Yangtze River - Fengdu - Snowy Jade Caves - May 2010

I am thankful I can wake up hearing and seeing birds at home. 

We arrived in the new city of Fengdu this morning to see women washing clothes in the Yangtse river at the base of the steps to the city.  The old city is flooded now and all the people have relocated to the opposite bank on higher ground.  But the city doesn't look new.  The high rise apartments look tired already.  The old farming community members are now city dwellers.  The young people have accepted the changes, but the older folks struggle.

Don and Leslie leaving the ship. 

We left the ship and hiked up the many steps to go out of town to the Snowy Jade Caves.  These caves were discovered less than 20 years ago and are stupendous.  The mantra for the rest of the trip became "watch your step, watch your head" but the caves were amazingly accessable and truly a marvel. 

Don, Sandy and Cyndy taking a rest on the steps.

Reggie and Don in front of the caves. 

Chongqing China

I am thankful for water you can drink from the tap in my country.  This is a really big city.  It is amazing the modifications that can be made to bikes and cycles.  Gas is expensive, so fuel efficient transportation is the rule.

We visited the General Stilwell museum and Flying Tigers, local artists, and Er-Ling park overlooking the confluence of the rivers.  It would have been a beautiful view if you could have seen across the river. 

The local markets were facinating.  The fresh meat market was a huge indoor building with row upon row of marble counters with different vendors.  The meat & poultry is brought in fresh daily and sold out same day.  Every part is there, from snout to feet, meat and internal organs.  No refrigeration. 

The outdoor street vendors sold everything!  Live fish in buckets, spices, fruits, everything. 

A kind lady posed showing her rattan baby carrier.  The baby wasn't so agreeable posing in the carrier.

Chungking People's Grand Auditorium was a wonderful square where locals gathered.  The one child per family rule was apparent as we never saw families of children.  Mostly just single babies with grand parents. 

Beijing, Forbidden City, Tian'An Men Square, Cooking school, Temple of Heaven May 2010

I am thankful we can't see the air we breath at home. 

We arrived in Beijing after a long, but uneventful flight.  The first impressions of the city were of run down tenements, brown smog and traffic.   Not as many bicycles or single cars as I thought there would be.  But the bikes are used for everything in every possible configuration. 

Beijing has a good public transportation sysem and there were LOTS buses.

We started our tour the next morning at the back entrance of the Forbidden City and were able to visit the residences with relatively few people. 

The crowds were thick when we got out to the palaces, squares and ceremonial buildings.  Lots of wooden structures, but no trees or gardens because fire has destroyed the city so many times. 

The restoration of the city will take years to complete, but what has been done so far is in exquisite detail. 

Tian'An Men Square has two HUGE TV screens you could see for blocks and lots of people milling about.  Lots of guards and police, but we were not allowed to take pictures of them.

We had a chinese cooking school demonstration  and then were allowed to cook the dish ourselves.   I learned how to make tomatoe and pineapple flowers; and cucumber leaves too.  I'll need a bit of practice!

The Temple of Heaven was lovely.  It had a long covered walk leading up to it with a green tile roof. 

Locals would gather there to play music, cards, dance, or visit.  Crowded, but everyone was having fun.  The long row of incense pots were great.

Oceanside and San Diego

We left Anaheim on Saturday and drove down to Oceanside. 

On Sunday we went to San Diego Wild Animal Park.  I loved the aviaries and spent quite a bit of time talking to a hyacinth macaw.  He wouldn't even look at another person until the keeper came in with food. 

Michael loved the elephants.  The keepers were trying to separate some of the animals and it was like herding cats but very entertaining for us.

I enjoyed the ride into the savanah area seeing several different species of Rhino and one that is the last of seven known of her kind.   It is so nice to see grazing animals in a savannah like area much like in the wild. 

On Monday we drove to Balboa Park and Michael flew 18 holes of disc golf. 

Then it was on to Old Point Loma.  Nicely restored building and fresnel lens displays there.  We left as a thunder storm hit, but got totally soaked just walking to the car.  We drove by new Point Loma and got rainy pictures.

Tuesday we headed to the airport in another storm.  Twenty mph on the freeway and spinning cars.  By the time we got to LB airport, the side streets were hub cap deep and many curbs and sidewalks were covered with water.  We had just gotten through security when the power went out at the airport.  Our plane waited 45 minutes for the passengers who couldn't get through security, but finally left them behind.  I'm glad to be home since southern California is expecting mud slides and more rain. 

Happiest Place on Earth

We are sure happy today, but not just because we are at Disneyland. 

Brandon got a job!!  Yeh Brandon.   He starts tomorrow and will be training in Seattle next week.  To bad he was supposed to pick us up at the airport.  Oh well.

We saw a live demonstration of a Honda robot named Asimo.  He could walk up/down stairs, dance and run.  Really run, with two feet off the ground for .8 seconds.

Michael and I went on California Screamin (roller coaster) three times.  Won-der-ful. 

We got wet on Grizzly River Rafts and Casey finally found a hat.  Don and Casey enjoyed California Soar'in.  Michael and I go on the roller coasters, but stomachs can't handle the simulators that Don and Casey love.  Fun.

California here we come

Right back where Don came from! Well, almost.  He was born in San Francisco. Michael and Casey joined us for a very early flight and flew into Long Beach.  We viewed Long Beach and LA Harbor Light houses, but the smog colored the sky brown and hazy, so pictures were not good. 

Point Fermin and Pt Vincente had much clearer air. Both had beautiful sites and Pt Fermin had great restored gingerbread.  Michael and Casey played a 9 hole disc golf course, then we shopped and checked into our time-share.  Nice two bedroom, 2 bath with full kitchen.  One mile from Disneyland with a bus stop right out front. 

Today we had a blast in Disneyland and California Adventure!!  Don and Casey like the same rides and Michael and I have same likes.  So, we went together or split several different ways and still had fun.

Michael got soaked on Splash Mountain, but it was warm in the afternoon, so he dried quick enough. 

Casey was able to see her favorite Donald Duck and I found my favorite Eyore!

 Michael and I capped the day by going on the Tower of Terror.