tow. We all brought grandma's along to help!)

Last night we went to see the acrobatic show and it was truly a highlight. Lia was mesmerized for the entire hour. Even Lauren's interest was maintained for the majority. What those people can do with their bodies was awesome. No one should be that flexible. We all loved it.

It's nap time for Lauren right now and Ken and Lia are watching a bit of tv. Afternoons are quiet time where we can all regain a bit of energy and refuel. Things continue to go really well. We have our low moments and I think we are all about ready to come home now but overall, there are more highlights than lows. Lauren is adjusting really well. Communicating with her is not as big a challenge as I anticipated. She was exposed to a substantial amount of English and even knows a few of our traditional children's songs. She sings the ABC's along with me, Old MacDonald is popular and even Happy Birthday has been sung a time or two. She mimics us in both word an action. Every morning she says "good morning" after we greet her with the same, thank you, garbage (Sue T - that one is here for you!) and many more. I don't doubt there will be many challenges ahead but I am very pleased with her progress. She appears to us like a very healthy, normal two year old little girl.

Dinner time is not fun. The restaurant experience frankly sucks with Lauren. Poor Ken can barely get his food in as he is too busy trying to keep her corralled. She is one active little girl and when she wants something everyone knows. Lia is living off of hard boiled eggs, yogurt and dried fruit. We have resigned ourselves to a whole lot of room service as it is just easier at this point. It's too bad as the food was a huge part of our experience the first time here. Luckily, the grandmas are not holding back and are out there exploring on their own every opportunity they get. Again - they were the smartest thing we brought with us. They have really helped us in so many ways.

Tomorrow is the Summer Palace and a drive by of the Olympic "bird's nest". We are really looking forward to that. Trust all is well at home and I've never meant it more when I say - I really look forward to seeing you all very soon.

Back in the room after nap time!

Our drivers Larry and Charlie! Not sure of the guy in the back.

A typical hutong home, very basic but sturdy

A baby carriage! Home made but very ingenious

Cricket man, we visited hie home in the hutong

Guess who!

Lia Sue and Mary

Me Mom and Lauren on the rickshaw

Hi,

Having trouble posting now for some reason so i will keep it short. Today was the hutong tour and acrobats. This was my first time seeing the acrobats and if you ever find yourself here it is a must see. The things these people can do is truly amazing. The hutong tour has changed a bit as these interlocking alleys are no a protected site by the government. there were 3000 of these and now only 500 remain. They have become quite the investment now as well and many people who have lived in them for 5 or 6 generations are renovating them but with the original construction in mind. A hutong is a Mongolian word for water well. when they invaded 800 yrs ago they set up these section of town for people to live in. Each area needed a water well so one was dug and each of these areas is a section of the hutong now. Quite the history in these neighbourhoods.

We are off to the doctor and embassy tomorrow and then the pearl market. i am sure more interesting stories will come.

view from below

view from above

great view

better view! How awesome is she!

Hi, Today was a free day. We woke up late and had breakfast and then walked down to the silk market. This is where all the knock off stuff is and just about anything else you would want. I was able to secure my chairman mao watches, some silk or what they told me was silk, dresses, the grandmas got some shirts and we bought a bunch of shoes. More to come when we go with the bus as we need a suitcase for Lauren. Not too much excitement other then the grandmas trying to bargain with the sellers. I was able to do fairly well as what they asked for the stuff and what I paid were far apart. I used the line, my bus is leaving so thats my last offer quite a few times! Worked like a charm.

The sales people would grab your arm and one grabbed the stroller with Lauren in it and pulled and that set me off a bit so they backed right down. Other then that a slow relaxing day.

We are off on the hutong tour tomorrow. We go through old section of Beijing on rickshaws then to a guys house for tea and fighting crickets apparently, more on that later. It was nice not to have to do anything today but we are looking forward to being at home on Saturday October 6th. We land at 6pm in Toronto. Thanks and sorry for the boring post today.

