7/22 - Chengdu & Pandas

Another early morning.  Since it's so hot (20 year record heat the locals have said), we have a better chance to see the pandas active in the early part of the day.  Megan is still having major tummy issues, she is starting to feel better though and the fever seems to have broken.  Her stamina isn't there and Kyle ends up having to carry her a lot.  He's getting quite the workout.

At the panda reserve Megan isn't feeling well at all.  She could care less about seeing the pandas so you know she's not well! Poor girl.  It's another scorcher even at 10 am.  We sent Natalee on ahead with the group so that she can see the pandas (we forgot to send water with her though, not good!). Kyle ends up going on ahead to try to catch the group but never does so he wanders through seeing the pandas by himself.  Megan and I only get to two pandas (BaoBao is one - she was in DC for awhile) when she says "I'm giving up.  Get me to a dr if that will make me better."  Whoa, she is not herself.  We sit in the shade watching a huge frog hop up the path then move under some bamboo trees and shake the dew down onto ourselves.  We pray and I try to encourage her with some Scripture verses and she seems to perk up a little.  She has another Code Brown emergency so off to the bathrooms we go.  The toilets here at this park have been some of the worst in terms of smell and cleanliness.  Honestly, I've been surprised by them this trip. In the past I tried to avoid them, haven't been able to this time.  Always an experience!  Ok sorry, I digressed....

After the CodeBrown, we hung out by the front gate where we were to meet the group for the Panda experience.  Those who were going to hug the panda had to put on a blue "space suit" and plastic food service type gloves.  They had to sign a paper saying they gave a donation for the experience and then we walked over to another building.  The girls all lined up and were told to be quiet while they waited (easier said than done).  The panda was sitting about 20 yards away on a wicker love seat eating bamboo.  Each girl was given about 20 seconds to sit there, hug the panda's shoulder and take as many photos or video as possible.

When it was Natalee's turn, as she was sitting down she was talking to the Panda.... "Hi, how are you doing?  I'm good thanks for asking." It was too cute!  She had a great smile as she hugged the panda! Megan jumped right up there before the guide said "next" and got a few extra seconds.  She got right down next to the panda and put her head on her shoulder with a great big smile.  So cute!  Kyle and I loved watching our girls experience this.  It was costly but the money helps to preserve the pandas and research them.  We had a great time because they had a great time!  (Again, pics aren't here right now as my device isn't working properly.  You can see some pics on FB.)

After the Panda experience we had lunch at a very "resorty" type restaurant.  Chengdu definitely has a resort type feel, there's grass in several places and many landscape stores too.  It's a beautiful area! Once we arrived back in the city of Chengdu we went to a local park to have tea.  It was great to just sit back and relax for a little while watching the local people play majong, cards, practice water calligraphy and just hang out.  One of the locals took to our group and was taking lots of photos.

After a few minutes it became a little excessive.  I wandered off for a little bit to see more of the park while most of the girls were trying to learn majong.  As I was walking back to the group Kyle motioned me to hurry.  I guess some of the group started to get worried due to some thunder in the distance. As we were heading out of the park Megan had to use the bathroom again (she is starting to feel better - we know because she's talking a lot) 😉 It was another experience as this was called an "emergency toilet".  Instead of it being a "one stall" it was a full room and anyone could use it. I guess the protocol is to holler when one is entering or coming out of the stall, however, the urinals were not discretely behind a wall or anything.... So let's just say it was a China experience.

Next stop was shopping on Jinli street.  This was really cool!  Local people, local handiwork, local foods, local smells... It was great!  I took lots of pictures of the foods that were being sold.  The most popular type was any kind of meat on a stick.  We most definitely did not consume any.  We did find some bing chi ling (ice cream) and enjoyed that instead.

After a very short rest & dinner we have the Face Changing Show (Chinese Opera).  One of the families we've met and that Megan has been friends with offered to let her stay with them instead of going to the show.  The show was good but very smoky.  I started to now feel well but was hoping it's just the smoke and I can sleep it off.  Good night to another fabulous day in China!