Getting around in China

So, I got to thinking you might be interested in the various ways we manage to get around in China. I went thru my pictures of when the kids were visiting and came up with a few:

Walking, you manage to log a lot of miles just getting around. These two (Destiny & Kevin) were clowning around during a shopping expedition.

Of course, there is always driving, which can add years on to your life! We take a lot of taxis (cheap) and say our prayers as they zoom in and out of traffic. Obeying traffic laws in China is optional (so is driving on your side of the road) so sometimes it is best not to look. Always an adventure...

Pedicabs are a nice way to get around crowded (pedestrian) areas. Some are powered by motor bike and others by are human powered. This picture is on a rainy night on our trip to Xian.

There is always the bike. Here, Carrie & Destiny are enjoying a ride on the inner city wall in Xian on a bicycle built for two!

Dumb and Dumber (Kevin & Paul) can never resist a chance to goof off.

China has millions of escalators and they are always crowded as Paul found out.

You could try the old fashion way...riding a horse. Destiny gave it a try at the Shenzhen zoo.

Trains and subways are some of the easiest modes of transportation. The boys are old pros at this from Japan. Here, Paul & Kevin are commuting in Hong Kong. We will have a subway station near us next year! Can't wait.

Being on the ocean and across the bay from Hong Kong; the ferry is a frequent means of commuting between countries and around Hong Kong (it is an island after all). Above; Kevin & Paul are on the Star Ferry in Hong Kong. Below; Kevin is on the ferry from the Hong Kong Airport and Shekou (Shenzhen, China).

Many people get around by electric bike. The kids had a blast exploring Shekou this way. Kevin is showing off the fisherman's wharf near our home. Luckily you can't smell it in the picture.

Well, the "old folks" traded up to real gas powered scooters. It must be quite the sight to see us coming down the road. We are enjoying the extra power and the wind rushing thru our hair!

Well, that's it in a nutshell. Hope you enjoyed our presentation!

While the kids were visiting we took a trip uo north to Xian, where the Terrecotta Warriors were discovered. Xian has a great area called the Muslin Quarter where Muslin Chinese have shops and stalls and sell their wares. Some great food and bargains can be found here. At night, everything is lit up and is stunning to see the old with the new. They are known for the long kites that are flown all around the drum tower. Anyone up for a pedicab ride?

The warrior museum is a must see (there is a reason why it is named the 8th wonder of the world!) It is unimaginable that over 270,000 people were killed to cover up the secret of where things were buried. Each warrior is hand carved from an actual person, they are all different. Only a small portion of the warriors have been uncovered and they are still unearthing and repairing the statues today (work is done at night). We can only imagine the treasures that will be unearthed in the future. We even had the kid's picture taken with the last living farmer who discovered the buried warriors.  You can buy replicas of the warriors in all sizes to take home. Steve is still trying to talk me into a lifesize one for our backyard!

The next day while Steve had to work, the kids and I went to the inner city fortress. It is an ancient city wall that is still used today. We rented bikes and rode all the way around (8 miles) enjoying the spectacular city views. This was not an easy feat as the road is made of cobblestones! Xian is one of our favorite places!

Ocean Park in Hong Kong

Sorry I haven't blogged for a while.  Thanks to the Chinese government I was blocked from the site but I found another way around the system so we are back online! 

During their visit, the kids spent a day in Hong Kong recently with some other college kids from Shenzhen and Hong Kong.  They had a great time at Ocean Park and exploring the city.  They even got to see Jackie Chan's gate (!). Here are some of the highlights.

Lazy daze for the Giant Panda.

Giant Pandas at Hong Kong's Ocean Park.

The gang on one of  Hong Kong's escaltors, the world's longest.

View from tram in Hong Kong.

Another picturesque view from tram.

The kids in a shark's mouth at Ocean Park in Hong Kong.

Amazing aquarium at Ocean Park.

Giant jelly fish in aquarium.

Awesome dolphin show.

The Shenzhen gang: Paul, Kevin, Andrea Busath, Tessa Farnsworth and Destiny.