Out like a light! I forgot to tuck in my chins.

The grandmas and kids.

Tradition continues

Locks are put here by visitors for good luck

Lauren on the wall, we rested here while others went up higher.

Look close, Sue and Lia sitting down on the steps

The girls and I, Go Leafs Go!

The wall in all its glory!

Us enjoying the birthday cake!

My birthday cake! It says happy birthday in chinese we think. It may say here is your cake you idiot but we are not sure. Margrace?


Hi, what a way to spend your birthday, on the great wall! We set out today and stopped at the jade factory. Deb, I was able to bargin here this time. We bought a family hapines ball. It is 4 round balls one inside the other but carved out of a single section of jade. Really cool. We also purchased a jade rooster for Lauren and Monkey for Lia as this was the symbol for the year they were born. Apparebtly number 1 quality the guy said over and over again. We then arrived at the great wall. This part of the wall is very tourist centred but it gives you the idea on the magnitude of this structure. One has to see it in person to fully appreciate the beauty and sense of history in the story it tells. It was very bust as October 1st is a week longholiday in China commemorating the founding of the Peoples Republic of China. The only other major holiday is Chinese New Year. The last time we were here they wasn't too much action but today it was very busy.

I found a chairman mao watch but she wanted 50 yuan for it! I said 30 for 2 and she just turned away disgusted. I thought for sure she would stop me as I walked away but she didn't. I guess I pissed her off. I will get one at the Silk Market tomorow and one for Weeden too I guess.

Lia and Sue walked up to the 2nd guard tower. No small feat as the steps are very uneven and steep to say the least. I hung out at the 1st tower and siad about a thousand knee hows to the people who starred at me. Then a spanish crew of new parents arrived and took the heat for awhile. My mom went up to the 4th tower and apparently in an act of vandalism wrote her name on the wall with some guys pens who was dong the same thing. She has clearly given up on adhereing to any sort of law and order mentality while over here adding vandalism to her growing list of crimes!

Tomorow is a free day so we will head out to the silk market. Apparently it has the same stuff the pearl market has and is a half hour walk so thats what we are doing. I have a list of what people are asking us to get and time and load restrictions willing will get what we can. I need 2 Chairman Mao watches, oakley's, rolex, jacket, Olympic stuff of all kinds and the list goes on.

Lauren is a typical 2 year old with us now. She is into everything. All our stuff is up on anything over 3 feet high now out of reach. She is very outgoing and energetic. She has started to attach to us very nicley but will still cry when I walk away which makes the buffet hard to get to. I was able to examine her mouth more a few days ago and her pallet doesn't look bad. There is a section that is a bit out but once we are home Dr G will work his magic and set us up at Sick Kids for some appointments. Her communication is coming along quite well too. She know what she wants and points it out to us. She understands alot of what we say and ask her to do. I think there was a fair bit of english spoken at hope haven while she was there. Today she sang what sounds like happy birthday when we sang it and old mac donald as well. She had the e i e i O down pat!

Lia is the best big sister. When Lauren crys Lia gives her her very special puppy that Aunt Cheryl gave her to help calm her down. This is a big step for Lia. She even shared her food with her!

All in all things are going well. The days are too busy sometimes but we get done what we need to and then its Bath and bed for us all. Keep the comments coming, we love to read them.

Ken Sue Lia and Lauren.

This is 1300 yrs old!

Guard tower on Xi'an wall

Awesome!

The man himself!

much is under renovation for the olympics

walking in the forbidden city

ken's awesome crib at 12:30am

Hi from Beijing!

