The Home Stretch

With the finish line in sight, these are the "dog-days" of Shamian Island. Similar to my trip here some 5 1/2 years ago for Morgan, by now you're so anxious to go home a 12 hour plane ride sounds very inviting. A physical and US Consulate appointment are the only required items remaining before we bid farewell to China.

I was reading in a newspaper here that the poverty level for China was recently raised to about 1200RMB per year (about $156 USD). Although the required physical on Monday cost me 500RMB, it did get us to the front of the line . . . so money talks even in China.

I vividly remember the physical they gave our kids here in 2003. It basically consisted of a temperature reading and hearing test administered by an elderly nurse wearing a mirrored eye-monocle shaking a tambourine. Not much has changed in about 6 years although the toy keyboard on the desk was an improvement.

This final week we're touring many of the same sights I visited back in 2003. After the physical on Monday, we were taken to a museum called the Chen Lineage Hall. The Chen's were a very wealthy family in Guangzhou and built this home about 120 years ago which was taken by Mao then subsequently donated it to the city. It's currently undergoing a much needed exterior renovation.

While here in 2003, Stacee's sister Kathy, my mom, Morgan, me and many others from our group visited the Xiang Jiang Safari Park. Or what I affectionately to refer to as the Xiang Jiang death march as it was August and happened to be the hottest day of our trip topping 100 degrees with 95% humidity. Although the park was very beautiful and there was much to see and do, I don't think I was conscious for much of it.

So today (Tuesday) we decided to tempt fate and venture off to the safari park once again. Stacee's sister emailed me prior to going and said "bag the park". Boy what a difference 30 degrees makes. Although it's been in the mid to upper 80's here, today it was 70 degrees tops and was the absolutely best temperature anyone could possibly hope for which made for an absolutely great day at the park. Look, Stacee's even wearing a jacket.

Back on that fateful August 2003 day with the sun blazing down on my poor orphaned daughter's head rather than spending 5 bucks to buy her a hat I improvised and stuck a diaper on her head - it was a guy thing and made sense at the time. As payback I told Morgan she could take a picture of me with a diaper on my head. She thought it was pretty funny, so here you go (we're even now Morgan).

Other than a diaper on my head, here's a few of the things we were able to enjoy today:

White Tigers . . .

Bears playing basketball . . . (special note: the bear was 0-3 during the show so the unhappy trainer made him stay after and work on his jump-shot)

That's us holding a baby white lion . . .

Morgan with a few of her new friends . . .

Performing elephants . . .

And finally performing tigers . . .

Well, it was quite a day and we had a lot of fun. Tomorrow it's off to the US Consulate then we're done with all of the red tape and paperwork.

To Cody and Ellie Jo - Morgan was really moved by your message and cannot wait to see you and tell you all about her many adventures here in China. Thanks for your prayers and very special note of encouragement.