Another Day in Guangzhou

I started this post thinking that I didn't really have much to say today.  But, then when I looked through my pictures, I realized that I could make a relatively interesting post.  We started with a group tour to the Six Banyan Temple.  After seeing the temple in Nanchang, we really weren't very interested in going, but we decided to join the group.  It was the 15th of the lunar month which is a day a lot of people visit the temple.  It was very busy, and there was a performance by some monks with lots of chanting and incense.  They were preparing some fish and eels for release into the ocean, like an offering.  After the chanting, they loaded up the fish and eels in containers and headed out with them.  Like Nanchang, it was just weird.

Throwing money in for good luck

The monk performance

Afterwards, we went to the pearl, jade, and gem market.  It was five floors of all the same kind of stuff.  Lots of smoking.  We bought some pearls.  We picked two strands from a huge bag of pearls.  Then, they strung a double strand bracelet, a necklace, and made a pair of earrings from the two strands.  They were very fast and tied a knot after each pearl.  Anna has decided that she likes to walk independently and not ride in the ergo.  She had a slight meltdown when she realized that Matt wouldn't let her just walk anywhere and touch anything.  I think he was about to have a meltdown too when the ladies in the pearl shop gave Anna some candy.  It was candied hawthorn, as sticky as a candied apple, but with three little hawthorns about the size of grapes.  She was in candy heaven, and Matt was trying not to get candied in the process.

Restringing the pearls

 We took a group photo in the lobby of the hotel today.  There are 7 families in our BAAS travel group.  Although we aren't together all the time, it has been nice to get to know everyone on the tours we have had together. 



We came back and took naps again.  Then, we went for a body massage.  They took us to a room with two massage tables and two comfy chairs.  They turned on the TV for the boys and brought water and watermelon for the kids.  Joshua did a GREAT job babysitting Anna feeding her watermelon and letting her sit on his lap.  I can't believe that we were able to lay there and relax for an hour without her right next to Matt.  The massages were $15 each!

Playing peek a boo!



Only 4 nights until we head home!