Friday April 8 - Goodbye China

Today began our trip home.  It was such a great trip and we're sorry to see it end.

We had a good breakfast at the hotel in the morning knowing we'd only have snacks until dinner time.  Our guide and driver drove us back to the Guangzhou train station (3 hour trip) and then we waited for the 2 hour long train ride to Hong Kong.  There, a driver met us and took us to the airport hotel where we're staying tonight.

Sonia thought it was funny that drivers and cars were on the "wrong side" here.  And, I realized that I didn't bring my plug adapters, forgetting that we'd need the "london plugs" here.  Luckily, the hotel loaned us one and we're now charging devices.  Sonia's iPad and headphones got a workout today but it (along with plenty of snacks) kept her content for the full day of riding.

We fly home and arrive home tomorrow (Saturday) mid day... I love the time change on this return end.

A few pictures of Yangjiang and the trip to HongKong...  USA, here we come.

Train from Guangzhou to HongKong

Thursday April 7 - Orphanage Visit

The main event of today was visiting the JiangCheng orphanage where Sonia was from when she was a day old until I met her.  The Vice-Director and others we met were very welcoming.  We met 4 women and I got pictures of another but weren't able to see all the nannies.  We did get to meet and get a picture of Sonia with one nanny that traveled with her to Guangzhou the day I met her.  When I showed the picture of that day, they went and got her.

They put out a table of fruit and treats and gave Sonia a hanging decoration and also the pictures from her file there.  It's really nice to have the originals of these 4 pictures from across her first year.  I also learned a bit from Sonia's time there which adds to my understanding ... for now, it went over Sonia's head while she played with a couple little ones, but will eventually be important to help fill in bits and pieces for her.

We got to go in the baby room for just a minute and see the crib Sonia was in with another baby while there.  In 2011, when Sonia was adopted, there were more than 100 babies there.  Now, there are fewer than 30.  A very different place and we were told that they may be moving to merge with another of the four orphanages in the area as all have relatively few children these days.  So, I'm happy we were able to visit now.

They loved the pictures that we brought from other families with children from JC.  We were also able to see two children whose families are waiting to travel adopt them.  Sonia gave them stickers and treats and got to play a little with them while the adults talked.  I took as many pictures as I could to send to the families.  

The visit ended with the vice-director taking us to lunch.  It was very nice and we were sad to say goodbye.  Sonia waved until the car was completely out of sight.

In the later afternoon, our guide took us to the coast so Sonia could play in the sand.  She loved having her feet in the sand and it was a nice decompression from the morning.

Finally, back to the hotel and dinner with our guide... quite a day!

A few pictures (JC families who might be following - I'm happy to share all the pictures I took and any details to questions I can if you'd like once we're home with faster internet)

Entrance 

Showing picture book she made

 Some other pictures from visit

Lunch with vice-director (including playing rock/paper/scissors before food arrived)

Visit to sea afterwards

Wednesday April 6 - Travel to Yangjiang

Wednesday started early with the bus taking us to the airport at 5:45am.  We flew to Guangzhou where we were met by a local guide (Daniel) and a driver.

We learned there was a change in plans and we'd visit the Guangzhou Record Archive immediately instead of on Friday as originally planned (as he felt time would be too tight on Friday).  When we got there, we were put in a room with a set of documents and told not to photograph but I could write what I wanted with Daniel translating.  Luckily, Sonia could play a game on my phone (and took a picture of us without me knowing), as Daniel patiently went through the documents with me.  Many I have or had filled out.  (Lacretia, it brought back memories of when I sat on a bed with Sonia while dictating pages of forms to you to fill in the night I met Sonia.  They are all in the file.)  The one new document was the finding / police report which gave me some more information on how Sonia entered the orphanage including the name and address (at least at that time) of the finder.  I also found out that Sonia has a China registration from her time here.

After that we stopped quickly at a McDonalds (guide suggested for a quick meal so we could get on the road).  I guess we've had enough Chinese as Sonia happily ate a whole hamburger and most of both our fries! I cringed...but it did taste good right then!

Then a 3 hour drive to Yangjiang.  It made me think of that very long morning drive Sonia had before meeting me in GZ on August 9, 2011.  The drive is really pretty... a good 4 lane highway, with beautiful green mountains, rice paddies, fruit (our guide said they grow little mandarin oranges in the area), and flowering trees. 

