Touring Guangzhou

Our lunch time feast! So yummy!

Entrance to Liuhua Lake Park

Watching fish in the pond at the art store

At theSix Banyan Tree Temple grounds

With the Master at the buddist temple after the blessing

During the blessing at the temple.

300 year old bronze buddas representing past, present and future.

Pagoda at the temple. It started leaning about 10 years ago after it had been refurbished so people can no longer go to the top. Kevin really wanted to.

In front of the pagota.

I felt bad because I had wanted to try and visit the LDS branch in Guangzhou. It would have been a really neat experience however, it would have required hiring a taxi to take us off the island and we aren't quite brave enough for that yet. In addition our guide had already prepared another excursion for us and so we decided to play it safe and go with her. Our first stop was the Six Banyan Tree Temple. It is right in the heart of the city. The grounds were beautiful and full of the scent of burning incense. People light the incense in the hopes that is will carry their prayers to heaven. We went into the temple and removed our shoes to kneel on the carpet. A master sprinkled us with holy water and said a prayer blessing our adoption. I don't know if it shows in the pictures but those bronze buddas were huge! We walked around the grounds and took a few more pictures. Haylee seemed really tired although she had slept late. So far she is an excellent sleeper. I hope that continues even after we return home :) As we left there were several beggars. Kevin gave them some money as I got into the van. They were very sweet and waved at our baby. It made me sad to notice how many of them had disabilities. Our guide said that they make alot of money there. I hope that is true.

Then we travelled to a government run store offering goods from China. Me and Kevin looked around but didn't see anything that we wanted. So we played with Haylee near the koi pond. She seemed really interested in the fish. Then we went to Liuhua Lake Park. It was the grounds for a palace of an emperor. It was beautiful and serene. The older people here are very active. I love to see them playing hackey sack and doing tai chi. (sp?) They also have these areas that at first glance appear to be playgrounds for children but as you get closer you realize that it is actually excercise equipment. I wish I would have gotten a picture of that. It was fun to walk and talk with some of the other adoptive parents. They are all very nice and their babies are beautiful. Afterwards our guide took us to a lovely restaurant. It was amazing with bright green and red colors. We had a private room and our guide, Cordelia, ordered for us. It was so delicious. The best was this breaded fish in a sauce. I could have eaten the whole thing. For dessert there were these pastries with bananas inside. I loved everything and it was the best food we've had so far. And there was so much of it! It was a very fun day. Now we are back at the hotel and Haylee is sleeping. She was so tired after our trip. Tonight we will probably just relax. Tomorrow is our appointment with the CAB to finalize our adoption paperwork for China. Everyday brings us a step closer to coming home with our beautiful baby.