Well we completed the tour of the goose pagoda and Xi'an wall today and then finished it all off getting Lauren's passport at 5:30. It rained the whole time so it made the touring that much more difficult but it was all very interesting to see. We had lunch at this restuarant our guide goes to and it was fantastic food. We ate like champs and left way too much we couldn't finish. When the bill came they said ir was 160 RMB. So we were like well thats ok only abot 16 US per person. We started to put the money together and our guide stopped us and said no its 160 RMB for the whole thing! Way too cheap here to eat! So we finished and drove the 1 hour to the Xi'an airport. We had no issues checking in at all and it went smooth. area. The flight was a bit rough as Laurn did not sleep and was quite cranky so that made me a bit cranky to the French tourists in front of us but all went OK. We got to the hotel at 12:00am and checked in and went to bed. They did not give us a crib so we pushed 2 arm chairs together and made a nice little crib for Lauren. We have one now so its all good.

We got up this am and set out for tianamam square and the forbidden city. The square was much more crowded this time then last and I couldn't find anyone selling Chairman Mao watches yet so I will have to search a bit for them. October 1st is a week long holiday here so everyone is out touring. It celebrates thier independance. The kids were great but tired so Lauren is sleeping now and Lia is playing in the living room. The hotel is awesome! Big rooms and very nice.

We are going to get some food now and clean up a bit before venturing out again. The air here is much better then 2.5 yrs ago. It doesnt seem any different then Toronto now. I will put some pics up and sign off. Thanks!

Hi,

Ok so today was a free day. after the grandmas relocated food from the buffet to our room we left for a walk around town. They have been relocating this food everyday now so we have some in the rooms at night. We won't call it stealing as it is paid for already. They have become quite the cleptos' now. They go down with thier purses empty but come back with a dozen hard boiled eggs, 4 yogurts, a bunch of suger gummy worms for Lia and whatever else they can fit onto thier bags.

So after the heist we walked to the 3500 yr old wall that surrounds the inner city. It is 38 km around with a moat around it. Its all still here with 4 gates north, east, west and south as exits or entrances. Traffic gets nuts at these gates. The wall is about 40 feet thick at the base with a park around the whole wall. We saw all sorts of people using it today for exercise etc. There was this old lady, say 80 or so doing deep knee bends and touching her toes. I watched her do this until I was tired so we left her there. She was amazing! A bunch of the people would look at us until I said something to them. Don't worry I was polite. I said hello of (knee how) and they would smile and keep watching.

We feel very safe here alone just walking around as the people are very nice and courtious. The air here however is pretty thick. After being outside you need to shower as it kind of sticks to you. You just feel dirty. I am amazed at the amount of trees and greenery as every road, highway and sidewalk has trees along the side every 20 feet. I was told this was to help with the pollution and they have planted 7 million trees in the last 3 yrs. The entire place is clean with no garbage or debris along the roads etc. There are crews that do nothing but sweep all day.

I saw a sledge hammer crew yesterday. There were these 5 guy just swinging sledge hammers all day to take down these buildings. At night they would clean thier hammers while waiting for the bus to go home. Unlimited human resources!

Tomorow we go to the wall tour and the goose pagoda and then its off to Beijing. Laren is still doing very well. She eats a tonne and has a quick smile. I have a cough now so she imitates me all the time and coughs after I do. She actually understand what we are saying. I will say get me the remote and she walks over and grabs it and brings it back to me. I have tried to teach that to Sue for years with no luck. She understands when we tell her its time to eat or sleep. She says some things in Mandarin back to us which I am sure is some type of flippng us off but I don't understand it so its OK! She is still a bit shy with stanges but if I am there or Sue she is fine. She has taken to Sue now as ell but still wants me close by which is cool for me and works out well for the plane ride tommorow night.

The flight here was Ok but the seats are somehting else. There is 2 feet from the back of the head rest infront of you to the front of you head rest. The width is about 18 inches. I heard al the jokes already so don't bother! Well, I will find some pictures to attach and sign off for now. Thanks for dropping by and I will post again LIVE From Beijing its Saturday Night!

PS, The pic of napolean is acually embroidery, it looks like a photograph but is made of threads!
The way in pic is at the terra cotta warriors, right to the point I guess. The kids play room in the orphanage is another pic and the broom should be obvious I guess.