Her city is famous for knives of high quality and very low cost.  I wanted some but was told I'm not able to take on the train to HongKong.  I guess they had an incident a couple years back in a train in Hunan with knives from YJ city so now are very strict.  The hotel said that FedEx could send to me, so we bought some only to find out they actually can't get through customs either.  So, our guide managed to return them and get my money back.  I'll have to keep that in mind when we next visit... if we were flying from China instead of train to HongKong, it would have been no issue.  

Once that whole knife deal was done, Sonia and I had a quick dinner in the hotel and went to bed early.  

Pictures...

Tuesday April 5 - Tai Chi, Back to Guilin, and farewell to group

Tuesday was a transition day... we started the day in Yangshuo with a Tai Chi lesson outdoors in view of the beautiful mountains.  We then took the bus back to Guilin where we had a bit of time to relax (Sonia couldn't resist "swimming" in the giant bathtub in our room) and then a nice farewell dinner with the group.  After dinner, some of the kids showed off their talents.  Sonia sang two songs in Chinese that she learned in her Cricket class to great applause.

It was a wonderful tour and a great group to travel with.  We'll miss both our guide through the tour, Ms. Linn, and also the wonderful kids and parents on the tour!  We exchanged emails, promised to exchange pictures, and hopefully will keep in contact with a few people.

Wednesday, we fly to Guangzhou to then drive to Sonia's birth city Yangjiang.

Pictures...

Monday April 4 - Boat Ride & Cooking School

Monday we headed for an overnight in Yangshuo on a boat down the Li River.  The river is surrounded by the most beautiful mountain lines which were carved by water reacting with the limestone over the years.  It is a gorgeous trip!

In the afternoon, we went to a Chinese cooking school outside the city.  We made food and then ate it (along with a number of additional dishes made by the chef).  It was absolutely delicious and we were given the recipes to make at home... veggies with chicken in oyster sauce, cucumber salad, braised eggplant, and steamed dumplings.  Sonia ate every dumpling we made except one (for me to try).  The eggplant, in particular, was also really delicious and I hope I can reproduce at home.

The trip is going so fast.  Tomorrow night will be our farewell dinner with the group.  From there, some families will head home, some to the kid's birth cities, and others to additional vacation in other cities.  We'll head early (8 am flight) to Guangzhou on Wednesday to then drive to Yangjiang where Sonia was born.

Some pictures...

Sunday April 3 - Xi'an to Guilin

Sunday was our visit to see the famous Xi'an Terra Cotta Warriors.  Farmers digging a well discovered the first warrior.  Further exploration of the area found a full army of soldiers and horses.  First we went to where they do reproduction to learn how to to restoration.  They had some "back and headless" warriors we could take pictures with.  At the actual site, we were able to see three "digs" with the first being the most impressive and huge!  Pictures do not do it justice... it is huge and something I've always wanted to see.

Later in the day, we flew from Xi'an to Guilin which is the last stop for the main tour we are on.  We got in late... a long but fun day!

Some pictures...

A little fun with friends

Then we headed to Guilin

Saturday April 2 - Xi'an

Our day started with another flight ... from Chengdu to Xi'an.  Xi'an has been on my list of China cities to see for years.  So, I am excited to be hear.

It's much warmer here (even though Xi'an is north compared to Chengdu... probably because of the sunny skies).  It was about 80 so still nice but in the sun felt hot.

We went right to the old Xi'an city wall from the airport.  Many of the group biked around the wall (9 miles).  But, Sonia was under the height requirements and even the tandem bikes were much too big for her.  So, we explored the wall a bit... played with some bubbles... rented a traditional Xi'an costume for her to wear for a few minutes to take pictures... and relaxed a bit in the shade.  Overall, it was a nice afternoon.

Xi'an grows wheat instead of rice.  So, the big treat here is noodles.  We got to try several kinds in our  dinner which was great.

Tomorrow, Sunday, the terra cotta warriors before flying to Guilin.

Some Pictures...

Flight from Chengdu to Xi'an

Xi'an wall

A few people wanted pictures with Sonia too :)