The beautiful lights of the Hong Kong skyline at night.

Night view from ferry.

Kevin, Destiny and Paul in front of Hong Kong Island.

SPLENDID CHINA

We have this cool cultural theme park called Spendid China here in Shenzhen. It has two parts; one section where there are minature/small scale replicas of all the big sightseeing spots in China.  It is interesting to see things like Tinamen Square, the Forbidden City, the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall, not to mention the grounds are spectacular.  The other section is made up of 24 ancient folk villages representing 22 minority nationalities. There are over 10 villages that put on a short show; usally with song and dance. We even found Chinese cowboys! It was interesting to see all the different cultures here in China. There are also four great shows worth seeing; we saw two of them. One was a horse show where they recreating a battle with the Huns. Think hand to hand combat at a full gallop! We also saw a Vegas like show on the costumes of the different cultures which was good. There were lots of other side shows like karate or music too. The kids did a zip-line over the lake and we all enjoyed the bumper boats down the river.  Of course, Destiny & Carrie spent most of their energy trying to flee from the boys. We topped the evening off with dumpling soup and an extravaganza that would knock your socks off.  It was like a Cirque de Solei type show complete with fire, water, galloping horses, animals, moving stages, floats, lazers and hundreds of dancers. We were blown away with it. The lazer tube was breathtaking.  All in all it was a great day and we were happily exhausted when we fell into bed. This is a MUST SEE when you come to visit.

A trip to the SHENZHEN ZOO

Last week we took the family to the Shenzhen Safari Park. The kids enjoyed the various animal shows. Destiny even made a new friend.  


 We had hopes of feeding and holding the baby tigers but missed it. This is apparently the only zoo in the world with Tygons and Ligers (that would be a male tiger with a female lion and a male lion with a female tiger). It made for an interesting species. Sorry, no photos came out. 

 We watched a few other shows. One included bears walking on their hind legs in dresses, monkey and bears riding bikes, elephants dancing, dancers with snakes, trick horseback riders, pigs jumping from third story buildings into a pond, ostrich races and so much more! There was even a bear riding a motorbike on a tight rope the length of a football field with a lady dangling on a swing from underneath (no net!).  Apparently they don't have the same animal protection laws in China!

We did some extra curricular activities too.  Destiny missed being on a horse and got to ride a horse around the race track.  We also got to expreience what a gerbil's life is like.  We climbed inside these clear cyclinders out on a lake and had to run (like on a tread-wheel) to make it move. It was a lot of fun and very exhausting!

SWEAT SHOPS & PAMPERING

Here is Brian's personal sweat shop. As we all sit around on the couches working on our assignments. Got to love technology and the ability to work from anywhere in the world.

Took the kids to get a "hair washing" yesterday. Think of someone shampooing, scratching, massaging your scalp for over an hour, then giving you a shoulder and back massage. Top that off with a blow dry and style for about $6. The boys decided to also do an "ear candle" where they light a candle in your ear to pull out the toxins. Yuk!


The kids have absolutely fallen in love with the foot massages and beg to go often. This procedure entails soaking your feet in hot rose water while getting a shoulder, arms and back massage. Then having your feet massaged for 90 minutes! They even cut your nails and scrap the hard stuff off your heels. To top it off you get a aloe rub before you get your legs massaged. We all have baby-butt soft feet now.

The kids are enjoying being pampered. Next on the list is a full body massage (where they walk on your back), fire legs and a facial. The downside is they may never go back home!

Paul got his Mission Call!!!

Paul got everyone up early to read his mission call.  We had to do it the high-tech way via Skype as Brian & Cami sent it from Las Vegas to China. Brian pulled a fast one and issued a fake mission call letter to Seoul, Korea reporting June 1st. About gave Mom a heart attack thinking there wasn't much time to get Paul ready.  After some gutteral laughter, the real letter emerged and he was thrilled to be called to the WINNEPEG, CANADA mission reporting on August 19th. Pretty cool eh?