Shaolin Temple Photos

4th Day in Zhengzhou

Peekaboo!

Many of the adoption families had a great yesterday but a rough night. Many of the kids are still adjusting from the orphanage and are now showing their personalities, including Rui. She is attached to mom and recognizes me but will not allow me to hold or feed her the bottle. I spend most of my time now as a (humorously speaking) mule pack hauling formula, diapers, water, thermos, wipes, extra bottles, bibs spoons, much more (clothes, baby carrier, corn pop crackers and money. I'm finding that we eat a whole lot less with Rui eating with us. She is numero uno.

We had the option to visit the Shaolin Temple today and we went. The group started small and grew to roughly14 people. This was good because it also lowered the price. The temple was roughly 1.5 hours away and it was roughly a half day trip, which later became a 3/4 day trip.

The temple has been updated and fairly clean. The show was good and they demonstrated their skills and the buildings or temples we visited were also nice. The facility was spread out. They charged 20rmb (Arlene and myself) to drive you and your group via tram cart from one location to another location. (20 rmb for a 5 minute ride? What a deal/racket for them... I think our group spent (14 x 60 rmb) for transpo alone.

The temple is well commercialized now and that's kinda sad. A lady stumbled down some steps and a monk just watched. I was hoping to learn more of the kungfu arts and styles and buy some books but that was not the case. You could buy a real sword, but I would have problems bringing itback to the US. The pollution was noticeable and made it hard to take good pictures of the mountains. A number of us had bug bites, but we didn't really see the mosquitoes. They must have been Shaolin mosquitoes that bit us using their kungfu bites. haha.

Our guide recommended us to let me feed Rui dinner while mom took a break outside the room for a break.It was an opportunity for her to bond with me. Was this a successful and possible goal? Of course. I failed big time. She cried for 25 minutes and fell asleep in my arms from crying. Hey! You're suppose to feel sorry for me, not Rui. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day. I can only stand for soo much rejection.

On a positve note, Rui sat on a highchair for her breakfast which was great. Arlene could finally eat! Rui is very entertaining when she is happy. She loves peekaboo. She can unscrew a water bottle, pretend to chug a lug, and screw it back on. She also tried to put on Arlene's walking shoes and sandals. To top that, she picked up the phone and almost called room service! yikes. Tomorrow is our last day of rest before heading to Guangzhou for our daughter's visa at the US consulate.

I was going to post a pic of a squat toilet but thot that was a bit gross. Beijing's squat porta potties were more interesting. and a whole lot cleaner (if you really have to go, you may opt to go in one that's designed a little bigger for additional needs). If you really want to see it, post me back a response.