Tuesday was the day to go to the US Consulate to do the paperwork for the Visa. We had what I think was the first appointment there which was great, except that it meant we had to leave at 7:30. So up early, run to breakfast, slurp it down, and run. Everything went pretty well getting going. I think I even got to eat. Nice thing is that running around like a chicken with my head cut off is typical for meals at home, so I haven’t gotten out of practice. Running for food for kids, getting coffee, more food, getting Kai away from the elevator, cleaning up spills, and on and on. It is both hectic and normal for me.
We left for the Consulate in the same van we’d been using, again with our friends. About a half hour drive. We got there and there were long lines out front, apparently Chinese people waiting in line for Visas. We passed that line and went inside. There were about 15 other families there in the lobby. We waited a bit and then went up the escalators and waited in a line. After about 10 minutes we through a metal detector and into another waiting room. There they started calling names. We got called second. They collected all of the papers we had and then took them to review. A bit later (it was longer for us, because of 2 kids), we got papers back. Then we had to wait for our friends, because they had to get fingerprints for their daughter. Finally we were done and left.
We got home early from that, and found ourselves faced with a whole day to fill. Our friends suggested we go to a park.
After spending a bit in the room getting ready, we went to the park at 11:00. I need to ask my friends the name but it was a big mountain park, maybe with a big monument at the top, though we didn’t get to the top…
Both families took their own Taxi to the park (all the taxis are VW’s – 4 door manual transmission sedans). We got dropped off at the park entrance. No friends. So we waited a bit then decided to look around some to see if we could find them. We hiked down the road a bit in search of them. About ten minutes later, down by the restaurants, we found them. We decided to eat there. We chose a little local place. Maybe they knew about us because they ushered us into a room in the back that just had one big table. That way we could make as much noise as we wanted. We all ordered some dishes and then shared. Some soup, some chicken nuggets, some meat on stick, and some noodles. The noodles were actually a mixture of noodles and cow intestines. And the chicken (like all meat I have seen here) is cut in very interesting ways, You get bones, and other interesting parts. Not really Chik-fil-A.
After lunch it was raining, but we decided to walk up into the park. We bought a couple of umbrellas since we forgot ours. They cost 12 RMB ($1.50) each. It was a beautiful place. With beautiful rainforest plants. I wish my mom could have been there to see it. She would have loved it. We hiked up the road for a long while, past pagodas, streams, weird looking plants, sculptured gardens. We got as far as we could, but then decided that was far enough. Our friends hiked up a little higher to see the “natural birdcage.” Then back down.
We took a taxi home towards the hotel I wanted to stop right across the bridge at the stands in the “real” part of town (off Shamian Island). We got the taxi driver to stop where we wanted (“Jilli” – “Right Here”). We got out and looked at a few stands. The baby was asleep (he always falls asleep in the car) and I carried him and he stayed asleep. We settled for a nice rolling red one that is carry on size. It cost 80 RMB, which was like $12. It was a lot cheaper than having to pay the overweight charges on the way home, and I knew I wouldn’t have a problem carrying them with my two competitive boys.
Right down from the suitcase stand was a place selling little baked things. I decided to be a little adventurous and got some stuff there to try. For about $1.50 I got a few pieces of what tasted like tasty cornbread, some white things with I think date paste inside, a rice thing with chicken all rolled up in a giant leaf, and two indescribable things (meat in pasta?) that Kai wanted. Finn ate the rice thing, Kai ate one of the indescribable things, I ate the cornbread and date things, and Duncan ate Subway.
Why do they keep playing “Locked Up Abroad” commercials on the National Geographic channel that is on in the room. Scary.
After dinner we walked down to Jenny’s Place. I have started rewarding the kids 1 RMB per hour they are good (which has really worked out to 5 RMB 2x a day) and Kai has been pining for a 10 RMB yoyo. He asked about it all day after seeing it last night but didn’t have enough. Finally he did and I told him we would eat then go. So we headed down there. He got the yoyo and before I knew it Duncan was in the midst of negotiations for another watch! Long story short he got another very nice “replica” Rolex for 109 RMB (like $15) – a lot less than the 170 he paid last time. Two watches. Hmmm. It was all his money, and later he was mad he could not get the army men, but I think he made a good choice.
After that we walked around a bit then headed up to the room to bed. One day closer to home!
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