Wednesday

Hot Pot

Helen cooking lamb!

Chopstick experts?

Standing in front of Temple of Heaven

This is me with Helen

Older people having a good time

We are pulling silk for a blanket

Hu-tong tour

She made us tea!

Rickshaw

Drum Tower

Wednesday, Feb. 4^th, 2009

This morning we started off having breakfast in our hotel. It is really fancy…and we had an interesting assortment of foods. They had your normal breakfast foods such as bacon, pancakes, eggs, pastries, and toast. They also had a few items that were interesting to say the least…baked beans, fried rice, sushi, and stir fry chicken. I love me so good old stir fry chicken and fried rice…but for breakfast?? Ugh. We were enjoying our lovely 5-star breakfast when all of the sudden I hear a loud bang on the table. I look up and Carlton is cracking his hard boiled egg on the table. All the ladies came running over to us as if we were making a noise to get their attention. I started laughing so hard, I couldn’t even speak. Oh, my husband, just a good ole country boy. After breakfast, we met Helen in the lobby. She sat down with us and we made a plan for the week. We decided to do the hu-tong tour, silk factory, and Temple of Heaven today. Traditionally, a hu-tong was a water well, but this word now refers to “old Beijing”. The hu-tong is an area in Beijing with traditional houses on narrow streets. Tours of this district are done on rickshaw. Our tour included the drum tower used during the Ming and Chen dynasty to count time. The tower was used until 1924 (the tower is about 600 years old!!). We saw them perform a show on the drums. After seeing the tower, we took a rickshaw through hu-tong and visited a local family. This family was very nice and even offered us a cup of jasmine tea. Next, we went and toured the Silk Factory. We were shown how the silk is taken from cocoon to blankets. We also went upstairs and I purchased the cutest outfit for Lily. These outfits were a little more expensive, but of very good quality. Helen then took us to see the Temple of Heaven. This temple was used by the emperors to seek the aid of the gods in producing good crops. Today, the temple is open for visitors and the temple is used by retired men and women for entertainment. We were impressed with the Chinese community. Helen told us that men and women gather together to play cards, dance, sing, play hacky-sack and other fun activities. Most of the time, they don’t even know each other. The Chinese are very friendly and welcoming people. It was really an amazing sight to see all these older people enjoying life together. I really liked it… We also purchased some local art. One piece was two panda bears painted on silk and the other was a mother with her children during Chinese New Year and it was painted on silk. After Temple of Heaven, Helen took us to a very popular local “hot-pot” restaurant. I have to admit, I was a little nervous. All I could envision was a big chicken head or fried cricket looking at me from my dinner plate. But, it was actually very tasty. Ya’ll are not going to believe it, but I ate all kinds of “weird” things. Hot Pot is a copper pot that sits in the middle of the table and you put your food in there to boil. Don’t fall out of your seat, but I ate lamb, beef, fish (strange looking), really odd peanuts, parsley, bean kur?, bean sauce and stringy potatoes. I attempted to use chopsticks, but had to resort to the use of a fork. (it took the waitress 15 minutes to find me a fork). This was a very good traditional Chinese meal. So, my motto this trip is, “When in China, do as the Chinese”.

We got back to the hotel about 6:15. The day was capped off by the most unbelievable massage you could ever imagine. For $28, I got an hour and a half head to toe massage, foot massage, and an herbal foot soak?? Oh, it was heavenly. This was a sweet treat from my hubby. J

Carlton and I are having the experience of a lifetime. I believe right now we are in shock. Being in China is such a shock to your system. It just completely rocks your world in every way. The sights, the sounds, the smells…its all very overwhelming. But, I absolutely love it here. I never imagined I would have these kinds of feelings about this country. I am very relaxed and I almost feel at home.

Several times during the day, I am reminded of the big reason we are here! I have seen so many precious children running around. Carlton and I just look at each other and smile! My stomach does a flip-flop every time I think about what will be happening this time next week. Oh, my heart….that sweet baby girl will be in my arms. Saying that I am excited is just an understatement.

Tomorrow, we are heading to the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and we are having supper at Helen’s house. She is going to teach me how to make home-made traditional dumplings. She told me that Lily would love them and that it is tradition to cook them on Chinese New Year. So, of course, I have to learn!!!

I love and miss you all,

Aimee and Carlton

Hannah Grace and Noah,

We are hoping to have Skype working by tomorrow. I miss hearing your voices and seeing your faces. Are you having fun with Aunt Susie? I am sure she is spoiling you rotten and that’s okay!! I love you both and Daddy and I are sending you a big, big, hug and kiss. Talk to you soon!!