During our downtime in China we have gone for a lot of walks near our hotel. As a result we seem to attract a lot of unwanted attention from the locals, particularly Briana. They love to look at blonde children because it's not something they see all the time. They aren't shy of fussing over her either. At times we got so many stares that I now understand what Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt feel like whenever they are photographed out with their kids. It is a total fish bowl.
Everyone is very polite, and take advantage to practice their English. People stop us just to talk, they ask where we're from, how long we'll stay and so on. Sometimes it's the shopkeepers wanting to reel us into their stores so they can get us to buy some cheeply made souvenir at an outrageous price. We try to steer clear of the high pressure salespeople, but it's not always easy. If you even go into one of those shops out of curiosity they follow you around the place hoping you'll buy something. But in Shamian Island the locals cater to the tourists as that is how they make their living.
Shamian Island is a sandbank given to the French and English during the 19th century to cultivate trade. As a result the buildings all are designed in the western style. The old French and British consulates were housed on the island and the French built a Roman Catholic church known as Our Lady of Lourdes which is now closed and completely covered in bamboo scaffolding. I think the Chinese want the visiting tourists to thinks it is under renovation, but there is no one around doing any actual work. Religion is not encouraged in China and although the Catholic church operates in China, none of its clergy are actually appointed by the Vatican, but by the Chinese government.
The buildings around Shamian Island are in various states of upkeep which now house hotels, restaurants, tourists shops and a youth hostel. The streets are quite narrow, allowing only one car to get by in one direction and shared with pedestrians and bicycles. The park not only has a playground for children, but includes various adult exercise machines in bright colors to match the playground equipment. There is an ab machine, a leg curl machine, a glute machine as well as people who gather to do calisthenics, play badminton, or practice Tai Chi. Most of the Chinese people are in excellent shape and obesity is uncommon. Exercise and eating right is very important. Ed marveled at an old woman who could balance on one leg for an extended period of time. Years of Tai Chi had made her a master.
Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles and hellos in English or Chinese. I learned to say hello in Chinese: "Ni hao". I picked up a book of Chinese phrases at a book shop at the White Swan hotel to help a little more, but I find that most people speak very good English. Some modestly bemoan their lack of skill but I assure them that they know more English than I do Chinese.
Everyone is very polite, and take advantage to practice their English. People stop us just to talk, they ask where we're from, how long we'll stay and so on. Sometimes it's the shopkeepers wanting to reel us into their stores so they can get us to buy some cheeply made souvenir at an outrageous price. We try to steer clear of the high pressure salespeople, but it's not always easy. If you even go into one of those shops out of curiosity they follow you around the place hoping you'll buy something. But in Shamian Island the locals cater to the tourists as that is how they make their living.
Shamian Island is a sandbank given to the French and English during the 19th century to cultivate trade. As a result the buildings all are designed in the western style. The old French and British consulates were housed on the island and the French built a Roman Catholic church known as Our Lady of Lourdes which is now closed and completely covered in bamboo scaffolding. I think the Chinese want the visiting tourists to thinks it is under renovation, but there is no one around doing any actual work. Religion is not encouraged in China and although the Catholic church operates in China, none of its clergy are actually appointed by the Vatican, but by the Chinese government.The buildings around Shamian Island are in various states of upkeep which now house hotels, restaurants, tourists shops and a youth hostel. The streets are quite narrow, allowing only one car to get by in one direction and shared with pedestrians and bicycles. The park not only has a playground for children, but includes various adult exercise machines in bright colors to match the playground equipment. There is an ab machine, a leg curl machine, a glute machine as well as people who gather to do calisthenics, play badminton, or practice Tai Chi. Most of the Chinese people are in excellent shape and obesity is uncommon. Exercise and eating right is very important. Ed marveled at an old woman who could balance on one leg for an extended period of time. Years of Tai Chi had made her a master.
Everywhere we went we were greeted with smiles and hellos in English or Chinese. I learned to say hello in Chinese: "Ni hao". I picked up a book of Chinese phrases at a book shop at the White Swan hotel to help a little more, but I find that most people speak very good English. Some modestly bemoan their lack of skill but I assure them that they know more English than I do Chinese.
Our adoption facilitator and tour guide, Lucy, tells us that 80 percent of the items that are made in China 
that goes to the U.S. are made in Guangzhou. There are huge factories and some employ as much as 10,000 people at a time. As a result Guangzhou is quite run down and polluted. Transportation is mostly by taxi, bus and subway, but buses are preferred because subway fare is very expensive and the trains only go in two directions. Stop lights are nonexistant, as are seat belts and car seats. Lucy says that when you drive all you can do is close your eyes and go! The local police are an entity to be feared. Our driver made the mistake of traveling in the wrong direction of a one way road and was given a ticket. He looked scared when they pulled him over and we felt responsible because he had turned around to take us back to the hotel to retrieve a forgotten baby bottle.
Tomorrow we get to see what driving on the freeway is like as we make our way to our daughter's orphanage. I am sure it will be another adventure.
that goes to the U.S. are made in Guangzhou. There are huge factories and some employ as much as 10,000 people at a time. As a result Guangzhou is quite run down and polluted. Transportation is mostly by taxi, bus and subway, but buses are preferred because subway fare is very expensive and the trains only go in two directions. Stop lights are nonexistant, as are seat belts and car seats. Lucy says that when you drive all you can do is close your eyes and go! The local police are an entity to be feared. Our driver made the mistake of traveling in the wrong direction of a one way road and was given a ticket. He looked scared when they pulled him over and we felt responsible because he had turned around to take us back to the hotel to retrieve a forgotten baby bottle.Tomorrow we get to see what driving on the freeway is like as we make our way to our daughter's orphanage. I am sure it will be another adventure.
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