Monday Feb 8 2010

Today we met our guide Wendy at 7:30 so we could get YuanYuan's last 3 immunizations. We were the first ones to the clinic, and done quickly. He was a bit angry but bounced back quickly. After that was done, we walked back to the hotel to have breakfast, while Wendy or Catherine took our paperwork to the Consulate for our appointment. Tomorrow we will go to the consulate, too, for the group oath.

After breakfast, we walked across the pedestrian bridge to a market area. There are a lot of Westerners on the island, but not many at all when you cross the bridge. It is really an entirely different world.

At first we saw the traditional medicine market, vendors were selling dried mushrooms, seahorses, turtles, snakes, lots of unidentifiable things (to us, anyway). Girls, we saw lots of pet kitties (not ones for food) - even one on a leash that a man was walking around! Cat on leash = not a happy cat!

After the traditional medicine market came other markets - we even saw what had to be a plumbing supply store, Papa! Lots of PVC strung on ropes across the top of the door and the windows!  Em, there were lots of stores full of bags, scarves, and clothes. Then came the electronics market - store after store after store of cell phones, cell phone accessories, cell phone parts, and other electronics as well. Em, I looked for a cell phone case for you, but I wasn't sure any of them would fit your phone. You would have had fun looking, though!

We found a Pleasant Goat toy for Andy - he just put it in the trash can. I wonder if that's where some of his stacking cups went? We are missing a few. Note to self: check trash cans for toys before the maid comes to clean our room!

We must have walked several miles today, with YuanYuan in the mama back ride (Evie's name for the baby carrier!) After lunch we came back to the hotel for a nap, but YuanYuan wasn't tired. Mama and Daddy were!

Before supper tonight, we went for a walk and stopped at Mr. Jordon's store. They had a nice, small stroller for sale, so now YuanYuan has a new ride. (He is a big boy, and Mama gets tired!) Mr. Jordon also did a calligraphy of Andy's name for us, and we bought a couple of presents at his store. I would like to go back there tomorrow and get a few more things. We really like shopping at Jordon's - it is the one store on Sha Mian island where you are not constantly hounded from the minute you walk in the door.

We had supper at Lucy's. YuanYuan ate a whole bowl of chicken congee. Richard had Thai green curry chicken, and I had Malaysian fried rice. Yum! We also had iced tea, I hope we don't regret that tomorrow. It tasted really good, though! I was really contemplating getting the chicken enchiladas as I am having a wicked craving for Mexican food, but I just couldn't make myself do it. I was sure that I would have been disappointed. There is a store next to our hotel, a clothing store, and the name of it is Mexican. I think it is teasing me. We will have to stop at Habanero's or Las Agaves when we get home!

We did a bit more shopping after supper, and bought a couple ice cream bars on our way back to the hotel. I think mine was green tea with soybeans, and I'm not sure what Rich's was. Something reddish brown. We only had a few bites each - they were good, but very sweet and just a little too different! Andy still doesn't like ice cream - he wants to taste it, but doesn't like the cold. Evie, you were just the same way when you were little. He always wants to take a bite, then makes a face like he is going to cry afterward!

Right now he is snacking on some raisins and pushing his new stroller around the room. He really likes it!

Tomorrow the group might go to the zoo. I hope it stops raining! Evie, we will try to remember to take the Bear along for some pictures.

The attached photos are: Andy playing peek-a-boo with the raisin box and Andy and Pleasant Goat (the main character in the popular Chinese cartoon Pleasant Goat and Big Bad Wolf)