Today was a fantastic day! The weather was the same (hot, humid, hazy) and the breakfast was the same (yummy!) but we decided to do something different. Wade found on the internet that the train station isn't too far from the hotel and there is a place called "Windows of the World" in a city called Shenzhen, just west of HongKong.We figured it would be a nice day trip, within our province, and something to get us out of the hotel. We called Abby's family to see if they wanted to join us (they did!) and we took a shuttle to the train station, a train to Shenzhen and then a metro to the theme park.
Windows of the World is a theme park in the sense that there is a park with a theme (exhibits) but no rides. The theme is obviously, "around the world" and there are reproductions on different scales, about 1:1.5, of the beautiful monuments and buildings around the world. The main attraction is the Eiffel Tower (complete with Christmas tree decorations!) but there are different lands that you walk through that have attractions & monuments from all over...St. Peter's Square, Ayers Rock, the Taj Mahal, the Cologne Cathedral, St. Mark's Square, Arc de Triumph,Pisa Cathedral and Leaning Tower, the Matterhorn, the Tower of Babel,Asian things (I don't know what they are) etc...There were kitchy things like a gondola ride in the lake, riding the elevator up a couple stories in the Eiffel Tower, and snowboarding at the Matterhorn. There was even a ten foot mono-rail! It was similar (in a B+ sort of way) to walking around Busch Gardens Europe without the rides. We thought it was an interesting way to bring the world to those that can't travel as easily as others. It certainly wasn't stroller friendly, nor was it inexpensive, but it was a wonderful insight into the Chinese teaching about the rest of the world and what it has to offer. The detail on the monuments was incredible! They used marble, iron, and inlay~very realistic and authentic looking. It was spectacular to see and a treat to find it here on our trip.
Andrew feels he hit the lottery as he got to snowboard today! It was a hundred degrees outside and he was snowboarding in Southern China! He and Abby's big sister, Ericka, rented snowboards and a jacket and went down the indoor snow mound a few times. It was fun to see them laugh and just be teenagers~and the exhilirating glows from the snow and cool breeze made them light up like the sun. It was a wonderful afternoon!
As always, meals were interesting. We ordered something of a fried rice and tofu for lunch at a restaurant outside the train station. Little Man, of course, ate half my lunch and part of Roo's, plus the Miso soup. Because our travels brought us home so late, we had to grab a yogurt at a 7-11 (yes, they have them here!) and have that with our powerbars. Even Liam (my little swimmer, remember!) loves power bars, but for him, they are just a snack.
We have met the nicest people! Abby and Liam were in their strollers for the subway rides (half hour each way) and out of the strollers, on our laps, for the train ride (an hour each way) and they called attention, not only from being so darn cute, but because they have Anglo/American parents. Another cultural difference is the Chinese have no qualms about talking about us or the children in front of us, knowing we don't speak Cantonese. Whatever differences we have politically and spiritually, the truth is they are just like us and can't help but smile when they see a sweet child. Once we made eye contact and just smiled, it is like their shell was thrown from them and they didn't feel the need to stare or talk about us, but to us and the children. The kiddos, of course, commanded smiles and laughter and got it from everyone around. It makes me sad that their government allows them only one child and you know, now that we are here, I see it seems to make them sad, too. The people follow their rules but they all seem to have soft spots for the beautiful children and we will all come home with memories of the kindness of the locals and the smiles that Liam and Abby brought out of complete strangers.
Tomorrow has nothing exciting on the agenda. I am learning "exciting" is a relative term as every day is exciting to our little Liam and every day is exciting to Andrew, who has gained so much knowlege about adoptions, love from the very bottom of your heart and life on this trip. I know he has learned from the sweet older people we visit with and the local shop keepers, in addition to the guided tours. A lesson in life...that we are all here because of His love and that is all He asks of us in return. It really doesn't matter where in His beautiful world you live, the message is the same, to love one another. Although we teach that, I know Andrew knows that, he is seeing truly that love has no boundaries. Okay, time for me to get off my soapbox and scoot to bed.
The pictures today will be from our trip around the world! =) mct
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