Today we went on a tour with our fearless guide, Jason, and a whole bus-load of adopting families. Our first stop was the Six Banyan's Temple, which is known for its pagoda. There were many altars and different buddhas, including one female buddha! Kyle and Lorelei enjoyed throwing coins into one altar. Supposedly if you can get one to go through it, you will have good fortune.
Next we went to the Provincial Folk Art Museum, or Old Chen House. It's also known as the Chen Clan Ancestral Temple. The building itself is a work of art, the best preserved Qing Dynasty building in Guangdong Province. Each room highlights a different type of art that Guangdong is known for, including carvings (brick, stone, wood, ivory), embroidery, and painting. Chris was fascinated by "hand painting," which is done with no brushes, just hands and fingers. Amazing!
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| the entrance to the museum |
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| a piece of the roofline/they have to repaint every five years or so |
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| this wood carving is from one piece of wood! |
Last stop: the Guangdong Art and Craft Center. Translation: shopping! We could have dropped some serious money here--there were so many beautiful things... tea sets, embroidery, jewelry, sculpture, porcelain figures.... but we stuck to my "list" of important things. A traditional outfit for Lorelei and pieces of jade for Chris and I to wear. The Chinese tradition is to pass down the jade from parent to child when the child is an adult, usually when he or she gets married. So we will get to wear them for a few years at least! Somehow a pretty fan and an embroidered purse for a certain young lady got purchased as well.
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| Someone loves to shop!! |
We ended the day with another wonderful meal with our group, this time Cantonese food. Our Chinese food at home does not even come close to the food here; it is soooo good. One thing we will definitely miss about being here! (Although I have to admit... a steak sounds really good right now.)
It's so exciting to pop over to your blog after a few months on not being able to and to see you with your daughter!!! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteThings are going great with us. If you have time, please visit us at www.fencingmama.blogspot.com
Your daughter looks so healthy and happy!
I went on vacation for two and a half weeks and I just got done playing catch up and reading all your post! What a busy time you have been having. Your family looks so happy and your little girl looks so sweet. You, Jennifer, look so cute and young! :)
ReplyDeleteI will be praying for you guys as you adjust and get to know one another and for your travels home. I'll keep checking back!
Congratulations to you, Chris and Kyle (and Lorelei)!