August 24, 2006 12 noon China Time

Yesterday:

We were totally sick of the buffet by now, so we ventured out into the local neighborhood for the Chinese version of Starbucks. A lovely stroll down a local street with an extensive median/park in the middle with playgrounds, fitness circuits, fountains, beautiful plants and the tantalizing aroma of eucalyptus trees. We are staying on an island within the city, and this strip looks as if it were once the home of civil buildings—rich and grand architecture abounds. Sitting on the extensive balcony of the coffee house, we watched the people go by, as they watched us enjoying our breakfast. A fascinating experience as we became part of the everyday life of the Chinese citizens of Guangzhou.
We were enjoying ourselves so much, we had to rush back to the hotel to meet Amy and off to the temple we went. When we arrived, we had to push our way through many armless or otherwise mutilated beggars. This was a city temple, and a very busy one. Long lines and many people, worshipping the many huge bronze Buddhas. Amy taught us how to worship by lighting incense and saying prayers in front of the Buddha, facing four different ways as we did. We moved into a separate building where a priest was giving service. He was chanting and tossing sacred water on the worshippers who happened to be a very large group of Americans, with their newly adopted babies. Amy informed us that we would be next for a private service. ( She obviously had used her many powers of influence to pull this one off). The four of us, Amy, Alia, Robert, and myself were ushered into the worshiping area where we knelt before the Buddha statue and the priest. Amy told us to close our eyes as he chanted. We did, and you might know that this is when Alia decided to try and walk for the first time. Buddha has the power! She stood up, kicked her feet, and started to climb on me. Robert and I each peeked with one eye. Fortunately the priest doused us with the sacred water anyway. On the way out you take coins to toss into the mouth of a Buddha statue as a donation. You get three tosses to get it into the Buddha’s mouth, which means extreme good luck in your lives. I tossed my first one and in the mouth it went!!!! I took one for Alia and in the mouth it went!!! People were astounded, and Amy said she had never seen that before. Don’t ask me!
We want Alia to be aware of the Buddhist religion, as it is quite a peaceful one, with respect for all life. We are raising her as a vegetarian, like us, and Buddhism supports this belief, as well as, probably being her native religion.
Home from the temple, and to the playroom for some more entertaining fun. Playing with the other children and practicing walking blah blah blah…….then naptime..blah blah blah….then pool time…blah blah blah…..then buying some more gifts for Jill, (and the family) then Rose’s and Chinese dinner where she had tofu, fried celery, and taro root, with noodles…..plus congee, a special rice porridge…delicious!!!! She had a big Buddha belly went she went to sleep.

August 25, 2006
Morning and bath time. Off to the neighborhood Chinese Starbucks and an extra special treat. Right in front of the café a Chinese dance class!!!! About thirty women, working out to beautiful Chinese music, doing lovely graceful movements. Alia sat in her stroller, fascinated, and started singing along. Mommy wanted to go give some corrections but restrained herself. Many local people stopped and chatted with us, or waved to the baby.
We were very close to a food market that I would like to walk through, if I can really put it that way. It is the one place in the city where dogs and cats are slaughtered for human consumption and fur for clothing. They are skinned alive, and dogs are torn apart before they are slaughtered in the belief that this makes the meat sweeter. Many fur trimmed items in the United States, are the fur of dogs, especially golden retrievers. As an animal activist, I feel it necessary to see this. This is a very controversial international concern, with the Humane Society of the United States of America, trying to teach the people differently. It is a slow process to change anything in the world’s oldest civilization. Many restaurants have pictures of dogs and cats with a big X drawn through them to signify that they do not serve the meat of these animals. Have not decided if I can handle it yet.
Back to the hotel, change a smelly diaper, play in the room and write the blog and then playroom.