Freestyle Chinese...

Buddhist temple gifts

Jordan learns some freestyle chinese hacky sack

Me and my boys

A man doing Tai Chi with a sword

Andrew and Eli

The day ended with walking wounded. Andrew was playing at the park and ran around a corner, falling. He scraped his knee and elbow but we needed to leave the park because of his distress. He settled nicely after a few cool washcloths and finally a shower. We ordered dinner in...baked sole fillet and chicken curry. Andrew fell asleep before it got to the room and Jordan gobbled down the sticky rice and then snoozed himself. It is 7:50 pm and both are already out.

We started the day with our typical breakfast. Andrew has enjoyed hard eggs and fruit while Jordan sticks with cereal and yogurt. We went for a walk after breakfast and ended at a walkway along the river. Hundreds of people had gathered for Tai Chi, a Chinese form of martial arts that generally requires slow movements which move energy. A man with a sword was showing off the same moves. I took some quick lessons from a group of women. There are many different types of Tai Chi. Every now and then Eli shows off some moves.

The area is beautiful. In the park was a pond with fish and many tadpoles. The Waalas, thanks to Eli, are now proud owners of a Gatorade bottle full of them. As the day went on, people showed off their hacky sack skills. This is incredible! They gather in groups of 4-5 and have an almost dart like looking thing to be used as a hacky sack. They all seemed expert. We all tried a little. Jordan did a great job! We will be bringing some home as gifts! It is a great exercise!

I wanted to visit a Buddhist Temple while here. We went to the Temple of the Six Bay non Trees. There are several temples in Guangzhou. We all stuffed into one taxi. The temple was located in the middle of, guess what, a very busy area! Shelly wonders if Eli was brought up Buddhist since he seems very comfortable here. OK, so comfortable that he wanted to burn some incense badly so simply crossed a closed off section in one of the temples...actually the one with 3 large Buddhas and marched right up to the candles lite on the table when suddenly one of the monks chased him out. It was innocent...memorable. I am not sure why I thought doing this was a good idea with kids. My boys were found laying down on the pads that are placed in front of each temple meant for bowing to Buddha...oops. At each temple and throughout the complex, there were flowers, incense (sometimes intense to the point of my children gagging as they left the building), water, oranges, apples, peanuts, and candy...all I know have meaning to Buddha (I need to learn more). We heard a chanting service in one of the temples and were able to watch (once the boys thought this may be similar to a church service, they wanted out).

We ventured out and walked the streets in the area for a little bit, hit the 7/11 for some ice cream, and hailed a taxi back...ok- there goes a taxi, ok "No, not to Shaiman"...something about time, after about a block of walking and 10 taxis turning us down, I called the hotel. Again, I hate not knowing this language, just rude of me. Well, luckily my smart older sister is along. She held out a 50 yen and hailed a taxi...slight hesitation but we were off. Thank you!

Back to the hotel for some down time and Nim's Island (subtitles in Chinese)- Shelly got 10 DVDs for 10 bucks. Good deal of course.

I am inspired by Eli. Although this boy has been told from day 1 that this day would someday come, he is handling himself with such grace and brilliance. Tomorrow is our last full day in Guangzhou. We will follow Shelly to a court for her to take an oath promising to care for Eli. We will see what the rest of the day brings...this feeling of peace is glorious.